With ActiveCampaign, you can send an automated campaign to contacts with the "Send an email" action.
In this article, you will learn about the "Send an email" action and how to configure it.
Take note
If editing an “Active” automation, set the automation to “Inactive” first. Once you’re done editing the automation, set it back to “Active” so contacts can continue to enter your automation and proceed through your workflow.
"Send an email" automation action options
After you add the "Send an email" action to your automation, you can choose from the following paths to configure it:
- Create a new email - This option lets you start a campaign from scratch, choose a template, or use AI to generate a first draft
- Start from an existing email - This option lets you copy a campaign from anywhere in your account. This includes emails from the Campaigns overview page, different automation, or the automation you're currently working on
- Save and design later - This option lets you add the "Send an email" action to your automation without creating the campaign. When you're ready, you can return to this action to complete the setup
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Select an email in this automation - This option lets you select an existing campaign assigned to the automation you're working on that is not being used in another "Send an email" action.
- This option does not create a copy of the selected campaign. Instead, it assigns the campaign to the "Send an email" action you are working on. This option appears when there is at least one campaign assigned to the automation
"Create a new email" path
With this option, the action redirects you to a modal where you can choose from the following for your design:
- Build from AI - This option lets you input a prompt describing the type of campaign you want to create. We will then generate the email for you using our generative AI model. You can then choose to modify the campaign in subsequent steps
- Blank canvas - This option lets you create your campaign from scratch
- Select a template - This option lets you choose a template to base your campaign. If you have several templates in your account, you can use the search field and template type dropdown to locate the one you want to use quickly
Once you select one of the options above, we'll direct you to the "Send an email" modal where you can update your campaign details and design.
"Start from an existing email" path
This option has two tabs - "Past Campaigns" and "Current Automation." Click one of the tabs to select a campaign to copy.
With the "Past Campaigns" option, you can search and select any previously sent campaign.
With the "Current automation" option, you can search for and select from any campaign that is currently assigned to the automation you're working on. Note that this tab will be blank if you do not have any campaigns for your current automation.
Once you have selected a campaign and clicked "Create," we will copy the campaign details and design and direct you to the "Send an email" modal where you can update your campaign details and design.
Editing your campaign
Once you're in the campaign editing experience, you can modify the following details:
- Campaign name
- Subject line
- Preheader
- Sender details
- Tracking options
- Predictive sending
Once you have completed the campaign details in the "Send an email" modal, you can edit the campaign's design. To do so, hover your mouse over the design, then click the "Edit design" button that appears.
Once you're in the designer, you can update the look and feel of the campaign and the copy, add and remove content blocks, and more. When finished, you can click "Save and exit" or click "Next" to go back to the "Send an email" modal.
Note that your automated campaign will not send until you finalize the design and include all required campaign details in the "Send an email" modal. If you do not, the campaign will remain in draft status, and contacts will skip this step in your automation.
Once you save your action, you can go back to it and update it at any time. To do so, navigate back to the automation action and open it. The "Send an email" modal will appear where you can continue to edit the campaign details and design.
Preview and test your automated campaigns
You can preview your campaign from the following places:
- "Send an email" modal - Hover your mouse over the design, and then click the dropdown next to "Edit design" and select the "Preview" button that appears
- Email designer "Preview" option - Click the "Preview" icon on the top right of the designer
- "Send an email" modal - click the "Send a test" button in the bottom left. Use this to quickly send a test email to up to 5 email addresses
- Email designer "Test a campaign" option - Use this to see how your campaign will look in different email clients. To use this option, click the "Test Campaign" icon on the top right of the designer. A modal window will appear. Click the "View compatibility" button
Read the How to test emails in an automation article for information on testing automated campaigns.
Configure additional tracking details for your campaign
From the "Send an email" modal, click "Edit" in the "Tracking" line. From here, you can check and uncheck the following:
- Open/Read Tracking - Track when a contact opens or reads your email
- Link Tracking - Track when a contact clicks a link in your email
- Reply Tracking - Track when a contact replies to your campaign
- Google Analytics - This lets you track additional metrics in Google Analytics
In addition, you will see the "Automate" link and a "Customize" link. When selected these will take you into the Campaign Summary where you can further configure these settings.
Split testing with the “Send an email” action
The “Send an email” action split test lets you test different versions of your emails in an automation using one action. With the “Send an email” action split test, you can compare the performance of up to 5 variations of the same email. For example, each email version can have a different subject line, preview text, or email content.
Learn how to use split testing with the “Send an email” action.