Choose and understand automations
Use an automation when a message should follow a participant’s activity, response or lifecycle date. A scheduled campaign uses dates you choose directly; an automation derives its audience and timing from records and rules.
Choose the trigger
| Reader goal | Automation |
|---|---|
| Prepare people for the first or last class | Activity start or end |
| Remind people before each scheduled occurrence | Class reminder |
| Follow a completed submission | Form response |
| Help someone finish a saved attempt | Abandoned form |
| Welcome a member or discuss expiration | Membership start or renewal |
| Send birthday greetings or party promotions | Birthday wish or birthday marketing |
| Contact people based on recorded attendance | Attendance-based automation |
Connected systems such as Amilia also have dedicated workflows. Choose the source-specific guide when the trigger comes from that integration.
Build the rule before writing the message
First decide which event or date matters, who should receive the message and who should be excluded. Confirm that the required data exists: a birth date, activity occurrence, membership date or form response. Then choose the offset, sending time and message content.
Use conditions deliberately. An attendance requirement cannot be satisfied until attendance is recorded. A promotional follow-up should be classified as marketing even if it was triggered by a registration.
Preview and enable
Save the configuration and use the simulation where available to inspect representative dates and recipients. Check the organization timezone, placeholders, links and contact fields. Enable only after reviewing those results.
A simulation describes eligibility at the time it runs. Different automation types have different refresh behavior; do not assume every scheduled audience is rechecked immediately before delivery. The focused guides explain important exceptions, including abandoned-form reminders.
Monitor and maintain
Open the automation’s Messages tab to review actual sends. Revisit the rule when dates, programs, forms or membership offerings change. Turning an automation on is not a substitute for monitoring delivery and consent.
Continue with the trigger guide that matches your goal, or use scheduled messages for a campaign with dates you set yourself.