Using the Event Start Date Action in Workflows

Overview

The Event Start Date action allows you to define a specific point in time that your workflow can use as a reference for scheduling. When you add this action, you set a date, which then becomes the anchor for any subsequent timed actions, like Wait steps. This gives you precise control over when follow-up actions occur, making it ideal for automating reminders, post-event communications, or recurring tasks.

Configuring the Event Start Date Action

When you add this action to your workflow, you will need to configure the following details.

Action Name

Give the action a descriptive name that will help you identify it in your workflow editor, such as "Webinar Start Time" or "Follow-up Anchor Date". This field is required.

Type

You must choose one of three methods for setting the event start date.

• Specific Day: Use this to set a recurring day, like a specific day of the week (e.g., every Monday) or a day of the month (e.g., the 15th). When you select this type, you will need to choose between "Current Day of Month" or "Current Day of Week".
• Specific Date/Time: Choose this to set an exact, one-time date and time. A calendar picker will appear for you to select the date.
• Custom Field: Select this to use a date value stored in a custom field on the contact's record, such as "Appointment Date" or "Registration Date". When you choose this type, a dropdown will appear for you to select the relevant custom field.

Common Use Cases and Examples

Specific Date/Time for a One-Time Event

Use Case: Sending a feedback survey exactly one week after a scheduled webinar.

Setup: Set the Type to "Specific Date/Time" and use the calendar picker to select the date and time of the webinar. A Wait action later in the workflow can be configured to pause for 7 days based on this start date before sending the survey.

Custom Field for Contact-Specific Dates

Use Case: Sending a series of reminder emails leading up to an appointment.

Setup: Set the Type to "Custom Field" and select the custom field where the appointment date is stored, for example, "Scheduled Consultation". Your workflow can then use this date to trigger a "3-day reminder" Wait and Email action.

Specific Day for Recurring Tasks

Use Case: Running a monthly report or sending a newsletter on the first day of every month.

Setup: Set the Type to "Specific Day" and choose "Current Day of Month". This sets the event start date to the 1st of the month. A Wait action can then be used to pause until that date arrives before triggering the report generation or email send.

Important Notes

The Event Start Date action does not perform an action by itself; it sets a reference point. Its primary purpose is to be used in conjunction with Wait actions. After setting an Event Start Date, you can configure a Wait action to pause for a certain number of days, hours, or minutes from that specific start date.

Ensure that any custom fields you reference contain valid date information in a format the CRM can recognize to avoid timing errors in your workflow execution.