One Workflow Trigger that is helpful to create a more personalized experience for your clients is the Birthday Reminder trigger. This can be used in all sorts of ways from simple birthday celebration emails to special birthday promotions. This article will cover exactly how to create a Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger and what customization options are available for this trigger.
Tip: Usually you would want to send a reminder every year, so for this workflow please make sure to enable “Allow re-entry” in the workflow settings.
Click “Add New Trigger”
Select Birthday Reminder in the Contact section of the Workflow Triggers Menu or use the search feature
The Birthday Reminder is set up by default to add a contact to your workflow on the day of their birthday, provided that information is listed in their contact information. You can, however, adjust the timing of when your contact is added to the workflow and filter which birthday months, and days will trigger this workflow.
Under Workflow Trigger Name you can change the display name for this workflow trigger within the Workflow builder.
Note that this will not impact any functionality of the workflow, it will only be shown within the builder
Under Filters, there are multiple options available to you
Before no. of days and After no. of days impact the timing of when this workflow will trigger. Respectively, this will trigger on the selected number of days before or after the contact’s listed birthdate.
Month is and Day is allow you to specify which dates or months can trigger this workflow. For example, you can make this workflow only trigger for birthdays in March, or for birthdays that coincide with a holiday.
Custom Field allows you to filter which contacts can be added to this workflow based on custom fields you have created.
Press Save Trigger in the bottom right corner of the Trigger setup menu
Pro Tip: You can use any Workflow Actions to be triggered by the Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger or you can leave this workflow without any actions.
If your Workflow is ready to be enabled, make sure the toggle switch under Save is set to Publish
Be sure to test your Workflow to ensure it is set up correctly using the Test Workflow button next to the Publish toggle switch.
For an in-depth overview of Workflow Testing see our article, “Using the Testing Features in Workflows”
Now your Workflow is set up and ready to go with the Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger
1. What is the Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger?
The Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger is used to automate actions based on a contact’s birthday. It allows you to send birthday greetings, promotions, or other personalized messages on or around a contact’s birthday.
2. How do I set up a Birthday Reminder Workflow Trigger?
Navigate to Automation:
Start a new workflow or edit an existing one.
Add New Trigger:
Click “Add New Trigger.”
Select “Birthday Reminder” from the Contact section or use the search feature.
Configure Trigger:
You can adjust the timing of when the contact is added to the workflow (default is on the birthday).
Use filters to specify which months or days should trigger the workflow, or set custom field filters.
Save Trigger: Click “Save Trigger” to finalize the setup.
Set Up Actions: Define the actions that will occur when the trigger is activated.
Save Workflow: Click “Save” and ensure the workflow is published and tested.
3. What customization options are available for the Birthday Reminder trigger?
Timing Adjustments: You can set the trigger to occur a specific number of days before or after the birthday.
Month and Day Filters: Specify particular months or days that should trigger the workflow.
Custom Field Filters: Use custom fields to further refine which contacts are included in the workflow.
4. How do I ensure the workflow triggers every year?
To ensure the workflow sends a reminder every year, enable the “Allow re-entry” option in the workflow settings. This allows the workflow to be re-triggered annually for each contact.
5. Can I use the Birthday Reminder trigger for special promotions?
Yes, you can use the Birthday Reminder trigger to set up special promotions, offers, or personalized messages. Customize the workflow actions to fit your promotional needs.
6. What should I do after setting up the trigger?
After setting up the trigger:
Configure the actions you want to be triggered (e.g., send an email, apply a tag, etc.).
Save and publish the workflow.
Test the workflow using the Test Workflow button to ensure it functions as expected.
7. Can I filter contacts based on custom fields?
Yes, under the Filters section, you can use custom fields to filter which contacts are added to the workflow based on the criteria you have set.
