How do I create a connection via Zapier?

Zapier is a standalone tool that allows you to connect two or more apps/software. It ensures that data is pushed from one system to another in a so-called 'Zap'. The tool is particularly useful to use when a direct linking option does not exist.

To use Zapier, you need a separate subscription. If you subscribe directly to Zapier, you will pay $20 per month. Please note: the software is free to use if you have fewer than 100 tasks per month. You can then independently set up and manage the Zaps to establish the connection.

You can also have us set up and manage your Zaps for the same cost ($20 per month), but unfortunately, we cannot provide the free 100 tasks per month. If you are interested, you can request Zapier with us in the MailBlue portal. You will then automatically receive an email with some follow-up questions. After your response to the email, we will schedule a time to set up the Zaps for you.

Prefer to build your own Zaps/connections? Read this guide from Zapier.

How do I create a Zap?

Before creating a Zap, it's always useful to carefully consider your desired workflow. The following questions can help you:

• Which software needs to be linked to MailBlue?
• Which triggers and actions need to be set up? More information about the trigger and action possibilities of the desired software can be found on Zapier.com

To create a Zap, go to the Zapier.com website and log in to your account. Then click on 'Zaps' in the left menu and then on the black or blue 'Create Zap' button.

Give your Zap a desired name. If you plan to create multiple Zaps related to the same software, also think carefully about the structure of your name. For example: "Software Name > MailBlue - Product Name - Product Number/SKU."

Trigger

A Zap consists of a 'Trigger' and an 'Action' by default. You could potentially add an extra (intermediate) step, but you will read more about this under the heading 'Filters' shortly. For 'App Event', you need to click on the software to be linked. If it is not displayed in the list below, you can search for it under 'Search apps'.

Set your desired 'Trigger Event'. This trigger will start your Zap. When selecting your desired trigger, you often need to log in to the account of the software you are trying to connect. This is because Zapier wants to monitor the trigger correctly.

Under 'Set up trigger', provide specifications so that Zapier knows exactly how you want to set up the 'Trigger Event'. Then click on 'Test trigger' so that Zapier can confirm that the created Zap trigger is correctly linked to the right software account. You will now see an overview of the data that can be transferred. If the test results match, click 'Continue'. You have successfully created a 'Trigger'.

Action

You can now set up an 'Action', which is what needs to be done when the 'Trigger' starts the Zap. The MailBlue integration in Zapier is always done with ActiveCampaign, as MailBlue is the Dutch partner reseller of the American ActiveCampaign.

Set your desired 'Action Event'. This is the action that will be performed once the Zap is triggered. Our experience shows that 'Create/Update contact' is the most common trigger, as you want to get contacts in your MailBlue account (or need to update them) so you can follow up from there. Therefore, you also need to log in to your MailBlue account so that Zapier has access to your email marketing environment and can monitor the 'Action Event' for you.

You will be asked for your API details. These details are unique to each MailBlue user and link your software to your MailBlue account. We recommend using the API details of the admin user in your MailBlue account. If you only have one user in your account, this is the admin user by default. You can find the details in your MailBlue account under 'Settings > Developer'.

Under 'Set up action', you can match the desired fields in your MailBlue account with the WooCommerce data, so Zapier knows exactly what you want to do with the 'Action Event'. It is important to always enter an email address, as an email address is mandatory in the MailBlue email marketing software.

In addition, it is also possible to link a list, send the first and last name of your contacts to your MailBlue account, and any tags. Especially the latter is useful when, for example, you have linked specific product tags to your product (#SKU).

Click on 'Test & Review' so that Zapier can test the created Zap 'Trigger Event' with the desired 'Action Event'. You will then see an overview of the data that is being sent from your WooCommerce account to your MailBlue account.

When the test results match, click on the blue 'Turn on Zap' or on the slider in the black bar, so that your Zapier connection becomes successfully live.

Filters

Using a filter, you can make the Zap perform only an action that you set yourself. When you set certain conditions in the 'Filter' of Zapier, your Zap will only proceed when the data from your 'Trigger' meets that filtered condition. You can add a 'Filter' as an (intermediate) step in your Zap between 'Trigger' and 'Action' by clicking on the plus sign (+). Then 3 options will appear on the side:

When you click on 'Filter', you need to specify the conditions in the next step:

For example, you can select a specific Product ID or SKU field under 'Choose field'. Then you set the rule/condition you want to use and finally the value you want to compare the 'Choose field' with. This is also similar to creating segments within your MailBlue account.

In addition to the Zap 'Filter' described above, you can also use two other Zap filters. The other Zap filters are 'Format' and 'Delay'. Our experience shows that these are less frequently used, but we will briefly explain them below:

• Format: You can use the text transformation of 'Format' to change text in your Zap. There are different text transformations you can use to convert texts, numbers, and other data into the data you need, instead of the data coming in through your 'Trigger'.
• Delay: With a delay step, you can pause your Zap for a certain amount of time before your 'Action' is executed. You can use delays to schedule emails, receive notifications of incomplete tasks, send automatic follow-ups, and automate other tasks on your timeline.

How can I test my Zap?

Zapier actually already tests whether a correct connection has been made with the desired software and your ActiveCampaign/MailBlue account by default, but we recommend going through your entire workflow yourself.

For example, if you have the Zap for an online store, you can place a test order on your website with a 100% discount code. Once you have completed the test order, you can search within your MailBlue account for your test contact and see exactly what information/data is being sent. Based on that, you can then expand further automations in your MailBlue account. Think about setting up a desired start trigger, for example: "Tag X is added".

If you notice that something is not going as desired, you can check in the main screen of your Zapier account under 'Zap History' to see where it might be going wrong and make changes to your Zap settings.