Setup Triggers

Setting Up Triggers

A trigger allows performing automated actions based on predefined criteria. Once a subscriber/contact qualifies for the criteria, the application performs particular action automatically. It can be an email campaign to the subscribers based on momentous events, a well throughout promotional message to encourage more sales, a greeting message on each anniversary of a particular date, or even an action to add particular qualified subscribers/contacts to another list. But it isn't always easy for a non-technical person to setup the criteria for triggers to work effectively for significant results.

MUMARA offers a smooth process consisting of 3 simple steps to set the trigger based actions. The step-by-step process is described for you to follow in order to setup Triggers.

1st Step: Setup Triggers

Figure#10.1.1: Setting Up Triggers

The first step lets you setup the essential criteria for the new trigger, it helps to select the type, email campaign/subscriber list to connect the trigger with, and more advanced options to set further rules for the trigger based action. 

Trigger Name
Give this trigger a distinct identity among the list of other triggers within the system. The name can be anything like, "Birthday" trigger, etc. 

The field underneath the trigger name is for the selection of "Trigger Type", the trigger types in relation to other related fields on the page are discussed in the following area.

1) On Email Opening

Choose this type to work your trigger with the opening of emails, whenever the subscribers/contacts from the selected email campaign(s) will open up the emails they receive, the application will execute the trigger. The following set of options opens up, once you choose the type of trigger action connected with the opening of an email.

Campaign Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Campaigns” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email campaigns across the application. What does it mean? A subscriber who opens up any of the existent email campaigns qualifies for the trigger.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email campaign(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, who qualify for the triggers.

The following figure demonstrates applying the new rule. Initially, the trigger is set for the openers of all the existent email campaigns, and by using the Set Rules fields, it is further restricting the qualification criteria for the contacts whose “Confirmation Status” “Is” “Confirmed”.  

Figure#10.1.2: Trigger Type and Applying Rules

You can explore a following number of rules.

The trigger type follows the same pattern as described before for the first type of trigger, however, in this case, the contract qualifies for the triggers, when it doesn’t only open up the email, but also clicks the link within the email campaign. Here are the other connected options with this particular trigger type, to perform during the first step of setting up triggers.

Campaign Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Campaigns” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email campaigns across the application. The selection of the first option covers all the links within all existent email campaigns.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email campaign(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Link Clicked

The dropdown has automatically collected the number of Links, according to your selection of the option "Campaign Type". For example, if you have selected “Globally all Campaigns” in the previous step; it will collect all the email links from currently available email campaigns.

However, in the case of the selection of the 2nd option “Selected Campaigns”, the dropdown will only be containing the links of selected emails.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

You can explore following a number of rules while setting up new triggers. 

3) Birthday Trigger

Unlike previously discussed trigger types that work with the help of email campaigns, the birthday trigger works with the email list. You will be able to send Birthday Greetings automatically to your subscribers by using this type of trigger. Let’s explore the other related options.

List Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Lists” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email lists across the application. It will cover all the subscribers saved across all the currently available email lists.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email list(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

The following figure demonstrates applying the new rule. The new rule is limiting the number of subscribers to qualify for the triggers, the ones with birthdays "On" "Sunday" only. 

Figure#10.1.3: Trigger Type and Applying Rules

4) Specific Calendar Data

This type executes triggers on specific calendar data that you will propose. The trigger can be an upcoming event, like a trigger based on Christmas Greetings. Or this may be a Christmas promotional offer, scheduled to be triggered on the Christmas day on the calendar.

Select Date

Fill this field with the exact date, when you want this trigger to initiate. The date format should be Month/Date/Year.

List Type

As previously discussed “Birthday” type of triggers, this type will also work with the email lists. There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Lists” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email lists across the application. It will cover all the subscribers saved across all the currently available email lists.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email list(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

5) Custom Field Date

The type of trigger helps to connect the trigger with the particular list having a custom date field. It triggers the action when the date mentioned in the custom date field approaches. Like you may have the joining date of subscribers saved in your list, the type of trigger can help taking specific action automatically, on approaching that joining date.

The following two fields will appear, once you select custom field date as trigger type.

Select List

Select the list you want this type of custom field date trigger to work with.

Select Date Field

As soon as you select the list from the dropdown above, all date fields in the related list will start appearing in this dropdown. Like if you have a date of joining, date of birth, date of termination, or any other date field associated with the selected list. Select the desired date field and proceed.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

6) Bounced

This type of trigger will work when some subscriber’s email bounces back. The trigger type works with both the lists and with email campaigns as well. The subscriber from the selected list(s) bounced back as a result of sending the selected campaign(s), will qualify for this type of trigger.

