Automatically subscribe people to the right mailing lists when they engage with your content—so you can send messages that match their interests.
Key details
- What are automation rules? They’re settings that automatically add contacts to a list based on actions they take.
- Basic automations: Set up inside an asset’s settings (like a form or product).
- Advanced automations: Set up under Marketing > Automations, with more triggers and options.
How to add contacts to lists automatically
You can subscribe contacts to mailing lists when they do things like:
- Fill out a form
- Make a purchase
- Book a calendar appointment
- Register for an event
- Gain access to a membership
This helps you organize contacts based on what they’re interested in—and send more targeted messages.
Pro tip
Use list subscriptions when a contact enters their email as part of an action. For behavior-based tracking (like clicking a link or watching a video), use tags instead.
Option 1: Basic automations
Most assets (forms, products, memberships) have an Automations tab. Inside, you'll find:
- Quick-action modules: Tags, Lists, and Sequences
- Automations module: For more detailed logic
To auto-subscribe someone to a list:
- Create or open the asset.
- Click the Automations tab at the top of the page.
- In the Lists module, pick a list.
- Click Add to confirm.
This connects the asset to a list, so contacts are subscribed when they take action—like registering or purchasing.
To create a basic automation rule:
- Click + New field in the Automations module
- Choose a trigger (IF)
- Add a condition (AND) – optional
- Choose Subscribe to list as the action (THEN)
Option 2: Advanced automations
Use this when basic triggers aren't enough or you want to subscribe someone based on a broader set of behaviors.
- Go to Marketing > Automations
- Click + Automation in the top right
- Use the drop-downs to build your rule:
- IF something happens
- AND something else is true (optional)
- THEN add the contact to a list
These provide more customization and control over when and how contacts are added to mailing lists. Learn about Advanced Automations Triggers.
Check your plan
Dynamic language is included with Kartra Growth, Professional, and Enterprise plans. Review or change your subscription in your account Billing.
Looking to manually add a contact to a list? Learn how to add a contact to a list manually instead.