Automations: what they are and why they matter

An automation is a set-it-and-forget-it workflow: a trigger that starts it, followed by a sequence of steps that runs on its own for every contact who qualifies. Build it once, and it keeps working while you sleep.

Think of an automation as a little assistant that watches for something to happen — someone joins your list, buys a product, clicks a link — and then follows a script you wrote: send this email, wait two days, send the next one, tag them, and so on. You set up the logic a single time and it runs the same way for the 5th contact and the 5,000th.

Automations vs. one-off campaigns

A campaign is a single message (or a small blast) you send to a list at one moment in time — like a newsletter or a product announcement. It goes out once, to whoever is on the list right now, and then it's done.

An automation is ongoing. It doesn't fire on a date you pick — it fires whenever an individual contact does the thing that triggers it. Two people who sign up a month apart each get the exact same welcome journey, each starting from their own day one.

• Campaign — one message, one moment, sent to a list. Great for news, promos, and announcements.
• Automation — a triggered sequence that runs per-contact, on their timeline. Great for onboarding, follow-ups, and anything that should happen "when X, then Y."

The visual workflow builder

You build automations in the visual builder under Automations in the left nav. Each part of your workflow is a node on a canvas: you start with a trigger node, then drag and connect step nodes beneath it to shape the path a contact takes. No code, no formulas — just boxes you connect in the order you want things to happen.

1. 1

   Pick a trigger

   Choose what starts the workflow — for example, a contact submitting one of your forms.

2. 2

   Add steps

   Connect actions like sending an email, waiting a few days, or adding a tag.

3. 3

   Branch when needed

   Use a condition step to send people down different paths based on what they've done.

4. 4

   Turn it on

   Activate the automation and it starts enrolling qualifying contacts right away.

Real examples you can steal

• Welcome series — when someone joins via a form, greet them immediately, then share your best tips over the next few days. See Build a welcome sequence.
• Abandoned cart — when a purchase stalls, nudge the shopper with a reminder (and maybe a small incentive) to come back and finish.
• Re-engagement — when a contact hasn't opened or clicked in a while, send a "we miss you" message to win them back or clean your list.
• Post-purchase — after someone buys, thank them, share how to get the most from their order, and invite a review or a next purchase.