Marketing Automation

Software that automates repetitive marketing tasks like email sequences, lead scoring, social posting, and campaign management across multiple channels.

Marketing automation replaces manual, repetitive tasks with triggered workflows. It lets small teams operate at the scale of much larger organizations by automating lead nurturing, segmentation, and campaign execution.

What Can Be Automated

  • **Email drip campaigns**: Trigger sequences based on user behavior
  • **Lead scoring**: Automatically rank prospects by engagement and fit
  • **Social media scheduling**: Plan and publish posts in advance
  • **Ad retargeting**: Serve ads to users who visited specific pages
  • **CRM updates**: Sync lead data and deal stages automatically

Popular Platforms

HubSpot (all-in-one), Mailchimp (email-focused), ActiveCampaign (automation-first), and Marketo (enterprise).

FAQ

When should a business invest in marketing automation?

When you're generating consistent leads but struggling to follow up manually, or when your email list exceeds 500 subscribers. The time savings typically justify the cost at that point.

Is marketing automation expensive?

Costs range widely. Mailchimp starts free, HubSpot's marketing hub starts around $20/month, while enterprise tools like Marketo cost $1,000+/month. Choose based on your list size and feature needs.