Automation builder

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How to Use ActiveCampaign's Automation Builder

ActiveCampaign's automation builder is a powerful feature that allows users to create automated workflows to optimize their marketing strategies. This tool is critical for businesses looking to engage customers consistently, efficiently manage lead nurturing, and automate processes. Understanding how to leverage the automation builder effectively can significantly enhance your marketing automation efforts.

Introduction

The automation builder enables users to create detailed workflows by combining triggers, actions, and various logic paths. These workflows allow you to automate repetitive tasks, thereby freeing up time for more strategic activities. By the end of this guide, you should feel comfortable navigating the automation builder and utilizing it to create automations tailored to your business needs.

How to Access the Automation Builder

To enter the automation workflow builder, follow these steps: 1. Click on Automations on the left side menu to navigate to the Automations Overview screen. 2. Click the Create an automation button in the upper right-hand corner.

After this, you can start building your automation using various methods.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1. 1. Starting Your Automation

There are two main ways to start building your automation: 1. **Active Intelligence**: Use the Active Intelligence bar at the top of the page to input simple prompts and get suggestions for automation sequences. 2. **Start from Scratch**: Click on Start from Scratch to manually utilize various triggers, actions, and logic for your automation.

Additionally, you can select from a variety of automation workflow recipes provided by ActiveCampaign. By clicking on a recipe, you can see a preview and choose to get started if it fits your requirements.

1. 1. 1. Adding Triggers

Automation triggers are conditions that, when met, initiate the automation. To add a trigger: 1. Assign a trigger immediately after naming your new automation. 2. If you’re uncertain, you can click the x to exit this step or choose Or don’t have a trigger for your automation.

Once in the workflow builder, click on Add start trigger or Add new start at the top to include a trigger later.

When selecting a trigger, you'll have options regarding the Runs setting: - **Runs Once**: A contact can only enter the automation once, regardless of how many times they meet the triggering conditions. - **Runs Multiple Times**: A contact can enter the automation repeatedly when the triggering conditions are met.

1. 1. 1. Segmenting Contacts

You can segment contacts entering the automation for more targeted campaigning. This is done by creating a segment that only includes contacts matching specific criteria. For instance, if you’d like the automation to run solely for contacts who have not made a purchase yet, you can filter by tags like Interested or the absence of the customer tag.

1. 1. 1. Adding Actions

To add actions to your automation: 1. Click the node (+) at the desired location in your automation timeline. 2. This opens the Add an action modal, where you can find and select your desired action.

1. 1. 1. Removing Triggers and Actions

You can delete triggers and actions by hovering over them and clicking the delete icon in the upper right corner. If you remove an If/Else condition with subsequent actions, you will be prompted to decide how to handle those actions.

1. 1. 1. Moving or Copying Actions

To move or copy actions within your automation: - Drag and drop the specific action(s) onto the + symbol located where you wish to reposition them.

1. 1. 1. Saving Your Automation

Your work is automatically saved as you build, ensuring that you don’t lose progress. Additionally, if you need to revert to a previous version, you can utilize the turn back time icon.

1. 1. 1. Viewing Your Workflow

For larger automations, navigating through the entire workflow may require adjustments. ActiveCampaign offers methods to alleviate this, and it’s recommended to create smaller automations rather than one large one.

1. 1. 1. Activating Your Automation

Keep your automation Inactive until it is fully configured. This prevents contacts from entering until you're prepared to launch it. Learn how to toggle to Active when ready.

1. 1. 1. Naming and Labeling Your Automation

Choose descriptive names for your automations to avoid confusion later, especially if you manage several. You can label automations based on categories like pre-sales marketing or pipeline automation to stay organized.

1. 1. 1. Editing Your Automation

Before making any changes to an active automation, switch it to Inactive temporarily. This ensures that contacts do not skip steps while you adjust your workflow. Once changes are made, you can reactivate the automation.

Configuration Options and Settings

- **Triggers**: Events that start the automation. - **Actions**: Tasks completed as a result of the triggers. - **Runs Setting**: Determines whether contacts can enter once or multiple times. - **Segments**: Filters to include or exclude contacts based on specific criteria. - **Naming**: Requires descriptive titles for easy management.

Best Practices and Tips

- Regularly review and edit automations to ensure they align with current marketing strategies. - Use segments wisely to enhance targeting capabilities. - Consider creating automations in smaller batches to maintain clarity and manageability. - Experiment with different triggers and actions to discover effective combinations.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while using the automation builder: - Ensure that the correct triggers and actions are set. - Double-check if the automation is active; if it is inactive, contacts cannot enter. - Review segment configurations to ensure they match your intended audience.

FAQ

Q1: What is a trigger in the automation builder?

A trigger is a condition that initiates the automation when met by a contact.

Q2: Can I have multiple triggers in one automation?

Yes, you can define multiple triggers to start the automation in various ways.

Q3: What does the Runs Multiple Times setting do?

This setting allows a contact to re-enter the automation each time they meet the triggering conditions.

Q4: How do I segment contacts for an automation?

You can create segments that filter contacts based on specific criteria, such as tags.

Q5: What should I do if I want to make changes to a live automation?

Switch the automation to Inactive before making changes to prevent any disruptions in the workflow.

Q6: Is there a way to see previous versions of my automation?

Yes, you can use the turn back time icon to rollback to previous versions of your automation.

Q7: How can I keep my automations organized?

Label your automations appropriately based on categories and use descriptive names for easy identification.

In conclusion, exploring the capabilities of the ActiveCampaign automation builder and applying best practices will help streamline your marketing efforts significantly, ultimately leading to better engagement and productivity. ```