Triggers and actions: Methods for enrolling subscribers

Automations let you create custom workflows based on subscriber behavior, helping you guide readers through personalized journeys. If you're new to automations, we recommend starting with our guide on how to create automated journeys for your subscribers.

This article outlines a few different ways to enroll subscribers into your automation workflows — two using segments, and one that allows you to move subscribers from one workflow to another.

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Enrolling subscribers using the Segment Action trigger

The Segment Action trigger lets you enroll subscribers into an automation when they enter or exit a specific segment. This is especially useful when targeting highly engaged readers or re-engaging those who have dropped off.

1. From your account dashboard, go to Audience > Automations, then either create a new automation or open an existing workflow.
   
   
2. On the workflow canvas, click Add Trigger or use the Configure step icon in the top-right corner of the trigger box (they open the same panel on the left).
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the left panel that opens, click Add Trigger, then select Segment Action.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. The trigger settings will appear in the left panel. Choose whether the trigger should activate when someone has Entered a segment or Exited a segment.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. For the second option, select one of your existing segments from the dropdown menu.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. (Optional) You can further customize the trigger by clicking Add Conditions to refine the trigger logic, or Add Trigger to layer in additional triggers.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. When you are ready to activate the trigger, toggle on Activate at the top of the panel. A confirmation message will appear — click Confirm to continue.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Once active, the trigger will appear colored on the workflow canvas, indicating it’s live. Click Save in the bottom-right corner of the panel to finalize.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Tech Note: Segment entry and exit are not calculated in real time. They update during segment recalculations, which vary based on the segment type.

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Adding a segment of subscribers to an active automation 

You can easily enroll an entire segment of subscribers into an automation using the Manual trigger, which allows you to bypass other triggers and add subscribers directly. This method is useful when you want to bulk-enroll subscribers without relying on behavioral triggers or conditions.

1. Go to Audience > Segments, and either create and run a new segment or choose an existing one to use. Make sure the segment is complete and accurately reflects the group you want to enroll.
   
   
2. Switch over to Audience > Automations, and create a new automation using the Manual trigger. You can leave the trigger conditions blank or match them to the segment criteria. Once configured, activate the automation.
   
   
3. Return to Segments and open the dashboard for the segment you want to use. Click the arrow next to Quick export, and select Add to automations from the dropdown.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Choose the appropriate automation from the list. All subscribers in the segment will be added to the selected workflow — bypassing any triggers or conditions.

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Moving subscribers between workflows using the Enroll in Automation node

The Enroll in Automation action node allows you to automatically move subscribers from one automation into another. This is especially useful for guiding subscribers through multi-stage journeys — such as transitioning them from a welcome series to an upsell sequence.

1. From your account dashboard, go to Audience > Automations, then either create a new automation or open an existing workflow.
   
   
2. On the workflow canvas, locate the Actions panel on the left. If it's collapsed, click the arrow icon to expand it.
   
   Under Flow control, select Enroll in Automation, then drag and place it beneath a trigger or another step where you want subscribers to continue into a new workflow.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. After you add it to the workflow, click on the Configure step icon found in the right corner of the Enroll in Automation node.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. In the left panel that opens, select the automation you want subscribers to enter by clicking into the Select Automations field.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. (Optional) Click + Add Conditions to set criteria that must be met before a subscriber is passed to the next workflow.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. At the top of the left panel, toggle on Activate so the node turns pink, then click Confirm in the pop-up window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Once activated, the Enroll in Automation node will appear colored on the workflow canvas, indicating it’s live. Click Save in the bottom-right corner of the panel to finalize.
   
   
   

Visual Example

In the example below, the trigger connected to the Enroll in Automation node is receiving subscribers from another workflow. Once activated, this node appears as Referring Automations, indicating that it's successfully accepting subscribers from a separate automation.

Notes about using the Enroll in Automation node:

• Subscribers will move directly into the selected automation, bypassing that workflow’s trigger conditions.
• If you have re-entry conditions specified in a particular workflow, they will still apply.
• The node’s label will automatically update to Referring Automations once it’s activated.