{"id":141117,"date":"2022-04-22T03:19:20","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T08:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=141117"},"modified":"2025-07-21T10:33:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:33:42","slug":"marketing-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Marketing Automation &amp; How to Get Started?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">Marketing&nbsp;automation is a must for any marketer, no matter the size of their company. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you sell products or services. Those who ignore marketing automation are missing out on powerful resources.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emailmonday.com\/marketing-automation-statistics-overview\/\">EmailMonday,<\/a>&nbsp;around 56% of companies use some form of marketing automation, and 40% of B2C companies plan to adopt the technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But marketing automation can be overwhelming, with so many different platforms, integrations, and services available. How do you know what works best for your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t worry. You\u2019re not&nbsp;alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll go through the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#1-marketing-automation\">What marketing automation is<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2-benefits-of-marketing-automation\">What the benefits of marketing automation are<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3-examples-marketing-automation\">Some examples of marketing automation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4-get-started-marketing-automation\">How to get started with marketing automation&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start by defining marketing automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"What is marketing automation?\" data-section=\"1-marketing-automation\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.7i1gh7rnqdgw\">What is marketing automation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Marketing automation uses software, tools, or processes to automate repetitive tasks. This frees up time for more important tasks or increases efficiency. Automation can be used as part of an <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-strategy\/\">overall marketing strategy<\/a>&nbsp;or for <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-tactics\/\">standalone tactics<\/a>,&nbsp;such as email marketing, lead generation, sales, social media management, alerts, analytics, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"What are the benefits of marketing automation?\" data-section=\"2-benefits-of-marketing-automation\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.k6b15zsefpue\">What are the benefits of marketing automation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are five main benefits of marketing automation. Here\u2019s how it helps marketers and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.sfwb5n70cqm8\">1. Save time and&nbsp;money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The main benefit of marketing automation is it can save time and money because it automates repetitive tasks, such as sending emails or social media posting, which can reduce marketing expenditure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the University of Buenos Aires&nbsp;saved 28 employee salaries and $100,000 per annum by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.activecampaign.com\/customers\/uba-ialab\">automating its student communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-buenos-aires-case-study.jpg\" alt=\"Except of article about University of Buenos Aires increasing efficiency by 500% using automations \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.ol0dyjeph66o\">2. Increased sales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Marketing automation can increase sales, as it allows companies to scale their marketing efforts across multiple touchpoints, campaigns, and channels at the right&nbsp;time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This sports nutritionist&nbsp;generated $50,000 in eight weeks by adding <a href=\"https:\/\/customers.convertflow.com\/stories\/rudy-mawer\">exit-intent automation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-rudy-mawer-case-study.jpg\" alt=\"Excerpt of article about Rudy, the sports nutritionist, generating $50K in eight weeks \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.40wpwjin096z\">3. Higher lead conversion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drift.com\/blog\/lead-response-report-2018\/\">Drift reported<\/a>&nbsp;that 58% of B2B companies don\u2019t respond to sales leads. To combat this issue, marketers can improve sales funnels by automating initial and follow-up touches with prospects and customers, leading to higher revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-most-companies-dont-respond.jpg\" alt=\"Pie chart showing 58% &quot;no response&quot; rate of companies \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.41xnj7mmsnk2\">4. Improved engagement or customer service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation helps customer service by handling many customer requests or issues in real-time. It is possible to create automated responses to common questions, such as \u201cWhat is my order status?\u201d or \u201cHow do I use Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/content-explorer\">Content Explorer<\/a>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.35lga4ecp69r\">5. Better analysis and reporting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation can provide marketing teams access to data, information, or insights that are easier to interpret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/rank-tracker\">Rank Tracker<\/a>&nbsp;contains information that integrates with <a href=\"https:\/\/datastudio.google.com\/u\/0\/reporting\/60e07a66-84cc-4992-b212-94bdf02851aa\/page\/Ml3lC\">this Google Data Studio report<\/a>&nbsp;that lets you monitor your Google rankings and competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/4-rank-tracker.