I’ve put this one off for way too long, so let’s get right into it. I’m gonna show you how you can build a 100% automated process to create certificates and send them to people.

Like this one:

You can see why it might be useful to generate those without lifting a finger, right?

Cool, let’s do this.

(Special shout out to my homie Kelsey Bratcher, from Hired Gun Solutions, for teaching me this one.)

Tools You Need

1. Infusionsoft (paid)
2. Zapier (paid)
3. Google Slides (free)

General Flow

Infusionsoft will trigger the zap with an HTTP post, then Zapier will use an existing Google Slide Deck as a “template” and create a PDF for the certificate, and pass the URL for that certificate back to Infusionsoft, and then you can send an email to the contact with the link to their shiny new certificate.

Specific Flow

Here’s the campaign:

Zapier Certificates

Just Show Me

Fine, get in here.

Did ya catch all that? Here’s the step-by-step.
Step-by-step Instructions
1. Create a custom field (website type) in Infusionsoft to store the Certificate URL, and a tag called “Certificate Ready”.

2. Create a campaign that starts when you want the certificate created (like when a course is completed), and then a sequence with an HTTP post.

3. Create a Zap that is triggered with a webhook.

4. Add that webhook URL from the Zap to the HTTP Post in the sequence. Make sure to send email, and any other fields you may want to merge into the certificate.

5. Send a test post to Zapier WITH values, not just merge fields.

6. Set up a google slide – design it to look however you like, and use the following format for fields you want to merge in, like name, date, course, etc: {{name}}

7. Add a step to your Zap that create a slide from a template, and choose the google slide deck you created in step 5.

8. Map the fields from your HTTP post to the merge placeholders you set up on your slide.

9. Add a step to the zap to update a contact record, and map the export/PDF URL to the custom field you created in step 1, and add the tag you created in step 1 also.

10. In your campaign, add a tag goal after the HTTP post sequence listening for the “Certificate Ready” tag.

11. Add a sequence after the tag goal, with an email in that sequence, and the merge field for the “Certificate URL” so that the contact can download it.

AccessAlly Method
I recently started using AccessAlly and learned that AccessAlly also has a built in feature for certificates (under the ProgressAlly features). Personally, if I decide to start offering certificates I think I’ll probably use this route because it keeps everything nicely organized within the membership area.

Here’s a tutorial on how AccessAlly handles this.