Use the ActiveCampaign Google Sheets integration

Learn how to use the Google Sheets integration to import data to ActiveCampaign or push contacts to a Google Sheet.   

Take note

• Ensure that the Google Sheet you are connecting has the appropriate permissions set to edit the sheet as owned or shared directly with a group
• Do not include a question mark (?) in the Google Sheet name 

About the Google Sheets integration

This integration offers two separate sync options. One option imports data to your ActiveCampaign account (inbound sync), and the other option pushes contacts to a Google sheet through an automation action (outbound sync).

With this integration, you can choose to use either one or both options. However, they function separately.

Inbound sync - Sync data from a Google Sheet to ActiveCampaign 

This option imports data to your ActiveCampaign account. You can map your columns in your Google Sheet to Contacts, Deals, Accounts, and private Custom Objects in ActiveCampaign. If you choose to map contacts, they will receive integration-specific tags that will appear on their records.

How syncing works

The sync runs every 1 hour. When configuring the integration, choose one of the following options:

• Import data and auto-import new data in the future
• Import data and not auto-import new data

The sync does not automatically push updates made to the data in your sheet if they've already been synced.

To sync updates made to the data in your sheet, use the "Restart" button. This button is available on the Google Sheets app page when the integration is connected.

Once clicked, the integration will scan your sheet for updates, starting with the first row and running every 1 hour.

About field mapping

This integration does not import new custom fields. Before starting it, make sure all custom fields are created in ActiveCampaign so you can map them to columns in your Google Sheet.

Contact tags

The inbound sync will add the following tags to contacts:

• google-sheets-integration
• google-sheets-integration-document_name-sheet_name
  • This secondary tag provides the document name and sheet name from which the contact was imported

Prepare your Google Sheet for an inbound sync

• Remove any punctuation from your Google Sheet name and spreadsheet name. Otherwise, data will not be imported to ActiveCampaign
• Ensure that your spreadsheet has the appropriate permissions set to edit the sheet, either as owned or shared directly to a group, not a link to the sheet itself
• The first row in your sheet should be a header row. We read that row during the mapping step to show you the column names from your sheet. We do not read that row during processing
• All columns that have data will be imported. Make sure your columns are filled out correctly
  • Incorrect setup example: 
    
  • Correct setup example:
    

• Date fields
  • Contact, account, or deal - allowed date formats are: YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY/MM/DD, or MM/DD/YYYY
  • Custom objects - only allowed format: YYYY-MM-DD
• Datetime fields
  • Allowed datetime format is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) only. yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss-hh:mm or yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss+hh:mm
• Multi-select fields
  • Surround the selection values with a double-pipe as a delimiter "||". 
    • Ex. ||Option 1||Option 2|| 
  • For a single selection value, either surround with double-pipes or without pipes.
    • Ex. ||Option 1|| or Option 1
• Currency fields
  • Use text, number, automatic on the Google Sheet. Currency and currency rounded are not allowed
• How to use Deal Account and Contact ID fields
  • Use the Deal Account/Contact ID to map a deal to an existing account/Contact
  • If both account/contact object mapping and Deal Account/Contact ID field are specified in the mapping, the deal will be associated with the account/contact object mapping instead of the Deal Account/Contact ID field

Sync data from a Google Sheet to ActiveCampaign

1. From your ActiveCampaign account, click "Apps."

Expanded view:


Collapsed view:

2. Search for "Google Sheets."
3. Click the "Google Sheets" option to open it.
4. The Google Sheets app page will load. Click the "Import Data" button.
5. A modal window will appear. Click the "Connect" button.
6. You'll be directed to a page where you need to log into your Google account.
7. On the next page, click "Allow" to permit ActiveCampaign to access your Google Account.
8. You'll be redirected back to the Google Sheets setup page in ActiveCampaign. Click the "Continue" button. 
9. On the Select Sheet screen, use the dropdowns to select the spreadsheet and sheet you want to sync to ActiveCampaign.
10. Click the "Continue" button.  
11. On the Mapping screen, map each field you want to sync. 
    • For standard objects - Contacts, Deals, and Accounts - we will present the required fields necessary to complete mapping.
    • If you are mapping any of the following for Deal fields - Currency, Deal Owner, Pipeline, or Stage - you can map to values in ActiveCampaign, or you can map using the “Map from Source” option. The “Map from Source” option lets you override a selection from the provided list of values and go back to mapping data from your third-party source
    • To map extra fields, click "Add field mapping"
    • To remove a field, click the trash icon
12. On the Schedule Sync screen, click the import option you wish to use, then type the sync name into the field provided.
13. Click the "Finish" button.

