So you want to set up an automated email campaign in Zymplify—and you want it to actually work, not just sound fancy in a meeting. This guide is for you if you’re tired of vague instructions and just want to get the job done, whether you’re a marketer, a founder, or the unofficial “tech person” at your company. I’ll walk you through the whole process, step by step, and flag what matters (and what doesn’t).
Before You Start: What You Really Need
Let’s be clear: automation isn’t magic. It won’t fix a bad offer or boring emails. But if you’ve got something people want and a list of folks who actually opted in, Zymplify’s automation tools can help you send the right message at the right time—without babysitting every send.
You’ll need: - A Zymplify account (here’s their site) - A verified sender email address (don’t skip this, or your emails will land in spam) - A list of contacts (preferably with permission—don’t be that person) - Your email copy and any assets (images, links, etc.) ready to go
Ready? Let’s do this.
Step 1: Build or Import Your Contact List
You can’t email thin air. Get your list sorted first.
Importing Contacts
- Go to ‘Contacts’ in the Zymplify dashboard.
- Click “Import Contacts.”
- You can upload a CSV file or add manually. If you’re importing, make sure your columns are clean (first name, last name, email… don’t send out “Hi ,”).
- Map your CSV columns to Zymplify’s fields. Double-check for errors—bad data will haunt you later.
Pro tip: If you’re segmenting later, add a column for tags (like “webinar” or “lead magnet”) so you can target people more precisely.
What to skip: Don’t import every email you’ve ever collected “just in case.” Only use contacts who actually opted in.
Step 2: Set Up Your Email Content
Don’t overthink your first campaign. People care about clear, useful info—not your design skills.
Creating Your Email
- In Zymplify, go to “Emails” and click “Create Email.”
- Choose a template if you want, but simple works best (especially for deliverability).
- Write a subject line that’s straightforward. No need for “Re:” or fake FWDs unless you want people to roll their eyes.
- Add your content. Keep paragraphs short and use one clear call to action.
- Insert personalization tokens (like first name) if you have them, but don’t force it.
Images: Use sparingly. Too many images = higher chance of hitting spam filters.
Links: Always include a clear unsubscribe link (Zymplify usually handles this, but check).
Testing: Send a test to yourself. Open on mobile and desktop. Make sure buttons work and nothing looks weird.
Step 3: Set Up Your Automation Workflow
Now for the “automated” part. This is where you tell Zymplify what to send, to whom, and when.
Create a New Automation
- Go to “Automations” in the main menu.
- Click “Create Automation” (sometimes called “Create Workflow”).
- Pick a trigger. For most email campaigns, choose “Contact Added to List” or “Form Submission.”
- Name your workflow something you’ll recognize later (“Q2 Onboarding Sequence”—not “Test 3”).
Build Your Flow
- Add your first action: “Send Email.” Choose the email you made earlier.
- Want a series? Add a “Wait” step (like “Wait 2 days”), then another “Send Email.”
- You can branch based on actions (like “If Contact Opened Email, send X; if not, send Y”), but keep it simple the first time.
What works: Start with a basic sequence before you go wild with branching logic. Complexity usually just means more things can break.
Step 4: Select Your Audience
Don’t blast everyone. The more targeted, the better.
- In your automation, set filters for who enters the workflow. This is where those tags or segments come in handy.
- You can filter by things like:
- Tag (e.g. “webinar”)
- Lead source
- Custom fields (industry, location, etc.)
Pro tip: If in doubt, start with a small segment. See how it goes, then expand.
Step 5: Activate and Schedule
Once your workflow is ready, you need to turn it on (yes, really—lots of folks forget this).
- Review each step. Double-check emails, timing, and audience.
- Click “Activate” or “Start Workflow.”
- If you want to start later, schedule your workflow or emails to begin on a set date.
Testing: Add yourself to the list and go through the flow. Don’t assume it works because “it should.”
Step 6: Monitor and Adjust
Automation isn’t “set and forget”—at least, not if you care about results.
- Go to “Analytics” or “Reports” in Zymplify.
- Check open rates, click rates, and (if you can) actual outcomes like replies or purchases.
- If your open rate is low, revisit your subject line or sender name.
- If nobody’s clicking, your call to action probably isn’t clear or compelling.
What to ignore: Obsessing over tiny differences in open rates. Focus on whether people are actually doing what you want them to do (buying, booking, replying, etc.).
Step 7: Stay Out of the Spam Folder
This isn’t technically a “step,” but it’s where most campaigns go wrong.
- Use a real “from” name and address—not “no-reply@.”
- Don’t use ALL CAPS or too many exclamation points in your subject.
- Make sure your domain is authenticated (SPF/DKIM). Zymplify will guide you, and it’s worth the hassle.
- Avoid buying lists or scraping emails. It’ll tank your sender reputation.
Pro tip: If people aren’t opening or clicking, remove them from future sends. Fewer, more engaged contacts are better than a giant, unresponsive list.
Step 8: Iterate (Don’t Overcomplicate)
No campaign is perfect on the first try. The best marketers treat automation as an experiment:
- Tweak one thing at a time—subject line, send time, call to action.
- Rerun your campaign with improvements.
- Don’t build a 20-step sequence before you know if step 1 works.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Ship, and Learn
There’s a lot you could do with Zymplify, but most of it won’t matter if your message or targeting is off. Start simple: a clean list, a clear email, and a basic workflow. See what works, fix what doesn’t, and build from there. Automation’s just a tool—don’t let it distract you from what actually gets results.
Now go set up your first campaign. Don’t wait for perfect—get it live, and improve as you go.