A Visitor Publish by Nontas Karavias, founding father of IAmNontas.com
Let’s face it, people. In case you are operating an ActiveCampaign account, it’s in all probability not working at 100% effectivity. I’d say not even at 60%.
I don’t like that…
As an ActiveCampaign advisor who’s labored with over 250 accounts, I’ve seen some stuff. So immediately, I’m right here to name out the ten most annoying errors I see folks making of their ActiveCampaign accounts.
Brace yourselves as a result of it’s about to get actual.
#1: Utilizing too many lists
There was a time when lists had been “the factor” as a result of well-liked e mail software program used them as the elemental segmentation software. Folks despatched their campaigns to particular “lists,” and when you needed to distinguish your message, you probably did it “per record.”
Now, you should utilize lists for segmentation functions in ActiveCampaign, however this is able to make managing the account a lot more durable in the long term.
There are a lot of nuances to debate right here, however let’s hold that in thoughts any longer: Lists exist to reply the query: “Do I’ve this subscriber’s consent to ship emails?”.
And for this reason most ActiveCampaign accounts on the market don’t want greater than ONE record.
“In what circumstances then would I need a couple of record?” I hear you asking…
- In case you are operating a number of companies via the identical ActiveCampaignaccount
- You probably have a number of varieties of emails, you wish to give them a chance to subscribe to or unsubscribe from.
- In case you are utilizing an inventory as the one integration possibility.
Which brings me to my second level.
#2: Integrating with instruments utilizing solely the record methodology
Some instruments would not have a strong integration with ActiveCampaign, and so they solely provide the possibility so as to add contacts to an ActiveCampaign record. This isn’t optimum.
Let me clarify…
Think about having 5 lead magnets in Clickfunnels touchdown pages. You probably have built-in these 5 types utilizing the “record” methodology, you’ll need 5 totally different lists if you wish to monitor the place every contact got here from. And now, as an alternative of 1 record, you might have 1+5=6. Good luck with that.
Now, when you use the “record & tag” methodology, you throw all Clickfunnels contacts into your grasp record and add separate tags in response to the shape they stuffed out.
1 record, 5 tags. Candy!
#3: Neglecting to doc your funnel
As quickly as you subscribe to an ActiveCampaign account, you wish to get issues going, proper? Construct stuff rapidly and promote. It might actually work with out you being an knowledgeable in ActiveCampaign.
And then you definately develop.
And issues get messy.
And sophisticated.
You begin to spend time simply to find issues in your account. You understand you need to arrange it higher, however you don’t have time. Issues nonetheless work, however now you get pissed off each time you log in, and also you begin hating your job.
Effectively, I’ve an answer for that, my buddy!
Documenting repeatedly and early on in spreadsheets and mapping instruments is essential for the sustainability of your account.
For this reason:
- You don’t waste your time finding tags, automations, objectives, and so forth.
- You perceive the connection between all components in ActiveCampaign (fields, tags, automations, lists, and so forth.)
- You’ll be able to simply on-board and prepare new customers.
- Exterior consultants can audit, perceive your account, and remedy issues quicker and with much less friction.
I’ve labored with over 250 ActiveCampaign purchasers in my profession. The accounts that had correct documentation may be counted actually on the fingers of my proper hand.
#4: Not utilizing the e-mail builder with intentionality
Let’s simply say it: “Lastly, ActiveCampaign’s e mail builder kicks a**!”
At present, it is likely one of the greatest and most versatile builders on the market. However to get probably the most out of it, you need to use it correctly to avoid wasting time!
What do I imply by that:
When you design new emails steadily, that you must hold a constant model and really feel, proper? Doing that normally entails copying emails, utilizing a sure format, and utilizing components inside your e mail (sections, columns, buildings, and so forth.). There are a lot of methods you’ll be able to design an e mail and get the identical outcome. However there is just one optimum strategy to do it that can outcome within the minimal effort within the quick and long term.
Study to make use of the weather appropriately, and you’ll considerably cut back the time spent on e mail design!
#5: Not utilizing group components and naming conventions
That is the simplest tip to implement in your ActiveCampaign account, however once more, it wants one factor: Intentionality.
There are quite a few methods you’ll be able to identify your tags, automations, types, lists, and fields. However the optimum approach will depend on your general enterprise technique, your account construction, the way you prefer to see data, the form of studies you wish to see, and so forth. Simply remember the fact that the primary approach ActiveCampaign organizes components is alphabetically.
Let’s see an instance:
- Let’s say you utilize tags to trace your three lead sources. What’s the easiest way to call the tags? “LEAD: google,” “LEAD: fb,” “LEAD: referral,” OR “google lead,” “fb lead,” and “referral lead”?
I’ll allow you to reply this.
#6: Ignoring e mail authentication setup
Establishing e mail authentication takes round 5 minutes, however surprisingly sufficient, 8 out of 10 companies completely ignore it.
In case you are severe about your e mail advertising and marketing, it is best to at all times deal with the e-mail authentication your self. I gained’t negotiate! DKIM, SPF, and DMARC needs to be dealt with asap!
