---
title: "DotDigital setup for Data Activation"
slug: "dotdigital-setup-for-data-activation"
description: "Synchronize customer segments with DotDigital for targeted email campaigns, manage address books, and automate audience activation seamlessly."
updated: 2026-02-27T13:20:29Z
published: 2026-02-27T13:25:42Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.supermetrics.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# DotDigital setup for Data Activation

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:

1. Collects profiles that enter or exit the audience/journey step.
2. Batches profiles together (up to 1000 profiles per batch).
3. Sends data to DotDigital every 20 minutes or when the batch is full.
4. 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** | [DotDigital Import Contacts documentation](https://developer.dotdigital.com/reference/importcontacts-1) |

## 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:

1. Log in to your DotDigital account.
2. Go to **Settings** (gear icon in the bottom left).
3. Under **Access**, click **API users**.
4. Click **New user**.
5. 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**
6. Click **Save**to create the API user.

> [!NOTE]
> 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:

1. Go to **Settings → Access → API users**.
2. Look for the API endpoint mentioned at the top of the page.

Match the domain to your region:

- **Europe**: `r1-api.dotdigital.com`
- **North America**: `r2-api.dotdigital.com`
- **Asia Pacific**: `r3-api.dotdigital.com`

> [!NOTE]
> 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

1. On the Data Activation platform, select **Connectors** in the left-side navigation bar.
2. Select **Server to Server** and click **New Connector**.
3. Select **DotDigital**.
4. 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)
5. 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:

1. Click the **+** icon next to the **Address Book** dropdown.
2. Fill in the address book details on the form.
3. Click **Save**.
4. 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 |
| --- | --- |
| `429 Too Many Requests` | Rate limit exceeded. The connector will automatically retry |
| `400 APIUSAGE_EXCEEDED` | Flat rate limit exceeded. Wait and retry |
| `Authentication Failed` | Invalid username or password. Verify your API user credentials |

For DotDigital-specific errors, see the [DotDigital API documentation](https://developer.dotdigital.com/docs/call-rate-limits).

## 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.

## More resources

- [How to build audiences](/v1/docs/how-to-build-audiences)
- [How to build journeys](/v1/docs/how-to-build-journeys)
- [How to measure goals and outcome signals](/v1/docs/how-to-measure-goals-and-outcome-signals)