---
title: "Set a trigger in an automation"
slug: "set-a-trigger-in-an-automation"
abstract: "Describes how to set a trigger in an automation."
---
# Set a trigger in an automation

Setting the appropriate trigger is the first step in designing a [custom automation](https://doc.sitecore.com/send/en/users/sitecore-send/using-automation/create-a-custom-automation.html "Create a custom automation"). Triggers are based on the actions that, for example, your email campaign subscribers perform when they read your newsletter, or that visitors perform when they visit your website. These actions trigger the chain of activities that you define in an automation workflow.

To set a trigger in an automation:

1. In the design pane, click **Select your trigger**. The **Select a Trigger** dialog appears.

    ![Select a Trigger dialog](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/send/en/users/sitecore-send/images/Select_Trigger_Send.png)

    The **Select a Trigger** dialog contains a list of the trigger types and the triggers for each type. The [different trigger types](https://doc.sitecore.com/send/en/users/sitecore-send/using-automation/create-a-custom-automation/different-types-of-triggers.html "Different types of triggers") are:

    - Email engagement
    - List engagement
    - Profile management
    - Scheduling
    - Website engagement
    - Lead generation
2. To select a trigger, click ![arrow.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/send/en/users/sitecore-send/images/arrow.png) next it.
3. In the **Trigger only once?** field, in the drop-down list, select the appropriate options for your trigger.

    You must decide whether you want your trigger to activate once or every time.

    The triggers that are involved with specific products from your website will request you to provide the product code for the product action that triggers your automation.

4. Click **Save**.