# How does the Message sent condition work?

**This article includes a video demonstration:** [Watch video](https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/t1oo18gt6w?embedType=iframe&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=1920)

The **Message sent** condition tracks your sent messages. Use it to target contacts based on the type of messages you send out. Simply decide how broad or how specific the condition needs to be. **Message sent** works with newsletters, autoresponders, automation messages, and A/B tests. Under **Properties**, you can choose any message type, a specific message type, or an individual message for the condition.

You can use **Message sent** only as a start element. The condition has an “if yes” (green) connector. It triggers the workflow for the recipients of the message you’ve selected for the condition. There’s no “if no” (red) connector because no contact on your list can meet this condition if you haven’t sent them a message.

Keep in mind that the condition doesn’t track messages that have gone out **before** you set up the element. We recommend you **schedule your messages** to go out after you run the workflow with the **Message sent** condition.

How do I set it up?
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1.  Go to **[Automation](https://app.getresponse.com/automation/manage)** and select **Create workflow** to open the workflow creator.
2.  Select the **Message sent** element to add it to the workspace.
3.  Open **Properties** to set up the condition.

![Message sent properties.](https://us-wd.gr-cdn.com/help/2019/07/2019-07-23_10-43-08.png)

*   If you’d like the condition to track **any message sent**, leave the properties set to **Any**.

![](https://us-wd.gr-cdn.com/help/2019/07/Screen-Shot-2016-11-22-at-15.15.13-300x277.png)

*   If you’d like to track **a specific message type**, choose the type, and select **Any** from the drop-down list that becomes available.

![](https://us-wd.gr-cdn.com/help/2019/07/Screen-Shot-2016-11-22-at-15.20.55-300x245.png)

*   If you’d like to track **an individual message**, select the message type. Then, select the **Specific** option and expand the drop-down list to select the message.

![Specific message selection.](https://us-wd.gr-cdn.com/help/2019/07/Screen-Shot-2016-11-22-at-15.26.50.png)

Optionally, you can set the element to run multiple times.

1.  Add more elements to your workflow.
2.  Click **Save and publish**.

How do I schedule messages for the condition to work?
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The condition only tracks messages you send out **after** you set up the element and start your workflow. Keep this in mind when you’re scheduling your messages and workflows. This is especially important to remember if you’d like a particular message to be the trigger.

**For autoresponders**, remember that the condition triggers your workflow only for those contacts who receive the selected message **after** you set the workflow to run.

**For** **automation messages**, think about how you schedule your workflows. Automation messages can only be sent in another workflow. So, the workflow that uses the **Message sent** condition needs to start **before** the workflow that sends the automation message. Alternatively, stagger the workflows in such a way that the **workflow with Message sent** is up and running **before** your contacts reach the **Send message** action **in another workflow**.

**For newsletters and A/B tests**, think about how you schedule them. The **workflow with** **Message sent** needs to be up and running **before** your **messages go out**. So, we recommend the following approach:

### Working with scheduled newsletters (newsletters you’ve never set out before)

This is a two-step approach: you create a new message and then build a new workflow.

**In the message creator**

1.  Go to [**E****mail marketing**](https://app.getresponse.com/newsletters/manage).
2.  Follow the steps in the newsletter creator.
3.  On the **Message summary** page, select **Schedule**. Set the delivery time and day to give yourself time to build and publish your workflow. That way you can make sure the message goes out after your workflow starts running.

**In the workflow creator**

Follow the steps described in the element set-up section.

When the scheduled message goes out, the workflow is triggered.

### Reusing newsletters (newsletters you’ve previously sent out)

This is a multi-step approach. It requires switching between the workflow and message creators.

**In the workflow creator**

1.  Add **Message sent** to the workspace.
2.  Set the element properties as described above.
3.  Add more elements to build your workflow.
4.  Click **Save and exit**.
5.  You now need to go to **[Email Marketing](https://app.getresponse.com/newsletters/manage)**.

**On the Manage newsletters page**

1.  Find the message you selected for your workflow.
2.  Expand the **Actions** menu and select **Re-use**. This opens the message creator.
3.  Go to the **Message summary**. Next, click **Schedule** to set new delivery time.
4.  Once this step is complete, go to the **[Automation](https://app.getresponse.com/automation/manage)**.

**On the Manage automation workflows page**

1.  Find the workflow you’ve saved.
2.  Expand the **Actions** menu and choose **Edit**.
3.  Go to **Properties** for the **Message sent**.
4.  From the **Select a message** list, select the top-most message. It’s the message you’ve just scheduled and it has the same name as the message you originally selected for the condition.
5.  Click **Save and publish**.

When the message goes out, it triggers your workflow.