# Creating Workflows

_Automation (Workflows)_

The visual workflow builder lets you automate actions: send emails, SMS, update contacts, wait for conditions, and more — all without code.

## Steps
1. Go to Automation from the sidebar (requires Automation suite).
2. Click "+ New Workflow" to start building.
3. Choose a trigger: contact created, deal moved, form submitted, tag added, etc.
4. Add action nodes: send email, send SMS, wait, update contact, create task, webhook, etc.
5. Connect nodes by dragging from one to another.
6. Toggle the workflow to Active when ready.

## Tips
- Use the "Wait" node to add delays (e.g., follow up 3 days later).
- Conditional branches let you split paths based on contact data.
- Test workflows with a single contact before activating.

## Example
A coaching business builds a "New Lead Welcome" workflow: trigger on contact_created with source=website. Send welcome email immediately → wait 2 days → if no reply, send a follow-up with a free guide → wait 5 days → if still no reply, drop them in the "Cold Outreach" segment for the SDR queue. Every new lead now gets the same world-class first 7 days without anyone touching them.

## Troubleshooting
- **Workflow not triggering** — Workflow may not be set to "Active" status, the trigger conditions don't match any events, or the trigger event isn't firing. Fix: Confirm status is "Active" (not "Draft"). Verify the trigger matches what you expect — e.g., "contact_created" only fires for NEW contacts, not updates. Test by creating a new contact that matches the trigger conditions.
- **Workflow triggered but actions didn't run** — A condition step evaluated to NO and the YES branch has the actions, or a wait/delay step is still pending. Fix: Check the workflow run log (Automation > click the workflow > Runs tab). The log shows each step's result and where it stopped.
- **Email step in workflow not sending** — No email account connected, or the template has merge tags that don't resolve (contact missing the field). Fix: Make sure an email account is connected in Settings > Communications. Check the template for merge tags like {{firstName}} — if the contact is missing the field, the tag renders as blank.

## Error messages
- `Workflow execution failed` — Check the run log for the failing step. Common causes: missing contact data, email send failure, or API timeout.
- `Trigger not found` — The event type in the trigger doesn't match any known trigger. Edit the workflow and re-select the trigger.

## Plans
Starter: 5 workflows; Pro: 25; Max: unlimited. 100 pre-built workflow templates available on all plans.