Manually adding Tags to new subscribers can be a chore, so let's automate this!
There are two options for doing so in ConvertKit:
Using a Visual Automation
Using a Rule
Feel free to use either—some people prefer the visual layout of Visual Automations, whereas others like the "if this, then that" nature of Rules.
If you aren't sure which option to choose, we recommend using a Visual Automation. Familiarizing yourself with Visual Automations will help you build more complex automations down the road.
Option 1: Tagging with Visual Automations
1. Create a new Visual Automation
Go to Visual Automations under the Automate tab in the top navigation.
Then, click the + New automation button.
On the next page, click Start from scratch under the Empty Automation option to start a blank Visual Automation.
2. Add your entry point(s)
The entry point is how subscribers enter the Visual Automation—and trigger it to start.
Add one or more entry points from which subscribers should enter the Visual Automation to get tagged.
Let's say you want to tag subscribers who subscribe to a particular Form. If so, set up a Joins a form entry point with that Form.
If you want your Visual Automation to also trigger when other events happen, no problem! Just click the + sign to the right of your current entry point and repeat the same process to add more entry points. Subscribers will enter the Visual Automation via any of them.
NOTE: Visual Automations can have up to five entry points. If you need more than that, we cover a workaround here that involves combining a group of entry points into a single Tag in a separate Visual Automation.
Use this method to set up a separate Visual Automation to combine your entry points into a Tag. After that, add an "Is added to a tag" entry point to your current Visual Automation so that it'll trigger when subscribers are added to that Tag.
3. Create an action step to add a Tag
Click the + sign below your entry point. Then, set up an Action step that adds the Tag you want to tag subscribers with.
NOTE: If you want to add more than one Tag to your subscribers, just set up another "Add or remove Tag" action step after this one!
4. [Optional] Name your Visual Automation
We recommend giving your Visual Automation a name from the top left for your own reference:
5. Activate your Visual Automation
Once your Visual Automation is ready, activate it by clicking the Active toggle at the top right of the page.
Now, whenever a subscriber enters this Visual Automation using its entry point(s), they will automatically have a certain Tag added to them.
Option 2: Tagging with Automation Rules
1. Create a new Automation Rule
Go to Rules under the Automate tab in the top navigation.
Then, click + New rule at the top right of the page:
2. Select your trigger step(s)
This is what causes your Automation Rule to fire, or start working!
Let's say you want to tag subscribers who subscribe to a particular Form. If so, set up a Subscribes to a form trigger with that Form.
If you want your Automation Rule to also fire when other events happen, no problem! Just click the + sign below your current trigger to add more triggers. The Automation Rule will fire when any of these trigger events happen.
3. Select "Add tag" as your Automation Rule's action
On the right, set up an "Add tag" action with the Tag you want to tag subscribers with.
NOTE: If you want to add more than one Tag to your subscribers, just set up another "Add tag" action after this one!
4. Save your Automation Rule
When you're done, click the Save Rule button towards the bottom right of the page:
That's it! Now, whenever your Automation Rule is triggered by an event, your subscriber will automatically have a certain Tag added to them.
NOTE: If your Automation Rule isn't working, check that it isn't disabled.