Behavioral triggers and workflows in Digital Marketing - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Behavioral triggers and workflows

User Action Occurs

↓

Trigger Detects Action

↓

Workflow Starts

↓

Send Message or Take Action

↓

Wait or Check Condition

↓

Next Step or End Workflow

This flow shows how a user's action triggers a workflow that sends messages or takes actions step-by-step.

Execution Sample

Digital Marketing

User clicks link -> Trigger detects click -> Workflow sends welcome email -> Wait 1 day -> Send follow-up email

This example shows a workflow starting from a user clicking a link, then sending emails in sequence.

Analysis Table

Step	Event/Action	Trigger Detected?	Workflow Action	Output/Result
1	User clicks link	Yes	Start workflow	Welcome email sent
2	Wait 1 day	N/A	Pause workflow	No action
3	After wait	N/A	Send follow-up email	Follow-up email sent
4	Workflow complete	N/A	End workflow	No further actions

💡 Workflow ends after all steps complete

State Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	Final
Trigger Detected	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Email Sent	None	Welcome email	Welcome email	Follow-up email	Both emails sent
Workflow Status	Not started	Running	Running	Running	Completed

Key Insights - 3 Insights

Why does the workflow wait after sending the first email?

The wait step pauses the workflow to give the user time before the next action, as shown in execution_table row 2.

What triggers the workflow to start?

The workflow starts when the trigger detects the user action, like clicking a link, as seen in execution_table row 1.

Does the workflow continue if the trigger is not detected?

No, the workflow only starts if the trigger detects the action, so without it, no actions happen.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the workflow status after step 2?

A Running

B Completed

C Not started

D Paused

💡 Hint

Check the 'Workflow Status' row in variable_tracker after step 2

At which step does the workflow send the follow-up email?

A Step 1

B Step 3

C Step 2

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Workflow Action' column in execution_table for sending emails

If the user never clicks the link, what happens to the workflow?

A It waits indefinitely

B It starts and sends emails anyway

C It never starts

D It sends only the welcome email

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about what triggers the workflow start

Concept Snapshot

Behavioral triggers start workflows when users act.
Workflows send messages or take actions step-by-step.
They can include waits or condition checks.
Workflow ends after all steps complete.
Triggers must detect user actions to start workflows.

Full Transcript

Behavioral triggers and workflows work together in digital marketing to automate actions based on user behavior. When a user performs an action, like clicking a link, a trigger detects it and starts a workflow. The workflow then sends messages such as emails in a sequence, possibly waiting between steps to space out communication. The workflow continues until all steps are done, then it ends. If the trigger does not detect the user action, the workflow does not start. This process helps marketers engage users automatically and timely.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of behavioral triggers in digital marketing?

easy

A. To manually send emails to customers

B. To start automated marketing actions based on user behavior

C. To design website layouts

D. To create static advertisements

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand behavioral triggers

   Behavioral triggers are designed to respond automatically when a user performs a specific action, like clicking a link or abandoning a cart.

2. Step 2: Identify the main purpose

   The main goal is to start automated marketing actions that engage the user based on their behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   To start automated marketing actions based on user behavior -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Behavioral triggers = automated actions [OK]

Hint: Triggers start actions automatically when users behave a certain way [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing triggers with manual marketing tasks
• Thinking triggers design website elements
• Assuming triggers create static ads

2. Which of the following is the correct sequence in a workflow triggered by a user abandoning a shopping cart?

easy

A. Offer discount -> Trigger event -> Send reminder email -> End workflow

B. Send reminder email -> Trigger event -> Offer discount -> End workflow

C. End workflow -> Trigger event -> Send reminder email -> Offer discount

D. Trigger event -> Send reminder email -> Offer discount -> End workflow

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the trigger event

   The workflow starts when the user abandons the shopping cart, which is the trigger event.

2. Step 2: Follow the logical workflow steps

   After the trigger, the system sends a reminder email, then may offer a discount, and finally ends the workflow.

3. Final Answer:

   Trigger event -> Send reminder email -> Offer discount -> End workflow -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Workflow sequence = trigger then actions [OK]

Hint: Workflows start with trigger, then actions, then end [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing actions before the trigger event
• Ending workflow before actions
• Mixing order of steps

3. Consider a workflow that sends a welcome email immediately after a user signs up, then waits 3 days before sending a discount offer. What will happen if the user signs up on Monday?

medium

A. Welcome email on Monday, discount offer on Thursday

B. Welcome email on Monday, discount offer on Tuesday

C. Discount offer on Monday, welcome email on Thursday

D. Only welcome email sent on Monday

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify timing of emails

   The welcome email is sent immediately on the day of signup (Monday).

2. Step 2: Calculate delay for discount offer

   The discount offer is sent after a 3-day wait, so 3 days after Monday is Thursday.

3. Final Answer:

   Welcome email on Monday, discount offer on Thursday -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Immediate email + 3-day wait = Monday and Thursday [OK]

Hint: Add wait days to signup day for next action date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sending discount offer too early
• Mixing order of emails
• Ignoring wait time in workflow

4. A marketer created a workflow to send a discount email when a user visits a product page but notices no emails are sent. What is the most likely error?

medium

A. The discount email content is missing

B. The workflow ends before the trigger

C. The trigger is not set to detect the product page visit

D. The user already received the discount email

Solution

1. Step 1: Check trigger setup

   If no emails are sent, the trigger detecting the product page visit may not be configured correctly.

2. Step 2: Understand workflow flow

   Without a proper trigger, the workflow never starts, so no emails are sent.

3. Final Answer:

   The trigger is not set to detect the product page visit -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Trigger missing or wrong = no workflow start [OK]

Hint: Verify triggers first if workflow actions don't run [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming email content causes no send
• Thinking workflow order is wrong
• Ignoring trigger importance

5. A company wants to increase sales by sending personalized offers only to customers who viewed a product twice but did not buy it within 5 days. Which workflow setup best achieves this?

hard

A. Trigger on product view count ≥ 2 -> Wait 5 days -> Check purchase -> Send offer if no purchase

B. Trigger on first product view -> Send offer immediately -> Wait 5 days

C. Trigger on purchase -> Send offer -> Wait 5 days

D. Trigger on product view count ≥ 1 -> Send offer immediately

Solution

1. Step 1: Define trigger condition

   The trigger must detect when a customer views the product at least twice.

2. Step 2: Add wait and check purchase

   Waiting 5 days allows time for purchase; then check if purchase happened.

3. Step 3: Send offer only if no purchase

   If no purchase is made, send the personalized offer to encourage buying.

4. Final Answer:

   Trigger on product view count ≥ 2 -> Wait 5 days -> Check purchase -> Send offer if no purchase -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Trigger + wait + condition + offer = personalized workflow [OK]

Hint: Use triggers with conditions and delays for targeted offers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sending offers too early without checking purchase
• Triggering on wrong event
• Ignoring wait time before offer