Automation triggers are the events or timing rules that start an automation in Mailcamp. When the selected trigger condition is met, Mailcamp begins the workflow and continues through the actions you have configured on the automation canvas.
What a trigger does
- A trigger is the starting point of the automation.
- It tells Mailcamp when a contact should enter the workflow.
- After the trigger fires, Mailcamp runs the next actions such as sending an email, waiting, branching, or updating contact data.
Trigger types available in Mailcamp
- Welcome new subscriber — starts when a new contact opts in.
- Say happy birthday — starts based on a birthday or date field.
- Subscriber added date — starts on the contact anniversary date.
- Specific date — starts on a defined date or time.
- Say goodbye to subscriber — starts when a contact opts out.
- API trigger — starts from an API request.
- Weekly recurring — starts on a recurring weekly schedule.
- Monthly recurring — starts on a recurring monthly schedule.
How to choose the right trigger
- Use Welcome new subscriber for onboarding flows.
- Use date-based triggers for reminders, anniversaries, or scheduled lifecycle emails.
- Use API trigger when another system needs to start the automation programmatically.
- Use recurring triggers for repeated campaigns or routine scheduled outreach.
How triggers fit into the automation builder
- The trigger appears as the first node on the automation canvas.
- From there, you can add actions such as Send an email, Wait, Condition, or contact operations.
- You can then expand the workflow with branches and delays depending on the result you want.
Best practice
- Start with one simple trigger and one email first.
- Make sure the trigger matches the audience and data available in your automation.
- Only add more conditions and actions after the starting logic is clear.
A simple way to think about it is this: the trigger decides when a contact enters the automation, and everything else in the workflow happens after that starting event.