What is an Automation?
Automations in Funnelflow are powerful workflows that trigger actions automatically based on form submissions, user behavior, or time-based events. They eliminate manual work and ensure consistent, timely responses to your leads and customers.
🎯 Core Concept
An automation is a series of connected actions that run automatically when specific conditions are met. Think of it as a digital assistant that handles routine tasks 24/7, so you can focus on what matters most.
Basic Automation Flow
Trigger → Conditions → Actions → ResultsFor example:
Form Submitted → Lead Score > 80 → Assign to Sales Rep → Send Welcome Email🔧 Key Components
1. Triggers
Events that start your automation:
- Form Submission - When someone completes your form
- Field Value - When specific data is entered
- Time-Based - After a certain period or at specific times
- User Behavior - Page visits, email opens, link clicks
2. Conditions
Rules that determine if actions should run:
- Lead Scoring - Based on demographic and behavioral data
- Field Values - Specific answers or data ranges
- User Properties - Location, device, referral source
- Time Constraints - Business hours, weekdays, specific dates
3. Actions
What happens when conditions are met:
- Send Emails/SMS - Personalized messages to leads or team members
- Update CRM - Create contacts, deals, or update existing records
- Assign Leads - Route to specific team members or departments
- Calculate Scores - Update lead scores based on new information
- Webhooks - Send data to external systems
📊 Automation Types
Lead Nurturing
Automatically guide prospects through your sales funnel:
- Welcome series for new subscribers
- Educational content based on interests
- Follow-up sequences for different lead types
- Re-engagement campaigns for inactive leads
Sales Process
Streamline your sales operations:
- Instant lead notifications to sales reps
- Automatic lead scoring and prioritization
- Meeting scheduling and calendar integration
- Proposal follow-ups and reminders
Customer Onboarding
Smooth new customer experiences:
- Welcome packages and getting started guides
- Account setup instructions
- Training resource delivery
- Check-in sequences for satisfaction
Internal Operations
Improve team efficiency:
- Task assignments based on form data
- Team notifications for urgent requests
- Data validation and cleanup
- Reporting and dashboard updates
🌟 Automation Benefits
24/7 Responsiveness
- Instant acknowledgment of form submissions
- Immediate lead routing to available team members
- Time-zone appropriate follow-ups
- Holiday and weekend coverage
Consistent Experience
- Standardized messaging across all touchpoints
- Reliable follow-up schedules
- Uniform lead qualification process
- Brand-consistent communications
Increased Efficiency
- Eliminate manual data entry
- Reduce response time from hours to seconds
- Free up team for high-value activities
- Scale operations without adding staff
Better Lead Management
- Never lose a lead due to delayed follow-up
- Prioritize high-value prospects automatically
- Track engagement throughout the funnel
- Optimize conversion at every stage
🎨 Advanced Features
Multi-Channel Campaigns
- Coordinated email and SMS sequences
- Social media integration
- Direct mail automation
- Retargeting campaign triggers
Smart Personalization
- Dynamic content based on form data
- Behavioral trigger customization
- Geographic and demographic targeting
- A/B testing for optimization
Integration Ecosystem
- CRM synchronization (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive)
- Email platforms (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign)
- Communication tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams)
- Analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Mixpanel)
📈 Measuring Success
Key Metrics
- Response Time - How quickly leads receive follow-up
- Conversion Rate - Percentage of leads that become customers
- Engagement Score - How leads interact with automated content
- Time Savings - Hours saved through automation
Optimization Opportunities
- Test different message timing
- Experiment with content variations
- Adjust lead scoring criteria
- Refine targeting conditions
🚀 Getting Started
Simple First Automation
Start with a basic welcome email:
- Trigger: Form submission
- Condition: All new leads
- Action: Send welcome email with resources
Progressive Enhancement
Gradually add complexity:
- Lead scoring based on form answers
- Different paths for different lead types
- Follow-up sequences based on engagement
- CRM integration for seamless handoff
📚 Next Steps
Ready to build your first automation?