> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.coachiq.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Build Your First Automation
> Create a welcome email that sends automatically when someone joins—in under 5 minutes
**Where to find this**: Tools → Automations → + New Automation
By the end of this guide, every new member will automatically receive a welcome email with instructions to [book their first session](/scheduling/overview). You'll also [tag](/people/tags-filters) them as an "Active Member" so you can easily find them later.
No templates, no shortcuts—we're building from scratch so you understand how it works.
## What You're Building
| Trigger | Condition | Actions |
| ------------ | ----------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| New Purchase | Is a subscription | 1. Send welcome email with booking link |
| | | 2. Add "Active Member" tag |
***
## Step-by-Step Instructions
From your dashboard, navigate to **Automations** and click **Create Automation**.
You'll see a blank canvas with a prompt to choose your trigger.
Click **Select Trigger** and choose **New Purchase**.
This trigger fires whenever someone buys any [product](/payments/product-overview)—memberships, credit packs, camps, or one-time sessions.
We only want this automation to run for new members, not every purchase. Let's add a filter.
Click **Add Condition** and select **Is a subscription**.
Now this automation will only fire when someone purchases a subscription product—not one-time buys like camps or drop-in sessions.
Conditions are optional, but they help you target the right people. You can add multiple conditions to get more specific.
Click **Add Action** and select **Send an Email**.
Fill in the fields:
| Field | What to Enter |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **To** | User from trigger (this is automatic) |
| **Subject** | `Welcome to the team, {{field.user.firstName}}!` |
| **Message** | See template below |
| **Attach Session** | Select your main training session |
Here's a welcome email you can copy and paste:
```
Hey {{field.user.firstName}},
You're officially part of the team! 🎉
Here's how to get started: book your first session using the link below.
If you have any questions, just reply to this email—I'm here to help.
See you soon,
[Your Name]
```
**Dynamic fields** like `@User.FirstName` automatically insert each member's actual name. Your email stays personal without extra work.
Let's also tag new members so you can target them with future automations.
Click **Add Action** and select **Add a Tag to a User**.
| Field | What to Enter |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **User** | User from trigger |
| **Tag** | Select "Active Member" (or create a new tag) |
Now every new subscriber automatically gets tagged, making it easy to send announcements or check engagement later.
Give your automation a clear name like **New Member Welcome**.
Click **Save** and toggle the automation **ON**.
**That's it!** Your automation is now live. The next person who purchases a subscription will automatically receive your welcome email and get tagged as an Active Member.
***
## Verify It's Working
A few ways to confirm your automation is running:
* **Check the automation log**: Most automations show a history of recent runs
* **Make a test purchase**: Use a test account to subscribe and see if the email arrives
* **Wait for your next signup**: You'll see it appear in the automation history
***
## What You Just Learned
You now understand the three building blocks of every automation:
* **Triggers** start automations when something happens (a purchase, booking, [form submission](/forms/overview))
* **Conditions** filter who it applies to (only subscriptions, only first-time buyers)
* **Actions** are what CoachIQ does automatically (send [messages](/inbox/inbox-overview), add tags, manage credits)
Every automation in CoachIQ—no matter how complex—uses this same pattern.
***
## What's Next?
Browse ready-to-use automations for trial conversions, member retention, credit reminders, and more.
Learn how to run automations on a schedule—like weekly check-ins for inactive members or credit expiration alerts.
## Related articles
Build forms that trigger automations on submission
Set up the sessions your automations will reference
Where automated emails and in-app messages are delivered
Organize members with tags that automations can add or remove