How to automate workflows (sequences) in Flodesk
What's inside this post: Hide
FULL DISCLOSURE: I no longer use Flodesk myself, BUT this post is still full of helpful insights for those who are interested.
📌 Pin it for later!
In this post I'm walking you through how to set up automated Workflows in Flodesk — think welcome series, freebie delivery sequences, and more. The written steps below are still accurate as of 2026, though the video was recorded in 2021 so the UI will look a little different from the current Flodesk interface. The core process is the same. No Zapier required. 👇
New to Flodesk? Here's a quick rundown of how it compares to other platforms before we dig into the tutorial.
❓ Not sure how Segments work yet?
Start with How to automate basic segmenting in Flodesk → first — Segments are what trigger your Workflows, so it helps to set those up before diving in here.
How Flodesk compares to other platforms:
Mailchimp looks like the only option, aside from Squarespace’s own Email Campaigns (which is, frankly, not great). As I have a strong dislike for Mailchimp myself and Email Campaigns is way too simplistic for my needs, I’ve never used either for my own business.
That means I’ve always had to integrate my email marketing app with Squarespace via embedded blocks or links to full-page signup forms from my email app of choice.
I’ve given these five companies the good ‘ol college try, as ‘they’ say: ConvertKit, Mailchimp, MailerLite, Email Campaigns, and Flodesk.
I’ve talked about switching email marketing platforms before, but here’s a quick rundown of my experience with those:
ConvertKit: very robust, great for businesses with more serious email marketing strategies; it has a learning curve, the email editor is very basic (think rich text, buttons & some image layouts only). It’s too pricey for brand new business owners with 0 subscribers, and their pricing increases as your list grows.
Recommended for businesses with a list of 1,000 - 2,000 people, or where emails help generate profit for your business.
Try it FREE* for up to 1,000 subscribers, with limited features.
Mailchimp: ew. 😂 Their UI keeps getting more convoluted, hard to use, and their email builders irritate me –again with the UI complaints; pricing also increases as your list grows. It’s also very list-based; it’s one of the few platforms that allow you to have completely separate email lists that can don’t have any crossover but are within the same account.
Not recommended
MailerLite: used for 2 years for free, 1 year paid (very affordable plans), great email builder, lots of options, offers segments & groups, automations, and decent signup form and sales page options; a great choice for new business owners with 0 subscribers that want flexibility as a semi-serious email marketer. Pricing increases as your list grows.
Recommended for brand new businesses with no list & no budget, or businesses that want features like ConvertKit offers without the price tag.
Try it FREE for up to 1,000 subscribers, with limited features.
Squarespace Email Campaigns: way too simplistic; it’s so simple that it honestly should be free to use. It has way fewer features and less functionality than Mailchimp or Mailerlite, both of which offer free plans. Does all the most basic things, and is integrated directly with your website design for easy access. Not sure about price increases.
Not recommended.
it’s not as design-friendly as you might expect, given that it is directly built into the same system your website uses.
Flodesk: simple, yet has more features than Squarespace Email Campaigns (but less than MailerLite & ConvertKit). The email builder has by far the most design options I’ve seen anywhere. The UI is clean, feels familiar, and is easy to use. The web-app works great, looks great, and pricing is transparent and subscriber-based, scaling as your list grows — check their pricing page for current details.
Recommended for design-forward business owners that want a lot of functionality while maintaining a strong design aesthetic that matches their brand.
Try FREE, no obligation & get 25% OFF your first year with my affiliate code DAAAMN*
If you want a more detailed breakdown of these platforms, read this post too.
How to set up Flodesk Workflows, step by step
Now you know how to organize your list into segments and which email provider you might be interested in. But how do you set up the workflows that send the automatic stuff? (The welcome emails and of course, the delivery of freebies.)
The BIG question: do you need Zapier to get this done &/or integrate it with Squarespace? NO. 🥳 Learn how to integrate Flodesk with Squarespace over here.
Sending opt-ins and freebies to your list, on autopilot
Maybe you expected to attach the freebie file or link when you created the signup form, and that’s a logical expectation so don’t feel silly if that’s you.
What actually happens is kind of a separate process:
Step 1: Create your Segments in the Audience tab
Head to your Audience tab and create a Segment for whoever will be triggering this workflow —for example, "Freebie: Brand Kit Download" or "Welcome Series."
Step 2: Build your Form & assign a Segment
In the Forms tab, create your signup form and designate which Segment will be applied when someone submits the form.
Step 3: Set up your Workflow trigger
In the Workflows tab, create a new Workflow and choose the Segment you just created as the trigger —this is what kicks off the automation when someone signs up.
Step 4: Add your emails & actions
Add your emails, time delays, and any other actions you want the workflow to perform for you. Build out as many steps as you need!
Step 5: Publish your Workflow
Once everything looks good, hit Publish — and your automation is live!
Heads up: Flodesk has updated their workflow builder since this video was recorded in 2021 — the steps are still the same, but the current UI will look a bit different from what you see here. For the most current walkthrough, check Flodesk's help center.
Flodesk Workflows video tutorial: welcome series & freebie delivery
Here’s a look at this process in action! I’ll show you how to create Workflows from scratch, how to duplicate Workflows you already have, and how to create simple ones for delivery of your freebies/opt-ins.
Frequently asked questions about Flodesk Workflows
-
Nope — Flodesk has native workflow automation built right in. No third-party tools required for basic automations like welcome series and freebie delivery.
-
You'll want a separate workflow per freebie for the cleanest delivery experience — but you can duplicate an existing workflow and edit it, which saves a ton of time.
-
As many as you need — there's no hard limit on steps in a workflow.
-
Yes! Flodesk now has a native Squarespace integration, so your forms and workflows connect without needing Zapier as a middleman.
