/email-automation-builder

name: email-automation-builder
description: >
  Build multi-sequence email automation flows with branching logic. Triggers on:
  "build email automation", "create email funnel", "email automation flow",
  "welcome series with branches", "conditional email sequence", "set up automation",
  "email workflow builder", "segmented email flow", "advanced email sequence",
  "nurture funnel", "cart abandonment sequence", "win-back email flow".
license: MIT
version: "1.0.0"
tags: ["affiliate-marketing", "automation", "scaling", "workflow", "email"]
compatibility: "Claude Code, ChatGPT, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenClaw, any AI agent"
metadata:
  author: affitor
  version: "1.0"
  stage: S7-Automation

Email Automation Builder

Build multi-sequence email automation flows with branching logic, segmentation, triggers, and tool-specific setup. More advanced than S5 email-drip-sequence: this skill creates conditional flows that respond to subscriber behavior (opened, clicked, purchased). Output includes ASCII flow diagrams, email content, and platform setup instructions.

Stage

S7: Automation — S5's email-drip-sequence is a linear 7-email series. Real email marketing uses branching flows: if they opened → send X, if they didn't → send Y, if they clicked the affiliate link → move to a different sequence. This skill builds the automation system, not just the emails.

When to Use

• User needs email flows with conditional logic (if/then branches)
• User wants welcome series, nurture flows, win-back campaigns, or cart abandonment
• User says "email automation", "branching email", "conditional sequence"
• User wants to set up flows in ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, or Beehiiv
• User already has an S5 drip sequence and wants to upgrade it to a full automation
• Chaining: upgrade S5 `email-drip-sequence` output to a branching automation

Input Schema

product:
  name: string                 # REQUIRED — product being promoted
  affiliate_url: string        # REQUIRED — affiliate link
  reward_value: string         # OPTIONAL — commission info (e.g., "30% recurring")

audience:
  description: string          # REQUIRED — who the subscribers are
  segments:                    # OPTIONAL — audience segments for branching
    - string                   # e.g., ["cold_leads", "warm_leads", "buyers"]

flow_type: string              # OPTIONAL — "welcome" | "nurture" | "winback"
                               # | "reengagement" | "cart_abandon"
                               # Default: "welcome"

email_tool: string             # OPTIONAL — "convertkit" | "mailchimp"
                               # | "activecampaign" | "beehiiv"
                               # Default: generic (works with any ESP)

num_emails: number             # OPTIONAL — total emails in the flow (5-12)
                               # Default: 7

lead_magnet: string            # OPTIONAL — what they opted in for

**Chaining context**: If S5 email-drip-sequence was run earlier, offer to upgrade it: "I see you have a 7-email drip sequence. Want me to upgrade it with branching logic and segments?"

Workflow

Step 1: Map Flow Type to Template

Select automation template based on `flow_type`:

**Welcome Flow**: Trigger → Welcome email → Wait 1 day → Value email → Branch (opened? → Soft sell / didn't open? → Re-engagement) → Continue selling to openers, re-engage non-openers

**Nurture Flow**: Trigger → Educational series → Branch (clicked affiliate link? → Move to sales sequence / didn't click? → Continue nurturing) → Post-purchase thank you for converters

**Win-back Flow**: Trigger (inactive 30+ days) → "We miss you" → Wait 3 days → Value reminder → Branch (re-engaged? → Move to nurture / still inactive? → Last chance) → Sunset after no response

Step 2: Define Triggers and Entry Conditions

For each flow, specify:

• **Entry trigger**: What starts the flow (new subscriber, tag added, purchase, inactivity)
• **Exit conditions**: What removes someone (purchase, unsubscribe, entered different flow)
• **Branch conditions**: Opens, clicks, purchases, time-based

Step 3: Design Branching Logic

Create decision points:

• After email N: Did they open? (Branch A: opened, Branch B: not opened)
• After email N: Did they click affiliate link? (Branch A: clicked, Branch B: didn't)
• After email N: Did they purchase? (Branch A: buyer → thank you, Branch B: non-buyer → continue)

Step 4: Write Each Email

For each email in each branch, write:

• Subject line (40-60 chars)
• Preview text (80-100 chars)
• Body copy (200-400 words)
• CTA (single, clear)
• FTC disclosure (for emails with affiliate links)

Step 5: Add Wait Times

Between emails:

• Welcome flow: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 days
• Nurture flow: 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 days
• Win-back flow: 0, 3, 7, 14 days
• Adjust based on audience engagement patterns

Step 6: Output Flow + Setup

Present:

• ASCII flow diagram showing the full automation
• Each email's content
• Tool-specific setup instructions (if email_tool specified)

Step 7: Self-Validation

Before presenting output, verify:

• [ ] Every branch path leads to a valid next step (no dead ends)
• [ ] All emails are complete in each branch (subject, body, CTA)
• [ ] Wait times between emails sum correctly to total flow duration
• [ ] FTC disclosure present on all emails containing affiliate links
• [ ] Branch conditions are clear boolean logic (opened/clicked/didn't)

If any check fails, fix the output before delivering. Do not flag the checklist to the user — just ensure the output passes.

Output Schema

output_schema_version: "1.0.0"  # Semver — bump major on breaking changes
automation:
  flow_type: string
  product: string
  total_emails: number
  total_branches: number
  estimated_days: number       # total span of the flow

flow:
  - step: number
    type: string               # "email" | "wait" | "branch" | "exit"
    email:                     # present if type is "email"