Use the Automation Path Builder to add or remove tags from your contacts

Use automation to add tags or remove tags from the contacts that reach a specific step in your automation path

Tags are a powerful tool to help you segment your contact list. Tags can be applied to contacts that aren't on the same list, and then you can filter your contacts by tag to group them together for targeted email or SMS communications; your contacts don't move from the lists they're already assigned to.

An automation path can be used to apply or remove tags to your contacts automatically as they complete a specific step in your path. Here's how it works:

• Add an 'Add or remove a tag' action to your path
• Select the tag you want to add or remove
• Delete an 'Add or remove a tag' action from your path
• Learn more about using tags

Save time: You can't create new tags from within the path builder, so make sure to create any new tags you want to assign to your contacts before you add the 'Add or remove a tag' action to your automation path.

Add an 'Add or remove a tag' action to your path

An 'Add or remove a tag' contact action can be added anywhere in your path after the trigger step, and you can have multiple tag steps in your path.

1. From the Contact actions section, drag the Add or remove a tag step into your path and drop it anywhere in the path where there's a plus sign.
   
   
   
   

It's that easy! Repeat the steps for each 'Add or remove a tag' step you want to add to your path. An 'Add or remove a tag' step can also be dragged anywhere there’s a plus sign if you want to change its location in the path.

Select the tag you want to add or remove

All it takes is a quick edit to select the tag you want to associate with the step:

1. Click the three dots on the Add or remove a tag step in your path, and select the "Edit" option.
   
   
   
   
2. Select either the "Add" or "Remove" option.
3. Select a tag from the drop-down menu.
   Note: If you need to create a new tag, click the Save & close button at the top of the path builder and create a new tag before re-opening the draft of your automation.
4. Click the Save button.
   
   
   
   

Once your automation path is activated, the tag is automatically added or removed from the contacts that reach the step in your path.

Did you know? Your automation path can be edited at any time after it has been activated. However, if you make changes to the 'Add or remove a tag' step, the changes only apply to contacts who reach the step going forward and don't apply to contacts who have already completed the step.

Delete an 'Add or remove a tag' action from your path

A step can be deleted from your path at any time. When deleted, any new contacts who start your path, or contacts who have started the path but haven't yet reached the deleted step, follow the new path and won't notice any changes. Contacts who were on the step when it is deleted move to the next step in the path.

1. Click the three dots on the Add or remove a tag step in your path, and select the "Delete" option.
   
   
   
   
2. Click the Delete button to confirm the action.
   
   
   
   

Deleted steps can't be restored, but you can always drag a step back into a path to recreate it, if necessary.

Learn more about using tags

Now that you have some tagged contacts, here are some tools you can use within your Constant Contact account:

• Create and manage tags
• Using contact lists, tags, and segments based on your list size
• Filter contacts by tags to create a custom segment
• Filter your contacts by tags when sending an email
• Export your tagged email or SMS contacts

Questions?