How to Automate Marketing With 8 Simple Workflows

Everybody wants smoother workflows and fewer manual tasks. And thanks to AI models, automation is at the center of conversations in marketing departments across all industries. But most rarely get the results they’re looking for. According to Ascend2’s State of Marketing Automation Report, only 28% of marketers say their automation “very successfully” supports their objectives. While 69% felt it was only somewhat successful. While this specific stat is from 2024, I imagine the broad idea is still true. Especially since there are so many more automation options and tools. It can get overwhelming to decide a go-forward plan and implement effectively. So if you feel stuck in the camp of “not bad, but not great” marketing automation, you’re not alone. The good news? Once you understand the core building blocks, you can turn messy, half-automated systems into workflows that actually move the needle.

A good marketing automation usually involves four basic steps: A trigger: A catalyst event that starts the automation; An action: One or more steps that happen in sequence after the trigger; An output: The end result; A loop or exit point: A new trigger, or an event that stops the automation. In this article, we’re going to discuss how to use these steps to automate various aspects of marketing, including the mechanics of content creation, email nurtures, PR strategies, and social media engagement.

Automate the Mechanics of Content Creation

Content marketers are creative people. We don’t want to automate away the creative work that drives results. That said, we can automate marketing workflows that come before and after creating. (So we can spend more time on high-impact work.) Here are some simple ways to get started.

1. Basic Brief Builder

Tools required: Make (free for 1,000 credits per month, paid plans start at $9/month), your favorite keyword research tool (plans vary), and a project management platform (tools like Asana offer a free plan).

Start by using Make to create a simple workflow that generates a content brief based on your keyword research. For example, when you find a high-traffic keyword, the workflow could automatically create a task in Asana for your team to research and outline the content. This saves time and ensures that your team is aligned on the content’s purpose and audience.

2. AI-Powered Content Outlining

Once you have your keyword and a brief outline, use an AI tool like Jasper or ContentGems to generate a detailed outline for your content. These tools can analyze your keyword and suggest subtopics, headings, and even bullet points. This not only speeds up the outlining process but also helps ensure that your content is optimized for search engines and your target audience.

3. Automated Content Distribution

After your content is written and published, automate its distribution across your channels. Use a tool like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule and post your content on social media, email newsletters, and other platforms. This ensures that your content reaches your audience at the right time, without manual effort.

Beyond the Basics of Email Nurtures

Email marketing is a critical component of any marketing strategy, and automation can take it to the next level. Here are some ways to enhance your email nurture workflows:

1. Abandoned Cart Reminders

When a customer adds items to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, send them an automated email reminder. Tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit make it easy to set up these workflows. Personalize the email with the customer’s name and the products they left in their cart, and offer a discount code to incentivize them to complete the purchase.

2. Personalized Onboarding Emails

For new subscribers, create a personalized onboarding sequence that introduces them to your brand and content. Use their first name and interests (if available) to make the emails more engaging. This not only helps build a connection with your audience but also increases the likelihood of them staying engaged with your content.

3. Automated Follow-Ups for Webinars or Courses

If you offer webinars, courses, or other interactive content, use automation to send follow-up emails reminding attendees to complete any actions, such as taking a quiz or downloading resources. This keeps your audience engaged and helps you measure the success of your content.

Automate Your PR Strategy

Public relations (PR) can be a powerful tool for marketing, but it often requires significant manual effort. Here are some ways to automate your PR strategy:

1. Media List Management

Use a tool like Meltwater or PRWeb to build and manage your media list. These platforms allow you to search for journalists and outlets based on your keywords and interests, and track their engagement with your content.

2. Press Release Distribution

Automate the distribution of your press releases using a tool like PR Newswire or PRWeb. These platforms help you reach a wider audience and track the performance of your press releases.

3. Social Mentions Monitoring

Set up a social listening workflow using a tool like Hootsuite or Brandwatch to monitor mentions of your brand or products on social media. This helps you respond quickly to any positive or negative feedback and maintain a positive brand image.

Automate Social Media Engagement

Social media is a crucial part of any marketing strategy, but keeping up with engagement can be time-consuming. Here are some ways to automate your social media workflows:

1. Scheduled Posting

Use a tool like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule and post content on your social media channels. This ensures that your brand stays active and engaged with your audience, even when you’re not online.

2. Comment Responses

Automate responses to comments on your social media profiles using a tool like CommentLater or Zapier. This helps you maintain a consistent and professional presence, even when you’re not available to respond in real time.

3. Hashtag Campaigns

Run hashtag campaigns to increase visibility and engagement. Use a tool like Hashtagify to find relevant hashtags and create a campaign plan. Automate the posting of content using your preferred social media management tool.

In conclusion, automating marketing workflows can significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness. By breaking down the process into simple steps and using the right tools, you can create automated systems that support your marketing objectives and free up time for more strategic work. Whether you’re automating content creation, email nurtures, PR strategies, or social media engagement, the key is to start small, test, and refine your workflows to achieve the best results.