Marketing automation can feel overwhelming if you’re starting from scratch. The good news is that you don’t need dozens of complicated automations to see results. Most businesses see consistent revenue growth, better engagement, and happier customers by simply running a handful of well-built customer journeys using marketing automation.
And thanks to Loopify’s visual journey builder, these automations are surprisingly easy to create, especially once you know which ones matter most.
In this guide, we’ll break down the eight essential journeys every business should have. Plus, we’ll show you how to build them in Loopify, with tips and real examples.
Before You Start: Why Customer Journeys Matter More Than Ever
Customer journeys ensure that every subscriber, lead, or customer gets the right message at the right time. And all this is done automatically with the correct setup. Instead of sending random one-off campaigns, you create a consistent flow of communication that:
- Saves time and money for your marketing team
- Increases conversions without extra effort
- Improves customer experience
- Keeps your audience engaged even when you’re not personally emailing them
- Reduces the risk of losing leads or customers due to silence
Over 76% of companies worldwide use marketing automation tools in 2025
Amra and Elma
Think of journeys as your always-on marketing assistants. Once they’re built, they quietly nurture, welcome, recover, and reward customers in the background.
Your Customer Journey Starter Toolkit
There are some essential steps you need to take before you start building your first automation.
- A clean, organized contact list
- Segments or tags for leads, customers, VIPs
- A branded template for email, landing page, and coupon
- Access to your key data (birthdays, purchase data, abandoned cart events)
- Landing pages for forms or updates
- Basic brand tone-of-voice guidelines
- One clear goal per journey
This setup ensures your journeys run smoothly and feel cohesive.
Signs You Need These Journeys ASAP
If any of the following sound familiar, setting up any of these automation journeys will help immediately:
- You rely mostly on newsletters and one-off promotions.
- You’re losing new subscribers shortly after they sign up.
- You have a lot of traffic but low conversion rates.
- Customers only buy once.
- Your email engagement rates are dropping.
- Leads are falling through the cracks.
- You manually send repetitive emails.
- You want more consistent marketing, but lack the time.
If you said ‘yes’ to even one of these, keep reading for tips on how to overcome these challenges.
Journey #1: Onboarding – Make a Great First Impression
What this journey does
It welcomes new subscribers, introduces your brand, and sets expectations. When done well, it turns brand-new signups into engaged, long-term contacts.
Golf clubs with structured onboarding and communication see up to 35% higher member retention.
NGCOA
What to include
- A warm welcome
- How your brand helps them
- Quick-start tips
- Your most useful resources
Example
A new lead downloads a hybrid SUV brochure and receives a welcome email. You can then follow up with a Top 5 things to check when choosing your next car guide.
How to build in Loopify
- Use the “Contact Added” trigger for new signups.
- Add a Welcome Email using a branded template within minutes of the new signup joining.
- Insert Wait blocks depending on the number of emails you want to include in your onboarding.
- Add an educational email, product guide, tips, etc., for each Wait block.
- (Optional) Apply Tags (example: ‘completed onboarding’).
Journey #2: Lead Nurture – Turn Interested Visitors Into Customers
What this journey does
Educates and nurtures leads who aren’t ready to purchase yet. This journey builds trust instead of selling too quickly.
If you contact new leads within 5 minutes, you’ll be ~100× more likely to reach them, and ~21× more likely to qualify them than if you wait 30 minutes.
L.R.M
What to include
- Educational content
- Case studies
- Social proof
- Helpful guides or videos
- Light CTAs
Example
After requesting a test-drive online, the lead receives a 4-email series with safety ratings, comparison charts, financing options, and a video tour of the model.
How to build in Loopify
- Start with a Form Submission from a Loopify landing page.
- Add 3–5 value emails spaced over 1–2 weeks.
- Insert a Contact Match check to avoid sending lead nurturing emails to those who have converted in the meantime.
- (Optional) Send an Alert or Report to Sales when a lead hits engagement thresholds.
Journey #3: Post-Purchase – Build Loyalty From Day One
What this journey does
Reassures customers, teaches them how to get the most from their purchase, and increases the chance of repeat buying.
What to include
- A thank-you message
- Product tips
- Care instructions
- Social proof
- Review request
- Cross-sell timing
Example
After purchasing a racket or a padel club membership, the customer receives maintenance tips, grip-replacement reminders, and class suggestions based on their skill level.
How to build in Loopify
- Trigger when someone enters your Customer segment.
- Send a personalized Thank-you email.