List Type

Selection of the first option ensures that the trigger will work when any of the subscriber’s email bounces back, from any of the currently available email list(s) in the system. However, the selection of the second option will enable selecting one or more lists from currently available lists to work this trigger with.

Campaign Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Campaigns” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email campaigns across the application. It means that the trigger will execute if bounced back occurs in a result of sending any of the email campaigns across the system.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email campaign(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

The following figure demonstrates applying the new rule. The rule in the following figure will trigger the action only when the "Bounce" "Is" "Hard". The way for you to actually clean your list from hard bounces, as you will be able to move or remove the hard bounces from your current list, in the final step of setting up the trigger.

Figure#10.1.4: Applying New Rule

Here are the other set of rules you can apply.

7) Unsubscribe

This type of trigger works the same as described above for the “Bounced”. The subscriber from the selected list(s) who unsubscribed as a result of sending the selected campaign(s), will qualify for this type of trigger.

List Type

Selection of the first option ensures that the trigger will work when any of the contacts unsubscribe, from any of the currently available email list(s) in the system. However, the selection of the second option will enable selecting one or more lists from currently available lists to work this trigger with.

Campaign Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Campaigns” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email campaigns across the application. It means that the trigger will execute if the contact unsubscribes as a result of sending any of the email campaigns across the system.

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email campaign(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

Apply one or more following rules for the subscribers to qualify for the trigger.

8) Delivery Status

Set triggers based on PowerMTA delivery status, you can set this type to execute the trigger based action, when the email is delivered to a particular subscriber or failed to deliver.

List Type

Selection of the first option ensures that the trigger will work when the email is delivered or failed to deliver, and this will apply to all the contacts within all the lists. However, the selection of the second option will enable selecting one or more lists from currently available lists to work this trigger with.

Campaign Type

There are two options to select, the first option “Globally all Campaigns” allows connecting the selected trigger type with all existing email campaigns across the application. It means that the trigger will execute if the contact receives or failed to receive any of the existent campaigns across the system,

However, selecting the second option will let you select one or more email campaign(s) to connect this trigger with. You can select the desired ones.

Set Rules

There are three fields towards the bottom of the first step of setting up a new trigger, under the set rule area. All these three fields together constitute the complete structure of the new rule you want to apply. The new rule will actually enable you to explore further options for the better categorization of the contacts, qualify for the triggers.

The following figure demonstrates applying a new rule, where the subscribers/contacts with delivery status as "Relayed", will qualify for the trigger only.

Figure#10.1.5: Applying New Rule

2nd Step: Trigger to take Action

Figure#10.1.6: Taking Actions

The 2nd step of creating a new trigger enables setting up criteria for the triggers to perform the actions; possible combinations to perform the trigger based actions are discussed in the following area in detail.

All the fields during the second step of setting up the trigger help making appropriate combinations to perform trigger based actions, except for the “Notification Email” button towards the bottom. Before we start discussing the possible combinations to trigger the actions, let's read what the events in triggers are.

Event
In triggers, the event is marked when the specific criteria is met. For example, if the trigger is set “On Email Opening”, the event will be marked when the subscriber will open up the email.

Let's now discuss the fields in the 2nd step of the process.

Figure#10.1.7: 2nd Step Of the Process

Perform Action

This first dropdown opens with two or three options. . In the case of the Birthday, or Specific Calendar Date type of triggers, the dropdown offers an extra option to perform the action “Before” particular data of the event. But for the rest of the triggers, it offers two options only, 1st is on the event and after the event.

Period

What period of time before or after the event, you want the triggers to execute. It starts from hours before or after the event and can be set as a specific number of days, weeks, or even days before or after the event. The event has already been discussed above.

Occurrence

Do you want this trigger to just perform the action once “On the Date”? Or you want the triggers to perform action “On Next Anniversary” or “On Each Anniversary” or the event? Make your selection from the dropdown that opens.

Possible Combinations to Perform Actions

Above we have discussed all three fields and the options dropdowns offer, here are the combinations that you can implement

On the Event

Selection of this option means, when the event is triggered, the action will be performed straightaway. The fields underneath for the time “Period” selection will remain disabled if you select this option.

After

Selections of this option “After” actives another field underneath, for the selection of time “Period”. Following is the list of possible combinations of “After” and time “Period” fields.

Before

The dropdown only offers this option for the “Birthday” and “Specific Calendar Date’ type of triggers. As for the rest of the triggers, it starts calculating the time when the event is marked and there isn’t anything before the event. The system doesn’t have any ability to forecast, when will the contact open the email, click the link, bounced back, or unsubscribe, etc? So you can only use this option for Birthday and Date Specific types of triggers. It works the same with the time “Period” options and can create the following set of combinations.

