Automation Builder Explained
Here are a few concepts that can help users better understand how our automation builder works:
TRIGGER
A trigger is a procedure that initiates an action.
Examples of trigger:
When a contact is added to a segment
When a contact opened an email
When an event has been fired
When a purchase has been made
Once you have set up a trigger, you must choose an action, fork or integration...
ACTION
An action is executed when a trigger is fired.
Examples of actions:
Send an email to a contact
Add a tag to a contact
Remove a contact from a segment
Adjust the score of a contact
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Action: Send an email to the contact
Trigger: When a purchase has been made
Action: Adjust the score of the contact
FORK
A fork creates a condition:
IF the condition is met, then...
IF the condition is not met, then...
Examples of conditions:
If a contact opened an email
If a contact contains a tag
If an event has been fired
If a purchase has been made
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Condition: If a purchase has been made
If YES:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email A)
If NO:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email B)
STOPS
Stops are temporary or permanent time actions.
Examples of stops:
Stop an automation
Period delay
Date delay
Day of the week is
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Condition: If a purchase has been made
If YES:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email A)
If NO:
Stop: Period delay (e.g. 7 days)
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email B)
INTEGRATIONS
An integration is an action powered by a 3rd party service.
Examples of integrations:
Ping a URL
Send a text message
Notify with text message
Deadline Funnel
For example:
Trigger: When a purchase has been made
Action: Notify with text message
AUTOMATION SETTINGS
RE-ENTER AUTOMATION
This option, which can be found in automation settings, allows contacts to re-enter the automation. This setting is turned off by default, which means that contacts can enter the automation only once.
EXISTING CONTACTS
This option, which can be found in automation settings, allows existing contacts to enter the automation. This setting is only available when you activate the automation for the first time, after creating it.
GLOBAL CONDITIONS
A global condition is a condition that is checked before every next step. Global conditions can be created in automation settings.
Examples of global conditions:
If a contact opened an email
If a contact is subscribed to a segment
If an event has been fired
If a purchase has been made
For example, imagine your automation is made of a series of 10 emails... You could create a global condition to check if contacts are subscribed to a specific segment, e.g. "Subscribers".
If NO (the contact is still not subscribed to the "Subscribers" segment):
The automation continues. The contact will receive the next email.
If YES (the contact is subscribed to the "Subscribers" segment)
The automation stops. The contact will not receive the next email.
That way, you don't need to create a fork at every step.
TRIGGER
A trigger is a procedure that initiates an action.
Examples of trigger:
When a contact is added to a segment
When a contact opened an email
When an event has been fired
When a purchase has been made
Once you have set up a trigger, you must choose an action, fork or integration...
ACTION
An action is executed when a trigger is fired.
Examples of actions:
Send an email to a contact
Add a tag to a contact
Remove a contact from a segment
Adjust the score of a contact
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Action: Send an email to the contact
Trigger: When a purchase has been made
Action: Adjust the score of the contact
FORK
A fork creates a condition:
IF the condition is met, then...
IF the condition is not met, then...
Examples of conditions:
If a contact opened an email
If a contact contains a tag
If an event has been fired
If a purchase has been made
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Condition: If a purchase has been made
If YES:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email A)
If NO:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email B)
STOPS
Stops are temporary or permanent time actions.
Examples of stops:
Stop an automation
Period delay
Date delay
Day of the week is
For example:
Trigger: When a contact is added to a segment
Condition: If a purchase has been made
If YES:
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email A)
If NO:
Stop: Period delay (e.g. 7 days)
Action: Send an email to a contact (Email B)
INTEGRATIONS
An integration is an action powered by a 3rd party service.
Examples of integrations:
Ping a URL
Send a text message
Notify with text message
Deadline Funnel
For example:
Trigger: When a purchase has been made
Action: Notify with text message
AUTOMATION SETTINGS
RE-ENTER AUTOMATION
This option, which can be found in automation settings, allows contacts to re-enter the automation. This setting is turned off by default, which means that contacts can enter the automation only once.
EXISTING CONTACTS
This option, which can be found in automation settings, allows existing contacts to enter the automation. This setting is only available when you activate the automation for the first time, after creating it.
GLOBAL CONDITIONS
A global condition is a condition that is checked before every next step. Global conditions can be created in automation settings.
Examples of global conditions:
If a contact opened an email
If a contact is subscribed to a segment
If an event has been fired
If a purchase has been made
For example, imagine your automation is made of a series of 10 emails... You could create a global condition to check if contacts are subscribed to a specific segment, e.g. "Subscribers".
If NO (the contact is still not subscribed to the "Subscribers" segment):
The automation continues. The contact will receive the next email.
If YES (the contact is subscribed to the "Subscribers" segment)
The automation stops. The contact will not receive the next email.
That way, you don't need to create a fork at every step.
Updated on: 21/03/2022
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