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' Rank Tracker overview \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now let\u2019s take a look at examples of marketing automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Examples of marketing automation\" data-section=\"3-examples-marketing-automation\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.8umd2hr3ef0e\">Examples of marketing automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some examples from marketers&nbsp;who use automation to help them improve different aspects of their businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.o21t20d41sju\">Drip campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drip campaigns are a series of emails automatically delivered over time that tell a story or educate prospects about a solution or problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winwithoutpitching.com\/pricing-creativity\/\">Blair Enns<\/a>, who helps marketing agencies with pricing strategies, created a drip campaign to persuade people to buy his&nbsp;book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-blair-drip-campaign.jpg\" alt=\"Page showing picture of Blair; in bottom-right corner, visitors can enter contact details to get the first chapter of his book \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After you opt in to get a free sample of his book, he sends you a series of emails based on his core message: \u201cCharge more, buy my&nbsp;book.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6-blair-emails.jpg\" alt=\"Email inbox; on right, Win Without Pitching's email \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.jzqtp22djg9j\">Outreach campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Link building agencies use automation to follow up on prospects and earn more links from their outreach campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the typical steps in an <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blogger-outreach\/\">outreach campaign<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find prospects\u2019 contact details<\/li>\n<li>Craft your&nbsp;pitch<\/li>\n<li>Outreach to prospects<\/li>\n<li>Secure links<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Postaga, the average response rate for an <a href=\"https:\/\/woodpecker.co\/blog\/follow-up-statistics\/\">initial email is 16%<\/a>, and sending at least one <a href=\"https:\/\/postaga.com\/follow-up-email-guide\/\">follow-up will get a response rate<\/a>&nbsp;of 27% on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you send 1,000 outreach emails and include one automated follow-up, that\u2019s 110 more replies&nbsp;and link possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.dl84fry0or7b\">Sales&nbsp;conversion campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I spoke to Adam Watson, the co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodmirrors.co.uk\/\">Hollywood Mirrors<\/a>,&nbsp;about automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/7-hollywood-mirrors.jpg\" alt=\"Page showing ladies using mirrors; below, text field to subscribe and become a VIP\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s his&nbsp;reply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"small\"><div class=\"quote-content\">We automate&nbsp;emails depending on the customer behavior&nbsp;on the&nbsp;site.\n\n\n\n<p>The customer gets the right email at the right time with the right&nbsp;offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We sent over one million automated emails last year from a small list, and they produce 25% of our total revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of five automated campaigns is triggered if the website captures an email address depending on on-site behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Welcome series - for subscribers who recently subscribed.<\/li>\n<li>Cart abandonment - those who add to the cart but don\u2019t complete the purchase.<\/li>\n<li>Browse abandonment - subscribers who browse products but don\u2019t purchase.<\/li>\n<li>Win back campaign - dormant customers who haven\u2019t purchased recently.<\/li>\n<li>VIP automation - aimed at high or frequent spenders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation helps with all KPIs such as conversion, sales, repeat orders, and customer lifetime value. The more a customer sees your brand over time, the more likely they will&nbsp;buy.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.ygiykr9me2yl\">Another sales conversion automation example<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation can also notify customers and staff about sales promotions, orders, shipping, and deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the Nike.com shop, I added this product to my basket and then received this automated \u201cComplete your purchase before we run out of your size\u201d&nbsp;message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/8-nike-automated-message.jpg\" alt=\"Nike's pop-up message when item is added to cart\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I most certainly do not wish to miss out on this garment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.5dkz26lc7ukb\">Chatbots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A website chatbot is an automated tool that can interact with visitors in real-time via text messages, emails, or phone calls. It can also automatically answer questions from visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ahrefs chatbot provides visitors easy access to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/academy\">Ahrefs Academy<\/a>, help information, and chat with support staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you click \u201csend us a message,\u201d the chatbot interprets your message and proposes relevant help&nbsp;pages.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-141100 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/9-chatbot-suggests-relevant-messages.