The connected sheet will be added to the "Imports" section of the Google Sheets app page. From this page, you can view the import status and the last received date, restart the import, edit the import, or delete the import.

Outbound sync - Sync contacts from ActiveCampaign to a Google Sheet

With this option, you need an active automation that uses the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" action.

As contacts move through this action, their mapped data will sync in real-time to the next available row in your connected spreadsheet.

This integration is not meant for the bulk export of contacts. Learn how to bulk export contacts.

About the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" automation action

You can only use one Google spreadsheet per "Add a Row in Google Sheets" automation action.

In addition, only contact fields can be synced to the spreadsheet. This includes standard contact fields and custom contact fields.

Once you add the action to your automation, a prompt will walk you through the following connection and configuration steps:

• Connect to a Google account
• Select a spreadsheet. Note that this can be a spreadsheet that you own, that is in a shared drive that you can access, or that has been shared with you
• Map contact fields with columns in your spreadsheet

How custom date fields sync to Google Sheets

Custom Date fields that sync to your Google Sheet will have the following format: Year-Month-Day, like "2023-03-09."

In addition, any custom DateTime fields that sync to your Google Sheet will have the following format: year-month-dayThour:minute:second:millisecond timezone offset", like "2023-03-21T22:15:00-07:00"

Contact tags

The outbound sync does not add tags to contacts. If you want to add a tag to the contact, you can do so with the "Add Tag" automation action.

Use the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" automation action to add contacts to a Google Sheet

1. From your automation, click "CX Apps" in the right menu.
2. Drag the "Add a Row in Google Sheets" action to your automation.
3. A modal will open. Click the "Connect" button.
4. A list of Google accounts to which you have access will appear. Click the Google account you wish to connect.
5. On the next screen, grant permission for ActiveCampaign to access your Google account. To do so, click the "Allow" button.
6. You will be directed back to your ActiveCampaign account. Click the "Continue" button.
7. Next, select the spreadsheet you and the sheet name you want to connect. Then click the "Continue" button.
   • Note that if you don't see the spreadsheet you wish to update in the dropdown, you can type it into the field and then click it to select it.
8. On the Mapping screen, map each field you want to sync.
   • To map extra fields, click "Add field mapping"
   • To remove a field, click the trash icon
     The Google Sheets dropdown has fields called Column A, Column B, etc. It does not recognize column header names. We recommend having a separate window or tab open with your Google Sheet displayed while you map fields. This will make it easier to know which data is in which column.
9. Click the "Finish" button when complete.

The action will be added to your automation.

Google Sheets will appear under "Connected Apps" in your ActiveCampaign account, also.

How to disconnect the inbound and outbound syncs

There are a few different options you can use to disconnect the integration. Once disconnected, information will no longer sync. Previously synced data will remain in your ActiveCampaign account and/or Google Sheet.

Stop importing contacts from Google Sheets

When you disconnect the Google Sheet, your Google Account will still be connected to ActiveCampaign. Once the sheet is disconnected, all import syncs will stop.

1. Click "Apps" on the left menu.
2. Click "Connected Apps."
3. Click the Google Sheets option to open it.
4. Click the "Imports" tab.
5. Click the down caret for the import you wish to disconnect.
6. Click the "Delete Import" option.

Stop adding contacts to Google Sheets

You can prevent contacts from syncing to your Google Sheet by removing the "Add to a Google Sheet" action from your automation.  

Note that your Google Account will still be connected to ActiveCampaign.

Disconnect your Google Account from ActiveCampaign

You can disconnect your Google account from ActiveCampaign. When your Google account is disconnected, syncs will no longer take place.

1. Click "Apps" in the left menu.
2. Click "Connected Apps."
3. Click the "Google Sheets" app.
4. Click the "Disconnect" button in the modal window.

Your Google account will be disconnected from ActiveCampaign. A confirmation message will appear at the top of the Google Sheets app page.