Create an Automation Flow

Automation flows are the perfect way to send contextual and personalized messages at every step of the subscriber journey. These flows run in the background so you can maintain subscriber engagement on auto-pilot. In this article, we'll walk through how to create an automation flow.

Getting Started with Automation Flows

1. Select Messaging in the side menu of your Postscript dashboard, then select Automations.
2. Select Create Automation in the top-right corner of the page, then choose Create Automation Flow. 
3. Choose Use automation template to start with a prebuilt automation. Alternatively, select Create a new automation if you'd like to build your automation flow from scratch. Select Continue.
4. Name the automation. Choose a name that will allow you to easily identify and track this automation in the future.

Understanding Automation Flow Properties

1. Define the automation trigger. A trigger is an action that will begin the automation flow. In the example above, the flow will send to a subscriber who starts the checkout process.
2. Add trigger filters. Trigger filters can help you fine-tune when an automation is triggered. The example above will only send to a subscriber whose abandoned cart subtotal is more than $100.
3. Add Subscriber filters. User filters can help you narrow down which subscribers can receive an automation. The flow above will only send if the subscriber has previously placed 2 orders.
4. Add a subscriber entry filter. The subscriber frequency filter allows you to choose how often a subscriber can enter a given automation flow for a certain period of time. The example above will only allow subscribers to enter this flow every 30 days.
5. Add a cancellation trigger. The cancellation trigger tells Postscript when to remove a subscriber from an automation flow. In the example above, a subscriber will be removed from receiving this automation if they place an order.
6. Save. Select Save in the bottom right corner of the properties editor. 

Customize Your Flow

1. Add actions to your flow. Drag and drop actions like Message, Delay, A/B Split, or a Subscriber Event Split. For a deep dive into all flow actions, see here.
2. When adding a Message action to your automation flow, you may consider using some of our message enhancements located in the bottom right corner of the Message Editor to spruce things up.
   • Add emojis by clicking the square smiley face icon.
   • Add merge tags like subscriber first name, your shop link, or your shop name by clicking the overlapping tags icon.
   • Add a Postscript-generated coupon by clicking the percentage icon.
   • Add a Shopify-generated coupon and discount link or an Abandoned Cart link by clicking the hyperlink icon. Note: Links and tags are trigger-specific. Not all link or tag options will be visible for all trigger types. For example, an abandoned cart link can only be added if the automation flow trigger is Checkout Started.
3. If you're ready to send your flow, select Schedule or Activate in the top-right corner of the page. You have two options when sending a flow:
   
   • Activate immediately: This option will immediately begin the flow allowing subscribers to enter the automation based on the selected properties.
   • Activate at a scheduled time and date: Choose when you'd like the flow to begin allowing subscribers to enter.

FAQs

Get Support

Have questions? Please feel free to reach out to our wonderful Support team at support@postscript.io or via live chat. You can also submit a support request here!

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