Every workflow trigger explained
What each trigger listens for, the choices it offers, and when to use it.
A trigger is what starts a workflow for somebody. You add it in the Starts when box at the top of the workflow. A workflow can have several triggers, and any one of them starts it. Somebody already on the run is not started again.
Before you start
- A workflow open in the editor. See Build, explain and switch on a workflow.
Steps
- Open the workflow and click the Starts when box (in Canvas view) or find it at the top (in List view).
- Click Add a trigger. A list opens: Somebody starts this when…
- Click the trigger you want. Triggers marked Soon cannot be picked yet.
- Set its options, such as Which tag or From. Leave an option empty to mean "any".
- To remove a trigger, click the cross beside it.
What happens next
Contacts and forms
| Trigger | Options | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| A new contact arrives | From: anywhere (any funnel, an import, or by hand) or one funnel | Welcome emails and speed-to-lead follow-ups. |
| A form is submitted | From: any form, or one funnel's forms | Replying to every enquiry, including from people already in your contacts. It fires every time. |
| They move to a pipeline stage | Stage: any stage, or one | Acting when a card moves, by you or by a step, such as a thank-you when a lead becomes a customer. |
| A tag is added | Which tag: any, or one | The most flexible trigger. Tag people by hand, from an import, or from another workflow, and this starts. |
| A tag is removed | Which tag | Tidying up when a tag comes off. |
| A detail is set | Which detail (first name, last name, phone, or a custom field) and Becomes | When a field changes to a value, such as a custom field "stage" becoming "Won". Leave Becomes empty to start on any change. |
Sales and bookings
| Trigger | Options | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| They make a purchase | None | Thank-yous, review requests, repeat-purchase offers. It fires when an order of theirs is paid. |
| They book an appointment | None | Booking confirmations and "what to expect" notes, for any of your calendars. |
| Their appointment is completed | None | Review requests. It fires when you mark the appointment completed. |
| Their appointment is tomorrow | None | Reminders. It fires once, within the 24 hours before the appointment. |
| They miss an appointment | None | A kind "we missed you" note. It fires when you mark the appointment a no-show. |
Email engagement
| Trigger | Options | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| They open an email | Which email: any campaign, or one | Tagging readers. The first open only. |
| They click a link in an email | Which email | Tagging interested people or telling sales. The first click only. |
Your partner program
| Trigger | Options | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Someone joins your partner program | How they join: they apply, you add them, a customer is enrolled, or an automation signs them up | Welcoming new partners. Runs on the partner. |
| A partner is approved | None | Sending a starter pack. Runs on the partner. |
| A partner earns a commission | For: any commission, or a sale, a renewal, a subscription payment, a lead, a recruit's sale, or a sale added by hand | Congratulating partners. Runs on the partner. |
| A partner is paid | None | A thank-you after you record a payout. Runs on the partner. |
| Someone buys through a partner | Which partner: their partner code, or empty for any | Welcoming referred customers. Credited by the partner's link or coupon. Runs on the buyer, not the partner. |
Coming soon
These are listed with Soon and cannot be used yet: They visit a page, They abandon a checkout, An order's status changes, They join a membership and They finish a course.
Troubleshooting
The Starts when box says "Nothing yet. Click to add a trigger, or add people by hand." The workflow has no trigger, so it only runs for people you add with Add people. Add a trigger.
A tag trigger never fires. Check the tag in Which tag is the tag your contacts actually get. Also check the workflow is Running; draft triggers do not fire.
Somebody got the same email twice. Somebody already on a run is not started on it again, so the usual cause is two different workflows with the same trigger. Check the Running list and pause one.
A new contact from an import didn't start my workflow. Check From on A new contact arrives. If it is set to one funnel, imports and contacts added by hand are left out; choose anywhere.
Related
Email support@opusfunnel.com with the page you were on. A person replies, usually within one business day.