What are the steps to build an automation?

DESCRIPTION

Find the basic how-to outlined below, however we suggest reviewing the resources available for this feature before you begin.

RESOURCES

Tips and Tricks - a quick reference guide for automation (a.k.s drip campaigns).
Learn more about Automation.

HOW-TO

1. Plan the automation workflow before you begin to determine all steps and emails to be included. You can plan within the automation designer and save as a draft for later.
2. Create all emails to be included.  Note: The kickoff email can be a type of Regular, Triggered, Automated, or SMS.  All subsequent emails must be created as the Automated campaign type.
   1. Enterprise customers can start an automation with a "Wait for Event" action which waits for a contacts's demographic field or category to change (ie. Lead Status = Warm) before starting the automation.
3. Go to Automation. Select to start from a template, an email, and event, or a SMS message. 
4. Step 1 of workflow is typically a email or SMS, click the Edit icon in right corner. This is where you will select the email (regular, triggered, automated, or sms) that will kickoff your automation.
5. Choose the next step on the right hand side and drag it into the workflow, under the kickoff email. Think of it as 'What do you want to occur after the first email is sent?' Here are the options:
   • SEND EMAIL: Do you want to send another email? Select Edit icon. Select the email.
   • SEND SMS: Enter an SMS message. (Note: Must be setup for SMS to use this).
   • LEAD ALERT: Add an internal notification based on steps in the workflow.
   • PAUSE: Select the wait time you want before the following step in the automation begins.
   • FLAG EVENT: This captures an action based on previous steps in the automation workflow. Select a condition: Opened, Clicked, Purchased from, Subscribed to SMS, Browsed and more. Select the email.
   • WAIT FOR EVENT: This allows you to wait indefinitely for a recipient to take a certain action before proceeding to the next step.
   • UPDATE FIELD: This will update a contact’s field or category. Select category or Insert field.
   • EXPORT CSV: Export a list of the recipients flowing through a step.
   • STOP: Keep recipients in the automation by collecting them here. You can continue with action items afterward if you choose to build more to the branch.
   • DUPLICATE STEP: Copy an already existing step
   • REMOVE STEP: Trash any step added to the automation workflow anytime.
6. Repeat steps as needed.
7. Remember to name, save and test the workflow.

ACTIVATION

After the completion of building and testing your automation workflow, it will not be active until you schedule it. Based on the kickoff email or event, there are a few possibilities:

1. Kickoff email is a Triggered type

Right click on the draft automation, select schedule. The schedule window will allow you to schedule the kickoff triggered email at the same time. Additionally, if you unschedule the triggered email, the associated automation will be unscheduled and vice versa.



2. Kickoff email is a Regular type

Right click on the draft automation, select schedule. The schedule window will allow you to also schedule the regular mailing at the same time. Additionally, if you unschedule the regular mailing, the associated drip campaign will be unscheduled and vice versa.

3. Kickoff email is an Automated type

Right click on the draft automation, select schedule. The schedule window will allow you to only schedule the activation of the automation because Automated emails are not scheduled. The next time the kickoff Automated email is initiated, the automation will start. 

4. Kickoff is a SMS type

Right click on the draft drip campaign workflow, select schedule. The schedule window will allow you to also schedule the SMS campaign at the same time. Additionally, if you unschedule the SMS campaign, the associated automation will be unscheduled and vice versa.