What is the difference between tags, variables and contact stages?

Three tools preserve contact context, but they serve different purposes. Choosing correctly keeps flows simple and reporting clear.

What you will learn

Use the appropriate tool for each kind of information.

Before you start

• Decide whether the data is a label, value or stage.
• Use consistent team naming.
• Do not store unnecessary sensitive data.

Steps

1 — Tag: a label

Use tags such as “Price lead”, “VIP customer” or “Needs follow-up”. A contact can have several.

2 — Variable: a stored value

Use variables for a city, selected product, budget or answer. Each generally stores a specific value.

3 — Contact stage: progress through a process

Use a limited set such as New, Reviewing, Converted or Closed.

4 — Use data in flows

Conditions can decide based on tags, variables or stages.

5 — Update data after important changes

When the contact progresses, update relevant data so stale values do not lead to wrong decisions.

Useful tips

• Use one consistent name for each concept.
• Create variables for data you will actually use.
• Keep a small set of clear contact stages.

Troubleshooting

• If conditions do not match, check the exact stored name and value.
• If reports are cluttered, consolidate duplicate or similar tags.

View contact information →

Use contact data in a flow →