Now after discussing the first two fields, now we have reached the third one called occurrence. This would also provide you three different options, to select the desired one. Following are possible combinations.

On the Date Only

The selection of the first option will make sure that the trigger based action is performed once,

On Next Anniversary

Selection of this option means that the trigger based action will be performed,

On Each Anniversary

This type of options are mostly linked with “Birthday” triggers, as it enables executing the trigger based action,

3rd step: Finalizing 

Figure#10.1.8: Finalizing

Trigger Status
Work this button towards the left side, in order to deactivate the trigger. By default, this option is selected as “active”.

Subscriber Options
The dropdown offers more than few options to manage the contacts qualified for the pre-defined trigger. Here are these options.

Move Subscribers
The first option lets you move the qualified subscribers to another list and moving it means, cutting from the parent list and moving it to the selected destination list.  

Copy Subscribers
It will copy the qualified contacts from their parent lists and will paste them to the selected destination list. So you will have these subscribers in both parent and destination lists.

Remove Subscribers
Fields for “If Duplicate Found” and “Select List” will disappear, once you select this option. Because the selection of this option will entirely remove the qualified contacts from their current lists. You may want to remove the subscriber’s email bounced with some particular bounce code that you don’t want to keep in your list anymore, this option will help.

Add to Suppression List
Suppression lists are also known as Do Not Send to list and the application omits the emails added to a suppression list while sending the future email campaign.  If you select this option, the qualified contacts will automatically be added to the suppression list, this can be the way for you to suppress the contacts who ‘Unsubscribed”.

Send an Email
Selecting this option will open a whole new set of fields underneath, for the selection of campaigns and other essential measures to send an email campaign to the subscribers, qualified for the trigger based action. The fields related to sending an email are discussed in the following area.

Select Email Campaign
Dropdown carries a list of all email campaigns to select the desired one and send to the subscribers, qualified for the trigger based action.

SMTP List
Select SMTP account to send the selected email campaign, upon qualifying for the trigger based action. You can select one or multiple SMTP accounts by ticking the checkboxes with the names of the SMTP accounts.

Sender Information
Sender information is the set of information that will go along with the email campaign, sent in the result of trigger based action. You are offered with the two options to select one of it.

From SMTP
The first option next to “Sender Information” is intended to select the sender ID batch that you have created while setting up the selected SMTP account(s).  The selection of this option will enable the application to automatically get the required sender information from the select SMTP account, and send this campaign using the set of information saved in a particular SMTP account.

From Name
An additional field will appear below once you select “From SMTP”. The field enables to provide separate “From Name” in the field other than the “From Name” which you already have provided during the creation of the selected SMTP account. If you use this additional from name field, this from name will replace the name setup and saved in the sender information batch of the SMTP account. The rest of the information such as “Reply Email” or Bounce Email will remain the same as suggested in the SMTP account.

However, if you don’t want to use the additional from name field and want your email to be sent out using the from name setup in the sender information batch of SMTP, then tick the checkbox underneath the from name field, to make this field irrelevant.

Custom
If you opt to provide “Custom” sender information, the following fields will appear on your screen to provide relevant details to move forward.

The selection of the “Custom” sender information ensures that no information has been obtained from SMTP, and the particular email campaign is set to be sent using the custom sender details. 

Custom Sender Information

From Name

Provide the name of the person/company, who is sending this email message, the name will appear in from field of the recipient’s email client.

From Email

 

Email of the person/company who is sending the email message. It helps recipients to recognize the sender of the email.

Bounce Email

 

Email account for bounce collection

Reply Email

It informs the recipient that in case of replying to the message. A reply will be sent to that “Reply to” email.

Track Opens
Work this button towards the right side to track the opens of the email campaign; you have set to send to the contacts, qualified for the trigger based action. If you don't want to track the opens, keep the button in its default position.

Track Clicks
Work this button towards the right side to track the click of the email campaign; you have set to send to the contacts, qualified for the trigger based action. If you don't want to track the clicks, keep the button in its default position.

If Duplicate Found
Let’s select one of the options to manage the duplicates.

Skip Duplicate and Keep in Original List
This option is appropriate when you are moving the subscribers to another list, it will skip the duplicates while moving the subscribers, but keeps in the original list.

Skip Duplicate and Remove from Original List
The option is appropriate when you are copying the subscribers to another list, It will skip the duplicate entry while copying, and will remove the duplicate from the original/parent list as well.

Overwrite Duplicate
It will overwrite the duplicates in the selected lists and will remove them from the original/parent list.

Select List
Select destination lists for the subscribers who qualified for the trigger based actions; it will move or copy the subscribers to that particular list, according to your earlier selection of the option for “Subscriber Options’.

Once you are done with all required steps, press 'Submit" the newly setup trigger.