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' chatbot showing several options (help center, talk to support, etc)\" width=\"368\" height=\"288\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If the help articles aren\u2019t enough to answer your question, you can talk to Ahrefs support staff.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141101\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/10-ahrefs-support-staff.png\" alt=\"Chatbox to talk to Ahrefs' customer support team \" width=\"396\" height=\"778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/10-ahrefs-support-staff.png 396w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/10-ahrefs-support-staff-216x425.png 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.h87dpihqd2xk\">Alerts and notifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An alert is a notification sent by a website owner whenever someone performs a specific action. For example, if someone joins your newsletter, you can email them to thank them for subscribing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, we launched <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/webmaster-tools\">Ahrefs Webmaster Tools<\/a>, a free tool to help you get more out of your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve verified a website and the domain is added to the dashboard, you can create automated backlink, keyword, <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-audit\">Site Audit<\/a>, and ranking notifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click the three dots next to the domain name, then choose which notifications you wish to receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/11-email-me.png\" alt=\"List of options to tailor notifications \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>WordPress uses automation to notify you about comments posted on your website and enable plugin updates, saving web designers, developers, and bloggers time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/12-plugin-updates.png\" alt=\"List of WordPress plugins \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For invoicing purposes, I use Harvest to send out invoices. If the customer pays via Stripe or PayPal, automation sends me a payment notification and the customer receives a thank-you email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, I can set up the invoice settings so that slow payers get friendly reminders every seven days until they have&nbsp;paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/13-set-up-reminder-message.png\" alt=\"Page to set up reminder and thank-you messages\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.l354kxbex7w9\">Leads and appointments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you promote services on your website, the aim is to collect information from site visitors, specifically those interested in your services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This<a href=\"https:\/\/rightmessage.com\/recipes\/project-request\/\">&nbsp;lead qualification automation<\/a>&nbsp;asks website visitors a series of questions and aims to book an appointment with serious prospects. But the automation doesn\u2019t put off those who aren\u2019t ready to speak to a company representative yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/14-qualifying-leads.png\" alt=\"Flowchart of lead qualification; on right, a question with four options \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In this example, here are the four questions a visitor is&nbsp;asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Question 1. What help do you&nbsp;need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/15-what-help-is-needed.png\" alt=\"Question asking what user needs; below, four options to choose from\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Question 2. What is your website built&nbsp;on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/16-what-website-is-built-on.png\" alt=\"Question asking what user's website is built on; below, four options to choose from\" width=\"913\" height=\"182\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Question 3. What is your budget?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/17-budget.png\" alt=\"Question asking about user's budget; below, three options to choose from\" width=\"912\" height=\"181\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Question 4. When are you looking to&nbsp;start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/18-when-to-start.png\" alt=\"Question asking when user wants to start; below, three options to choose from\" width=\"911\" height=\"186\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If the prospect is a highly qualified lead, they are invited to book a&nbsp;call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/19-book-call.png\" alt=\"On left, cropped picture of two people talking; on right, form to book a call\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A less-qualified lead can sign up for a newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20-newsletter.png\" alt=\"On left, cropped picture of man smiling; on right, form to sign up for newsletter \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This automation enables marketers to get immediate and future leads from their websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.junpnzr1i7iz\">Personalization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automated personalization allows marketers to tailor their messages to specific individuals instead of sending the same message to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sent subscribers a personalized&nbsp;website audit using Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/app.ahrefs.com\/batch-analysis\">Batch Analysis tool<\/a>&nbsp;and ConvertKit custom fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sent 262 subscribers a personalized&nbsp;email containing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Their Domain Rating (DR).<\/li>\n<li>The number of referring domains.<\/li>\n<li>The number of keywords they ranked for.