Not all automation is good automation. Most of it, unfortunately, ends up as glorified spam. But when built with strategy, timing, and intent, marketing automation workflows becomes your most powerful revenue lever.
At Marktal, we specialize in building automation systems that don’t just save time—they close deals.
Here are 7 high-performing marketing automation workflows we recommend (and implement) for our clients:
1. Abandoned Cart Recovery (E-commerce)
Use Case: A user adds items to cart but doesn’t complete the purchase.
Workflow:
- Wait 1 hour → Send email with product reminder
- Wait 24 hours → Send SMS with discount or urgency
- Wait 3 days → Retarget with a Facebook ad
This 3-touch sequence often recovers 15–20% of abandoned carts.
2. Lead Magnet Follow-Up (Coaching/Info Business)
Use Case: Someone downloads your eBook or free guide.
Workflow:
- Email 1: Deliver the download + welcome message
- Email 2: Introduce brand story or problem-solution framework
- Email 3: CTA to book a discovery call or take next step
This creates a natural transition from value to conversation.
3. Appointment Reminders (Service Business)
Use Case: A client books a consultation or appointment.
Workflow:
- SMS + email 24 hours before
- Reminder 1 hour before
- Follow-up text post-call asking for feedback or review
This reduces no-shows and increases post-call conversions.
4. Post-Purchase Upsell (E-commerce or SaaS)
Use Case: Customer has just completed a purchase.
Workflow:
- Thank-you email with related product suggestions
- 3-day follow-up with time-sensitive offer
- 7-day follow-up with usage tips or social proof
Upselling during the customer’s high-engagement period = more revenue.
5. Review & Testimonial Collection (All Industries)
Use Case: After a product or service is delivered.
Workflow:
- Email request for review + direct link
- If no reply, SMS reminder after 48 hours
- Incentive offer (if appropriate) for review submission
More reviews = more trust = more conversions.
6. Cold-to-Warm Lead Nurture (B2B)
Use Case: New lead entered the CRM but didn’t book or buy.
Workflow:
- Drip sequence of 5–7 emails over 2 weeks
- Education, case studies, social proof
- Final call-to-action: book a call / claim offer / request demo
Done right, this converts skeptical or unsure leads.
7. Referral Activation Sequence
Use Case: Happy customer who hasn’t referred anyone yet.
Workflow:
- Email with referral incentive program
- Follow-up SMS with referral link
- Reminder after 7 days if no activity
Simple nudges can bring in 10-30% more leads organically.
Tools We Use to Power These
- GoHighLevel (GHL): Our central automation hub for email, SMS, CRM, and pipelines
- Zapier & Make.com: To connect other apps like Google Sheets, Typeform, Shopify
- n8n: For complex logic flows like lead scoring, conditional paths, API actions
- OpenAI / Claude: For writing subject lines, dynamic responses, and chatbot interactions
Tips to Make These Workflows Perform Better:
- Split Test Messages: Subject lines and CTAs have a huge impact.
- Use Real Names and Merge Fields: Personalization matters.
- Add Delay Logic: Make automations feel human.
- Keep It Short: Long emails or texts kill engagement.
- Track Everything: Measure open rates, click rates, conversion rates.
Final Thoughts
Marketing automation isn’t about complexity. It’s about consistency and relevance. At Marktal, we don’t sell software. We build workflows that sell for you. Whether you’re a small business or a scaling brand, we’ll help you implement automation that delivers results, not just tasks.
