How to use conditional splits in automations

Overview

You can create logic based paths in automations with conditional splits to send contacts on targeted journeys. Read on to learn more about conditional split logic and how to add them to your automations.

In this guide

• Understanding conditional split logic
• Add a conditional split
• Flip a conditional split's YES and NO paths
• Delete a conditional split

Understanding conditional splits

Conditional splits are automation nodes that function like segments. You can use a conditional split to create logic based conditions that determine which of two automation paths contacts should experience.

Conditional splits create divergent paths in automations based on conditions like "has a specified product in their order" or "has a tag for interested in X product."

For example, let's say you want to create two paths for your order placed automation, depending on the products in the order. If contacts have a certain item in their order, they should receive a special email. Contacts who didn't order the specified item can proceed down the other path that doesn't contain information about the specified product.

When do conditional splits check for the specified conditions?

When a contact meets an automation trigger's criteria, each subsequent action is nearly instantly queued for the contact. If there are no wait nodes before a conditional split node, the conditional split checks the contact's conditions as soon as they trigger the automation.

This near instant check means that if a conditional split's logic includes opened or clicked conditions, the split will immediately check for those engagement metrics after messages are sent without enough time for contacts to engage. Depending on the overall logic of your automation, it often makes sense to add a 24-hour wait node before a conditional split node that uses engagement-based conditions.

A condition using an integration will only pull contacts who exist in the integration’s database into the YES side of a conditional split

Using an integration based condition in a conditional split will only pull contacts who exist in the integration’s database into the YES side of a conditional split. All contacts who do not exist in the integration’s database will be sent down the NO side of a conditional split, regardless of the conditions set.

Let’s say you want to create a conditional split that divides your audience into contacts who have placed at least 1 order and contacts who have placed 0 orders.

Your condition should be set as  Customer > Total Orders Placed > is greater than > 0:

The YES side of this conditional split will grab contacts who exist in your store’s database and have placed at least 1 order. The NO side will grab contacts who do not yet exist in your store’s database (because they haven’t made a purchase or an account on your store) AND contacts who exist in your store’s database but have not yet placed an order.

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Add a conditional split

To add a conditional split to your automation:

1. Click the + button
2. Click conditional split
3. Set your conditions
4. Click Done

The conditions you select will funnel contacts who meet them down the YES branch. Contacts who do not meet the conditions specified will be sent down the NO branch.

If you use an eCommerce integration like Shopify or BigCommerce to create conditional split conditions, contacts who trigger your automation and are not associated with your eCommerce store (in other words, haven't made an account or completed a purchase) will be sent down the NO branch.

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Flip YES and NO paths for a conditional split

You can flip the YES and NO paths for a conditional split to move existing nodes from one branch to another.

Contacts who triggered the automation before you flipped the split will receive all actions they were originally scheduled to receive; contacts who triggered the automation after you flipped the split will be scheduled to receive the new paths.

To flip a conditional split's branches:

1. Click the conditional split node
2. On the right-hand side of the node, click the flip icon
3. Click Flip Conditional Split

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Delete a conditional split

To delete a conditional split:

1. Click the conditional split
2. Click the trash can icon
3. Select a path or both paths to delete
4. Click Delete

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