Creating automations is easier than often thought. This article explains step by step how to create an automation that sends a welcome email when contacts subscribe, then adds tags based on the actions contacts take. These tags can be useful to start other automations, segment contacts, and gather information.
If you prefer to watch a video explaining the process, click here.
Please note: Generally, we strongly advise against making changes to an active automation. This can lead to unexpected errors. Therefore, always set the automation to 'Inactive' before you start working on it!
If there is a situation where it is necessary for the automation to be 'Active' (e.g. contacts starting at a specific point), it is better to set this aside.
Create a new automation
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To start, click on 'Automations' on the left side of the menu.
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Click on the top right on 'Create an automated series'.
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'Start from scratch' and then click on 'Continue'.
Add a start trigger
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Click on the start trigger 'Subscribes to a list'.
- Select the list where your contacts should subscribe to start the automation. In this example, we use the 'Test list'.
- To prevent contacts from re-entering this automation (and thus receiving the same emails repeatedly) we set the runs to 'Once'.
- To complete the settings, click on 'Add a start'.
Add an action to send an email
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After setting up the start trigger, the screen 'Add a new action' will open. Click on 'Send an email'.
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Next, fill in the email details, contacts will not see this name. Then choose 'Start with a template' to create a new email. You can also choose to save the step and design the email later.
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When you choose 'Start with a template', you will be redirected to the design page. Choose the designer and the template you wish to use and click on 'Select'.
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In the next screen, you can add the sender information and the email subject. You can optionally adjust this later. Fill in the details and click 'Continue'.
Edit your email
With the drag-and-drop system, you can easily customise your email. The email consists of various content blocks, and you can add new blocks by selecting them on the right menu and dragging them into the email. When you click on a block, you will see various editing options, both in the right menu and in the bar above the block. Each block has different options, so feel free to test them out. To remove a block, click on the cogwheel and then click 'Delete this'.
Once your email is ready, click on 'Next'. You will then be redirected to the summary of your campaign.
Campaign summary
On this page, you can:
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Adjust the message name, subject line, and sender information
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Enable/disable open/read tracking
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Enable/disable link tracking
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Enable/disable reply tracking
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Enable/disable Google Analytics
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Send test emails
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Preview your email
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View the spam check
When you are finished, click on 'Complete' in the top right corner of the screen.
Add a waiting step
To give contacts some time to open the first email, we first add a waiting step. This way, you give your contacts time to actually open the email and take action, such as clicking on a link.
When you want to add a waiting step, follow these steps:
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Click on the plus sign (+) below the email step and then 'Conditions and workflow', select the action 'Wait'.
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Next, you can indicate whether you want to wait for a specific period (for example, seven days) or until a certain condition is met. In this example, it makes sense to choose the option 'Until certain conditions are met', because contacts can continue the automation once the action (clicked on link) is performed.
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When you have clicked on 'Until certain conditions are met', the editor will appear. Here you set the condition(s) that your contacts must meet to move to the next step. In this example, we do the following: 'Actions' > 'Clicked on link' > in 'Test' and then select the specific link. Click on 'Save'.
4. You can then also indicate how long contacts should wait if they have not clicked on the link yet. In this example, we set the limit to seven days. We expect that if a contact has not clicked on a link after a week, it is unlikely to happen. Click on the dropdown of 'Time limit' and select 'Until'. Then specify the desired time limit and click on 'Save'.
Adding an 'if/else' action
In this example, we will add an 'if/else' step to divide the contacts in the automation. The automation checks if the contacts have clicked on the link and then splits the contacts into a 'YES' or 'NO' path. Subsequently, the contacts receive a tag based on the action.
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Click on the plus sign (+) and go to 'Conditions and workflow'. Then choose the action 'If/Else'.
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Then indicate how you want to split the automation. In this example, we do the following: 'Actions' > 'Clicked on a link' > Campaign > in 'Test' and the specific link. Then click on 'Close'.
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Now a split appears in your automation. Depending on whether the contacts have met the condition, they are sent to the 'YES' path or 'NO' path.
4. In the 'YES' path, we want to add a tag. Click on the plus sign under the 'YES' path, choose 'Contacts' and then 'Add a tag'.
5. Type the name of the tag that contacts should receive and click 'Close'.
6. Now we want to tag the contacts who have opened the email but have not clicked on the link. For this, we need to add an 'If/Else' action (in the same way as before). We set the condition as follows: 'Action > 'has opened' > 'Campaign' > 'Test'.
7. Under the 'YES' path, a tag named 'Opened welcome email' is added. Under the 'NO' path, we do the same, but then we call it 'No interaction welcome email'. The entire automation will then look as follows:
We have now built an automation that sends contacts an email once they subscribe to a list. Based on contacts taking action or not, a tag is assigned. These tags can be used later to start new automations. For example, you can start an automation once the 'Clicked link in welcome email' tag is added to a contact.