Uscreen gives you two native tools to reach your members and leads by email, right from the platform you already use to manage your content and business. No need for Mailchimp, Drip, Zapier, or any other third-party email tool.
Automations and Email Broadcasts both use the same visual email builder, but they're built for different jobs.
This article breaks down what each one does, how they compare, and how to know which one to reach for.
ℹ️ INFO: Both tools require a company address set in your account settings before you can send emails. This is a compliance requirement for marketing emails. 🔗 Learn more about Email Essentials
What is Automations
The Automations feature lets you build trigger-based email sequences that run automatically based on member behavior, like starting a trial, purchasing a subscription, or canceling.
Once set up, an automation keeps working in the background, enrolling members as they take the qualifying action and moving them through a series of emails, waits, and tag updates without any manual effort from you.
Automations are built from three core components:
🔗 Learn more about Automation Components
💡 TIP: Not sure where to start? Automations come with pre-built templates for common journeys like welcome sequences, lead nurture, and win-back campaigns. 🔗 See Building an Automation Workflow
What are Email Broadcasts
Email Broadcasts are one-off emails you send to a specific audience of members, leads, or both. Use them for announcements, promotions, or updates you want to send once to a targeted group, rather than an ongoing sequence.
Broadcasts include:
Pre-built templates organized by goal (Growth, Retention, Win-back)
Optional publishing to the web, for sharing beyond email
Comparison & Contrast
| Automations | Email Broadcasts |
How it runs | Continuously, triggered by member behavior | Once, at a time you choose |
Repeats automatically | Yes, for every member who meets the trigger | No, one-time send (or a schedule you set) |
Best for | Reacting to what a member does | Announcing something to a group at a moment in time |
📝 NOTE: Admin-initiated changes, like manually canceling a member from the People page, do not trigger Automations. If you need to follow up after an admin action, use a Broadcast instead. 🔗 Learn more about Manual User Access Management
A simple way to decide which to use:
If you want to... | Use |
Welcome a new member after they subscribe | Automation |
Announce a new course or live event | Broadcast |
Win back a member weeks after they cancel | Automation |
Promote a limited-time sale to your whole list | Broadcast |
Even though they serve different purposes, Automations and Broadcasts share the same foundation:
Same visual email builder, including the Text, Image, Button, Spacer, HTML, and Columns blocks
Same Tag-based and Audience-based targeting, so you can reach the same segments with either tool
Same personalization tokens, including member first name and coupon code variables
Same preview and test-send options before going out to your real recipients
Same HTML Block for custom code, which requires a Premium plan
💡 TIP: You don't have to choose one over the other. Most Sellers use both: Automations for ongoing behavior-based journeys, Broadcasts for one-time sends, and together they can fully replace a separate email marketing tool.
FAQs
Can I use Automations and Broadcasts together?
Can I use Automations and Broadcasts together?
Yes. Many Sellers use both. Automations handle ongoing, behavior-based sequences, while Broadcasts cover one-time announcements and promotions.
Do Automations and Broadcasts share the same email builder?
Do Automations and Broadcasts share the same email builder?
Yes. Both use the same block-based visual builder, so any layout or design skills you build in one carry over to the other.
Will switching between the two require different targeting setups?
Will switching between the two require different targeting setups?
No. Both tools support the same tag and Audience-based targeting, so you can reuse a saved Audience across Automations and Broadcasts.
Do I need a specific plan to use either tool?
Do I need a specific plan to use either tool?
Automations and Broadcasts are both available on all plans. The HTML Block used in either tool's email builder requires a Premium plan.
Can I use Automations or Broadcasts alongside an external email tool like Mailchimp?
Can I use Automations or Broadcasts alongside an external email tool like Mailchimp?
Yes, but be careful not to create duplicate or conflicting messages. Many Sellers find they can fully replace external tools with Uscreen's native Automations and Broadcasts.