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Understanding Visual Workflow Branching

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Forest Myers
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SharpSpring allows you to leverage branching within the Visual Workflow Builder to automatically remove leads from an action group when specific events occur, or to begin different actions based on filters applied to a single trigger.

This article will detail the concept of visual workflow branching.


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Branching Workflows

Branching workflows are groups of actions originating from a single trigger. Workflows can branch in one of two ways:

  • Filter Branching: Multiple filters originating from a single trigger, each of which has specific action groups.

    For example, if a lead submits a form (the trigger), then the filters in place may be Open Lead, Qualified Lead, or Contact.
  


Click to enlarge.
  • Action/Trigger Branching: Branches that are created from an action in a parent action group.

    For example, if a group of leads are sent an email, and a subset of that group clicks a link in the email and visits our site, these recipients can be removed from the original action group and branched into separate communication.

    Action/trigger branching allows users the option to choose whether a lead continues on the parent group, or is removed from that action group once the action/trigger branch event has occurred.
  


Click to enlarge.

 


Repeatable Branch Content

Branches differ from action groups. Reusable action groups are a collection of standalone events that can be referenced within a visual workflow or be manually scheduled to a list. Branches are not action groups.

Branches refer to a collection of actions created for use only within a visual workflow. As the name implies, this collection of actions branch out from the action group and are dependent upon additional criteria in order to function. Branches will not be added as reusable, standalone action groups.

You can make branches repeatable, however. When creating branch content in a visual workflow, clicking
loop.png  Make Repeatable will set a branch as repeatable.

When creating repeatable branch content, be aware that setting the repeatability setting of the branch directly influences whether or not the content within the branch can be repeatable.		  

Click to enlarge.

For example, if you add a non-repeatable action group to a repeatable branch, the action group will be repeatable for people who enter the automation via that branch. However, if you add a repeatable action group to a branch that is not set as repeatable, then the action group will not be repeatable.


Branching Actions

Only certain actions can be used to create branching triggers. These options are as follows:

Type     Action     Branching Triggers
Communication
  • Send the email
  • Visits from the email
  • Views the media
Contact Edit
  • Assign contact owner
  • Change contact field
  • Increment the counter field
  • Decrement the counter field
  • Change contact status
  • Change contact persona
  • Is owned by
  • Has the field
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