How to Create an Automation in ActiveCampaign
- George Apostolov
How to Create an Automation in ActiveCampaign: step-by-step guide
Click 'Automations' on the left menu.
Click 'Create an automation.'
Select 'Start from Scratch' then click 'Continue'.
To begin your automation, select a trigger.
Click the 'Send an email' option from the 'Add a new action' modal.
Provide a name for the email.
Choose between 'Start with a new template' or 'Start with a past campaign'
You can customise your welcome email and click 'Next'.
Click 'Finish'.
Click 'Conditions and Workflow'.
Click 'Wait'.
To add a wait condition, select 'Wait until specific conditions are met'.
After you've set your condition, click 'Save'.
Click the 'If/Else' option to add a condition.
Click 'Save'.
Go to 'Contacts'.
Under the 'Yes' path, add an action to 'Add tag'.
Tag them as 'Clicked CTA link' and click 'Save'. Same goes with the 'No' path.
Now you have an active automation that delivers a welcome email and/or opt-in incentive immediately after someone joins your list.
Quick answer: To create an automation in ActiveCampaign, click Automations, select Start from Scratch, and choose a trigger. Add a Send an email action, name the email, customize it, and click Finish. Add Wait and If/Else conditions, then add a tag action for your paths to complete the automation.
About this ActiveCampaign tutorial
Build automated email workflows and welcome sequences in ActiveCampaign using triggers, wait conditions, and if/else paths. This guide shows how to create an Automation in ActiveCampaign in 19 steps, starting with "Click 'Automations' on the left menu" and finishing with "Now you have an active automation that delivers a welcome email and/or opt-in incentive...". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real ActiveCampaign interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to create an Automation in ActiveCampaign?
19 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your ActiveCampaign data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under ActiveCampaign. Related guides: How to Create Mobile Breaks in ActiveCampaign, How to Delete Duplicate Contacts in Activecampaign and How to Delete List in ActiveCampaign. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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