Action Updates

Navigation: Main_Page > ActiveCampaign Release Notes > 2024 Release Notes > Action Updates

Action Updates: Sub/Unsub, Add/Remove Tag, Math

Introduction

As of August 2024, ActiveCampaign has released significant updates to commonly used automation actions, enhancing the usability and overall efficiency of the platform’s automation builder. Specifically, the updates apply to the following key automation actions:

• Subscribe & Unsubscribe from List
• Add & Remove Tag
• Perform Math

These improvements introduce redesigned interfaces, streamlined workflows, and increased clarity when setting up automation steps, enabling marketers to build faster, more intuitive, and scalable automations. With these enhancements, managing contact list memberships, engagement tags, and performing field-based arithmetic becomes more direct and error-resilient.

This feature update applies to all plan types: Starter, Plus, Professional, and Enterprise.

How to Access This Feature

The updated automation actions are accessible through the [Automations] section of your ActiveCampaign account. To use the new interface enhancements for Sub/Unsub actions, Tag actions, or Math actions:

1. Navigate to the Automations page from your dashboard.
2. Click on Create an automation or open an existing one.
3. In the Automation Canvas, click the + icon to add a new action.
4. From the list of available actions, select:
   1. Contacts > Subscribe to List or Unsubscribe from List
   2. Contacts > Add Tag or Remove Tag
   3. Contacts > Perform Math

Each of these action types now includes layout, search, and field selection enhancements as of this release.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The following sections describe the detailed steps to use each upgraded automation action.

Subscribe & Unsubscribe from List

1. In your automation, click the + to add an action.
2. Choose Contacts > Subscribe to List or Unsubscribe from List.
3. A new configuration panel opens:
   1. 1. All your available lists are displayed in a single organized menu (no more drop-down scrolls).
4. Select the list(s) you want the contact to be subscribed or unsubscribed to.
5. Click Save when finished.

• • Key Improvements:**
• Lists are now displayed in a clear, visual selector.
• No need to scroll through long drop-down menus.

Add & Remove Tag

1. Inside your automation, click the + icon to add a new action.
2. Choose Contacts > Add Tag or Remove Tag.
3. Begin typing in the tag input box.
   1. 1. Enhanced search now auto-suggests matching tag names as you type.
4. Select an existing tag or create a new one directly.
5. Click Save to apply your changes.

• • Key Improvements:**
• Faster tag search and selection.
• Reduction of redundant tag entries.

Perform Math

1. On the canvas, click the + icon and choose Contacts > Perform Math.
2. In the new math interface:
   1. 1. Select a Contact Field or Deal Field you want to modify.
      2. Choose a mathematical operation: **Add**, **Subtract**, **Multiply**, or **Divide**.
      3. Enter the numeric value to apply.
3. Click Save.

• • Key Improvements:**
• Standardized operation panel across contact and deal fields.
• Simple and consistent configuration format for numeric automation logic.

Configuration Options and Settings

Each of the updated action types includes specific configurable fields that benefit from the enhanced design:

For Subscribe/Unsubscribe from List

• **List Selector**: Displays all lists in a flat, scroll-free interface for quick selection.
• **Multiple List Selection**: Add or remove a contact from multiple lists at once.

For Add/Remove Tag

• **Tag Input Field**: Allows input of existing tags or creation of new tags.
• **Smart Suggestions**: Real-time predictive tag suggestions as you type.

For Perform Math

• **Field Picker**: Choose a target field from available Contact or Deal fields.
• **Math Operation Dropdown**: Select from **Add**, **Subtract**, **Multiply**, **Divide**.
• **Value Input Field**: Specify a numeric value to apply to the chosen field.

Best Practices and Tips

• Use the enhanced Subscribe/Unsubscribe from List UI to streamline contact list management and minimize errors caused by wrong list selections.
• Create a tagging taxonomy and naming structure before using Add/Remove Tag to avoid clutter and duplication.
• Combine the Perform Math action with conditional triggers to create dynamic scoring mechanisms (e.g., engagement, lead readiness).
• Test new automation flows using internal test contacts before deploying them live.
• Document custom math logic within team collaboration tools to ensure usage clarity.

Common Use Cases With Examples

Last Chance Before Unsubscribe

Use the Unsubscribe from List action with a delay and engagement condition to create a final attempt at re-engagement before separating inactive contacts.

• • Example:** Automatically unsubscribe a contact from your newsletter list if they haven’t opened any emails in 60 days.

View Marketplace Example

Add an Engagement Tag

Score or categorize contacts who click on campaign links by applying a tag using the Add Tag action.

View Marketplace Example

Track Ad Clicks With Math Update

Use Perform Math to increment a value in an engagement field every time a linked ad is clicked.

View Marketplace Example

Troubleshooting

Missing Lists or Tags Not Appearing

Ensure that your lists or tags have been previously created in the Lists or Contacts settings. If newly created items are not appearing:

• Refresh the automation builder.
• Clear browser cache.
• Confirm proper account permissions.

Math Action Not Performing as Expected

• Double-check that the selected field is a numeric type (non-numeric text fields are not compatible).
• Ensure that your input value is not blank and uses the correct decimal format.

Action Not Triggering

• Verify trigger conditions upstream in your automation flow.
• Ensure contacts meet all prerequisite logic before this action executes.

Related Features

• Automation – These action updates are part of the broader automation system.
• 2024 Release Notes – See other 2024 platform enhancements.
• ActiveCampaign Release Notes – For full release history and platform updates.
• See also related improvements like the SMS Automation Action Improvements and Automation Canvas Enhancements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main benefits of this update?

The updates simplify the setup of automations, making actions faster to configure, less prone to error, and easier to navigate.

Can I use multiple actions together?

Yes. For example, you can subscribe a user to a list and then immediately add an engagement tag or perform a math operation based on their behavior.

Are these updates available in all plans?

Yes. These automation action updates are available in Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans.

Will I lose my existing configurations?

No. Existing automation actions remain untouched. These changes apply to newly added actions and updated UI flows.

Can I perform math on custom fields?

Yes, as long as the custom field is numeric. You can apply arithmetic operations to both standard and custom numeric fields.

How do I find my tags or lists when creating an action?

The updated UI includes improved filtering and auto-suggestion features so you can easily find or create tags/lists.

Do I need to rebuild my automations to use these updates?

No. You only need to update individual actions within an automation if you want to use the improved layouts. Existing actions continue to function as before.

Additional Resources

• Setting new standards for marketing automation in 2024
• How to manage unsubscribes and list associations in automations
• Tag ad or site clicks using automation
• Track ad clicks from social using math operations