5 Flodesk Automations Every Small Business Needs
If you're using Flodesk to send the occasional newsletter but haven't set up any automations yet, you're leaving a lot on the table.
Automations are the secret weapon of email marketing. They work quietly in the background while you focus on running your business, nurturing your subscribers, and moving them toward becoming loyal customers, without you lifting a finger after the initial setup. Flodesk calls them workflows, but either way, they are the key to keeping your business running in the background.
Here are the five automations every small business should have running in Flodesk right now.
1. The Welcome Sequence
This is the most important automation you can build, and it should be the very first one you set up.
When someone joins your email list, they are at peak interest; they just said yes to hearing from you. A welcome sequence takes advantage of that moment by automatically sending a series of emails that introduce who you are, what you do, and what they can expect from being on your list.
A simple welcome sequence might look like this:
Email 1 (immediately): Deliver your freebie or lead magnet and say hello
Email 2 (day 2): Share your story and why you do what you do
Email 3 (day 4): Your most helpful resource, blog post, or tip
Email 4 (day 7): A soft introduction to your services or products
This sequence runs automatically every single time someone new joins your list. You set it up once, and it works forever.
2. The Nurture Sequence
Once your welcome sequence ends your new subscribers shouldn't just fall into silence. A nurture sequence keeps the relationship warm by continuing to deliver value over time.
This could be a series of your best tips, frequently asked questions, client success stories, or helpful resources: anything that positions you as the expert and keeps your audience engaged between your regular newsletters.
Think of it as the bridge between someone joining your list and becoming a paying client or customer.
3. The Sales Funnel
If you have a product, course, or service you want to sell on autopilot, sales funnel automation is how you do it.
This workflow is triggered when someone opts in to a specific lead magnet or landing page, and walks them through a series of emails designed to educate, build trust, and invite them to purchase, all without a single live launch.
A basic sales funnel in Flodesk might include:
A value-packed intro email
Two or three emails addressing common questions or objections
A clear offer email with a call to action
A follow-up or last-chance email
Set it up once and it sells for you around the clock.
4. The Re-engagement Sequence
Every email list has subscribers who have gone quiet, people who signed up months ago and haven't opened an email since. A re-engagement sequence automatically identifies those subscribers and sends them a targeted series designed to win them back.
This matters for two reasons. First, engaged subscribers are more valuable than a large disengaged list. Second, low open rates hurt your email deliverability — meaning your emails are more likely to land in spam.
A simple re-engagement sequence might be just two or three emails with a subject line like "Are we still friends?" followed by a clear option to stay on your list or unsubscribe. The people who stay are genuinely interested. The people who leave clean up your list automatically.
5. The Post-Purchase or Onboarding Sequence
If you sell products or services this automation is a game changer. Triggered automatically when someone makes a purchase or signs a contract, an onboarding sequence walks your new client or customer through exactly what to expect next.
For a service provider, this might include:
A warm welcome and what happens next
Links to any forms, questionnaires, or resources they need
A timeline of your process
How to reach you with questions
For a product seller, it might include order confirmation details, how to use the product, and a follow-up asking for a review.
This automation alone can dramatically improve the client experience without adding any extra work to your plate.
The Bottom Line
These five automations- welcome, nurture, sales funnel, re-engagement, and onboarding - are the foundation of a truly functional email marketing system. Together, they work around the clock to grow your list, build trust, and convert subscribers into customers.
The best part? In Flodesk, they are genuinely straightforward to build. If you want to learn how to set them up yourself, grab my free 4-part Flodesk video training series below.
[Get the free training →] LINK
Rather have someone build it for you?
This is exactly what I do. As an Official Flodesk Partner, I build out complete automation systems for small business owners so everything is set up correctly from day one.
[Learn more about working with me →] link to creative.sarahmartino.com
XO,
Sarah