Use the branch element in web and dialog activities

Add the branch element to a web or dialog activity to split a single path in the activity into multiple paths. Each path can then contain different triggers, targets, and actions within the same activity. We can also add more paths, delete branch elements, and nest branch elements within existing branch elements.


Before beginning

To determine the best type of branch element to use in your activity and to view some examples, see Branches in marketing activities.


Task info

To perform A/B testing by adding multiple paths to an activity to determine the best path, see Creating marketing experiments instead of this topic.


Procedure

  1. If the activity to which we want to add a Branch element is not already open in the Activity Builder, open it.

  2. To add a Branch element to an activity:

    1. Drag the Branch element from the palette onto the flow connector at the location where we want to split a single path into multiple paths. The path splits into two.

    2. To add more paths, right-click the Branch element; then click Add Path.

    3. Click the Branch element to display its properties in the lower half of the page.

    4. Set the following properties for the Branch element:

      Property Description
      Name Name for the Branch element. This name is displayed in analytics reports to help identify the branch.
      Branch type Choose the type of branch to specify how the server determines which path a customer experiences. See Branches in marketing activities.
      Paths

      1. In the Name column, type a name for each path that extends from the Branch element. This name displays in the Activity Builder and in analytics reports.

      2. If the Branch type is Random path: in the Percentage column, type a percentage for each path. The percentage determines the relative frequency of each path. For example, if you have two paths, A and B, and each is set at 50%, then 50% of customers experience path A and the other 50% experience path B. The total percentage of all paths must be 100 percent.

    5. On the new paths, add, change, or delete elements to get the result we want.

  3. To change the properties of a Branch element, click the Branch element to display its properties; then set the properties as described in step 2.d.

  4. To delete a path, right-click the green arrow at the start of the path; then click Delete.

  5. To delete a Branch element, right-click it; then click Delete. All paths that extend from the Branch element are deleted except for the top path.

  6. To create two identical branched paths that are nested within the current Branch element:

    1. Right-click the Branch element; then click Add to Branch.

    2. Click the new (parent) Branch element to display its properties; then set the properties as described in step 2.d.

    3. Set or change the properties of the nested branch elements.

    4. On the new paths, add, change, or delete elements to get the result we want.

  7. Click

    Save to save the activity, or click Close to close the Activity Builder and return to the previous page.


Related concepts
Branches in marketing activities
Differences between the branch element and the experiment element