Step-by-step video
For a complete visual walkthrough, watch this tutorial:
Objective
Show you how to create, view, and automate TAGs in Mailingboss so you can organize your contacts based on what they actually do and send more relevant messages.
Target audience
Beginner to intermediate users who want to better organize their contacts and automate actions inside their email marketing.
What TAGs are and why they matter
TAGs are labels you assign to contacts to track what they do.
For example:
- Clicked a link
- Opened an email
- Showed interest in a specific offer
Instead of treating your entire list the same way, TAGs help you understand behavior.
And when you understand behavior, you can:
- Send more relevant messages
- Segment your audience
- Increase conversions
Step 1: Access the TAG Manager
To get started:
- Go to the left-side menu
- Click on Subscribers
- Select TAG Manager
This is where all your TAGs are created and managed.
Step 2: Understand the TAGs screen
Inside the TAG Manager, you will see two main areas:
1. Data overview
At the top, there is a chart showing how many contacts are in each TAG.
This helps you quickly see:
- Which TAGs are being used
- Which segments are growing
If you don’t see any data, it means no TAGs have been applied yet.
2. TAG list
Below the chart, you will see a table with:
- TAG name
- Number of contacts
- Creation date
- Last update
This is where you review and manage your TAGs.
Step 3: Create a new TAG
To create a TAG:
- Click Create new TAG
- Enter a clear name
- Save
Good TAG names describe behavior or intent:
- clicked-email
- opened-email
- interested-product
- hot-lead
This makes segmentation easier later.
Step 4: Automate TAGs with Workflows
This is the most important part.
You don’t want to add TAGs manually.
You want the system to do it for you.
That’s what Workflows are for.
Step 4.1: Go to Workflows
- Open the left-side menu
- Click Workflows
- Click Create workflow
Step 4.2: Choose the trigger
The trigger is the action you want to track.
Examples:
- A user clicks a link
- A user opens an email
Choose based on what matters to you.
Step 4.3: Add the action
After setting the trigger:
- Click the green button
- Select Add TAG
- Choose the TAG you created
Save the workflow and make sure it is active.
Step 4.4: What happens next
Now the logic is simple:
- User takes an action
- System detects it
- TAG is applied automatically
Example:
- If a user clicks an offer → TAG “interested”
- If a user opens an email → TAG “engaged”
This is what allows you to send different messages based on real behavior.
Best practices
- Keep TAG names simple and consistent
- Focus on behavior, not just profile
- Avoid creating too many similar TAGs
- Decide in advance what actions you want to track
- Combine TAGs with lists and automations for better segmentation
FAQ
Do I need to create the TAG before using it in a workflow?
Yes. The TAG must exist before you can select it.
Can I use more than one TAG in the same workflow?
Yes. You can add multiple actions.
Do TAGs replace lists?
No. Lists organize contacts. TAGs segment them.
Can I remove TAGs automatically?
Yes. You can remove TAGs using workflows as well.
Troubleshooting
TAG is not being applied
- Check if the workflow is active
- Make sure the trigger is actually happening
- Confirm the correct TAG was selected
Workflow is not triggering
- Make sure the event is happening
- Check if the email supports tracking (not just test emails)
- Confirm links are correctly configured
No data appears in the chart
- No TAGs have been applied yet
- The workflow has not generated activity
Conclusion
TAGs help you understand what your contacts are doing.
Workflows apply those TAGs automatically.
When you combine both, you stop guessing and start sending the right message to the right person at the right time.