Skip to content

Use Campaign Triggers to Automatically Send Messages

SalesBuilder Campaigns use Triggers to automatically send messages to the right customer, at the right time.    In this article, we'll explain what each trigger type does and how to set up your trigger.

Each trigger has up to 3 variables, titled X, Y and Z.  These control how the trigger behaves and are explained along with each trigger definition.

Trigger Types: 


Welcome:   This is sent when a customer is first enrolled in the campaign.  You can control the expiration period for attached offers using the "Y" variable.  The message is normally sent immediately - you can set a delay using the "Z" variable.

Web Signup Welcome:  This is sent instead of the Welcome when a customer is first enrolled in the campaign, if they sign up via the "Sign Up" page online.  This allows you to vary the offers and message for web sign ups.   You can control the expiration period for attached offers using the "Y" variable.   The message is normally sent immediately - you can set a delay using the "Z" variable.

Activation:  This is sent when a customer activates their account by filling out all required fields on their customer profile.   Some programs skip sending any offers on their welcome, but instead require customers to activate in order to get their 1st offer.   You can set a delay using the "X" variable and an expiration using the "Y" variable.

Birthday:  This is sent prior to the customer birthday.  You can specify how many days prior using the "X" variable (it will default to 10 if nothing is entered) and the offer expiration using the "Y" variable. 

Half Birthday:  Sent 6 months from the customer's birthday.  You can specify an offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Extra Birthday:  Sent prior to any "extra family member" birthdays.  You can specify how many days prior using the "X" variable (it will default to 10 if nothing is entered) and the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Extra Half Birthday:  Sent 6 months from any "extra family member" birthday.  You can specify an offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Anniversary:  Sent prior to customer's wedding anniversary.   You can specify how many days prior using the "X" variable (it will default to 10 if nothing is entered) and the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.    (Note: For anniversary of sign up, us the "X days from start" option)

Lost Customer:   Sent after time has passed since the last transaction. You can specify how many days past using the "X" variable and the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.     Many programs will include several "Lost" customer messages with escalating offers for longer periods, such as 30, 60, 90 days.

Specific Date:   Sent on the specific date you designate - Great for holidays or special events.   Use the X variable to specify the date MM-DD or MM-DD-YYYY if you don't want it to repeat each year.   Set he offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Point Certificate: Sent when customer reaches a certain # of points, and then reset the points to 0.   This will always reset points to 0 when it is reached.  Use the X variable to set the # of points required.   In this trigger, "Z" is used for expiration.   "Y" is not typically used for email or text messaging.

If the customer earns multiples of the required points in 1 transaction, only 1 message will be sent, but the offer will be duplicated. 

All time spending award: This is sent when customer reaches a $ amount of total spending, not dependent on points.   Therefore even if points are reset due to issuing a point certificate, you can still reach various levels of this award. However, since this is based on crossing a certain $ threshold, each award can only be issued 1x in a customer's life.   Use the "X" variable to set the $ amount,  and the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Only 1 award per transaction is sent, so if a single transaction would cross multiple thresholds, the customer will get the highest $ amount eligible.

Point Balance: This trigger sends when a point balance is reached, similar to the Point Certificate, but gives you the option to reset points (making it the same as the point certificate) or to not reset points. (making it more like the all time spending, only based on points not $).   Use the "X" Variable to set the point balance, the "Y" variable to set the offer expiration, and the "Z" variable to control if points reset (Y or N).  This is often used for a "You are near a reward" message.

Visits: Sends based on # of transactions rather than $ or points. This has the option to send after every X visits with the option to repeat in multiples of X.  Use the "X" variable to specify the # of visits required, the "Y" Variable for the offer expiration, and set the "Z" variable to Y for Yes if you want it to repeat every time the customer reaches X more visits.

Customer Satisfaction Survey:  Sent when a transaction is received.  You can specify the minimum transaction amount using the "X" variable, and the minimum # of days between surveys per customer using the "Y" Variable.  The survey is no longer available after 40 days.

Member Referral:  Sent to any new member referred by a customer via the customer survey or their personal referral page.  Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Gift Balance:   IF using Salesbuilder to track pre-paid account or gift card balances, use this trigger to send messages based on that balance. The "X" variable specifies the balance. Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable and the "Z" variable to control if balance resets (Y or N).   

Preload X time from start:  Sent after a specified time since customer joined program or was added to the campaign.   Use the X variable to specify time such as 15M, 24H, 10D   (minutes, hours, days - capitalization is required).    Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Transaction Value:  Sent when a transaction equal or greater than the specified value is received.  Use the X Variable to specify the transaction amount.   Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.    If multiple of these are in place, the  largest one qualified will be sent. 

Point Level Expiration:  Used in conjunction with program "levels" which can put customers on different campaigns automatically based on their historical spend.  Since this level can be re-evaluated on a periodic basis, you can use this trigger to let customers know that their level is nearing expiration.   Specific merge tags can tell the customer how much they've spent so they know what they need to do to maintain their status.  Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable.

Completed Survey:  Sent when a completed survey is received from a customer.  If you wish to limit the message to customers who score you >= X, enter the numeric score in the X box  (Scores are typically from 1 -4 with 4 being high).  Use the "Z" field to enter < or = or another operator to evaluate score (the default is >=).   This is a great way to send an offer or reward to customers who complete a survey. 

Bucket:   Several "Point Bucket" triggers will be in your system depending on whether you have any additional point buckets defined.  These buckets are typically used in conjunction with your point-of-sale system to earn points based on specific items purchased.   Use this trigger to send rewards based on earning those points.  The "X" variable specifies the point level.   Set the offer expiration using the "Y" variable and the "Z" variable to control if points reset (Y or N).

To learn more about setting the trigger on a campaign message, click here.




Feedback and Knowledge Base