Forms & Actions > Maintain recipient's profile with actions > Defining actions > Action: Triggering an action-based mailing

Action: Triggering an action-based mailing

Before triggering an action-based mailing using an action, you must create a new mailing. Proceed as follows:

1.Create a new mailing as described in chapter "Mailings - Sending out newsletters". All options described there are at your disposal. It is a good idea to start all action-based mailings with a specific text like for instance Event: This makes mailing management easier.
2.In the entry dialog for the new mailing, select Action-based mailing as the Mailing type. Save the new mailing by clicking on the Save button and proceed like for any other mailing.
Fig. 8.27: Create a new mailing, selecting the Type Action-based mailing.

Fig. 8.27: Create a new mailing, selecting the Type Action-based mailing.

3.Once you have finished defining contents, trackable links etc., click on the Send mailing tab. Unlike for normal mailings, the bottom button is not Send mailing, but Activate. Click on this button to activate your action-based mailing.
Please note: Action-based mailings will not be sent to the recipients right away. It only activates the mailing in the OpenEMM so that a defined action may trigger sending an email to that recipient. Only recipients who have triggered the action by clicking on a link will receive a mailing.
Fig. 8.28: The link Activate mailing tells the OpenEMM that an action-based mailing is ready.

Fig. 8.28: The link Activate mailing tells the OpenEMM that an action-based mailing is ready.

4.If you want an action to trigger a mailing, the procedure to follow is similar to that needed for a profile modification. Follow steps 1 to 3 as described in the previous chapter "Action: Changing recipient profile". This calls up the entry dialog for an action; you enter a name and description. After that, proceed as follows:
5.Set the Type drop-down list to Send actionbased mailing and click on Add. Clicking on the Save button sends your entries to the system.
Fig. 8.29: The setting Send actionbased mailing creates an action which sends out mailings.

Fig. 8.29: The setting Send actionbased mailing creates an action which sends out mailings.

6.In the contents area under Steps, you will see a different entry dialog from that shown for profile modification, since a mailing requires different parameters. The drop-down list displays all action-based mailing lists which you have defined so far. Select the relevant mailing.
Please note: The drop-down list does not feature either normal mailings or date-based mailings.
7.The Delay drop-down list sets the time lapse between starting the action and sending the email. There are various options, from one hour to seven days. A delay makes sense, for instance, if you offer the recipient an individual offer. Any normal person would expect this to take several hours at least.
Fig. 8.30: The Delay drop-down list sets the delay after which the action actually sends out the email.

Fig. 8.30: The Delay drop-down list sets the delay after which the action actually sends out the email.

8.By clicking on the Save button, the changed settings are stored in the system.
9.The Add step area will take any number of new steps for this particular action. Just repeat from step 4. Steps already defined may be amended at any time. All you need to do is to enter new values and confirm by clicking on Save.
Please note: It is not a problem to modify a profile and send an e-mail within the same action.
10.To delete a step, click on the Delete symbol at the end of the relevant line.
Please note: The OpenEMM will delete that step without asking for confirmation. You should take care with that button.