There are six different step types in Listrak Conductor. The action step is one used in many different conversations.
What is an action step?
There are many different types of actions. All action steps add or change information in a profile field on a specific list. Action steps can be used to write data into a profile field that can then be used to customize a contact's experience (e.g. moving them to a different location) or personalize a message (e.g. display a coupon).
What are common action steps?
The most common action step is Set a Coupon. In this action step type, a contact's profile field is filled with a unique or static coupon. This can then be referenced in the message body.
In addition, because profile fields can also be referenced in your filtering strategy, action steps can be indicate information, such as when a contact entered a conversation. This could, for example, stop a contact from receiving marketing messages while still receiving your welcome series.
Action Step Types
Update Segment Field with Value: Updates the specified profile (segment) field with a specified value or clears the existing value in the field. This action step can fill most types of profile fields, including: text, checkbox, radio button, and date field types.
Use Case: This can be used to identify all contacts who received a specific experience based on the thread they are located in. For example, checking a box for all contacts who received all messages in your Welcome Series.
Update Segment Field with Date Step Entered: Updates the specified date field based on the date the contact entered the step. You can use the specific date or a set number of days before or after entering.
Use Case: Identify the date a contact entered a conversation. You can then add a filter to your marketing messages to find anyone who has an entry date after X number of days. X can represents the length of the conversation. This can help limit the number of messages a contact receives.
Update Segment Field with Date Step Entered Difference: Sets a numeric profile (segment) field for a number of days, weeks, or months, based on when a contact entered the step compared to data stored in another date field.
Use Case: This step can be used to identify the amount of time between a previous action (the date field) and the action that entered the contact into the conversation (the date the contact entered the step).
Increment Segment Field Value: Updates a numeric field every time a contact enters the step. Values can increase or decrease by a set value, for example increase by 1 each time.
Use Case: This step is often used to track how many times a contact has entered a campaign, for example a Shopping Cart Abandonment. This can be paired with a Go-To step to send contacts a different message series if they have already received the current series a set number of times.
Set Checkbox: Updates a checkbox field. You can change the current value of the field or set a specific value for contacts (checked or unchecked). This setup is very similar to the Update Segment Field with Value option, except only checkboxes can be updated.
Use Case: Set a checkbox to indicate when a contact is participating in a campaign.
Create Split Test Segmentation: Update a numeric field based on a number of segments you would like to create. A contact will randomly be assigned a numeric value, for example 1 or 2 for a true A/B Split Test.
Use Case: Test variables, like coupon value or message subject line, for your campaign. Learn more about setting up a split test in Listrak Conductor.
Execute External Event: An external event can be in a different step within your Conversation or in another Conversation. Contacts will then enter the thread or conversation associated with the external event.
Use Case: Use the segment filter option to execute an external event if contacts have not purchased to create an extended welcome-nurture series.
Update Segment Field with Coupon Code: Update a text field with a value from your selected coupon pool that you have previously configured.
Use Case: Add a unique coupon to your message to provide your contacts with a free gift, free shipping, or a percentage off.
Configuring an Action Step
There are two parts to setting up an action step: the profile field that stores information and the action step in the Conductor Conversation that fills it with data.
Setting Up the Profile Field
The profile field (referred to as a segment field within the Conductor interface) stores the information set by an action step. If you have already created or are re-using a field, you can skip to setting up the action step.
First, determine the type of field you would like to create based on your goal. The most common types of fields are text, numeric, and checkbox.
Navigate to Contacts > Email Contacts Profile Fields.
If necessary, create a new Field Group by clicking Create Field Group.
💡 Field groups can be used as file folders to classify the different fields in a contact's profile.
Click inside the desired field group.
Under existing fields, add a name in the <Add New Field> box.
Select the data type based on your goal in the next field.
If creating a text field, adjust the character count, if necessary, based on the information being collected
💡 Text fields can collect a maximum of 250 characters.
Click the floppy disk icon to save your field.
Repeat steps 2-7 if necessary to create additional profile fields.
Creating an Action Step
The second part of the setup process is to add the action step within a Conductor Conversation. This allows you to specify the value that will be added into a contact's profile within the created profile field.
Navigate to Automation > Conductor Conversations.
⚠️ Ensure you are on the list associated with your conversation.
Open the Working Version of your conversation by clicking the title.
To add a new action step:
Click on the green plus sign in the location you want to add the step.
Select the action step from the menu.
Click on the new action step.
In the popup, select your action type.
Select the segment (profile) field you previously created.
If necessary, configure the additional settings based on the action type.
When configuring a coupon type, select the coupon pool.
When configuring fields that set a value, specify the specific value needed.
Click Update to apply the settings.
The action step has now been created. You can continue to configure your conversation and add additional steps. Clicking Publish will allow the changes to take effect and data will now be written into a contact's profile.