> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ycloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a journey

# Create a journey

Create a Journey to automate the next actions for contacts who meet the conditions you set. Start with an available template or build a flow from scratch.

## Before you start

Prepare the entry condition, Sender, template message, and follow-up actions you want to use. If you plan to add tags or use message-status checks, decide how they should support the flow before you begin.

## Open Journey

Open the Journey workspace in YCloud to view your existing Journeys or create a new one.

<Frame caption="Open Outbound > Journey to view existing Journeys or select Create Journey.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI/product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-workspace-context-annotated.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI&q=85&s=3b5dcde69e3d3b2d60c1271af77b113d" alt="Full Outbound Journey workspace with the inactive demo Journey." width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-workspace-context-annotated.svg" />
</Frame>

## Start from a template or build from scratch

Select **Create Journey**, then choose one of the following options:

* **Start from a template** to begin with an available flow that you can adapt to your use case.
* **Build from scratch** to configure every part of the flow yourself.

<Frame caption="Choose Build from scratch or an available template. Shopify templates require a connected store.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/gXEJIQXV2JH2VUQJ/product-assets/english-help-2026-09-22/journey-start-annotated.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=gXEJIQXV2JH2VUQJ&q=85&s=90f1853f6169bdfa24cf36ddce662849" alt="Create new Journeys dialog with Build from scratch and available templates." width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-2026-09-22/journey-start-annotated.svg" />
</Frame>

## Configure the trigger

A Journey needs a **Trigger**. Configure the entry conditions, select a **Sender**, and choose the entry rule for your flow. The entry rule determines whether a contact enters only the first time that they match the conditions or each time that they match them.

<Frame caption="Configure the entry condition, Sender, and entry rule. This demonstration Journey remains inactive.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI/product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-trigger-context.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI&q=85&s=75e9a9dcad82fa5d870fe7185616e752" alt="Full Journey canvas with configured Trigger settings" width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-trigger-context.png" />
</Frame>

## Add and configure steps

Add the steps that should run after the Trigger. For example, you can send a template message, wait before the next action, check a message status, or add a tag.

Configure each step before you connect it to the next step. Keep the flow focused on one customer outcome, such as following up after a message or applying a tag after a response.

<Frame caption="Connect the configured Trigger to the next step. This example sends a welcome template when activated.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI/product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-connected-context.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI&q=85&s=a93dd17f45927e2e9eaa2c2813e1f8eb" alt="Inactive Journey connecting a contact-created Trigger to a template message" width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-connected-context.png" />
</Frame>

## Review and save

Review the Trigger, every step, and the connections between steps. Correct configuration errors before you save the Journey as **Active**.

Choose **Inactive** if you want to save the flow before activating it. Choose **Active** when the flow is ready to run.

<Frame caption="Choose the Journey status before saving. This example remains Inactive.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI/product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-save-context.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI&q=85&s=6732f34404fc28a9c42af5adc591fe6b" alt="Save the Journey dialog over the complete Journey canvas." width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-save-context.png" />
</Frame>

If a step has a configuration error, correct it before you activate the Journey.

<Frame caption="Select Check to find incomplete fields and missing connections before activating the Journey.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/lchnan/rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI/product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-canvas-errors-context.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=rmZYWVwRdpR7TJaI&q=85&s=136f4236819b964e758c0908154ef059" alt="Full Journey builder showing an unconfigured Trigger and validation errors." width="3024" height="1656" data-path="product-assets/english-help-context-2026-09-23/journey-canvas-errors-context.png" />
</Frame>

## What to do next

Learn how to configure each option in [Journey components](/en/documentation/journey/components-and-features-introduction/index).


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