It sounds kinda techy and intimidating, however these methods are a approach of verifying the identification of the sender of an e mail message, making certain that the e-mail has not been altered throughout transmission and that it originates from a professional supply – your small business. They stop phishing, spoofing, and different varieties of e mail fraud and permit you to monitor deliverability and management the usage of your area in e mail.
ActiveCampaign’s documentation is thorough and easy sufficient for anybody to know and execute. Doing this can allow you to construct a website repute, provide you with management over your e mail advertising and marketing, and in the end enhance deliverability long run.
#7: Neglecting to have a segmentation plan
What’s the no.1 factor that separates e mail entrepreneurs from spammers?
In my opinion, all of it boils all the way down to thorough segmentation. A spammer must ship as many messages as potential to as many individuals as potential. An e mail marketer must ship the correct amount of emails to the correct amount and blend of individuals.
Figuring out the appropriate segments to make use of shouldn’t be as simple because it might sound. Segmentation is much more than separating males from girls or leads from clients.
You can section by:
- Engagement degree
- Location
- Product curiosity
- Product bought
- Age group
- Lead magnet downloaded
- Recency of engagement
- Lead supply
- Revenue
- B2B or B2C
The record may be limitless…
How are you going to navigate this? Simply reply three questions:
- What’s the most significant strategy to section your record?
- What is going to you talk to every section, and when?
- How will you get hold of the segmentation information within the first place to construct the segments?
These questions are the premise of your segmentation plan. With out this plan, you’re simply “a enterprise that sends emails now and again.” You’re not doing e mail advertising and marketing.
#8: Anticipating good studies with out correct setup
If you purchase a model new, shiny, tremendous superior software like ActiveCampaign, you’ll are likely to assume that “Heck, it’s a complicated automation software! All I’ve to do is present up, ship some emails, and ActiveCampaign will do its magic, and I’ll have each piece of knowledge obtainable once I want it!”
Effectively, it doesn’t work that approach.
ActiveCampaign’s greatest power is its customizability and suppleness. Nevertheless it comes with a value.
It’s a must to:
1) know what information you wish to see within the report sooner or later
2) know the way to arrange the technical components of ActiveCampaigncorrectly and
3) know the way to implement a monitoring plan.
Lastly, remember the fact that it doesn’t matter what, new wants will come up, and also you’ll at all times have to trace one thing new, which suggests you need to be on prime of your automations, consistently modifying them to permit you to acquire new information. It’s a marathon, not a dash.
#9: Over-complicating automations
Nothing is worse for me once I audit an present ActiveCampaign account than automations with limitless “if/else” blocks, a number of objectives, a number of triggers, sophisticated situations, and pointless tag including.
ActiveCampaign has a number of methods of attaining the identical outcome, however in each case, there may be at all times ONE greatest strategy to obtain it, and that approach follows two basic ideas:
- It makes use of the minimal quantity of modules
- It’s straightforward to make use of and perceive
Which will imply you need to merge two automations into one, break an enormous automation into a number of, or flip a number of “if/else” modules right into a single objective, and so forth.
Sadly, ActiveCampaign customers don’t at all times perceive the software’s structure earlier than they begin utilizing it, which causes these inefficiencies.
#10: Neglecting record cleanup
When companies ask me for assist, they normally have an inventory engagement downside (too many unresponsive emails). It goes like this: They’ve had a reasonably engaged record for some time, however one way or the other, they began getting sloppy with their older contacts. Both they stopped sending emails or saved sending the identical sort of emails that didn’t work anymore. E mail open fee plummeted, similar with click on charges. They might have additionally obtained spam complaints and big unsubscribes, presumably compromising their deliverability.
The answer? Listing cleanup!
Listing cleanup refers to eradicating invalid, inactive, or non-responsive e mail addresses from an e mail record. It’s an important a part of your job as an e mail advertising and marketing supervisor as a result of this can allow you to preserve a superb sender repute, enhance your engagement fee, and in the end elevate your e mail supply fee and deliverability.
“How does it work in apply?” I hear you asking.
It might look so simple as “logging in sometimes and seeing who doesn’t interact and unsubscribe them.” However don’t do this. ActiveCampaign provides you all of the instruments to make the cleanup dynamic and extremely refined. Arrange well timed re-engagement and win-back sequences to your unengaged contacts, arrange the appropriate situations for them, and also you’ll by no means should unsubscribe anybody manually.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign is an incredible software that provides you limitless potentialities in personalization and automation. Nevertheless, to get probably the most out of it, that you must know the way to use it. And to learn to use it in probably the most environment friendly approach, that you must perceive its construction deeply. For this reason I at all times advocate hiring specialists to arrange and handle your account. When you would not have the funds for that, use one of the best practices from ActiveCampaign’s weblog and use buyer assist every time wanted. It’s higher to spend extra time to start with to set issues up appropriately than constructing one thing quick now which may make your life troublesome in the long term.
