Start contacts at a specific point in an automation

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Introduction

The feature to Start contacts at a specific point in an automation within ActiveCampaign allows users to place individual contacts or groups of contacts at a designated point in an ongoing automation workflow. This functionality is particularly beneficial in scenarios where you need to ensure that specific contacts receive certain communications or actions without having them go through the entire automation process from the beginning.

This feature matters because it enhances user experience by allowing efficient management of contact journeys while ensuring important messages are delivered timely. For example, adding a new contact to a webinar email sequence with only hours to spare can ensure they receive the essential information without being overwhelmed by prior communications.

How to Access

To access this feature, you will need to log into your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the Automations section. This tool is available exclusively for users with Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plans.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To start contacts at a specific point in your automation, follow these detailed steps:

1. Click Automations on the left menu.
2. Locate the automation you want to add the contact to and click on the automation name to open it.
3. Ensure that the automation is active. You cannot add a contact to an Inactive automation.
4. Hover over the action where you want to add your contact. An icon to add contacts will appear; click on this icon.
5. In the "Add contacts directly to this action" modal that appears, you have two options:

  * Add specific contacts - Use this option if you want to add one or two specific contacts to the action. 
  * Use a segment of contacts - This option allows you to bulk add multiple contacts to the action.

1. Once you've selected the contact(s) to be added, they will be added to that action immediately. Note that this cannot be undone.

Configuration Options and Settings

When adding contacts to a specific point within the automation, you have the following configuration options that dictate how contacts will be added:

• Add specific contacts - This allows for the manual addition of individual contacts, perfect for targeted email strategies.
• Use a segment of contacts - This enables adding a larger group of contacts at once, which is useful for mass communication strategies.

Ensure to choose the right option based on your automation strategy to optimize contact engagement.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Prioritize Activation**: Always verify that the automation you are working with is active to avoid any disruptions in your contact's journey. - **Strategic Selection**: Intentionally decide whether to add individual contacts or segments based on the communication goals for that point in the automation. - **Review Actions**: Before adding contacts, review the actions preceding the selected point to avoid redundancy in communications for contacts who may have already experienced those actions. - **Test First**: If possible, test the feature with a small group of contacts to understand how actions are triggered within the automation.

Common Use Cases with Examples

1. **Webinar Attendance**: A new contact who just signed up for a webinar needs access to relevant materials quickly. By adding them to the final action of the webinar automation, they receive only the last email with the access link.

2. **Updating Completed Automations**: If a contact finished an automation before you completed adding actions, you can easily add them to the remaining steps without backtracking.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while trying to add contacts: - **Inactive Automation**: Ensure that the automation is active. You cannot proceed if it is inactive. - **Contact Selection Mistakes**: Remember that once contacts are added, this action cannot be undone. Double-check your selections before confirming the addition.

FAQ

1. What happens if I add a contact to an action in an inactive automation?

You cannot add contacts to inactive automations, so be sure to activate the automation first.

2. Is there a limit to how many contacts I can add at once?

You can add a segment of contacts using the bulk add feature, but there's no specific limit for adding a few contacts with the add specific contacts option.

3. Can I remove contacts once they have been added to an automation action?

No, once you add contacts to an action, that action cannot be undone, and the added contacts cannot be removed.

4. Will the contact receive all previous emails if I add them at a later stage?

No, the contact will only receive communications from the point at which they are added into the automation.

5. Can I segment contacts for this feature?

Yes, you can use a segment of contacts to bulk add them into a specific point in your automation.

6. How can I ensure my automation is designed correctly before adding contacts?

Review the sequence and actions planned for your automation carefully to confirm their alignment with your communication strategy. ```