How to Manually Bulk Add Contacts to an Automation in Your CRM: A Complete Guide

This guide is designed to walk you through the process of manually bulk-adding contacts to automation from various sources, including lists, tags, and advanced searches.

Managing contacts and ensuring they’re placed into the correct automation is a critical part of maintaining an efficient CRM workflow. Automations allow you to nurture leads, track client interactions, and send targeted communications, all while saving time. However, there are instances where contacts need to be manually added to automations — whether they’ve been gathered through a specific list, assigned a certain tag, or found through advanced searches in your CRM.

Additionally, we’ll explain what it means when you see the message “Contact added to this automation manually” in your CRM and the various ways contacts can be manually added to an automation.

If you prefer to follow along visually, you can also watch this video for a step-by-step demonstration of how to complete these tasks efficiently.

Manually Bulk Adding Contacts from a List to an Automation

One of the most efficient ways to add multiple contacts to an automation is by selecting them from a pre-built list. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the Contacts Page: Navigate to the "Contacts" section in your CRM.
2. Select the List: From the "Lists" tab, choose the list of contacts you want to add to an automation. For example, let's select a list of Buyer Agents.
3. Edit and Add to Automation: Once the list is selected, click "Edit All," then select "Add to Automation."
4. Choose the Automation: Pick the automation you’d like to use (e.g., Automation 15) and make sure it’s active.
5. Apply Changes: After selecting the automation, click "Apply." All contacts from the list will now be bulk added to the automation.

Bulk Adding Contacts Using Tags

You can also bulk-add contacts by using tags to group individuals. Here’s how to do that:

1. Search for Tagged Contacts: Use the "Search" feature to find contacts with a specific tag. For instance, search for contacts tagged with “new”.
2. Edit All and Add to Automation: Once the contacts with the tag are listed, click "Edit All," then "Add to Automation."
3. Select the Automation: Choose the automation, such as Automation 15, ensuring it’s active.
4. Apply Changes: Click "Apply," and all contacts with the selected tag will be added to the automation.

Bulk Adding Contacts Using Advanced Search

For more specific contact selection, advanced search allows you to create conditions based on your CRM data. Here’s the process:

1. Open Advanced Search: Navigate to "Advanced Search" and create a condition. For example, search for contacts who have entered the “Inactive Agent Top” automation.
2. Set Condition: Use the condition "Has Entered Automation" and select the relevant automation where the contacts currently reside.
3. Search for Contacts: Once you’ve set the conditions, click "Search" to pull up the list of contacts.
4. Edit All and Add to Automation: Click "Edit All," then "Add to Automation," and select Automation 15.
5. Apply Changes: After selecting the automation, click "Apply," and the contacts from your advanced search will be added.

Manually Adding a Select Number of Contacts from a List

Sometimes, you may only want to add a limited number of contacts from a specific list (e.g., the first 20 contacts on a page). Here’s how:

1. Select Contacts on the Page: Manually select the contacts you want to add, such as the first 20.
2. Add to Automation: Once selected, click "Edit," then "Add to Automation."
3. Choose Automation: Select Automation 15 and click "Apply." Only the selected contacts will be added.

Manually Adding a Contact from Their Contact Record

If you want to manually add an individual contact directly from their contact record, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Contact Record: Navigate to the contact’s profile.
2. Scroll to Automations: Scroll down to the "Automations" section of the profile.
3. Add to Automation: Click "Add," select Automation 15, and ensure the automation is active.
4. Confirm the Addition: Click "OK," and the contact will now be added to the automation.

What Does "Contact Added to This Automation Manually" Mean?

When reviewing a contact’s path in an automation, you may notice the message “Contact added to this automation manually.” This indicates that a contact was manually added to the automation, and it can happen through several methods:

1. Admin Action: A user manually added or edited the contact, either individually or in bulk.
2. API Integration: The contact was added via a custom or third-party integration using the API.
3. "Start an Automation" Action Block: This action block automatically adds contacts to a specified automation.
4. "Add to Automation" Link Action: The contact was added via a specific link action within the CRM.

Manually adding contacts to automations, whether through lists, tags, advanced search, or individual records, is an essential task for efficient CRM management. Understanding how contacts are manually added and utilizing the correct methods ensures that your automations run smoothly, and your data stays organized.

By following these steps, you can streamline your processes and ensure your contacts are accurately added to the right automations, keeping your campaigns on track and your audience engaged.