The Send Email and Send SMS blocks are essential tools for communicating with your subscribers in automations. Since these two blocks work similarly, we’ll refer to them collectively as “Campaign Blocks” throughout this guide. Whether you want to use them as a starting point for your automation or integrate them into the workflow, these blocks let you send messages with precision and ease.

How to Use Campaign Blocks

When working with Campaign blocks, you can either create new campaigns or use existing ones. Here’s how each works:

• Creating a New Campaign: Drag the Send Email or Send SMS block into the automation grid and click it. For Email campaigns, selecting Create Campaign takes you into the Campaign builder, where you’ll design your email. Unlike standalone campaigns, this builder won’t include a scheduling step since the automation itself determines when they’re sent. For SMS campaigns, a side panel opens, allowing you to directly type your message.
• Using an Existing Campaign: The Select Campaign option (available only for Email) lets you choose from pre-built campaigns. If your email is the starting point of the automation, then all of your campaigns will appear in the list regardless of type. However, if this email is used within the automation flow then only API type emails will show in the list. If you do not see your email, then return to the Campaigns dashboard and edit your mailing to be Automated > API type, then try to add it to your automation again.
  

Placement of Campaign Blocks in Automations

• As a Starting Point: You can initiate your automation with either a Send Email or Send SMS block. Any campaign type—regular, triggered, or recurring—can serve as the entry point. Once the automation starts, contacts receiving the campaign will automatically enter the workflow.
• Within the Workflow: Adding these blocks later in the automation offers the same flexibility. Email campaigns allow you to either create a new email or select an existing one, while SMS campaigns let you craft a message directly within the block. This ensures you can insert targeted communication at the most strategic points in your automation.

Best Practices for Campaign Blocks

To optimize the performance of your automations, keep these tips in mind:

1. Give Contacts Time to Engage: After sending a campaign, build in time for recipients to interact with your message. Use a Pause block or the Re-evaluate option of most Conditions before moving to the next step, especially when tracking actions like opens or clicks.
2. Avoid Overloading Inboxes: Be considerate of how often your contacts receive messages. If you have multiple automations, stagger your sends to avoid overwhelming their inbox, which could lead to unsubscribes.
3. Plan for Efficiency: When creating campaigns that will later be added to an automation, double-check your campaign settings (e.g., ensuring Email campaigns are marked as API-type) to avoid delays or missteps during setup.

By combining thoughtful planning with strategic placement of Send Email and Send SMS blocks, you can create automations that engage your audience effectively. Whether you’re starting an automation or enhancing its workflow, these tools make it easy to deliver timely and impactful messages.