I would take this a little further. The tools are wonderful – they do indeed automate many of the tasks you listed (email handling, lead management, nurturing, etc.). But here’s the thing: Inbound Marketing Automation, like most complex issues, is a Process. It’s a combination of tools, methods or procedures, and analysis and activities. Sure a part of the thinking and analysis go into the strategy, but it’s never a one off activity and your strategy and results should be analyzed on an ongoing basis. If you don’t think of Inbound Marketing Automation this way, and then design your whole approach as a Process, your results will be less than hoped for.

As with any Process, the best way to design one is to follow the path of Continuous Process Improvements: Think, Plan, Do, Measure and Repeat. If you design your formal Inbound Marketing Automation Process this way, you will begin your implementation on a path to consistent and constant improvement over time – you will literally get better and better at the whole Process, as you repeat each cycle.

If you’d like to read more about how to design this process, this Blog Post may be useful:: http://www.inbound-marketing-automation.ca/blog/ The Process post is the top one on this page.