<\/li>\n<li>Organic traffic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/21-personalized-email.png\" alt=\"Fraser's personalized email to a recipient \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the step-by-step process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Export subscribers from ConvertKit into Google Sheets<\/li>\n<li>Select Data &gt; Split text to columns to get their domain name from their email address<\/li>\n<li>Copy and paste domain names into the <a href=\"https:\/\/app.ahrefs.com\/batch-analysis\">Batch Analysis tool<\/a>&nbsp;to extract the website metrics<\/li>\n<li>Create new columns in Google Sheets for the DR, referring domains, keywords, organic traffic data<\/li>\n<li>Match this data with subscribers<\/li>\n<li>Create custom fields in ConvertKit for the domain name, referring domains, keywords, organic traffic information<\/li>\n<li>Import Google Sheet information back into ConvertKit<\/li>\n<li>Create an email broadcast<\/li>\n<li>Insert the custom fields into the email body copy to personalize&nbsp;each subscriber\u2019s domain name, referring domains, keywords, and organic traffic information<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.5ox21ahxdzri\">Segment customers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Customer segmentation is the process of grouping together customers based on similar behaviors, interests, or&nbsp;needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can create rules aimed at people who open emails and then tag them by a product they\u2019ve bought or a page they\u2019ve visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, we can see that people who visit and start to exit this <a href=\"https:\/\/spreadsheeto.com\/zero-to-hero\/\">spreadsheet website<\/a>&nbsp;receive a pop-up message with segmentation options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/22-popup-message.png\" alt=\"Pop-up message with segmentation options \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Upon selecting the \u201cI\u2019m new to Excel\u201d option, I see that the website shows the \u201cget 3 video lessons for beginners\u201d offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/23-excel-courses.png\" alt=\"Pop-up message about free course; below, text field to enter email address to get said course\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now the site owner can tailor follow-up content and offers aimed at their \u201cbeginner\u201d customer segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.67d3s1s88qu8\">Email triggers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An email trigger sends designated content to prospects or customers who take action on your site (e.g., sign up for a free trial, make a purchase, or raise a support request).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These emails confirm that your business noticed the customer\u2019s request or action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While most email marketing tools and automation platforms can trigger automatic emails, <a href=\"https:\/\/technologyadvice.com\/marketing-automation\/\">49% of marketers<\/a>&nbsp;don\u2019t use these tools. So using these features gives you a competitive advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you sell training courses on a platform, such as Teachable or&nbsp;Podia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a customer buys your training course, you can send the order details to a marketing platform, such as Drip, ConvertKit, Mailchimp, etc., through an integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/24-podia-integrations.png\" alt=\"&quot;Intergrations&quot; page on Podia \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>When the order details come through the marketing platform, you can trigger an automation that emails the customer a welcome email and then another email 14 days later to check on their progress in the training course they signed up&nbsp;for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/25-trigger-automations.jpg\" alt=\"Draft of welcome email \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.9sshtwjrqhdw\">PPC and retargeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/google-ads\/answer\/2979071?hl=en-GB\">Automated PPC bidding<\/a>&nbsp;is when an advertis\u00ader bids automatically based on their budget and other criteria to make managing advertising campaigns easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automated retargeting is when you display ads to people who have just visited your website to encourage them to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1250ships.com, an e-commerce website, <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchimp.com\/resources\/one-small-business-made-retargeting-ads-earned-3879-roi\/\">created a Google remarketing ad in Mailchimp<\/a>&nbsp;that generated over $8,200 in revenue and gained 19 new customers\u2014leading to a 3,879% ROI in the first three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And here\u2019s how you can create a <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchimp.com\/help\/create-google-remarketing-ads\/\">Google remarketing advert<\/a>&nbsp;with Mailchimp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.ny7tdtuc6bg0\">Reports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation can generate specific reports for specified&nbsp;people, dates, and&nbsp;times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can create automated reports for customers, clients, or staff within Google Analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, here\u2019s how to create a report showing all channel traffic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Google Analytics &gt; Acquisition<\/li>\n<li>All Traffic &gt; Channels<\/li>\n<li>Click the arrow next to the date range &gt; Tick \u201cCompare to the previous period\u201d &gt;&nbsp;Apply<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/26-google-analytics.png\" alt=\"&quot;Channels&quot; page on Google Analytics \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click the share button &gt; Customize&nbsp;the email report options<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141107\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/27-email-reports.png\" alt=\"Drop-down options to choose frequency of email reports\" width=\"614\" height=\"524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/27-email-reports.png 614w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/27-email-reports-498x425.png 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Google Search Console sends regular performance reports each&nbsp;month.