A Visitor Publish by Nontas Karavias, founding father of IAmNontas.com
Let’s face it, people. If you’re operating an ActiveCampaign account, it’s most likely not working at 100% effectivity. I’d say not even at 60%.
I don’t like that…
As an ActiveCampaign guide who’s labored with over 250 accounts, I’ve seen some stuff. So in the present day, 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 have been “the factor” as a result of well-liked e-mail software program used them as the basic segmentation device. Folks despatched their campaigns to particular “lists,” and for those who needed to distinguish your message, you probably did it “per record.”
Now, you should use lists for segmentation functions in ActiveCampaign, however this could make managing the account a lot tougher in the long term.
There are numerous nuances to debate right here, however let’s preserve that in thoughts any more: Lists exist to reply the query: “Do I’ve this subscriber’s consent to ship emails?”.
And that is why most ActiveCampaign accounts on the market don’t want greater than ONE record.
“In what circumstances then would I would like a couple of record?” I hear you asking…
- If you’re operating a number of companies via the identical ActiveCampaignaccount
- When you’ve got a number of sorts of emails, you wish to give them a possibility to subscribe to or unsubscribe from.
- If you’re utilizing an inventory as the one integration possibility.
Which brings me to my second level.
#2: Integrating with instruments utilizing solely the record technique
Some instruments would not have a strong integration with ActiveCampaign, they usually 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. When you’ve got built-in these 5 kinds utilizing the “record” technique, you will have 5 totally different lists if you wish to observe the place every contact got here from. And now, as an alternative of 1 record, you could have 1+5=6. Good luck with that.
Now, for those who use the “record & tag” technique, you throw all Clickfunnels contacts into your grasp record and add separate tags in line with the shape they crammed 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 could possibly actually work with out you being an professional 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 must manage 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.
Nicely, I’ve an answer for that, my buddy!
Documenting constantly 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 many others.
- You perceive the connection between all parts in ActiveCampaign (fields, tags, automations, lists, and many others.)
- You’ll be able to simply on-board and practice new customers.
- Exterior consultants can audit, perceive your account, and resolve issues sooner and with much less friction.
I’ve labored with over 250 ActiveCampaign shoppers in my profession. The accounts that had correct documentation could 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**!”
Presently, it is without doubt one of the finest and most versatile builders on the market. However to get probably the most out of it, you must use it correctly to avoid wasting time!
What do I imply by that:
If you happen to design new emails often, it’s worthwhile to preserve a constant model and really feel, proper? Doing that often includes copying emails, utilizing a sure format, and utilizing parts inside your e-mail (sections, columns, buildings, and many others.). There are numerous methods you possibly can design an e-mail and get the identical consequence. However there is just one optimum approach to do it that may consequence within the minimal effort within the brief and future.
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 parts and naming conventions
That is the best tip to implement in your ActiveCampaign account, however once more, it wants one factor: Intentionality.
There are quite a few methods you possibly can title your tags, automations, kinds, lists, and fields. However the optimum approach will depend on your total enterprise technique, your account construction, the way you wish to see info, the sort of reviews you wish to see, and many others. Simply remember the fact that the primary approach ActiveCampaign organizes parts is alphabetically.
Let’s see an instance:
- Let’s say you utilize tags to trace your three lead sources. What’s one of the simplest ways 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
Organising e-mail authentication takes round 5 minutes, however surprisingly sufficient, 8 out of 10 companies completely ignore it.
If you’re severe about your e-mail advertising, you must all the time deal with the e-mail authentication your self. I gained’t negotiate! DKIM, SPF, and DMARC must be dealt with asap!
It sounds kinda techy and intimidating, however these methods are a approach of verifying the id of the sender of an e-mail message, guaranteeing that the e-mail has not been altered throughout transmission and that it originates from a reliable supply – your corporation. They forestall phishing, spoofing, and different sorts 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 aid you construct a site fame, provide you with management over your e-mail advertising, 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 right down to thorough segmentation. A spammer must ship as many messages as attainable to as many individuals as attainable. An e-mail marketer must ship the correct quantity of emails to the correct quantity and blend of individuals.
Figuring out the correct segments to make use of is just not as easy because it might sound. Segmentation is much more than separating males from girls or leads from prospects.
You may section by:
- Engagement stage
- Location
- Product curiosity
- Product bought
- Age group
- Lead magnet downloaded
- Recency of engagement
- Lead supply
- Revenue
- B2B or B2C
The record could be infinite…
How are you going to navigate this? Simply reply three questions:
- What’s the most significant approach to section your record?
- What is going to you talk to every section, and when?
- How will you acquire the segmentation knowledge 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 once in a while.” You’re not doing e-mail advertising.
#8: Anticipating excellent reviews with out correct setup
Whenever you purchase a model new, shiny, tremendous superior device like ActiveCampaign, you’ll are inclined to assume that “Heck, it’s a complicated automation device! 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 out there after I want it!”
Nicely, it doesn’t work that approach.
ActiveCampaign’s largest energy is its customizability and adaptability. Nevertheless it comes with a price.
You need to:
1) know what knowledge you wish to see within the report sooner or later
2) know find out how to arrange the technical parts of ActiveCampaigncorrectly and
3) know find out how to implement a monitoring plan.
Lastly, remember the fact that it doesn’t matter what, new wants will come up, and also you’ll all the time have to trace one thing new, which implies you must be on prime of your automations, consistently modifying them to permit you to accumulate new knowledge. It’s a marathon, not a dash.
#9: Over-complicating automations
Nothing is worse for me after I audit an present ActiveCampaign account than automations with infinite “if/else” blocks, a number of objectives, a number of triggers, sophisticated circumstances, and pointless tag including.
ActiveCampaign has a number of methods of reaching the identical consequence, however in each case, there’s all the time ONE finest approach to obtain it, and that approach follows two basic rules:
- It makes use of the minimal quantity of modules
- It’s simple to make use of and perceive
Which will imply you must 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 purpose, and many others.
Sadly, ActiveCampaign customers don’t all the time perceive the device’s structure earlier than they begin utilizing it, which causes these inefficiencies.
#10: Neglecting record cleanup
When companies ask me for assist, they often have an inventory engagement drawback (too many unresponsive emails). It goes like this: They’ve had a reasonably engaged record for some time, however by some means, they began getting sloppy with their older contacts. Both they stopped sending emails or saved sending the identical kind of emails that didn’t work anymore. E-mail open charge plummeted, similar with click on charges. They might have additionally acquired 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 a vital a part of your job as an e-mail advertising supervisor as a result of this can aid you preserve a great sender fame, enhance your engagement charge, and in the end increase your e-mail supply charge and deliverability.
“How does it work in apply?” I hear you asking.
It might look so simple as “logging in often and seeing who doesn’t interact and unsubscribe them.” However don’t try 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 in your unengaged contacts, arrange the correct circumstances for them, and also you’ll by no means should unsubscribe anybody manually.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign is a tremendous device that provides you infinite potentialities in personalization and automation. Nonetheless, to get probably the most out of it, it’s worthwhile to know find out how to use it. And to learn to use it in probably the most environment friendly approach, it’s worthwhile to perceive its construction deeply. For this reason I all the time advocate hiring consultants to arrange and handle your account. If you happen to would not have the price range for that, use the very best practices from ActiveCampaign’s weblog and use buyer help at any time when wanted. It’s higher to spend extra time to start with to set issues up appropriately than constructing one thing quick now that may make your life tough in the long term.
