---
title: "Ask for their email or phone, and your contact list | SocialMaker"
description: "Before delivering what you promised, ask for the person's email or WhatsApp and build your contact list to download for Excel. On Pro and Max."
url: https://socialmaker.ai/help/collect-emails-and-phones
language: en
---

# Ask for their email or phone, and your contact list

Before delivering what you promised, ask for the person's email or WhatsApp and build your contact list to download for Excel. On Pro and Max.

Updated on October 1, 2026 · 2 min read

With the **Ask for a detail** step, the automation asks the person for their **email** or their **WhatsApp** before sending them what they asked for. That way, you're not just gaining followers: you're building your own contact list.

![The “Ask for a detail” step with the question, the button to skip it and the phone with the conversation](https://socialmaker.ai/help/capturas/auto-pedir-dato.webp)

## Step by step

1. Add the step · In the flow, tap the **+** before the delivery message and choose **Ask for email or phone**, or drag it from the tools.
2. Choose what to ask for · **Email** or **WhatsApp or phone**. The question comes already written; change it to say what the person gets, for example “I'll send you this week's deals.”
3. Decide whether they can skip it · With the **“I'd rather not”** button turned on, the person can keep going without leaving their details and still gets what you promised.

## What protects them and your account

- If they type their details wrong twice, they still get what you promised.
- People who already left their details aren't asked again.
- On Instagram, the phone number fills in with one tap; the email has to be typed. On Messenger, both fill in with one tap.
- If they write “stop,” they aren't asked anything else.

## Your contact list

In **Automations**, tap **Contacts**. You'll see the name, the username, the email or phone, the automation and the date. Search by name, email or phone, and tap **Download CSV** to open the list in Excel or upload it to your email tool.

![The Contacts list with the search box and the Download CSV button](https://socialmaker.ai/help/capturas/auto-contactos.webp)

**Good to know**

You can see and download the list on every plan, even if you downgrade: the data belongs to your business. Asking for details in the automation is on Pro and Max.

**Tip**

The **Free PDF guide**, **Giveaway** and **Free class or event** templates already come with this step built in.

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## You might also like

[**Automation templates** 17 ready-made automations to sell, book appointments, get leads and help customers. Pick one, adjust your details and activate it.](https://socialmaker.ai/help/automation-templates) [**The funnel and A/B tests** See step by step where people drop off, from comments to bookings, and which version of your message works best. On Pro and Max.](https://socialmaker.ai/help/automation-funnel-and-ab-tests) [**Meta's rules you should know** The 24-hour window, who you're allowed to message, and why some messages don't get sent.](https://socialmaker.ai/help/meta-rules)

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