This article covers:
When to use a time-based automation instead of an event-based one
The full setup walkthrough, step by step
The Hourly Load requirement for an hourly cadence
In short
A time-based automation runs on a cadence you set, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, rather than relative to a game. Set it up once, choose a play or build custom targeting, and it creates and pushes a fresh segment on that cadence for the length of the automation period.
Set up a time-based automation
Open the automation builder. From the Segmentation menu, select Automations, then New Automation.
Select Time Based.
Choose an Automation Play, or select Create Custom Automation to build targeting from scratch in the Segment Builder.
Select an automation goal. Choose whether this automation is meant to increase sales (tickets or merchandise) or increase fan engagement (email or web). Goal Categories let you track performance against whichever you pick.
Add goal filters. Narrow the goal further, for example a specific season, product, event, or price code, so tracking lines up with what you actually want to measure.
Configure the automation settings. Name and description are pre-filled but editable. Set the start and end date for the automation period, confirm the time zone, and set the cadence: how often and at what interval a new segment is created. Set the segment tracking period, and optionally enable a control group, a set of fans who are tracked for comparison but do not receive the campaign.
Configure the destination. Choose where the segment is pushed: an email service provider, an SMS platform, a CRM, a paid social channel, or another marketing tool. If you don't have a push destination enabled, you can export the segment as a CSV (comma-separated values) file instead.
Review and create. Confirm the details, then click Create Automation.
FAQ
How is this different from an event-based automation?
A time-based automation runs on a cadence you set. An event-based automation triggers relative to a game in your schedule instead. See Segment automations for the full comparison
Which plays are available for time-based automations?
See Automation plays available today for the full, current list and recommended cadence for each.
Can I change the cadence after the automation is running?
Yes. Select the pencil icon on the automation and edit its settings. The new cadence applies from the next run. See Edit an automation for everything you can change.
My automation failed. What do I do?
See Troubleshooting automation runs for what each failure category means and whether you can re-run it.
Still need help?
Contact StellarAlgo support and include:
The automation name
The play it started from, if you used one
The destination name
The date and time you expected it to run