How to Trigger an Automation from a Purchase

There are three (3) basic components to triggering an email Automation sequence after someone makes a purchase:

1) The Purchasing Contact needs to be turned into a "SUBSCRIBER"

Do this on either the Standard Store Checkout OR the freestanding Checkout Widget by clicking "Connect to Email Marketing > Select Lists" with the Checkout Settings window

2) The Purchaser/Subscriber needs to have a triggering TAG

Two options: Add the Tag via the Product itself - with the "Tag Customers" option at the bottom of that Product's set-up page within the STORE - OR - Add the Tag via the Checkout Settings window by clicking "Tag contacts on new message" then create a new tag or start typing and select from existing Tags

3) The Automation Sequence needs to be set up completely, with a Triggering Tag and TURNED ON

Do this thru the Automation Sequence creation screen. First set up your "Trigger" by clicking "Add New Trigger" and choose "Tag is Added" - then from the list of Tags, select the Tag you created/setup in Step 2 above. Next create all steps in the automation (emails/delays, etc.) that you'd like people to flow thru. Finally - turn ON the Automation. 

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS ON EACH STEP.

ALSO:

See this article on the Difference between Contacts, Subscribers & Members

See this article on the basics of Email Marketing within ShinePages

See this article on the Standard Store Checkout process 

See this article on the Freestanding Checkout Widget

See this article on Triggering Automations with Tags

See this article on Email Marketing Pricing

STEP ONE: The Purchaser Needs to Be Turned Info a "Subscriber" 

It's important to note that EVERYONE who comes in your system via a form or a purchase/checkout is automatically considered a CONTACT. However, only those purchasing CONTACTS who have been added to an EMAIL LIST (under Emails & Automations) are considered SUBSCRIBERS as well.  (note - they can be added to ANY list to be considered a SUBSCRIBER.) 

Once a purchasing CONTACT has been added to an Email List and has been turned into a SUBSCRIBER, they are then eligible to receive emails from within the ShinePages Emails & Automations function.

All CONTACTS are FREE. There is an Add-On Fee For SUBSCRIBERS above and beyond the free Subscribers allotted in your plan. Note: You may always choose instead to use a third-party email marketing platform - we integrate directly with a number of different platforms. 

*Note: You should always have permission to add someone to an email list - Please see this article on best practices for email marketing. 

HOW TO ADD SOMEONE TO AN EMAIL LIST FROM A PURCHASE/CHECKOUT PAGE:

1) Click anywhere within the Checkout widget itself on your page within the Builder. Again - this may be on the Standard Store Checkout page - OR - on a freestanding Checkout Widget you may have added to any Website page or Funnel step. 

A small pop-up toolbar will appear above the Checkout widget.

2) Click the "gear" or "cog wheel" icon to access the Checkout Settings Window

To get to Checkout Settings from the Standard Store Checkout page: 

(first find the page from your Pages & Popups List > System Pages > Store Checkout)

To get to the Checkout Settings from the freestanding Checkout Widget: 

3) From the Checkout Settings window - there are many important fields and settings to complete, including Setting the Thank You page, Allowing for Discounts (yes or no), Enabling Customer Registrations, etc, Fill out your entire Checkout Settings window and all fields as appropriate. See these articles for details on ALL the important Checkout Settings:  Standard Store Checkout  |  Freestanding Checkout Widget.

4) As you fill out the various fields in the Checkout Settings window - scroll down until you see the "Connect To Email Marketing" box. Click on the "Select Lists" button next to "Connect to Email Marketing" - and then select the appropriate List or Lists you'd like from the Select Lists popup.

*This step adds the person to an Email List and turns them into a SUBSCRIBER (as well as a CONTACT) - thus making them eligible to receive Emails & Automations (campaigns and automations) from your verified business email address. (See this article to get your email verified)  

Note: If you are using Tags to Trigger your automations - you can select ANY Email List that you have created to turn your Contacts into Subscribers.  The TAG is what will trigger off the different automations.  We recommend creating your own Lists and not using the Default List. 

STEP TWO: The Contact/Purchaser needs to have a triggering TAG

You can add a TAG to your CONTACT/Purchaser in two different ways: 

Option 1) By adding a Tag to the PRODUCT itself.  

It is always recommended to add a tag to the product.  Whenever someone purchases this product - that Tag will get added to their Contact/Subscriber Record. 

-In your STORE - click on the product itself to get into the Product set-up screen.  

-Scroll to the bottom of the Screen and click the "Edit Tags" button in the Tag Customers box.

-Select the Tag or Tags you'd like to be added to the Contact/Purchaser upon Purchase. 

-You can then use this Tag as the "Trigger" to start your Automation.

Option 2) By adding a Tag within the CHECKOUT WIDGET SETTINGS

Within the same "Checkout Settings" Window as Step One - you'll see the option to "Tag Contacts on New Message". This allows you to apply a Tag to any Contact/Subscriber that purchases thru this Checkout. You can then use this Tag as the "Trigger" to start your Automation.

Note:

-This is especially useful when using the freestanding Checkout Widget. You can set different tags when selling different products.

-When using the Standard Store Checkout - we recommend keeping the tag fairly "generic" (ie: "Buyer", "Purchaser", "Client" etc.) as it will apply to anyone purchasing ANY product thru your one store checkout process. 

STEP THREE: The Automation Sequence needs to be set up completely, with a Triggering Tag and TURNED ON

Now that you know your CONTACTS/Purchasers will be turned into SUBSCRIBERS and will receive a Tag upon purchase (whether via the product set-up or the Checkout settings) , you can go ahead and set up your Automation Sequence.

There are many ways to set up an Automation Sequence.

Please see this Full Tutorial on Setting up a Automation

And this article on Triggering an Automation with Tags

However, for the purposes of this article - here are the Quick Basics to Trigger an Automation from a Purchase:

1) From Emails & Automations - click Automations > Create a New Automation > Blank Automation then create your Automation's Name.

2) Click the top pink box that says "Click to edit your Automation Triggers" - then click "Add New Trigger"

3) From the List of potential Automation Triggers - select "Tag is Added" - then choose the name of the Tag you added in Step 2 above. 

4) NOTE: Do not select multiple Tags within one single Trigger unless you want the Trigger to REQUIRE ALL TAGS be present in order for the Contact/Subscriber/Purchaser to enter the Automation Sequence.

If you want to allow for the option of one tag OR the other as the "triggering" tag - add new Automation Triggers and select a single Tag for each trigger. This will allow this OR that tag to be the "trigger". 

5) Now complete your Automation sequence by adding as many Email Steps, Delay Steps, etc. as you would like. You will want to have as many steps completed as possible before turning ON your Automation.

Once someone has completed all current steps - they are considered "complete" and will not automatically get new steps if they are added to the end of the sequence.

We recommend adding a 'Add a Tag" step to the bottom or last step of your Automation Sequence and creating an "Automation Name Complete" (or similar) Tag - so that you can easily pull lists of all Contacts/Subscribers/Purchasers who have "completed" the Automation. 

6) Once your Automation Sequence has been built to your satisfaction - turn it ON! :)

Now your Automation is scanning for any new Contact/Subscriber/Purchaser with the Triggering Tag and will enter them into the Automation flow for you!