Editing Prevent contacts from entering my automation twice (section)

= How do I prevent contacts from entering my automation twice? =

Automation in ActiveCampaign can be a powerful tool for enhancing communication with your contacts. However, if not managed correctly, it may cause contacts to receive duplicate messages or enter multiple times into workflows. This article will guide you through the process of preventing contacts from entering your automation more than once.

== Introduction ==
The feature to prevent contacts from entering your automation twice is essential for maintaining a positive contact experience. When a contact enters your automation multiple times, they may receive duplicate emails or encounter repeated actions that could lead to confusion or frustration. Implementing this feature ensures that each contact experiences your automation in a clean, streamlined manner, enhancing your overall automation effectiveness.

By configuring the automation settings appropriately, you can safeguard against situations where a single contact re-enters the same automation through multiple triggers or enters again after completing it.

== How to Access This Feature ==
To configure the setting that prevents contacts from entering your automation multiple times, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the '''Automations''' section on the left menu.
2. Either edit an existing automation or create a new one.

== Step-by-Step Instructions ==
To set up the prevention of duplicate entries in your automation, follow these detailed instructions:

1. From your ActiveCampaign dashboard, click on '''Automations''' in the left menu to access your list of automations.
2. Choose the automation you wish to edit or click on the option to create a new automation.
3. Locate the arrow in the top right corner of the automation canvas and click it. This action will open the automation settings panel.
4. In the settings panel, look for the field labeled '''A contact can enter this automation'''. Click on '''Edit''' next to this field.
5. From the options presented, select '''Only once''' to ensure that contacts cannot enter the automation multiple times.
6. Finally, click on the '''Save''' button, then proceed to click '''Close''' to exit the settings panel.

== Configuration Options and Settings ==
The primary option for configuration within this feature is:

* '''A contact can enter this automation:''' Select '''Only once''' to prevent any duplicate entries. This setting is crucial for ensuring that once a contact has entered your automation, they will not be able to enter again until they either finish or are removed from the automation context.

== Best Practices and Tips ==
- Regularly review your automations: Ensuring that your automations are up to date may help realize how contacts interact with them and how triggers might lead to duplicate entries.
- Use clear and engaging content: When a contact does receive communication from your automations, make sure the messaging is engaging and clear so that even those entering once will understand the value of staying subscribed.
- Test your automations: Before sending them live, perform testing on a small segment of contacts to see how they interact with the automation settings and to ensure your configurations are functioning correctly.

== Common Use Cases with Examples ==
- **Scenario 1:** You have an automation for a welcome email series that is activated when a contact subscribes to your mailing list. By setting this to allow entry '''Only once''', you prevent a contact who may subscribe multiple times from receiving 3 different welcome emails.
- **Scenario 2:** If a contact is going through a re-engagement campaign and they have already completed the campaign, they will not receive the emails again, ensuring a better management of your contact lists and resources.

== Troubleshooting ==
If you encounter issues where contacts seem to enter your automation more than once despite having set the option to '''Only once''', consider the following steps:
- Review the triggers associated with your automation. Ensure that there aren't multiple triggers that could activate under similar conditions for the same contact.
- Check your automation history to see how contacts are entering the workflow and verify their interaction sequence.
- Confirm that your changes were saved properly in the automation settings.

== Related Features ==
To further enhance your automation experience, consider exploring related features:
- [[Automations]]: Understand various aspects of automations in ActiveCampaign for better management of your contact workflows.
- [[Email Marketing]]: Learn how to effectively use email strategies alongside your automations.

== FAQ ==
* '''Can a contact enter the automation more than once if I set it to "Only once"?'''
    - No, setting it to '''Only once''' prevents a contact from entering the automation again until they have completed the workflow.
  
* '''What happens if I change the settings after contacts have already started the automation?'''
    - Existing contacts in the automation will not be affected by changes; the setting will only apply to new entries going forward.

* '''Can I manually remove a contact from the automation?'''
    - Yes, you can manually remove contacts from the automation section to alter their entries.

* '''Are there any limitations to this feature?'''
    - The feature works as intended unless there are conflicting triggers that may allow for entry despite the setting.

* '''What should I do if my contacts are still getting duplicate emails?'''
    - Review settings and triggers in your automation; check if there are any overlaps that permit a contact to enter multiple times.

* '''Will this setting affect all my automations?'''
    - No, this setting only applies to the specific automation you configured. Other automations will maintain their respective settings.

* '''Can I apply similar settings to other automations?'''
    - Yes, you can apply the same settings to other automations to ensure a consistent experience across your workflows.

For further resources, learn more about automation settings [here](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/18819387236508).
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