Message new or existing list members using the Automation Path Builder

Create a list join path to automatically reach out to all of the contacts on a specific list, whether they’re new sign-ups to the list or if they’re existing contacts that are moved onto the list

A well-segmented contact list ensures you're getting the right content to the right contacts. It's ok to move contacts from one list to another when they don't fit the list criteria anymore! Or, maybe sometimes you want your contacts to be on multiple lists for different reasons—that's ok, too! When you add a contact to a different list, our Automation Path Builder gives you a chance to send an email or SMS message to engage with them

• Create a list join path to engage with your contacts
• Customize the list join trigger
• Create your email message content
• (Optional) Build out your list join path
• Activate your list join communication

Did you know? There are a few ways your contacts can end up on a different list. If you have the Update Profile link enable in your footer, your contacts can change the list they're on themselves. The shopping activity of your ecommerce customers affects the lists they're on. You can also manually change the list a contact is part of at any time.

Create a list join path to engage with your contacts

Once your list join path is created and saved, you can find it again through Marketing campaigns > Automations page, or Marketing campaigns > All campaigns page.

1. Click Marketing campaigns > Automations.
2. Click the Create an automation path button.
   
   
    
3. Click the View all templates button.
   
   
    
4. Scroll down to the Contact activity section and select the Added to specific list option.
5. Click Create path or Next button.
   
   
    

Customize the list join trigger

Important: If you have a welcome path already active for a specific list, either choose a different list for your list join trigger or deactivate the welcome path. If both paths are active for the same list, a contact that joins the list will trigger both paths and potentially receive duplicate or conflicting content from you.

You have control over which list serves as the trigger for your automation path, and you can even select multiple lists.

1. Click the three dots on the Trigger step in your path, then select "Edit."
   
   
    
2. Select a list or several lists from the drop-down menu.
   Note: If the list doesn't already exist, you first have to create a new list from the Contacts tab.
3. Click Save.
   
   
    

Design tip: Want to learn more about the triggers in your automation path? Check out this article for understanding triggers.

Create your email message content

Your message content is fully customizable! It can be a simple "welcome" message, or use it to dive into details for your target audience.

1. Click the three dots on the Send an email or Send an SMS step in your path, and select "Edit."
   
   
    
2. Give your new email or SMS message a unique name. If you're editing an email, you can choose to start from scratch or copy an existing email to give you a jumpstart.
3. Click Continue.
   
   
    
4. Use the email editor to customize your anniversary message content. First select a template, then use the email editor to customize your content. You also have the option to copy an existing email draft or sent email. Your message can include multiple images, links, and larger blocks of text. Learn more.
5. Click Save and Close in the upper right-hand corner of the editor to return to the Path builder.
   
   
    

Repeat the steps for each email or SMS message in your path.

Design tip: The Added to specific list template doesn't include SMS by default, but if you're registered for SMS marketing, you can add SMS messages to your path too!

(Optional) Build out your list join path

The list join template provides you with a basic path that just needs the message content, but you also have the flexibility to make your path more complex with additional messages. Emails provide enough space for the most content flexibility, and SMS messages have a higher likelihood of being read and engaged with.

Use the Path builder to:

• Add email steps to a path.
• Add SMS message steps to a path.
• Add time delays between steps.
• Add conditional splits to a step in a path.
  
  
   

Activate your list join path

When you're ready, all that's left to do is activate your list join communication.

1. Click the Activate button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
   
   
    

Once your automation path is activated, you’re brought to the details page where you can review your performance and reporting information.

Questions?