This guide will take you through the basic process to creating a simple welcome program. The possibilities with the Automation Program Builder (APB) are extensive, and you can see some examples from our clients to help inspire you.
Before building your program it is recommended to have your campaigns and filters created already, to save you having to exit the APB when forming your customer journey.
On this page:
Creating Your Welcome Program
This step-by-step guide will take you through the creation of a simple welcome program.
Note: We recommended that you create your campaigns and filters before building a program to save having to periodically exit the builder.
Step 1: Complete the Initial Setup
Follow the initial setup documentation to provide the general information required for your Program.
Step 2: Send Welcome Campaign
Drag the send campaign stage to the 'Drop stage here' box.
Selecting your Campaign
To associate a campaign to the stage, click the stage. A sidebar will appear where you can click Select Campaign, and then choose your desired campaign from the pop up.
Step 3: Add delay
Add a wait delay to the program.
Note: Remember to save your program throughout the build.
Choosing Delay Time
Click the stage, and then click Select Delay in the sidebar. You can then provide an integer and choose from Hours/Days/Weeks/Months.
Step 4: Send Second Campaign
Drag the next campaign of the series into the program.
Step 5: Add delay
Add another delay, to spread out campaign sends.
Step 6: Send Final Campaign
Add the final campaign of your welcome series to the program.
Step 7: Publish
Press the publish button.
Step 8: Add Data Input
Now your program is complete, it's time to associate your data input.
As this is a Welcome Program, you're likely to associate a list to the program that collects new subscribers.
You can associate a Form by selecting Add to Program. Make sure to include an Add to List stage in your Program so the data is added to a list.
Step 9: Activate
Click 'Activate' to make the program live. It will now start processing any new contacts from the list associated in the Step 8.
Where Next?
Now you have an active program, you may want to manage your contacts. You can also view the other pages of documentation, to learn about stage types and the Program Builder's functionality. We also have case studies available, to help inspire you when visualising your next program.
FAQ
I want to activate my program now, but don't want it to process any contacts for a week — how can I do this?
You can do this by adding a Wait Until delay and providing your desired start date. This prevents any contacts going through program until the start date is reached.