This study presents three different types of molecular switches studied on an Au(111) surface. For each case, the switching is induced via tip-based manipulations through inelastic tunnelling electrons. However, the mechanism responsible for the switching is different in each molecule. The first molecule is a well-known dipolar switch, wherein the chemical reaction required to switch between the two conformers is usually thermally activated. We show how a unidirectional switching event can be triggered through voltage pulses. The second molecule demonstrates that tuning intermolecular reactions can change its planarity, switching from a non-planar to planar geometry. The third molecule is a reversible switch that can be transformed from one conformation to another by causing an intramolecular change. We find that this is possible by addressing high-energy excited states through tip electrons.