The Data Activation connector for DotDigital enables you to synchronize your customer segments with DotDigital address books for targeted email marketing campaigns. This integration allows you to build and manage contact lists directly from your audience and journey orchestrations.
Here's how this integration delivers value:
Seamless audience activation: Launch email campaigns in DotDigital using audiences and journeys built in the Data Activation, which are then sent to DotDigital for targeting and activation.
Address book management: Add contacts to DotDigital address books when profiles enter audiences or journeys, and remove them when they leave—keeping your segments synchronized.
Flexible list creation: Create new address books directly from the Data Activation when adding connectors to audiences or journeys.
Automatic region detection: The connector automatically determines the correct regional endpoint for your DotDigital account, reducing configuration errors.
When added to an audience or journey step, the DotDigital connector:
Collects profiles that enter or exit the audience/journey step.
Batches profiles together (up to 1000 profiles per batch).
Sends data to DotDigital every 20 minutes or when the batch is full.
Executes add or remove syncs based on the audience or journey action:
When adding contacts, profiles are added to the specified address book.
When removing contacts, profiles are removed from the address book.
Destination connector overview
Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Platform type | ESP (Email Service Provider) |
Partner Type Slot | 34 |
Cookie Sync | No |
Connecting protocol | REST |
Realtime/Batch | Batch (1000 batch size, 20 min expunge time) |
Syncs Data On | Add, Remove |
Allowed setting multiple connectors | Yes |
ProfileVars Support | No |
Connector Type | Audience/Journey Orchestration |
API Documentation |
Before you begin
Before configuring the DotDigital destination connector, make sure you have the following set up:
An active DotDigital account
API access enabled in DotDigital
An API user with appropriate permissions
Create an API user in DotDigital
Before creating the connector in the Data Activation, set up an API user in DotDigital:
Log in to your DotDigital account.
Go to Settings (gear icon in the bottom left).
Under Access, click API users.
Click New user.
On the User details form, fill in the following:
Email address: Auto-generated by DotDigital
Description: Optional—add a description to identify the API user
Password: Create a secure password and store it securely—you'll need it later, and it won't be shown again
Status: Make sure it is set to Enabled
Click Save to create the API user.
Important
Store the password securely. You will need it when configuring the connector in the Data Activation platform.
Identify your account region
You can find your account's region by checking the DotDigital API endpoint:
Go to Settings → Access → API users.
Look for the API endpoint mentioned at the top of the page.
Match the domain to your region:
Europe:
r1-api.dotdigital.comNorth America:
r2-api.dotdigital.comAsia Pacific:
r3-api.dotdigital.com
Note
The connector now features automatic region detection based on your credentials, so manual region selection may not be required during setup.
Instructions
Step 1: Configure destination
On the Data Activation platform, select Connectors in the left-side navigation bar.
Select Server to Server and click New Connector.
Select DotDigital.
Fill in the details:
Name: Display name of the connector, which will be used throughout the Data Activation system
Authentication type: Standard authentication (default) using API user credentials
Username: The username/email address for your API user
Password: The password for your API user (sensitive field)
Once all fields are completed, click Create to save the connector.
Step 2: Add the destination connector to an Audience or Journey
When adding the DotDigital connector to an audience or journey, configure the following:
Address Book: Select an existing address book from the dropdown list, or create a new one
Address books are collections of contacts in DotDigital that help you organize and manage your audience. They allow you to group contacts for sending targeted campaigns, triggering automations, and simplifying contact management. Each contact can belong to multiple address books.
Creating a new address book
You can create an address book directly from the Data Activation:
Click the + icon next to the Address Book dropdown.
Fill in the address book details on the form.
Click Save.
The new address book will appear in the list and can be selected.
Connector limitations and known issues
Rate limits: DotDigital applies rate limits to API calls. The connector implements dynamic rate limiting based on your account's capacity:
Default rate limit: 75 requests per minute for ADD, 35 requests per minute for REMOVE
Rate limits are updated dynamically based on API responses
Multiple connectors: If you create multiple connectors using the same DotDigital account, rate limits are not synchronized across connectors. This may cause rate limit errors if both connectors are sending data simultaneously
Batch processing delay: Data is sent every 20 minutes or when the batch reaches 1000 profiles
Error handling
Error codes are displayed in the Data Exchange section of the audience/journey.
Error Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Rate limit exceeded. The connector will automatically retry |
| Flat rate limit exceeded. Wait and retry |
| Invalid username or password. Verify your API user credentials |
For DotDigital-specific errors, see the DotDigital API documentation.
FAQ
What is an address book in DotDigital?
Address books are collections of contacts in DotDigital that help you organize and manage your audience. They allow you to group contacts for sending targeted campaigns, triggering automations, and simplifying contact management. Each contact can belong to multiple address books.
How do I find my DotDigital region?
Go to Settings → Access → API users in your DotDigital account. The API endpoint shown at the top of the page indicates your region: r1 = Europe, r2 = North America, r3 = Asia Pacific.
What identifier is used to match contacts?
The connector uses partner number 34 to identify contacts. This ID must be collected and stored in the Data Activation before you can use the connector.
What happens if I hit the rate limit?
The connector implements automatic retry logic for rate-limited requests. If you consistently hit rate limits, consider reducing the number of active audiences using the same DotDigital account.