SendWhale Automations Overview: Triggers, Actions, Flows

Use the automation workflow builder to send emails automatically based on triggers, conditions, actions, and contact enrollment rules.

Automations let you send emails automatically based on contact behavior or conditions — without manually scheduling each message. You design a workflow once in the visual builder, then SendWhale handles enrollment and execution as contacts match your trigger criteria.

How automations work

The workflow builder is a visual editor where you design the full shape of an automation flow. You place triggers, conditions, delays, and actions on a canvas, then connect them into a sequence SendWhale follows for every enrolled contact.

Triggers

A trigger is the event that starts a contact’s journey through the workflow. Supported triggers include:

• A contact joins an audience
• A contact updates a field
• A date-based trigger (e.g., a contact’s anniversary date)
• Other supported events — open the builder to see all available triggers for your plan

Actions

Actions are the steps SendWhale performs for each enrolled contact. Supported actions include:

• Send an email
• Wait a delay period
• Apply a tag to a contact
• Update a contact field
• Other supported actions — check the builder for the full list

Conditions

Add conditions to branch your workflow based on contact attributes or previous behavior. A condition evaluates to true or false and routes contacts down different paths, letting you send different messages to different segments within the same automation.

Contact enrollment

Contacts enter a workflow when they match the trigger condition. Each contact follows the workflow steps in order, respecting any delays or branching conditions you have configured.

Automation capabilities depend on your SendWhale plan. Check the builder for which triggers and actions are available on your plan.