What is a workflow?
Workflows are AWeber's powerfully-simple email automation platform. With workflows, you can send the right message to the right person at the right time.
With Workflows, you can build your workflow automation using five key actions: Starter, Send a Message, Wait, Apply Tag, and Check Feed. Simply drag and drop these actions to create an automation flow.
This article will explain the main components of Workflows and how to use each action effectively.
Starters
Every workflow starts with a Starter. Choose between:
- Add all new subscribers who join my list. Start your workflow when someone subscribes through a specific method.
- Only add subscribers who get a specific tag. Start your workflow when a tag is applied to a subscriber.
Canvas
The Canvas is your workspace for building workflows. It's the grey area where you arrange and connect action items in the order you want them to occur.
Important Note: Workflows autosave as you make changes, so you don’t need to manually save your progress. However, you’ll need to click "Publish" in the top-right corner to activate any changes made to your workflow.
Message
The "Message" action lets you send an email to subscribers at a specific point in your workflow. You can either:
- Select a pre-written message from Drafts.
- Create a new message directly within the Workflows builder.
Pro Tip: Creating your messages ahead of time in Drafts speeds up the workflow-building process and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Wait
Use the "Wait" action to set a delay before the next step in your workflow. Simply drag it onto the Canvas and choose the desired time interval and send window from the right-hand menu.
Tag
The "Tag" action lets you add or remove tags for subscribers as they move through your workflow. Tags are a powerful tool for starting other workflows, organizing subscribers into specific segments, or tracking their journey. Drag this action to your Canvas and enter the tag(s) to apply or remove in the menu on the right.
Check Feed
The "Check Feed" action monitors your RSS feed for new content. When new posts are found, it can automatically send a message to your subscribers.
Split Path
The "Split Path" action enables you to customize your email flow by segmenting your audience based on their interactions with your messages.
For instance, if a subscriber opens a message, you can direct them to Path 1, such as a promotional offer. Alternatively, if a subscriber does not open the message, they can be automatically routed to Path 2, where they might receive a reminder or a different incentive. This allows you to deliver more targeted, personalized content to your subscribers, improving engagement and conversion rates.