> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tracklysms.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build a Welcome Journey

> Create an automated welcome sequence in under 10 minutes

This quickstart walks you through creating a welcome journey that automatically messages new contacts.

## What You'll Build

A 3-message welcome series:

1. Immediate welcome with discount
2. Bestsellers after 24 hours
3. Final reminder after 3 days

## Prerequisites

<Check>A sending list to trigger enrollment</Check>
<Check>2-3 creatives for your welcome messages</Check>

## Step 1: Create the Journey

1. Navigate to **Journeys** in the sidebar
2. Click **New Journey**
3. Name it: "Welcome Series - Main List"

## Step 2: Set the Trigger

Configure when contacts enter:

| Field        | Value                                                            |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Trigger Type | Contact added to list                                            |
| List         | Select your main list                                            |
| Priority     | 10 (higher numbers take precedence when multiple journeys match) |

New contacts added to this list will automatically enter the journey. Trigger types include:

* **List-based**: Contact is added to a specific list (most common)
* **Custom field**: A custom field matches a condition (with operators: `eq`, `ne`, `in`, `not_in`, `exists`, `contains`)
* **Any**: Any new contact, no additional conditions

## Step 3: Add Welcome Message (Step 1)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Send Message**
3. Choose your welcome creative:
   ```
   "Welcome! Thanks for signing up.
   Here's 10% off your first order: {{link1}}

   Reply STOP to opt out."
   ```
4. Bind an offer to the link

## Step 4: Add Wait (Step 2)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Wait**
3. Set duration: **24 hours**

## Step 5: Add Bestsellers Message (Step 3)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Send Message**
3. Choose your bestsellers creative:
   ```
   "Discover our bestsellers!
   Shop now: {{link1}}"
   ```

## Step 6: Add Another Wait (Step 4)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Wait**
3. Set duration: **3 days**

## Step 7: Add Final Message (Step 5)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Send Message**
3. Choose your reminder creative:
   ```
   "Your 10% off expires soon!
   Don't miss out: {{link1}}"
   ```

## Step 8: Add Exit (Step 6)

1. Click **Add Step**
2. Select **Exit**

## Step 9: Review the Flow

Your journey should look like:

```
1. Send "Welcome + 10% off"
   ↓
2. Wait 24 hours
   ↓
3. Send "Bestsellers"
   ↓
4. Wait 3 days
   ↓
5. Send "Final reminder"
   ↓
6. Exit
```

## Step 10: Activate

1. Click **Preview** to verify the flow
2. Click **Activate**

The journey is now live! New contacts will automatically receive your welcome series.

## Testing Your Journey

To test:

1. Create a test contact with your phone number
2. Add them to the trigger list
3. You should receive the first message immediately
4. Wait (or ask support to accelerate) to verify subsequent steps

## Adding a Condition (Optional)

Make it smarter with branching:

After Step 4 (Wait 3 days), add a condition:

```
Step 4b: Condition - Clicked any link?

Yes branch → Exit (they're engaged!)
No branch → Step 5 (send final reminder) → Exit
```

This avoids messaging contacts who already engaged.

## Monitoring Your Journey

View journey performance:

1. Go to **Journeys**
2. Click on your journey
3. See:
   * Total enrollments
   * Active (in progress)
   * Completed
   * Per-step metrics

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Contacts not entering">
    Check:

    * Is the journey active?
    * Are contacts being added to the trigger list?
    * Have they already been enrolled before?
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Messages not sending">
    Verify:

    * Is the contact still subscribed?
    * Are the creatives active?
    * Is the sending list working?
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Journey Conditions" icon="code-branch" href="/guides/journeys/conditions">
    Add branching logic
  </Card>

  <Card title="Journey Examples" icon="lightbulb" href="/guides/journeys/examples">
    More patterns
  </Card>
</CardGroup>