Automate ConvertKit with Zapier: The Complete Guide
ConvertKit has emerged as a formidable marketing platform tailored specifically for creators, leaders, coaches, and influencers. With its focus on building meaningful relationships through broadcast and sequence emails, ConvertKit empowers creators to nurture their audiences.
However, juggling subscriber management alongside content creation is no easy feat. Thankfully, Zapier makes it simple to connect ConvertKit to other apps and automate monotonous tasks.
In this complete guide, we‘ll explore six ways to optimize ConvertKit workflows with Zapier to save time and accelerate growth.
Overview of ConvertKit and Zapier
But first, let‘s quickly understand what each platform offers.
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform built for creators. Its strengths include:
- Landing pages and forms to capture leads
- Broadcast email templates
- Email sequences for drips and funnels
- Tagging and segmentation tools
- Analytics on engagement
However, ConvertKit lacks native integrations with many popular marketing and business apps creators use daily.
That‘s where Zapier comes in. Zapier is an automation tool that connects your web apps with simple workflows called Zaps. With just a few clicks, you can integrate ConvertKit to other tools without coding.
By combining ConvertKit and Zapier, you unlock capabilities like:
- Capturing leads from landing pages, forms, events and adding them to sequences automatically
- Sending customized broadcast emails when specific actions occur in other platforms
- Syncing order, membership and contact data across all subscriber touchpoints
- Segmenting subscribers based on behaviors and traits
Next, let‘s explore six ways to drive more value from ConvertKit using Zapier.
1. Update ConvertKit from Forms
Forms are the lifeblood of list growth. But manually exporting and importing form data across apps is tiresome.
Zapier can instantly add new contacts to ConvertKit forms, sequences or tags whenever someone fills out a form. No more worrying about lost leads or delayed follow-ups.
Some popular form integrations include:
- Typeform
- Wufoo
- JotForm
- Google Forms
Let‘s explore a sample Zap that adds new Typeform respondents to a ConvertKit sequence automatically:
- Set up a trigger in Zapier whenever a new Typeform response is submitted
- Use a ConvertKit action to add that contact to a chosen sequence
- Map form fields like email, name, company to sequence custom fields
Now leads move seamlessly from your Typeform into tailored ConvertKit funnels. You can also apply tags based on info they submit or branch into different paths.
This ensures hyper-relevant, timely follow-up at scale.
2. Update ConvertKit based on Meetings and Events
Webinars, conferences, sales calls…your digital presence touches prospects across various events. Leaving these scattered data silos disconnects the subscriber journey.
Bridge online and offline interactions with Zapier by:
- Adding registrants or attendees to sequences
- Applying tags for event segmentation
- Sending off automated email reminders and follow-ups
For example, easily enroll someone in a 6-week course sequence when they register for a specific webinar. Or automatically onboard clients to an email funnel after a sales call.
Top event apps that integrate with ConvertKit via Zapier include:
- Eventbrite
- Zoom
- Calendly
- Acuity Scheduling
Having a unified event strategy keeps all subscriber data in ConvertKit up-to-date. Now you can deliver targeted, relevant messaging based on someone‘s complete history with your brand.
3. Connect ConvertKit to eCommerce Platforms
Sell products? Syncing purchase data into ConvertKit opens unique automation opportunities.
You can automatically:
- Thank first-time buyers
- Reward loyal customers
- Upsell purchasers
- Re-engage dormant shoppers
Top eCommerce platforms that integrate with ConvertKit via Zapier include:
- Shopify
- Square
- Etsy
- PayPal
For example, when someone buys a specific product in Shopify, have Zapier enroll them into a tailored 6-part course in ConvertKit.
Cross-promotions like these increase purchase frequency and lifetime value. Advanced segmentation by customer metrics also unlocks more personalized messaging at scale.
4. Add Leads to ConvertKit from Marketing Apps
Beyond forms and events, your website, ads and social channels should also feed subscribers to ConvertKit automatically.
Having a centralized contacts database enables superior targeting and conversions across channels.
You can capture leads from popular marketing tools like:
- Landing pages (Leadpages)
- Website analytics (Google Analytics)
- Social media (Twitter, YouTube)
- Surveys (SurveyMonkey, Google Surveys)
- Pop-up forms (HelloBar)
- And many more
For example, use a Zap to grab conversions from your Leadpages landing page and add them to a ConvertKit email sequence.
