Connect ActiveCampaign in GrowSurf before participants are imported

Open the ActiveCampaign integration in GrowSurf, paste the API URL and API key from your ActiveCampaign account, and submit the connection. GrowSurf's docs note that the sync only begins after the connection is enabled, so this step is best done before you import participants.

Choose the ActiveCampaign list GrowSurf should keep updated

Save the same list your marketing team uses for referral emails or lifecycle campaigns. That keeps the synced GrowSurf fields on the exact contacts your automations already target.

Make the GrowSurf fields available to that list

After the list is saved, open ActiveCampaign's custom field settings, edit each GrowSurf field you plan to use, and make it available to the same list GrowSurf syncs into. ActiveCampaign's current help center documents custom contact fields under Contacts > Fields.

Branch automations from GrowSurf referral state

Once the fields are available, use them in your automation logic:

• Use %GROWSURF_TOTAL_REFERRAL_COUNT% to split first-time sharers from contacts who have already referred someone.
• Use %GROWSURF_REFERRAL_STATUS_ID% when the sequence should differ for pending versus awarded referral credit.
• Use %GROWSURF_NEXT_MILESTONE% for progress reminders or near-reward nudges in milestone-based programs.

ActiveCampaign's field documentation confirms that custom contact fields can be used in the segment builder, personalization, and automation field-change workflows, so the synced GrowSurf values can drive the branches directly.

Personalize the message itself with the referral link

Inside the email content, use %GROWSURF_SHARE_URL% so every contact receives their own referral link. If you want a faster draft for the message layout, start with one of the GrowSurf ActiveCampaign tutorial examples and swap in your brand copy, reward details, and CTA.

Test one new participant and one credited referrer

Before the automation goes live, preview it with at least one contact who has zero referrals and one contact whose referral credit is already awarded. That catches the most common branching and personalization mistakes quickly.