Action Updates
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Action Updates: Send 1:1 Email, Notification, & more
Introduction
In September 2024, ActiveCampaign introduced significant enhancements to several commonly used automation actions. These updates aim to streamline user experience with refreshed layouts, simplified configuration, and improved functionality, allowing users to set up and manage marketing automations faster and with greater efficiency.
The actions affected by these updates include:
- **Send 1:1 Email**
- **Send Notification**
- **Complete Deal Task**
- **Update Contact Field**
- **Update Contact Score**
These enhancements are part of ActiveCampaign’s continuing efforts to make automation more powerful and intuitive, helping businesses of all sizes activate personalized experiences with ease.
This feature is available across the following ActiveCampaign plans:
- Starter
- Plus
- Pro
- Enterprise
How to Access Updated Actions
You can access these updated actions within the Automations builder in your ActiveCampaign account. The enhanced interface automatically appears when you: 1. Create a new automation 2. Add any of the updated actions listed in this article 3. Open an existing automation and select one of the affected actions
No manual updates or settings changes are required to enable the new versions—they are available immediately in the automation workflow setup.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow the steps below to access and configure any of the updated automation actions.
Accessing Updated Actions in Automations
1. Navigate to your ActiveCampaign dashboard. 2. Click on the Automations tab from the left-hand menu. 3. Click Create an automation, or open an existing automation from the list. 4. In the automation editor, click the + button to add a new action. 5. From the action categories, select Conditions and Workflow, then choose one of the updated actions:
* **Send 1:1 Email** * **Send Notification** * **Complete Deal Task** * **Update Contact Field** * **Update Contact Score**
Each of these now includes refined layouts and setup steps.
Configuring Each Action
Send 1:1 Email
This action allows you to send a personalized, direct email from a specific user to a contact. 1. Choose the **Send 1:1 Email** action. 2. Select the sender using the From dropdown menu. 3. Enter the subject line in the Subject field. 4. Compose your email using the visual editor. 5. Use personalization tags as needed to tailor your message. 6. Click Save to finalize.
Send Notification
Use this action to notify teammates or other recipients when specific automation conditions are met. 1. Select the **Send Notification** action. 2. Enter recipient email addresses in the To field. 3. Use the Subject and Body fields to customize the message. 4. Add personalization fields to include contact details. 5. Click Save to confirm your settings.
Complete Deal Task
Automatically mark a deal task as completed in an automation. 1. Choose **Complete Deal Task**. 2. Select the task type from the dropdown menu. 3. Define any additional parameters or conditions. 4. Click Save.
Update Contact Field
Dynamically modify contact fields based on automation logic. 1. Choose **Update Contact Field**. 2. Select which field to update. 3. Specify the new value to assign. 4. Confirm with Save.
Update Contact Score
Adjust the contact score when defined behaviors are observed. 1. Choose **Update Contact Score**. 2. Select whether to increment or decrement the score. 3. Define the number of points. 4. Click Save.
Configuration Options and Settings
Each updated action comes with simplified configuration panels designed for clarity and speed. Some notable features and fields include:
- **From**: Who the email is sent from in the **Send 1:1 Email** action.
- **To**: Email recipients for **Send Notification**.
- **Subject**: Used in both email and notification actions.
- **Body**: The content/message to be delivered.
- **Field to update**: Available with the **Update Contact Field** action.
- **Point change**: Configure increment/decrement for **Update Contact Score**.
- **Task Type**: When marking tasks as complete using **Complete Deal Task**.
All components align with standard automation usability conventions, ensuring both new and experienced users can easily apply these tools.
Best Practices and Tips
Consider the following best practices when implementing these updated actions in your automations:
- **Test before launching live automations** – Create test versions to verify expected results.
- **Use personalization to improve engagement** – Add contact-specific data in emails and notifications.
- **Track impact through reports** – Monitor how these updated actions influence deal progress and contact engagement.
- **Structure naming conventions** – Use consistent naming in your automation steps to make workflows easier to read.
- **Combine with triggers and conditions** – These actions are most powerful when paired with entry triggers and conditional logic for dynamic automation paths.
Common Use Cases with Examples
Here are some of the most effective ways users are applying these enhanced actions:
- **Lead Follow-Up**: After a lead fills out a form, trigger a **Send 1:1 Email** with personalized follow-up from a sales rep.
- **Internal Task Completion**: Complete internal actions like sales follow-ups using the **Complete Deal Task** action.
- **Sales Alerts**: Use **Send Notification** to alert a sales manager when a lead's score reaches a qualifying value.
- **Data Hygiene**: Automatically **Update Contact Field** when a contact engages with a specific campaign.
- **Scoring Based on Activity**: **Update Contact Score** when a contact interacts with high-value content (like webinars or demos).
Troubleshooting Section
Although these action updates are designed to be seamless, here are some common issues and potential solutions:
- **Action not appearing with new layout**:
- Ensure you're accessing the action from within the Automations builder. - Refresh your browser or clear cache if changes don't appear.
- **Emails not sending (Send 1:1 Email)**:
- Check that the From email address is connected and verified. - Ensure the contact has a valid email address.
- **Notifications not received**:
- Confirm email address accuracy. - Check spam or junk folders.
- **Score not updating**:
- Ensure the **Update Contact Score** values are correctly input. - Verify that the contact meets the criteria for triggering the action.
Related Features
The updates mentioned in this article relate closely to the following ActiveCampaign components:
You may also be interested in the following article:
FAQ
What is the purpose of the Action Updates?
To enhance usability and reduce time-to-launch for automation builders by improving the layout and setup process for commonly used automation actions.
Which actions were enhanced in this release?
Five actions were updated: **Send 1:1 Email**, **Send Notification**, **Complete Deal Task**, **Update Contact Field**, and **Update Contact Score**.
How do I know if I'm using the new version of the action?
You’ll see the updated layout automatically when adding or editing these actions within the Automations builder.
Do I need to manually update my existing automations?
No. The new layout and configuration experience will appear for all new action instances. Existing steps will retain their previous settings unless edited.
Is there any cost to use these updated features?
These updates are included with your ActiveCampaign subscription on the Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans.
Can I roll back to the previous action version?
No, legacy UI versions are not available. All users receive the updated interface automatically.
Where can I learn more about these updates?
Refer to Automation actions explained or visit the blog article on automation enhancements.