Our Automation Path Builder uses triggers to send targeted email and SMS messages out to your new and existing contacts at the right time. So, what exactly is a trigger? Triggers are dates (like a birthday) or actions (like joining a list) that prompt a response (like sending an email or SMS message).
Each of our Automation Path Builder templates includes one of the following types of triggers:
 | Did you know? We have a variety of pre-built path templates to get you going quickly, but our custom path template gives you the most flexibility to build a path to accomplish multiple objectives. If you need more help, we even have a pathfinder that helps you choose a template with the right trigger, and if that wasn't enough, you can change the trigger if it's not quite right! |
Calendar date triggers
Calendar date triggers are the most straightforward. An email or SMS message is triggered to send based on the birthday or anniversary date on file in a contact's record.
- Anniversary - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send based on an anniversary date. This date can be associated with anything you need to track annually, like a membership join date, the date a contact became a first-time ecommerce customer, a new-hire date, or even a wedding date.
- Birthday - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send based on a birth date.
You have the choice to send your communication on the exact date, or up to 14 days before the date. If you want to further filter your target audience, you can narrow down recipients by requiring a specific list membership, too. Every day, Constant Contact automatically scans your contacts for those who meet your date and list criteria, then starts them on your path to receive your email and SMS messages.
Pre-built templates
Calendar date triggers can be found in the following Automation Path Builder anniversary templates and birthday templates:
- Anniversary: Basic
- Anniversary: SMS
- Birthday: Basic
- Birthday: SMS
Custom path template
To create a custom path with a calendar date trigger, filter the triggers by Calendar date, and select one of the following options:
- Anniversary
- Birthday
Contact activity triggers
 | Important: If you have multiple paths with the same contact activity trigger, it can result in a single contact receiving multiple welcome emails or SMS messages. To reduce the chance of this happening, make sure each path has unique lists selected. |
When contacts make an effort to engage with you, it's the perfect time to engage right back. There are a couple of different ways your contacts can trigger your automation path:
- Subscribes for email - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when a new contact signs up for your email or SMS list through one of our sign-up tools.
- Added to specific list - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when an existing contact:
- Is manually added to a different list - This happens if you remove a contact from one list and add them to a new or existing list, or if you leave your contact on a list and add them to another list.
- Updates their profile - This happens when a contact clicks the "Update Profile" link in an email footer and chooses to be part of a different list that they weren't already a part of.
- Is automatically added to a new ecommerce list - This happens when a customer engages with your ecommerce store and their status changes because of their shopping activity. When your contacts are next synced through the ecommerce integration, they're moved to a different list based on that activity.
- Added to specific segment - Email and SMS communications are triggered when a contact meets the criteria for a specific segment.
Note: Pre-built segments aren't compatible with this trigger type, but you can use the "Reengage contacts" trigger instead for somewhat and least engaged contacts. - Reengage contacts - Email and SMS communications are triggered when a contact's engagement drops to somewhat engaged or least engaged.
- Contact tag added - Email and SMS communications are triggered when a specific tag is added to a contact either manually (you add the tag), or a tag is added through the "Add or remove a tag" contact action in the Automation Path Builder.
- Clicks the email link - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when a contact clicks any link or a specific link in an email.
- Form submissions - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when a contact successfully submits a Sign-up Landing Page.
You have the choice of which list you want to associate with your automation path. You can select a single list, or multiple lists, to receive the same email and SMS communications. If you're looking to send even more targeted content to your audience, create multiple welcome paths that are each assigned to a unique list.
Pre-built templates
Contact activity triggers can be found in the following Automation Path Builder list join template, SMS status template, and welcome templates:
- Added to specific list
- Grow your SMS list
- Welcome: Basic
- Welcome: SMS
- Welcome series
Custom path template
To create a custom path with a contact activity trigger, filter the triggers by Contact activity, and select one of the following options:
- Subscribes for email
- Added to specific list
- Added to specific segment
- Reengage Contacts
- Contact tag added
- Click the email link
- Form Submissions
Shopping activity triggers
When you have an ecommerce platform, like Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, or WooCommerce, synced to your account, you can take advantage of triggers that are based on your customers' shopping activity:
- Order placed - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when a customer places an order through an ecommerce platform that is synced to your Constant Contact account.
- Order fulfilled - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when an item has shipped or a service has been provided through an ecommerce platform that is synced to your Constant Contact account.
- Abandons their cart - Email and SMS communications are triggered to send when a customer adds an item or service to their shopping cart and doesn't complete the purchase through an ecommerce platform that is synced to your Constant Contact account.
Note: Squarespace isn't compatible with abandoned cart communications.
Shopping activity triggers can't be customized beyond initially syncing your Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, or WooCommerce store, but you can always review the trigger details or even change the trigger while you're editing your path.
Pre-built templates
Shopping activity triggers can be found in the following Automation Path Builder abandoned cart templates and ecommerce templates:
- Abandoned cart: Basic
- Abandoned cart: Location
- Abandoned cart: SMS
- Abandoned cart: Value
- Request a review
- Thank-you series
- Win-back series
Custom path template
To create a custom path with a shopping activity trigger, filter the triggers by Shopping activity, and select one of the following options:
- Order placed
- Abandons their cart
- Order fulfilled