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Out now: Ahrefs Web Analytics<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ahrefs<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/web-analytics\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Web Analytics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a simple Google Analytics alternative. Fast, privacy-friendly, and free for up to 1 million events per month per&nbsp;site.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/web-analytics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.545dg2fmcsk0\">Onboarding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Onboarding is the process of bringing users up to speed with your product\/service as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s about making sure they feel welcome and confident enough to use, purchase, and keep using your product\/service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the festive break, I considered migrating my website from WordPress to the Ghost&nbsp;CMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the Ghost onboarding process for trial customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/28-ghost-onboarding-process.jpg\" alt=\"Email inbox; on right, Ghost's welcome email \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I purchased a custom theme but changed my mind and canceled&nbsp;the trial period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ConvertFlow onboarding process is more comprehensive than Ghost\u2019s, including a video course, case studies, results, and techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/29-convertflow-onboarding-process.jpg\" alt=\"Email inbox; on right, email about lead capture rates from ConvertFlow \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>While I have abandoned interest in these services, I still receive valuable emails from both brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.1knv0ary3iuw\">Social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automated social media uses software to post updates about a business on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marketers can do this manually, but it\u2019s much more efficient if done automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We use MeetEdgar to automate posting and content distribution on our main social channels; you can learn more about Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/martech-stack\/\">marketing stack<\/a>&nbsp;in our very own Mateusz Makosiewicz\u2019s guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s now time to put what you\u2019ve learned about automation into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How to get started with marketing automation\" data-section=\"4-get-started-marketing-automation\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.hjs5xa54i82u\">How to get started with marketing automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re new or want to automate more, here\u2019s our seven-step guide to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/30-start-marketing-automation.png\" alt=\"Flowchart to help you get started on marketing automation \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.99ino1m6xcuc\">Step 1.&nbsp;Goal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Define a specific goal. Note that certain goals\u2014such as saving time or money and increasing sales, leads, conversions, or engagement\u2014are too broad. You need to examine things more closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s say you looked at Google Analytics and discovered that 1.7% of traffic becomes a&nbsp;lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But after delving deeper, you discover you don\u2019t convert many of these leads into paying clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, one of your main goals can be to increase <em>qualified<\/em>&nbsp;leads or increase your conversion rates between the lead and customer stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.r5vfnff7k1bz\">Step 2. Identify technology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at the technology you are currently using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are there options available to reuse the existing technology to reach your&nbsp;goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are there resources you\u2019re not using or could be&nbsp;using?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you generate leads but do not convert them, is your team following up on those&nbsp;leads?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Could you speak to the sales team that interacts with prospects and build an automated sequence that answers the key questions sales leads&nbsp;have?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.7ve837wyr2uv\">Step 3. Look externally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Look how others in your industry are automating parts of their businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I used Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/content-explorer\">Content Explorer<\/a>&nbsp;to find automation case studies rather than Google when researching this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Type \u201cautomation\u201d AND \u201cindustry\u201d (replace \u201cindustry\u201d with your industry name) into the tool and sort by&nbsp;date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/31-content-explorer.png\" alt=\"Content Explorer search for this term: &quot;automation&quot; AND &quot;marketing&quot;\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll discover many examples and case studies specific to your industry that you can