Create an automation path with a pre-built template

Get started with an automation path that's already built and ready to use, and make customizations to suit your organization's needs

If you're short on time or unsure where to start, a pre-built automation path template is the perfect tool! All you have to do is choose a template based on your goal, and it's ready to go after you create your content. If you need to make changes, the template is flexible—you can make it as simple or as complex as you need. Each automation path can have up to 50 steps.

1. Click Marketing channels > Automations.
2. Click the + Create automation button.
   
   
   
   
3. Select the Use a template option.
4. Click the Continue button.
   
   
   
   
5. Select one of the available templates. You can preview the steps to see the trigger and what email and SMS options are available.

• Contact activity - These templates let you trigger your email and SMS communications when your contacts join your list for the first time, are added to a specific list, or when they opt in for SMS marketing.
• Calendar date - These templates let you trigger your email and SMS communications based on the birthday or anniversary date you have on file for your contacts.
• Shopping activity - These templates let you trigger your email and SMS communications based on your ecommerce contacts' shopping activity, or lack of shopping activity.

6. Click the Create path button.
   
   
   
   

Once you select your template, you need to add your email and SMS content. If you need to add a little complexity, you can build out additional steps by adding email or SMS send actions, time delay, and conditional split rules, or contact action steps that let you update contact details, add or remove tags, or import the first purchase date for your ecommerce customers.

Did you know? If you start building your path and realize that you didn't choose the best trigger option, you can change it at any time and keep all the work you did by editing the Trigger step and clicking the "Change trigger" link. Learn more.

Questions?