Each contact is associated with specific attributes, known as contact fields, which store information such as names, phone numbers, and any other personal details you wish to track.

In our example scenario, we aim to create a custom contact field to record the date a contact joins a group. This Date & Time contact field will serve as the reference for triggering a campaign event.

Creating a Date & Time Custom Contact Field

To set a relative Date & Time contact field for a campaign event, you first need to create the field using an Update the Contact action within a flow.

For this demonstration, we’ll create a new contact field named Join Date. Simply enter the desired name in the Select what to update text box. Doing so will generate a new custom contact field.

We want the date & time to reflect the exact moment a contact moves through the Update the Contact node. This can be achieved by applying the function @(now()).

Updating the Contact Field Type

Before using your newly created contact field in a campaign event, it is necessary to update its field type. By default, new contact fields are assigned the text type, but only Date & Time fields can be utilized for campaign events. Follow these steps to modify the type:

1. Go to the Manage Fields page under the Contacts tab.

2. Scroll to locate your newly added contact field.

3. Click on it and select Date & Time from the field type dropdown menu.

Once updated, your custom contact field is ready for use in campaign events.

Configuring Your Campaign Event

A campaign event denotes an action scheduled relative to a Date & Time contact field—such as the default Created On date (when a contact was added) or a custom field like Join Date.

To set up an event:

1. First, create a Campaign by navigating to the Campaigns tab and clicking New Campaign.

      2. Assign a name to your campaign and choose the group of contacts the events will target.

      3. Click New Event to start defining your first action.

For instance, our initial event will notify contacts that they will receive a weekly newsletter 15 minutes after passing through the Join Date Update the Contact node in the flow.

Since the field type has been updated to Date & Time, it will now appear in the dropdown menu of contact fields. If your field does not appear, make sure its type has been correctly changed!

After adding events, you will see a schedule of upcoming messages or flows for your group.

For a deeper understanding of sending options, check our article on Campaign Event sending options, which explains the difference between Stop it and send the message and Skip this message.

Still unsure about creating a custom contact field for use in a Campaign Event? Contact us through the support widget at the bottom-right corner of your browser. We’re happy to assist!