Control which contacts enter an automation

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How do I control which contacts enter an automation?

In ActiveCampaign, managing which contacts enter an automation can significantly enhance your marketing campaigns. This feature allows you to target specific groups based on certain criteria, ensuring your automation is effective and relevant. For instance, you may want to run an automation only for contacts who are existing customers, have visited a particular page on your website, or have not interacted with a certain email. By controlling who enters an automation, you can tailor your messaging and foster better engagement with your audience.

How to Access This Feature

You can access the contact control feature within automations through the automation editor. When setting up your triggers, you will have the option to create a segment or modify existing ones that determine which contacts will enter the automation.

Step-by-step Instructions

1. **Navigate to your Automations**: Log into your ActiveCampaign account and go to the **Automations** section from the dashboard.

2. **Select an Automation**: Choose the automation in which you want to control the entry of contacts.

3. **Add a Trigger**: If you do not have an existing trigger, click on the **Add Trigger** button. If a trigger is already present, click on that specific trigger to open its settings.

4. **Create a Segment**:

  - Look for the option labeled **Segment**. You will find a checkbox or an option to create a segment.
  - When you click on this, the segment builder will appear, allowing you to specify the criteria that contacts must match to enter the automation.
  

5. **Define Your Conditions**: Inside the segment builder, you can set various conditions based on contact attributes, previous behaviors, or other criteria. Only those contacts who meet these defined conditions will be included in your automation.

6. **Save Your Changes**: After creating your segment, ensure you **Save** the trigger settings.

7. **Activate Your Automation**: Once you have configured the desired segments, activate or publish your automation to start the process.

Configuration Options and Settings

Within the segment builder, you have various options to refine who can enter your automation. Some of the key features include:

- Contact Attributes: Use this option to select specific fields like name, email, or other personal details. - Behavioral Conditions: This allows you to segment based on actions, such as page views, email opens, and clicks on links. - Custom Conditions: For more advanced segmentation, custom conditions can include combinations of various attributes and behaviors.

Each of these choices can help you fine-tune your automation to connect with the right groups of contacts effectively.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Narrow Your Audience**: Start with clearly defined criteria to avoid overwhelming your automation with uninterested contacts. - **Test Your Segments**: Regularly check and test the effectiveness of your segments. Adjust criteria based on interactions and results. - **Utilize Behavioral Triggers**: Segments based on customer behavior tend to yield better results, so leverage this feature to create dynamic and responsive automations. - **Review and Update Segments Periodically**: Your audience evolves, so ensure your segments are aligned with current business goals and customer behavior.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter problems with contacts not entering your automation as expected, consider the following:

- **Check Trigger Conditions**: Review the segment criteria to ensure they are set correctly and match the intended audience. - **Review Automation Status**: Ensure that your automation is activated and that there are no pauses or stops that could prevent contacts from entering. - **Consult Activity Logs**: Utilize ActiveCampaign’s reporting features to see if contacts are being held up or if there are discrepancies in the setup.

Related Features

- Automations: Understand more about creating and managing your automations in ActiveCampaign. - Triggers: Learn about the different types of triggers available and how they can be used alongside contact segmentation.

FAQ

Q1: What is a segment in ActiveCampaign? A1: A segment is a defined group of contacts that share specific criteria. Segments can be used to control which contacts enter an automation.

Q2: Can I modify an existing segmentation? A2: Yes, you can easily modify existing segments by accessing the segment builder through the trigger settings in your automation.

Q3: How do behavior-based conditions work? A3: Behavior-based conditions allow you to include or exclude contacts based on their previous actions, such as emails opened or pages visited.

Q4: Can segments overlap? A4: Yes, segments can overlap, meaning a contact may belong to multiple segments simultaneously based on their behaviors and attributes.

Q5: Is it possible to automate segment updates? A5: ActiveCampaign automatically updates segments based on the rules you set; contacts will be added or removed as their attributes change.

Q6: Do individual contacts need to meet all conditions in a segment to enter automation? A6: Yes, contacts must meet all specified conditions in the segment to enter the automation successfully.

Q7: What happens if a contact no longer meets a segment's criteria after entering an automation? A7: If a contact no longer meets the criteria of the segment, they will not be taken out of the automation immediately but may not receive subsequent messages triggered by further conditions.

This comprehensive guide should provide you with all the necessary information to effectively manage which contacts enter your automations in ActiveCampaign. By utilizing segments wisely, you can enhance your email marketing strategy and achieve your campaign goals. ```