ActiveCampaign automation tutorial for Make.com

This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to connect ActiveCampaign with make.com and build a complete automation workflow that sends data between your apps, applies filters, and keeps your marketing processes running automatically.

The walkthrough below follows the same structure as the official how-to guide and explains every screen, option, and setting you need to complete the scenario successfully.

What you will build with make.com and ActiveCampaign

By the end of this guide, you will know how to create an automation that:

• Receives new or updated contact data from ActiveCampaign
• Uses filters to route contacts based on conditions such as tags or fields
• Performs different follow-up actions depending on the branch
• Runs automatically without manual data entry

This structure is flexible, so you can adapt it to lead nurturing, onboarding, or any other customer journey.

Prerequisites before you start in make.com

Before you open the scenario builder, make sure you have:

• An ActiveCampaign account with permission to create or edit automations
• A make.com account with access to the scenario editor
• API credentials or login access so you can connect ActiveCampaign to make.com
• A clear idea of what should trigger the automation and which actions it should perform

Having these items ready will save time when you start building the flow.

Create a new scenario in make.com

The first step is to create a blank scenario where you can add modules for ActiveCampaign and any other apps you want to connect.

1. Log in to your make.com dashboard.

2. Click the button to create a new scenario.

3. Open the scenario editor, where you see an empty canvas.

4. Click the big plus icon in the middle of the canvas to add your first module.

This canvas is where you will connect all modules and define the automation logic.

Add the ActiveCampaign trigger module

You now need an event in ActiveCampaign that starts the scenario. In most cases, this is a contact-related trigger.

1. In the module search box, type “ActiveCampaign”.

2. Select the ActiveCampaign app from the list.

3. Choose the module that works as a trigger, for example, a “Watch contacts” or similar event-based module.

4. Click “Add” or “Create a connection” and authorize make.com to access your ActiveCampaign account.

Once connected, you can configure which contacts or events should trigger the automation.

Configure trigger settings in make.com

Configure the trigger module so that it reacts only to relevant data.

• Select the event type, such as new contact or updated contact
• Optionally limit by list, tag, or other filter options exposed by the module
• Set the time interval if the module supports scheduled polling

These settings ensure that only contacts that meet your criteria enter the scenario.

Build branching logic with filters in make.com

After the trigger module, you can branch the workflow using filters and additional modules.

1. Click the small wrench or plus icon next to the ActiveCampaign module.

2. Add another module or create a new route from the trigger.

3. Between the trigger and the next module, add a filter.

4. Define the filter condition, for example: “Contact tag contains ‘Customer’”.

Filters allow you to separate contacts into different paths depending on attributes or behavior.

Example filter branches in make.com

Here are examples of filtered routes you might configure:

• Customer route: Contacts with a specific tag enter a route that updates their status or sends them to a special follow-up sequence.
• Lead route: Contacts without that tag move to a nurturing path that sends them additional information.
• Error or fallback route: Contacts with missing data move to a route that logs issues or alerts your team.

This structure keeps your automation organized and easier to maintain.

Add follow-up actions for ActiveCampaign in make.com

Each branch of your scenario should contain one or more action modules. Typical actions in ActiveCampaign include:

• Update a contact record
• Add or remove tags
• Subscribe or unsubscribe a contact from a list
• Create or update a deal

To add an action module:

1. Click the plus icon on the route where you want the action.

2. Select ActiveCampaign again from the app list.

3. Choose the appropriate action module.

4. Map fields from the trigger module to the input fields of the action.

Mapping fields correctly is essential so that contact data flows accurately across the automation.

Use other apps with ActiveCampaign in make.com

You are not limited to a single app. On each route, you can add modules for tools such as:

• Spreadsheets to log contacts or campaign data
• CRMs to synchronize contact details
• Notification apps to alert your team

This turns make.com into a central automation hub that coordinates data across your stack.

Test your ActiveCampaign automation in make.com

Before turning the scenario on, run tests to confirm that data moves as expected.

1. In the scenario editor, click the “Run once” button.

2. Trigger the event in ActiveCampaign, for example by creating or updating a test contact.

3. Watch the execution inspector to see how each module is processed.

4. Verify that data appears correctly and that each filter route behaves as intended.

If any module fails, open its output in the inspector to review the error message and update the settings or field mapping.

Adjust filters and mappings in make.com

During testing, you may discover that some branches do not receive data or that fields are empty.

• Update filter conditions to match the real data structure from ActiveCampaign
• Double-check field mapping between modules
• Repeat the “Run once” test until the workflow is stable

Taking time to test now prevents issues when the scenario runs on live data.

Activate and maintain the scenario in make.com

Once everything is working, you can activate the scenario so it runs automatically.

1. Return to the top bar of the scenario editor.

2. Switch the scenario from “Off” to “On”.

3. Confirm the schedule, for example, immediate execution or interval-based checks.

4. Save the scenario.

Your ActiveCampaign integration is now live and will continue to process new events according to your setup.

Monitor and optimize your make.com workflow

After deployment, review the performance of your automation regularly.

• Check the execution history to watch for errors
• Track key metrics in ActiveCampaign such as opens, clicks, and conversions
• Refine filters, conditions, and actions to improve results

Automation is most effective when you review performance and make small adjustments over time.

Resources to go further with make.com

To dive deeper into this integration, you can follow the original how-to guide on the official site. It includes screenshots and additional configuration details:

ActiveCampaign automation guide on make.com

If you need expert help designing or scaling complex automations, consider working with a specialist agency such as Consultevo, which focuses on implementation, optimization, and training for automation platforms.

By following the steps above and using the flexibility of make.com, you can streamline your ActiveCampaign workflows, reduce manual tasks, and keep customer data synchronized across all your tools.

Need Help With Make.com?

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