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Automation

Usage Milestone

A specific threshold of product usage that triggers automated actions or emails.

Definition

A usage milestone is a predefined threshold of product activity that serves as a trigger for automation. Examples include creating 10 projects, sending 1000 messages, hitting 80% of a plan limit, or achieving a specific outcome. When users cross these thresholds, automated systems can respond with appropriate emails, alerts, or actions.

Why It Matters

Usage milestones create contextually relevant moments for communication. A user who just created their 100th project is primed for a congratulations email. A user approaching their API limit needs a usage alert. These triggers ensure your emails arrive at moments when they are relevant and welcome rather than random.

How It Works

Define thresholds that represent meaningful points in the user journey. Instrument your product to track when users cross these thresholds. Connect these events to your email platform as triggers. Design emails appropriate for each milestone, whether celebratory, educational, or upgrade-focused.

Best Practices

  • 1Choose milestones that genuinely mean something to users
  • 2Distinguish between success milestones and limit milestones
  • 3Celebrate success milestones without sales pitches
  • 4Use limit milestones for timely, helpful upgrade conversations
  • 5Personalize with actual usage numbers
  • 6Track which milestone emails drive engagement and revenue
  • 7Do not create too many milestones or emails become noise

Custom Event Triggers

Send product events to Sequenzy and use them as triggers for email automation. Any milestone can become an email opportunity.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Pick milestones that correlate with retention and success. Look at your activated users and identify the usage levels that distinguish them from churned users. Also track milestones related to plan limits for expansion opportunities.

Plan limits are constraints (you are running out of something). Usage milestones are achievements (you have accomplished something). Both can trigger emails, but the tone differs. Limits prompt upgrade discussions. Milestones prompt celebration and reinforcement.

Send events from your product to your email platform via API or integrations. When the "100th project created" event fires, trigger the corresponding email sequence. Modern email platforms accept custom events that can serve as automation triggers.