Unifying data across marketing touchpoints gives complete vision into subscriber journeys. Now you can orchestrate savvy cross-channel campaigns based on someone‘s true lifetime value.
5. Send Customized Emails from Other Apps
The other piece of automation is sending tailored ConvertKit emails from your other platforms.
For example, automatically enroll a new Slack member into a welcome sequence. Or send a customized Amazon order receipt using a ConvertKit template.
Zapier‘s 200+ app integrations make it easy to trigger ConvertKit emails from workflows in:
- Project management (Asana, Trello)
- Chat tools (Slack, Telegram)
- Surveys (SurveyMonkey, Google Surveys)
- Help desks (Zendesk)
- And countless other platforms
Building these connections lets you delight subscribers with hyper-relevant, perfectly timed messages that feel like magic.
6. Sync Contacts Across Apps with ConvertKit
Manually importing and exporting CSV subscriber lists between platforms is an ongoing headache. It often results in duplicate contacts, missing data and broken journeys.
The better approach is using Zapier to establish an automated, bi-directional flow of contact data between ConvertKit and your other tools like:
- CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation (ActiveCampaign)
- Membership management (MemberPress)
- LMS (Kajabi, Teachable)
- And more
Now subscriber data remains unified across all touchpoints. When profile details get updated in one place, Zapier mirrors changes across integrated apps automatically.
This reduces tedious data entry while retaining complete accuracy. Most importantly, it facilitates precise segmentation, personalization and targeting regardless of which tools you use.
The key is establishing a "source of truth" contacts database, then having Zapier sync from there. For established creators, ConvertKit often serves as the hub for all audience data flows.
Pros and Cons of Marketing Automation
While the benefits are compelling, automating ConvertKit does come with some caveats:
Pros
- Saves huge time syncing data across tools
- Reduces manual errors in contact management
- Ensures faster and more personalized follow-ups
- Facilitates cross-channel continuity in journeys
- Unlocks unique cross-platform promotions
- Enables granular segmentation at scale
Cons
- Too many automations feel impersonal
- Overreliance on workflows risks neglecting personal touch
- Troubleshooting issues takes technical skill
- Initial setup requires some effort
The key is strategically identifying parts of your business that truly require automation at scale vs. one-to-one personalization. Balance is crucial.
Best Practices for ConvertKit + Zapier
When leveraging these platforms in harmony, keep a few best practices in mind:
- Start small: Don‘t overcomplicate initial automations. Nail simple 2-3 step workflows first.
- Map thoroughly: Carefully match all relevant contact fields between apps to maintain data integrity.
- Test rigorously: Confirm automations work as expected before launching to entire audiences.
- Monitor constantly: Keep checks in place to spot any glitches and avoid mishaps.
- Learn continuously: Ramp up automation sophistication as workflows stabilize.
Sample ConvertKit + Zapier User Story
Ramit Sethi of IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com, Earnable and ZeroToLaunch, shares how he leverages ConvertKit and Zapier automations across his 7-figure coaching business:
"For us, ConvertKit is the subscriber data hub connected to everything via Zapier. When someone buys a course, they automatically get tagged in ConvertKit then placed into segmented sequences based on purchase details and behavior.
We also use automations to deliver highly personalized post-webinar and post-workshop follow-ups at scale. Anyone who books a strategy call gets reminded day-of and notified when notes from the meeting are available.
Our goal with all these automations is reducing repetitive tasks while delighting customers. The time savings then gives us space for more strategic one-on-one relationship building."
Key Takeaway: ConvertKit + Zapier can facilitate sophisticated automations while retaining personal connection when thoughtfully balanced.
Go Forth and Automate
Hopefully this complete guide has shown you how ConvertKit and Zapier can transform your creator business growth and efficiency.
Start with a couple foundational automations like form or event integrations. Then progressively build more advanced workflows over time once those are stabilized.
Done right, automation handling hundreds of monotonous tasks gives you freedom to better nurture the personal relationships that truly move the needle.
Now that you have the blueprint, the possibilities are endless. So go forth and automate something remarkable!