learn&nbsp;from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/32-content-explorer-2.png\" alt=\"Content Explorer results for this search: &quot;automation&quot; AND &quot;marketing&quot;\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t believe your existing solutions or tools can help solve your issues or achieve your goal, look elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, I\u2019m comparing the templates offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.convertflow.com\/templates\">ConvertFlow<\/a>&nbsp;and <a href=\"https:\/\/rightmessage.com\/recipes\/\">RightMessage<\/a>&nbsp;because I believe their technology can help increase and convert more qualified leads than my current solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/33-convertflow-templates.png\" alt=\"Various ConvertFlow templates in grid format\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/34-rightmessage-templates.png\" alt=\"Various RightMessage templates in grid format\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Most marketing automation tools will offer demonstrations, free trials, or \u201crecipes\u201d to help you decide if they are right for&nbsp;you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.37t353pfvcf\">Step 4. Map out the process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to map out a process from scratch, use a mind-mapping tool&nbsp;like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xmind.net\/\">Xmind<\/a>&nbsp;or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindmeister.com\/\">MindMeister<\/a>&nbsp;to visualize&nbsp;each user\u2019s step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This process for qualifying leads has already been mapped out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/35-lead-qualification.png\" alt=\"Flowchart of lead qualification; on right, a question with four options \" width=\"1600\" height=\"849\"><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/rightmessage.com\/recipes\/project-request\/\">RightMessage.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there\u2019s no educational and conversion process in place after the visitor subscribes to the newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of the process to generate qualified website leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Define pages that prospects visit<\/li>\n<li>Create form, fields, and&nbsp;CTA<\/li>\n<li>Create a page, web form, and email&nbsp;reply<\/li>\n<li>Connect form submission with CRM by creating Zapier integration<\/li>\n<li>Set up a trigger to send follow-up emails<\/li>\n<li>Create relevant content for the email sequence<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.cizcsak8tyom\">Step 5. Build, test, launch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After mapping out your process, it\u2019s time to build the automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most SaaS automation software lets you visually design the automation; if that fails, get your development team involved instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then test out your process; for example, if you\u2019re automating cart abandonment, go to Chrome Incognito and add a product to the basket:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/36-abandon-cart-pwr.png\" alt=\"PWRBioheat's page to choose delivery options; on right, an item added to cart \"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Then abandon the order and ensure the automation works the way it\u2019s supposed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"is-style-default aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/37-abandon-cart-email.png\" alt=\"PWRBioheat's &quot;Complete your Purchase&quot; email\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.4ik1laucgl4p\">Step 6. Measure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Measuring performance against the last 30 days is usually the most accurate way, and most automation solutions have methods for measuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.1r3llfmlb55y\">Step 7. Repeat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After tackling one problem or goal, repeat the process by identifying another problem or&nbsp;goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.dzeywf1tnn15\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This article covered everything about marketing automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automating repetitive marketing activities can help you save time and money; improve sales, leads, customer services, and engagement; and allow marketers to focus on higher-priority tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best approach is to start by automating small marketing tasks first, then move on to more significant tasks. You should also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/martech-stack\/\">how to build a martech stack<\/a>&nbsp;and what <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-tools\/\">online marketing tools<\/a>&nbsp;Ahrefs uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got questions? Ping me <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/frasermcculloch\">on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to EmailMonday,&nbsp;around 56% of companies use some form of marketing automation, and 40% of B2C companies plan to adopt the technology. But marketing automation can be overwhelming, with so many different platforms, integrations, and services available. How do you<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":141129,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[439],"class_list":["post-141117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is Marketing Automation &amp; How to Get Started?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Marketing automation uses software, tools, etc., to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for important tasks or increasing efficiency.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/marketing-automation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is Marketing Automation &amp; 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