Timing/cadance in engagement programs

[Katie_Taylor]

I'm a little confused on how the enagement program works.  We want to set up the streams so that it the start of the program triggers for each cilent at different days depending on when they became a client (ie: a lead becomes a client today - the program starts, same for the person who become a client in 2 weeks from now).  

My question is - is the only cadance option to have it so regimented?  Or can you set it so that someone gets email 1 the day they become a client, email 2 1 week from that, email 2 1.5 months from that....etc.

If it can't be altered, I'm just not sure how this differs from a smart campaign....?

[Anonymous]

You could easily have them get the first email the day they become a client... the flow step to that smart campaign being: Send Email -- and Add to Engagement Program --. However, they are regimented in the engagment streams. It may be best in this case to use smart campaigns with wait steps?

[Katie_Taylor]

Hi Kim, thanks for the response.  That's what I was afraid of.

I am not seeing the benefit of the enagement program vs. a smart campaign then?  Why should the EP replace a SC?