How to Set Up Manual Task Steps in a Campaign

Manual tasks let you include activities that require your action as part of a ContactOut campaign. Instead of automatically sending a message, these steps remind you to perform an activity for a specific recipient.

ContactOut supports two types of manual tasks in campaigns: LinkedIn task and Other task. You can use LinkedIn tasks for predefined LinkedIn activities and Other tasks for custom reminders or activities.

Types of Manual Tasks

1. LinkedIn task

A LinkedIn task guides you through a predefined LinkedIn activity. When you add a LinkedIn task, you can choose a task type from the Task type dropdown.

Available task types include:

• Connection request
• Send message
• View profile
• Follow profile
• Like post
• Comment post

Depending on the task type, you may also be able to enter a message. The message field supports up to 200 characters.

LinkedIn tasks are reminders for you to carry out the activity. You need to perform the action on LinkedIn yourself and then mark the task as complete in ContactOut.

2. Other task

Use Other task to create a custom activity or reminder that doesn't fit one of the predefined LinkedIn task types.

The editor includes these fields:

• Follow up: Choose the delay before the task is scheduled, such as 1 day.
• At time: Select the time shown in the editor, such as 02:00PM.
• Name: Enter a short title that describes the activity.
• Description: Add details or instructions to help you complete the task.

For example, you could create a task named “Prepare for discovery call” and use the description to note what you want to review before contacting the recipient.

Other tasks are flexible reminders. You perform the activity yourself and then mark the task as complete in ContactOut.

How to Add a Manual Task

1. Open Campaigns and select the campaign you want to edit.
2. Go to the Overview tab.
3. Select Add step.
4. Choose either LinkedIn task or Other task.
5. Configure the follow-up timing and the fields relevant to the selected task type.
6. Select Add step to add the task to the campaign sequence.
7. Review the task's position in the sequence.

Repeat these steps to add additional manual tasks as needed.

How Manual Tasks Affect Campaign Progress

You must mark a manual task as complete for each recipient before that recipient can progress past the task step in the campaign.

Adding a task to the campaign sequence does not mean the activity has been performed. You need to carry out the activity and update its status in ContactOut.

For example, if a LinkedIn task asks you to view a recipient's profile:

1. Open the task and identify the associated recipient.
2. Visit the recipient's LinkedIn profile and perform the requested activity.
3. Return to ContactOut.
4. Select Mark complete for that recipient's task.

The recipient can then progress past that step, subject to the campaign's other conditions and scheduling.

Remember that tasks are tracked individually for recipients. Completing a task for one recipient does not automatically complete it for everyone else.

Where to Find Your Tasks

ContactOut provides task views both within an individual campaign and from the main navigation.

Tasks inside a campaign

1. Open Campaigns and select the relevant campaign.
2. Open the Tasks tab.
3. Review the tasks associated with that campaign.

The campaign's Tasks tab displays task information, including the task name, the associated recipient, and a Mark complete action. It also provides task status summaries.

Tasks from the main navigation

You can also access tasks through the main Campaigns navigation area.

The main Tasks page brings together tasks across campaigns. It includes status summaries for:

• Today
• Upcoming
• Overdue
• Completed

The task list can also show the associated recipient and campaign name, helping you identify which campaign a task belongs to.

Use this page to review outstanding work across campaigns rather than opening each campaign individually.

Tips for Managing Manual Tasks

• Use descriptive task names. Make custom tasks easy to understand at a glance.
• Include useful instructions. Add enough detail to the description so you know what action to take.
• Review tasks regularly. Check the Tasks page to identify work due today or tasks that are overdue.
• Mark tasks complete promptly. Recipients cannot progress past a manual task until you mark it complete for them.
• Choose the right task type. Use LinkedIn task for predefined LinkedIn activities and Other task for custom reminders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do LinkedIn tasks run automatically?

No. LinkedIn tasks guide you through an activity, but you must perform the action yourself and mark the task as complete.

What is the difference between LinkedIn task and Other task?

LinkedIn task provides predefined activities, such as sending a connection request or viewing a profile. Other task lets you create a custom activity using a name and description.

What happens if I don't mark a task as complete?

The associated recipient cannot progress past that manual task step in the campaign until you mark it complete.

Do I have to complete a task separately for every recipient?

Yes. You must mark the task complete for each recipient who reaches that step.

Where can I see tasks that need my attention?

You can view tasks in the Tasks tab inside an individual campaign or open the main Tasks page from the Campaigns navigation area. The main page provides Today, Upcoming, Overdue, and Completed summaries.

Can I use manual tasks alongside email and SMS steps?

Yes. You can combine manual tasks with email and SMS steps in a multichannel campaign. Remember that every campaign must contain at least one email step before it can be started.

Summary

Manual tasks help you coordinate activities that require your attention during a campaign. Choose LinkedIn task for predefined LinkedIn activities or Other task for custom reminders. Configure the task, add it to the sequence, and review outstanding work in the campaign's Tasks tab or the main Tasks page.

Most importantly, perform the activity and select Mark complete for each recipient. A recipient cannot progress past the manual task until it has been marked complete for them.