What is the difference between drip campaigns and triggered emails?

• A. Drip campaigns require manual sending.
• B. Drip campaigns are planned sequences; triggered emails are sent in response to user actions.
• C. Drip campaigns are only onboarding; triggered emails are only for cart reminders.
• D. They are the same thing.

Answer: (B)

Drip campaigns are planned sequences of messages designed to guide a subscriber over time. You set the order, the content, and the schedule, and the system sends each email on the predefined days or after specific time gaps—whether or not the recipient does anything in between. Triggered emails, on the other hand, fire in response to a user action. They’re activated by events like signing up, abandoning a cart, clicking a link, or visiting a particular page, and they’re sent as soon as (or shortly after) that action occurs. This difference matters because drip campaigns build a gradual journey with a fixed rhythm, while triggered emails react to real-time behavior to capitalize on immediate intent. The idea that drip campaigns must be sent manually isn’t accurate, and the notion that they’re only for onboarding or that they’re the same thing isn’t correct—the two patterns serve different automation triggers and purposes.