- Use Wait blocks to set follow-up timing for upcoming emails.
- Include a Landing page Form for reviews.
Journey #4: Abandoned Cart – Recover Lost Revenue
What this journey does
Recovers sales when customers leave items in their cart without completing the purchase.
What to include
- Friendly reminder
- Image of abandoned products
- Social proof
- Optional discount (later, not first)
Example
A visitor configures a vehicle on your website, but doesn’t complete the request. They receive a reminder showing their selected trim and a link to schedule a test drive.
How to build in Loopify
- Map the API block or External Form on your website in Loopify.
- Add Wait blocks to control the timing between cart reminders.
- Add a reminder email with a dynamic products module.
- Insert a Contact Match block to check whether the purchase is complete.
- If no, send follow-up email or SMS.
Journey #5: Win-Back – Reactivate Sleeping Customers
What this journey does
Re-engages customers who haven’t interacted or purchased recently.
What to include
- ‘We miss you’ tone
- What’s new
- Incentive to return
- Preference update link
Example
A golf member hasn’t booked a tee time for 60 days. They get a friendly note about course updates, new events, or a small incentive to return.
How to build in Loopify
- Use the Inactivity segment (‘No booking for 30/60/90 days’).
- Add warm ‘Come back’ emails with an incentive or a preference update.
- Use redeemable Coupons for incentives.
- If still inactive, you can send a final reminder.
Journey #6: Referral – Turn Happy Customers Into Promoters
What this journey does
Encourages your best customers to share your brand with others.
What to include
- Simple explanation
- Referral link
- Reward details
- Form for the referred person to sign up (follows GDPR for referral marketing)
Example
Enthusiastic tennis players receive a referral offer that gives both them and their friend a discount on classes or court bookings.
How to build in Loopify
- Trigger from a customer segment.
- Send a referral invitation email.
- Include a link to a pre-filled email that links to a page where the person they refer can sign up.
- Inform customers when their friends sign up.
- Send rewards via coupons.
- (Optional) Tag customers/new signups who engage with the referral program.
Journey #7: Rewards – Surprise and Delight Your Best Customers
What this journey does
Recognizes loyal customers, increasing retention and lifetime value.
What to include
- Thank-you message
- Rewards or VIP perks
- Tiered incentives
Example
Frequent padel players receive discounted court time, free grip replacement, or early access to new equipment drops.
How to build in Loopify
- Trigger from VIP segment or purchase milestones for each tier.
- Send a personalized reward email or SMS.
- Add Coupons for redeemable rewards.
Journey #8: Customer Anniversary or Birthday – Add a Human Touch
What this journey does
Celebrates personal milestones with warmth, which customers love. It’s super simple, but effective.
What to include
- Personalized message
- Birthday or anniversary offer
- Friendly, fun tone
Example
A golf club member’s birthday is celebrated with a free round, discounted pro lesson, or club shop discount.
How to build in Loopify
- Use a segment with a ‘occurs yearly date’ tied to the birthday or anniversary field.
- Add a short email or SMS with a special gift or offer.
How These Journeys Work Together
When you stack these customer journeys, your marketing becomes a complete ecosystem, creating a seamless experience from first touch to long-term loyalty.
Example:
Onboarding → Lead Nurture → Purchase → Post-Purchase → Referral → Anniversary
Another powerful combo:
Abandoned Cart → Post-Purchase → Rewards → Win-Back
About 79% of marketers say they automate parts of the customer journey; only ~21% do not automate at all.
Email Vendor Selection
FAQ: Common Questions About Customer Journeys
Do I need all eight journeys?
Start with 2–3, then add more as your strategy grows.
How is a customer journey different from a campaign?
Journeys are automated and always running with multiple components and checks; campaigns are one-time sends.
Will customers get annoyed by automation?
Only if it’s irrelevant, well-timed, and well-segmented, customers love it. Do not overdo it.
Can multiple journeys run at the same time?
Absolutely. You can schedule start and finish dates for automation, as well as schedule a repeat for journeys that need to run seasonally.
How do I know if my journeys are working?
Use Loopify’s visual reports to track opens, clicks, and conversions.
Final Thoughts
These eight customer journeys form the foundation of a modern, effective marketing automation setup. With Loopify’s visual builder, you can create each one today.
They help you save time, convert better, build relationships, and deliver a consistent brand experience, all automatically.
Want to learn more about which customer journeys are the best for you? Book a Free Loopify Demo now!