In this article, we delve into the functionalities of “Update Contact Field” and “Clear Field Data” actions within workflows. The former enables the modification of a contact field with either static or dynamic values, while the latter wipes out the existing data from a custom contact field. Please note that both actions are exclusively applicable to Contact Custom Fields at present.

What is the Update Contact Field Action in Workflows?

Within workflows, the “Update Contact Field” action empowers you to modify the content of a designated field for a contact. This functionality enables you to define a fresh value for the field, effectively overwriting the existing value. Excitingly, the latest enhancement introduces the ability to clear the field entirely, either by emptying the input or resetting it to its default value.

Please Note:

It’s important to note that the clear field data feature currently supports only the Contact Custom Fields.

Utilize this feature to seamlessly modify or reset multiple fields within the workflow, assigning either static or personalized values. Enjoy the flexibility of dynamically updating fields throughout the workflow, ensuring adaptability and efficiency wherever they are implemented.

What are some good usage cases for this?

Here are some excellent usage cases for the “Update Contact Field” and “Clear Field Data” actions in workflows:

Lead Management: You can use the “Update Contact Field” action to update the lead source field for a contact based on the referral source. This will help you to understand where your leads are coming from and optimize your marketing efforts accordingly. You can also use the “Clear Field Data” action to remove outdated information from your lead records.

Personalization: You can use the “Update Contact Field” action to personalize your email marketing campaigns by updating contact fields such as first or last name. This will help to increase engagement and conversion rates. You can also use the “Clear Field Data” action to remove incorrect or outdated information from contact fields.

Sales Pipeline Management: You can use the “Update Contact Field” action to update the stage of a contact in your sales pipeline based on their progress. This will help you to track and manage your sales pipeline more effectively. You can also use the “Clear Field Data” action to remove contacts from your pipeline if they are no longer a good fit.

Custom Integrations: You can use the “Update Contact Field” action to update custom contact fields based on data from other integrations. For example, you can use Zapier to update a custom field with data from a Google Sheet or form submission on your website. You can also use the “Clear Field Data” action to reset custom fields based on specific triggers or conditions.

How to use this action?

Select Update/Clear Field Data

Update Field Data

Updates the selected field with the provided value.

The “Update Contact Field” action in workflows allows you to update the value of a specific field for a contact. This feature is useful when updating a contact field with a new value, such as a phone number, email address, or custom field.

To use the “Update Contact Field” action, you must add it to your workflow, select the contact field you want to update and specify the new value you want to set for the field. You can update the field with a static value, a fixed value that you specify in the workflow, or a custom value, which is a value dynamically generated based on other data in your workflow.

For example, if you have a custom field called “Lead Source,” you can use the “Update Contact Field” action to update the value of this field for a specific contact. You might want to update the field with a static value like “Website,” indicating that the lead came from your website. Alternatively, you might want to update the field with a custom value that is dynamically generated based on the referral source of the lead.

Once the “Update Contact Field” action is executed in the workflow, the contact’s existing field value will be replaced with the new value specified in the action. It’s important to note that you can use this action to update multiple fields with static or custom values anywhere in the workflow.

Clear Field Data

Resets the selected field to the default value (clears the data).

Clearing contact fields is a feature that allows you to remove the existing value of a contact field, effectively resetting it to an empty value. This feature is useful when removing a previously entered value from a contact field.

Please Note:

It’s important to note that the clear field data feature currently supports only the Contact Custom Fields. This means you can use only clear custom fields you’ve created for your contacts, not standard fields like first name, last name, or email.

Utilizing the clear field data functionality results in setting the contact field value to either NULL or empty. To execute this action within a workflow, simply incorporate the “Update Contact Field” action, specifying the field you wish to clear and applying appropriate filters. Upon execution, the designated contact field will be reset to an empty value, erasing its previous content.

Exercise caution when employing this feature to prevent inadvertent loss of important data. It is advisable to utilize this function sparingly and conduct data backups before proceeding with any field clearance.