Entry Rule
Learn how to use Entry Rule in the automations
What is Entry Rule ?
The Entry Rule lets you restrict customers from entering the automation workflows if they have entered into the workflows in the last X days.
This will help you to prevent customers from entering the same workflow simultaneously within a short span of time.
Use case
This Entry Rule can be very useful in abandoned cart recovery workflows.
Sometimes, a customer may abandon multiple carts simultaneously. In such scenarios, if you set up an Entry Rule for your abandoned cart recovery workflow, it will prevent the customer from entering the workflow more than once.
For example,
Let’s say we have an abandoned cart recovery workflow with 3 emails set to be sent at different time intervals (after 1 hour, after 1 day, after 2 days)
John visits your store and abandons a cart
We will enter the abandoned cart recovery workflow and start receiving emails
John revisits the store the next day and abandons another cart
He will re-enter the workflow while his first cart is still in the workflow
Now, John will get multiple emails within a few days as he entered the workflow twice simultaneously. It will lead to confusion and he might feel annoyed for receiving emails back-to-back.
If the Entry Rule was set up for the workflow, he would’ve not reentered the workflow after abandoning the second cart.
Also, you might have seen the following scenario at your store,
A customer might place an order for 1 quantity of a product. Then immediately after placing the order, may want to purchase another quantity. So, the customer might proceed to add the same item to the cart... but then decide against purchasing it.
The cart will enter the abandoned cart recovery workflow and receive the emails. The customer may find it annoying when he receives abandoned cart recovery emails for the item he had purchased.
Having an Entry Rule in place will help you to avoid such instances.
The Entry Rule can also be used in post purchase workflows to prevent customers from entering a workflow simultaneously.
Set up process
1. Login to your Retainful dashboard -> Automations
2. Edit workflow or Create a workflow
3. Click on ‘Trigger’ to find the trigger settings on the right side.
4. Click on Entry Rule -> Add Rules
5. Select ‘Skip if the customer entered the workflow’ -> In the last
6. Enter the days and click on ‘Add’
For example, if you would like to prevent a customer from entering the workflow if he had already entered the workflow in the last 3 days, you can set up the Entry Rule like,
Skip if the customer entered the workflow -> In the last -> 3 (Days)
7. After adding the Entry Rule, click on the ‘Save Rule’ button to add the Entry Rule to the workflow. That’s all required.
How to test Entry Rule ?
In this part of the article, you can learn how to test the Entry Rule in the automations.
For abandoned cart recovery workflows:
Let's say you have an abandoned cart recovery workflow with an Entry Rule ‘Skip if the customer entered the workflow -> In the last -> 3 (Days)’
NOTE: Make sure the workflow is LIVE and you have not entered this workflow in the last 3 days
1. Visit your store in a private window and abandon a cart (Make sure you’re not logged into your store administrator account)
2. You would enter the workflow as soon as you satisfy the trigger conditions (You can check it in the workflow builder or workflow analytics)
3. After entering the workflow, visit your store in a fresh incognito window
4. Abandon a cart (add a different item to the cart now) with the same email address
5. You should not enter the workflow again
For post purchase workflows:
Let's say you have a post purchase workflow with an Entry Rule ‘Skip if the customer entered the workflow -> In the last -> 3 (Days)’
NOTE: Make sure the workflow is LIVE and you have not entered this workflow in the last 3 days
1. Visit your store in a private window and place an order (Make sure you’re not logged into your store administrator account)
2. You would enter the workflow as soon as you satisfy the trigger conditions (You can check it in the workflow builder or workflow analytics)
3. After entering the workflow, visit your store in a fresh incognito window
4. Place another order with the same email address
5. You should not enter the workflow again
Video tutorial
In this video tutorial, we demonstrate how to set up the Entry Rule in an automation workflow.
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