How to choose triggers for an automated email workflow

Automation & No-Code

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In no-code automation, triggers decide when an email is sent. This guide helps you select reliable triggers and design a robust workflow around them.

Who is this for?

Marketing teams, product teams, support teams, and anyone building no-code email automation

Before you start

Basic understanding of automation concepts; access to a no-code workflow builder; a few example events or data points to trigger emails

General Process (How it works)

Identify goals and outcomes Clarify what user action or event should cause the email and what success looks like.
List candidate events Compile a broad set of events such as signups, purchases, profile updates, or inactivity.
Assess data availability and reliability Ensure the event data is captured consistently and quickly.
Choose trigger type Decide whether the trigger is user-initiated, system-initiated, or time-based.
Define conditions and latency Set clear conditions and acceptable delays for trigger activation.
Map to content and rules Link each trigger to appropriate email content, audience, and delivery rules.
Test and monitor Run end-to-end tests and set up monitoring to catch failures or delays.

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Zapier

Kit

AWeber

🏆 Recommended for this task

🏆 Recommended

Zapier

Best for: IT, operations, and product teams seeking scalable AI-driven automations across thousands of apps.

Free Plan AvailableFrom $19.99 / month

How to in Zapier

Create a Zap: In Zapier, click Make a Zap to start a new workflow.
Set Trigger App: Choose MailerLite as the Trigger App in the Zap Editor.
Choose Trigger Event: Select an event such as New Subscriber, New Group, or Subscriber Subscribed/Unsubscribed.
Connect MailerLite Account: If not connected, click Sign in to MailerLite. Authorize Zapier to access your account.
Configure Trigger Details: In Trigger Setup, pick the subscriber group to monitor and any filters.
Test Trigger: Click Test Trigger to pull sample subscriber data.
Add Action App: Click the plus icon to add an Action step. Choose the destination app.
Choose Action Event: Select an action such as Create/Update Contact.
Map Data Fields: Map Email, Name, and other fields from the trigger to the action.
Test Action: Run a test to confirm the data maps correctly.
Name Your Zap: Enter a descriptive name in the top-left corner.
Turn On Zap: Toggle the switch in the top-right to enable the automation.

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Alternatives

Kit

Best for: Creators, authors, and marketers who want to grow their email lists, engage subscribers, and monetize newsletters.

Free Plan Available$33 / month

How to in Kit

Open Automate Area: In the top navigation, click Automate. Then select Rules.
Create New Rule: Click + New rule at the top-right to start.
Set Triggers: Choose a trigger type (e.g., Subscribes to a sequence, Tag added) and, if needed, select a tag or sequence.
Add Additional Triggers: Click the + button under the trigger to include more triggers for the same rule.
Set Actions: Choose actions (e.g., Subscribe to a sequence, Add tag) and configure their targets.
Add Additional Actions: Click + under actions to add more steps.
Save and Enable: Click Save Rule. The rule is enabled automatically and starts running when triggers fire.
View Trigger History: Open the rule, scroll to the bottom to view the latest 50 trigger entries and who triggered them.
Disable a Rule: On the Rules page, select the rule and click Disable.
Delete a Rule: Open the rule settings and click Delete Rule; note that this deletes its trigger history.

Tool details

AWeber

Best for: Bloggers, coaches, Etsy sellers, and other small businesses seeking to grow their email list and automate communications.

Paid Required$20.00 / month

How to in AWeber

Identify Goals: Clarify onboarding, engagement, or re-engagement objectives for the automation.
Review Available Triggers: In the automation builder, locate supported start triggers (for example List Subscribe, Tag Added, Purchase, Form Submission).
Map Subscriber Actions to Stages: Pair actions like sign-up, link click, or purchase with stages such as welcome, nurture, or post-purchase.
Choose Primary Start Trigger: Select the trigger that matches your main objective (eg Subscriber Joins List).
Add Secondary Triggers (Optional): Enable secondary triggers like Tag Added to branch journeys.
Define Timing & Delays: Set delays after trigger such as 0 days for welcome or 2 days for follow-up. Use Wait steps.
Configure Entry Criteria: Apply filters such as only subscribers from a specific segment so the trigger fires for the right people.
Set Entry Point & Sequence: Choose the campaign or automation and arrange the message sequence.
Preview & Test: Use the Test or Preview features to simulate a subscriber journey and check content.
Enable & Publish: Turn on the automation; confirm it is active from the start date and time.
Monitor Performance: Check open rates, click-through, and unsubscribes after activation.
Iterate Based on Data: Adjust triggers, timing, and messages based on performance data.

Tool details

Quick Comparison

Tool	Free Plan?	Min Price
Zapier	Yes	From $19.99 / month
Kit	Yes	$33 / month
AWeber	No	$20.00 / month

Watch out in Free Plans

❌ Retry behavior may be restricted on free plans

❌ Limited insights into trigger performance

Which tool should you choose?

Zapier

Zapier provides a fast, visual way to choose trigger events and connect MailerLite with downstream apps. Its intuitive UI enables quick mapping, testing, and rollout, making it the ideal choice for building reliable automated email workflows.

Kit

ConvertKit (Kit) provides native, visual automation rules that map each trigger to exact actions, enabling fast setup and predictable behavior. Its trigger options—tags, forms, sequences, and link clicks—let you tailor flows without coding, delivering reliable email workflows at speed.

AWeber

AWeber provides an intuitive, visual Campaign/Automation builder that makes selecting triggers straightforward. By starting with subscriber-join events and layering engagement actions, you can map real subscriber journeys without coding. Its templates and built-in analytics accelerate setup, testing, and optimization for reliable automated emails.