Who This Is For / When to Use
This guide is for users who:
Want real-time visibility when contacts open emails.
Need internal alerts for sales, onboarding, or follow-up timing.
Use workflows to monitor email engagement.
How Email Open Notification Workflows Work
The Email Events trigger listens for email activity.
When an email is opened, the workflow runs.
An Internal Notification is sent to selected users.
Custom values (timestamp, contact details) can be included in the alert.
Step 1: Create or Open a Workflow
Go to Automations & Workflows > Workflows.
Click + Create Workflow or open an existing workflow.
Choose Start from Scratch if creating a new workflow.
Step 2: Add the Email Events Trigger
Click Add New Trigger.
Select Email Events.
Set the filters:
Event → Opened
(Optional) Add a filter to limit events to a specific workflow:
In workflow → Select the workflow name.
Click Save Trigger.
Step 3: Add the Internal Notification Action
Click the + icon below the trigger.
Select Send Internal Notification.
Set Type of Notification to Email.
Choose the User Type to receive the notification.
Customize the subject and message.
Step 4: Customize the Notification Message
Place your cursor in the message editor.
Use Custom Values to insert dynamic details such as:
Date and time
Contact name
Contact email
Example message:
{{right_now.middle_endian_date}} at {{right_now.time}} {{contact.first_name}} ({{contact.email}}) opened an email.
Step 5: Save and Publish
Click Save Action.
Toggle the workflow from Draft to Publish.
Once published, internal users will receive an email notification whenever a contact opens an email that matches your trigger filters.
Common Issues and Fixes
Notification Not Sending
Confirm the workflow is published.
Ensure the Event filter is set to Opened.
Verify the email being opened belongs to the selected workflow (if filtered).
Notification Missing Details
Check that Custom Values were inserted correctly.
Ensure the contact record contains the referenced fields.
Too Many Notifications
Add the In workflow filter to narrow notifications.
Create separate workflows for different email campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get notified when a contact opens an email?
Add an Email Events trigger filtered to Opened, then add a Send Internal Notification action set to Email.
Can I limit notifications to emails from a specific workflow?
Yes. Use the In workflow filter in the Email Events trigger.
What information can I include in the notification email?
You can include timestamps, contact details, and other available custom values.
Do I need to publish the workflow?
Yes. The workflow must be published for notifications to send.
Which notification type should I select?
Select Email under Type of Notification in the Internal Notification action.