Get Started with Campaign Monitor in Zapier

Using Zapier, you can connect Campaign Monitor to your favorite apps and automate key email marketing tasks without writing code. This guide walks you through how to connect your account, configure triggers and actions, and safely test your first automated workflow.

What you need before connecting Campaign Monitor to Zapier

Before you create your first automation, make sure you have a few essentials ready. Having these in place will make the setup process smoother and help your workflow run correctly from the start.

An active Campaign Monitor account with access to the lists or subscribers you want to manage.
A verified Zapier account so you can create and manage workflows.
At least one other app you plan to connect to Campaign Monitor.
Permission to access or manage subscribers, lists, or campaigns in Campaign Monitor.

Once these basics are in place, you can connect your accounts and start building automations.

How to connect Campaign Monitor to Zapier

To use Campaign Monitor inside Zapier workflows, you must first connect your Campaign Monitor account. The connection is handled through the API key found in your Campaign Monitor settings.

Step 1: Start from the Zapier editor

You can connect Campaign Monitor directly while creating a new workflow:

Sign in to your Zapier account.
Click the option to create a new workflow (Zap).
In the trigger or action search box, type “Campaign Monitor” and select the app.
When prompted, choose to connect a new account.

This opens a secure window where you will add your Campaign Monitor details.

Step 2: Find your Campaign Monitor API key

Zapier connects to Campaign Monitor using an API key associated with your account or client. To locate this key:

Sign in to your Campaign Monitor account in a separate browser tab.
Go to your account or client settings menu.
Locate the API key section. This is sometimes under Account Settings or API Keys, depending on your setup.
Copy the API key displayed. Treat this key like a password and keep it secure.

You will paste this key into the connection window opened by the Zapier editor.

Step 3: Authorize Campaign Monitor in Zapier

Return to the connection window in your workflow:

Paste the Campaign Monitor API key you copied.
If requested, add a label for the account so you can recognize it later (for example, “Campaign Monitor Main Account”).
Confirm or authorize the connection.

Zapier will verify your API key. Once verified, your Campaign Monitor account appears in the list of available connections and can be used in any of your workflows.

Available Campaign Monitor triggers in Zapier

Triggers start your workflow whenever something specific happens in Campaign Monitor. When you set up a trigger in Zapier, you choose an event that will watch for new data in Campaign Monitor.

Typical Campaign Monitor triggers may include (availability can vary by account and version):

New subscriber added to a list.
Subscriber updated in a list.
Subscriber unsubscribed from a list.
New campaign or campaign activity events.

To configure a trigger, you usually select:

The Campaign Monitor account you connected earlier.
The specific list, segment, or campaign to monitor.
Any optional filters or advanced options offered by Zapier.

After configuration, you can test the trigger to pull in a recent subscriber or campaign event. This sample is used later when setting up your action.

Available Campaign Monitor actions in Zapier

Actions are the tasks Zapier performs in Campaign Monitor or another app after the trigger fires. For Campaign Monitor, actions usually help you manage subscribers or interact with lists.

Depending on your account setup, typical Campaign Monitor actions might include:

Add a new subscriber to a list.
Update an existing subscriber.
Unsubscribe an email address.
Add a subscriber and update custom fields.

When you set up an action using Campaign Monitor, Zapier will ask you to:

Select the connected Campaign Monitor account.
Choose the action event, such as adding or updating a subscriber.
Select the target list or segment.
Map data fields from the trigger app (for example, email address, name, and custom fields) to Campaign Monitor fields.

Field mapping ensures the data flowing through your workflow appears in the correct subscriber records.

How to build your first Campaign Monitor workflow in Zapier

Once your account is connected, you can create a complete workflow that links Campaign Monitor with other services. The example below follows a common pattern: adding new contacts from another app into a Campaign Monitor list.

Step 1: Choose your trigger app and event

In the Zapier editor:

Choose the app that will send new contact data (for example, a form tool or CRM).
Select an appropriate trigger event, such as a new form submission or new contact added.
Connect the account for that trigger app, if you have not already.
Test the trigger to pull sample data.

The sample data will usually include email address, name, and other fields you can later map into Campaign Monitor.

Step 2: Configure the Campaign Monitor action

Next, set Campaign Monitor as the action in Zapier:

Click to add an action step.
Search for and select Campaign Monitor.
Choose the desired action event, such as “Add Subscriber” or “Add/Update Subscriber”.
Select your connected Campaign Monitor account when prompted.
Pick the specific list where new subscribers should be added.

After that, you will see fields for email, name, and any custom fields available in the list. Map each of these to the corresponding values from the trigger app.

Step 3: Test and turn on your workflow

Before turning the workflow on, Zapier lets you send a test to Campaign Monitor:

Click the test option in the action step.
Confirm that the test subscriber appears in the correct Campaign Monitor list.
Verify that all mapped fields show the right values.
If everything looks good, toggle the workflow to turn it on.

From this point forward, new data that meets the trigger conditions will automatically create or update subscribers in Campaign Monitor, with no manual import required.

Tips for maintaining Campaign Monitor workflows in Zapier

Keeping your workflows healthy ensures reliable email marketing automation. Use these tips as you scale your setups.

Review field mappings whenever you change forms or data structures in the trigger app.
Periodically test each workflow in Zapier when you update lists or custom fields in Campaign Monitor.
Document which workflows update which lists to avoid duplicate or conflicting updates.
Monitor error messages inside the workflow history in case an API change or permission issue appears.

If you rename lists or significantly alter custom fields in Campaign Monitor, revisit your workflows and re-select the appropriate list and mappings.

Where to learn more about Campaign Monitor in Zapier

For detailed, official instructions on everything described above, you can review the original help guide titled “How to get started with Campaign Monitor on Zapier” at this Zapier help center article. It outlines the current triggers, actions, and connection requirements maintained by the platform.

If you want strategic guidance on designing larger automation systems, optimizing integrations, or improving performance across multiple tools, consider consulting experts who specialize in automation and integration best practices, such as the team at Consultevo.

With your Campaign Monitor account connected and your first workflow configured, you can now explore additional ways to integrate more apps through Zapier, streamline subscriber management, and support more advanced email marketing journeys without manual work.

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