If you’re trying to grow your email list, save time, and keep your marketing running smoothly, then simple automations every business needs should be the foundation of your digital setup. In fact, these beginner-friendly workflows are exactly what help entrepreneurs stop wasting hours on repetitive tasks and finally create a system that works even when they’re offline.
Whether you use MailerLite, Klaviyo, or Zenler, these simple automations every business needs will help you stay organized, improve conversions, and give your subscribers a seamless experience from the very first moment they interact with your business.
In this post, I’ll break down three core workflows that every entrepreneur, freelancer, and small business owner should set up, even if you’re just getting started and even if tech feels overwhelming. Let’s take it step by step.
Why These Automations are important (Even If You’re a Beginner)
When people hear the word “automation,” they instantly think of complicated funnels, long sequences, and advanced marketing tactics. But that’s not what we’re talking about here.
We’re talking about simple automations every business needs, the kind that:
deliver your content instantly
welcome subscribers in a warm, professional way
bring back visitors who almost signed up
run entirely on autopilot
save you hours every single week
And most importantly, these are the same workflows professional marketers use, just simplified so anyone can do them.
Let’s dive in.
Automation #1: The Welcome Sequence Workflow (Every Business Needs This)
Your Welcome Sequence is the heart of your email marketing. It’s the first automation every business should set up, and the one that has the biggest impact long-term.
Even if you don’t have a full newsletter strategy yet, a simple welcome sequence makes your brand look polished, professional, and intentional.
Because here’s the truth:
When someone signs up for anything you offer, your freebie, newsletter, or updates, they’re most engaged at that moment. If you don’t nurture them immediately, that interest fades fast.
This is where the welcome sequence becomes powerful.
What this automation does
When someone joins your list:
Sends your welcome email immediately
Introduces who you are
Shares how you can help
Gives your new subscriber a clear next step
Builds trust without feeling salesy
Prepares them for future offers
This is not a sales funnel; it’s a friendly introduction.
Why is it important
A welcome sequence is where relationships begin. Without it:
new subscribers feel disconnected
your brand becomes forgettable
people forget why they signed up
engagement drops
your emails later feel “random”
But with a strong welcome sequence:
you create loyalty
you turn casual readers into warm leads
subscribers start trusting you much faster
selling in the future becomes easier and more natural
This is why it’s one of the simple automations every business needs, because it works for every niche, every audience, and every platform.
What to include
Here’s a simple 3–4 email structure:
Email 1:
Welcome + Deliver Value
Introduce yourself and deliver the resource or explain what they’ll receive moving forward.
Email 2:
Your Story
Share who you are, why you do what you do, and the problem you help people solve.
Email 3:
A Helpful Tip
Give them something they can use immediately, a win that builds trust.
Email 4 (Optional):
Light Offer
Gently guide them to your main service or invite them to ask questions.
This is simple, strategic, and easy to build, even for beginners.
Automation #2: The Abandoned Form Workflow (Massively Underrated)
This is one of the most powerful, simple automations every business needs, yet almost nobody uses it.
We all know about abandoned carts. But abandoned opt-in forms are even more important for building your email list.
Here’s why:
People often start typing their name and email, but something interrupts them:
a notification
a message
a child calling
they think they clicked submit
they close the tab accidentally
This doesn’t mean they’re not interested.
It just means they got distracted.
MailerLite and Klaviyo both allow you to trigger automations when someone starts filling out your form but doesn’t submit it. And when you bring those people back, your sign-ups increase dramatically.
What this automation does
When a visitor begins filling out your form and abandons it, the workflow:
sends a short reminder
offers them the signup link again
helps them complete the process easily
recovers leads you would have otherwise lost
This is simple, non-pushy, and extremely effective.
Why is it important
Research shows that people rarely abandon forms because they stop caring.
They abandon because something pulled their attention away.
With this automation:
You make it easy for them to return
You lose fewer warm subscribers
Your conversion rates go up
Your system works without any extra effort
Even beginner businesses see an immediate difference after setting this up.
What to include
Trigger:
“Started filling the form, but did not submit.”
(MailerLite: Form Abandonment Trigger,
Klaviyo: Viewed form but not submitted)
Email:
A simple message like:
“Hey, it looks like you tried signing up but didn’t get to finish. Here’s the link again, grab your freebie anytime.”
Optional:
Tag: “Abandoned Form”
Wait 24 hours
End workflow
This small automation has a big impact.
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Automation #3: The Engagement Booster Workflow
This is one of the easiest simple automations every business needs, especially if you want better open rates, cleaner data, and more accurate segmentation.
The Engagement Booster is a workflow that keeps your list healthy and active by automatically:
identifying inactive subscribers
re-engaging them
and updating their status depending on their actions
This is crucial because platforms like MailerLite and Klaviyo measure your list quality.
If your engagement drops too low, your deliverability suffers.
Instead of waiting until you have a “dead list,” this automation keeps everything clean automatically.
What this automation does
When someone hasn’t opened or clicked your emails for a set amount of time (30–60 days):
sends a gentle “check-in” email
asks if they still want to stay subscribed
provides a button to confirm their interest
tags them based on their choice
removes them later if they stay inactive
This makes sure you’re emailing people who actually want to hear from you.
Why it matters
Low engagement affects:
email deliverability
open rates
click rates
conversion rates
But with this automation:
your engagement increases
your metrics stay healthy
your accounts stay in good standing
you only keep subscribers who value your content
It’s one of the simplest ways to improve email performance.
What to include
Trigger:
Subscriber inactive for 30–60 days
Email:
A friendly message:
“Are you still enjoying my emails? If yes, click here to stay subscribed.”
Actions:
If they click → Tag: “Still Active.”
If they don’t → Move to “Inactive” group
Late, remove them safely
This keeps your list clean without doing anything manually.
Final Suggestions: Start With These Simple Automations Every Business Needs
You don’t need complicated funnels.
You don’t need advanced marketing systems.
And you definitely don’t need 10 different automations.
Start small.
Start simple.
Start with the three simple automations every business needs, and you’ll already be ahead of most beginners:
Welcome Sequence
Abandoned Form Workflow
Engagement Booster
Once these are running, your email marketing becomes easier, more consistent, and more effective.
Want to Set These Up Without the Tech Stress?
If you want these three automations running smoothly, without trying to figure out everything alone, you can always reach out.
But first…Grab the free Effortless Setup Starter Kit. It walks you through the exact tools, steps, and structure you need to build an email system that works beautifully.
