--- title: Automation recipes description: "Start from a ready-made flow. How the Automation recipes screen works, how to install a recipe, and what each recipe makes." url: "https://hiveplugins.com/docs/hive-mail-automation-recipes/" updated: "2026-10-28" category: Hive Mail --- # Automation recipes A recipe is a ready-made flow for a common job. Hive Mail builds it as a **Draft**, so nothing is sent until you write your emails and switch it on. ## Install a recipe 1. Go to **Automation > Automation recipes** (or click **Start from an automation recipe** on the Flows list). 2. Each card shows the steps in order, a badge if it needs something (**Needs WooCommerce**, **Needs Easy Digital Downloads**, **Needs A form plugin**) and a footer such as "6 steps · 3 emails". If the plugin is not active, the button is disabled. 3. Click **Use this automation**. In the dialog, optionally change **Name of the flow**, and read **What it does** and **What it makes**. 4. Click **Create the draft flow**, then **Open it on the canvas**. The ready screen lists **Made for you**, **Already there, so used as they are** and **Before you switch it on**. 5. Write the emails, check the sender in **Settings > General**, fix any problems, run a **Test run**, then switch the flow on. ![The Automation recipes screen: each card lists its steps and, where a shop or form plugin is needed, a Needs badge](https://hiveplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hivemail-automation-recipes-grid-01.webp) ![The recipe is ready screen with the Made for you list and the to-do list](https://hiveplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hivemail-automation-recipe-ready-03.webp) Lists, tags, custom fields and segments are looked up by name and made only when missing. Emails are templates named `{Recipe name}: {Email name}`; installing the same recipe twice reuses the emails you edited. The emails start from a starter design with placeholder pictures and sample subjects. A recipe does not add people who already exist: triggers react to new events only. Use **Add people…** (see [Re-entry, existing contacts, and editing a live flow](/docs/hive-mail-re-entry-existing-contacts-and-editing-live-flows/)). > **Warning:** Do not switch a recipe on before you have written your own emails. The sample subjects and pictures are placeholders. ## The recipes | Recipe | Needs | Starts when | What it does and makes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Welcome series** | Nothing | Contact subscribes | Welcome email, 3 days, "Getting the most out of {{site_name}}", 4 days, "A quick question", then the tag **Welcome series**. Once. | | **Re-engagement** | Nothing | Added by hand | "We miss you", then **Wait until** a click (up to 14 days): tag **Re-engaged** if met, **Inactive** if not. Makes the segment **No opens in 90 days**; after switching on, use **Add people…** with that segment. | | **Birthday or anniversary** | Nothing | A date in a field comes round (**Birthday**, 09:00) | "Happy birthday". Makes a date field **Birthday** (reused if it exists). For an anniversary, pick another date field in the trigger. | | **Post-purchase thank-you** | WooCommerce | An order is completed | Thank-you after 1 day, "How is it going?" 7 days later, tag **Customer**. Put your review link in the second email. | | **First EDD purchase** | Easy Digital Downloads | A customer's first purchase | Thank-you, tag **EDD customer**, help email after 3 days. | | **Abandoned cart recovery** | WooCommerce | A cart is abandoned | Three reminders over 3 days, tag **Abandoned cart**, and a **Goal** "Cart recovered" that stops the reminders after an order. Put `{{cart_url}}` in each email. See [Abandoned cart recovery](/docs/hive-mail-abandoned-cart-recovery/). | | **Form follow-up** | A form plugin | A form is submitted | The button reads **Choose the form** and opens **Connect a form** with "A contact or enquiry form" chosen; that guide builds a flow named "Form: {form title}". See [Connect a form you already use](/docs/hive-mail-connect-a-form-you-already-use/). | More recipes in the same grid, all Drafts: | Recipe | Needs | Starts when | What it does | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Free plugin users: welcome, tips and a Pro offer** | Easy Digital Downloads | The user tag (made by the recipe) is added | Five emails over about 3 weeks; a **Goal** "Bought from you" ends the run and tags a customer. | | **Lead magnet: the download and two follow-ups** | Nothing | Tag **Lead magnet** is added | The download, then two follow-ups. | | **New account: welcome** | Nothing | Someone creates an account | One transactional welcome. Switch on **Subscribe new contacts** in the first step to subscribe people. | | **Complete your payment** | WooCommerce | An order is still waiting for payment | One transactional "Your payment did not go through". | | **After a purchase: setup help, a review and the community** | Easy Digital Downloads | A purchase is complete | Tag **EDD customer**, then three emails over about 3 weeks. | | **Refund follow-up (Easy Digital Downloads)** | Easy Digital Downloads | A purchase is refunded | One transactional refund note after 1 hour. | | **Ask for a review** | Nothing | Tag **Review request** is added | Two emails, 3 and 10 days later. | | **First WooCommerce order: welcome and a review** | WooCommerce | A first order | Welcome, tag **Customer**, review request after 10 days. | | **WooCommerce cancelled order follow-up** | WooCommerce | An order is cancelled | One transactional note after 1 hour. | | **WooCommerce refund follow-up** | WooCommerce | An order is refunded | One transactional note after 1 hour. | Keep the transactional notes about the order only, with no offers or extra links; a promotion would make them marketing, which needs consent. ## Seasonal recipes Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day and Easter each send three emails (teaser, launch, last chance) on dates filled in for the next occasion. Choose who gets them with **Add people…** once the flow is on. See [Starter designs and seasonal recipes](/docs/hive-mail-starter-designs-and-seasonal-recipes/). Next: [Build your first flow on the canvas](/docs/hive-mail-build-your-first-flow/), [Automation integrations](/docs/hive-mail-automation-integrations/).