Share an automation

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How do I share an automation?

Sharing an automation in ActiveCampaign allows users to conveniently distribute their workflow setups with other ActiveCampaign users. This feature is critical for collaboration among team members, enabling easy sharing of effective automation strategies. It ensures that the automation can be imported, maintained, and potentially modified by others, bolstering teamwork and knowledge sharing within organizations.

This article will explore how you can share your automation, the process involved, the settings related to this feature, best practices, common use cases, and troubleshooting steps as needed.

How to Access This Feature

To begin sharing your automation, navigate to the Automations section in the ActiveCampaign platform. Here, you will find the different automation workflows you have created.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed steps to successfully share an automation:

1. Click Automations from the left menu of your ActiveCampaign dashboard.
2. On the Automations overview page, hover over the automation you wish to share.
3. Once you identify the correct automation, click the Share hyperlink that appears.
4. The share link will then automatically be copied to your clipboard. Share this link with any ActiveCampaign user you want to grant access to your automation. They will be able to import your automation using this link.

It is important to note that the automation will be shared exactly as it exists at the moment you click the Share button. Any modifications made after generating the share link will not reflect in the shared version. Therefore, if you need to share an updated version, you must create a new share link.

Configuration Options and Settings

In sharing an automation, there are a few key points about what is and isn't included:

- Only the automation itself and any messages it uses will be shared. - Other elements such as campaigns, lists, scores, deals, pipelines, events, and whitelisted domains that are referenced within the automation will not be shared in the exported version. If these items are required, the user importing the automation will be prompted to update these settings accordingly.

This configuration ensures that the automation functionality remains intact without compromising the integrity of any interconnected components that are not included in the share link.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Backup Your Automations:** One of the value additions of the share link feature is using it to create backups of your automations. Simply copy the share link and keep it stored in a separate document or spreadsheet. Remember, share links do not expire. - **Collaboration with Transparency:** When sharing automations, make sure the receiving users have the required account privileges to import shared automations. - **Documentation of Updates:** Keep track of which version of an automation is shared by noting down the time or features you modified before generating a share link. This helps in coordination between team members and effective management of automation updates.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **Team Collaboration:** If you have a marketing team that operates on various automations, you can easily share relevant workflows focused on lead nurturing or promotional campaigns. - **Client Projects:** Agencies can share customized automations with their clients, providing them easy access to effective marketing strategies without requiring direct access to the account. - **Training Purposes:** If you want to train a new member on how certain automations operate, sharing specific workflows can be a great educational tool for practical hands-on experience.

Troubleshooting Section

If you encounter issues while sharing automations, consider the following steps:

- **Link Not Working:** Make sure you have correctly copied the entire share link. Try re-creating the link if necessary. - **Permissions Error:** If the user trying to import the automation does not have the necessary permissions, they will be prompted with an error. Ensure that they have the requisite access to import shared automations. - **Missing Campaign or List:** If the imported automation prompts missing elements, verify that all referenced items are available in the user's ActiveCampaign account.

FAQ

Q1: Can I share an automation that is still in progress? A1: Yes, you can share an automation at any point. However, the automation will be shared as it exists when the Share button is clicked.

Q2: Do I need to notify users before sharing my automation? A2: It is a good practice to inform users that you are sharing an automation, especially if they will need to make updates upon importing it.

Q3: Is there a limit to how many times I can share the same automation? A3: No, there is no limit. You can share the same automation multiple times with new share links if needed.

Q4: What happens to my original automation when I share it? A4: Your original automation remains unchanged; you just provide others access through the share link.

Q5: Can I edit an automation after sharing it? A5: Yes, any changes made after the share link is created will not affect the shared version. A new link must be generated for updates.

Q6: Will the shared automation include my personal tags and segments? A6: No, personal tags and segments will not be included in the shared automation. Only the automation's core elements will be shared.

Q7: Can I revoke access once I have shared a link? A7: Once a share link is created, you cannot revoke access through ActiveCampaign. It is a permanent link, so always think before sharing.

Now you have all the necessary information to effectively share your automations within ActiveCampaign. For further details, refer to the Automations section. ```