A Visitor Submit by Nontas Karavias, founding father of IAmNontas.com
Let’s face it, of us. In case you are 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 marketing consultant who’s labored with over 250 accounts, I’ve seen some stuff. So as we speak, 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 electronic mail software program used them as the basic segmentation device. Folks despatched their campaigns to particular “lists,” and when you wished to distinguish your message, you probably did it “per checklist.”
Now, you need to 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 further: 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 checklist.
“In what circumstances then would I would like multiple checklist?” I hear you asking…
- In case you are operating a number of companies by the identical ActiveCampaignaccount
- When you have a number of forms of emails, you need to give them a chance to subscribe to or unsubscribe from.
- In case you are utilizing an inventory as the one integration choice.
Which brings me to my second level.
#2: Integrating with instruments utilizing solely the checklist methodology
Some instruments wouldn’t have a sturdy integration with ActiveCampaign, and so they solely provide the choice so as to add contacts to an ActiveCampaign checklist. This isn’t optimum.
Let me clarify…
Think about having 5 lead magnets in Clickfunnels touchdown pages. When you have built-in these 5 kinds utilizing the “checklist” methodology, you’ll need 5 totally different lists if you wish to monitor the place every contact got here from. And now, as a substitute of 1 checklist, you have got 1+5=6. Good luck with that.
Now, when you use the “checklist & tag” methodology, you throw all Clickfunnels contacts into your grasp checklist and add separate tags in keeping with the shape they crammed out.
1 checklist, 5 tags. Candy!
#3: Neglecting to doc your funnel
As quickly as you subscribe to an ActiveCampaign account, you need to get issues going, proper? Construct stuff shortly and promote. It may 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 need to arrange it higher, however you don’t have time. Issues nonetheless work, however now you get annoyed each time you log in, and also you begin hating your job.
Effectively, I’ve an answer for that, my good friend!
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 possibly can simply on-board and prepare new customers.
- Exterior consultants can audit, perceive your account, and clear up issues sooner and with much less friction.
I’ve labored with over 250 ActiveCampaign purchasers in my profession. The accounts that had correct documentation might 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 electronic mail builder kicks a**!”
At present, it is likely one of the greatest and most versatile builders on the market. However to get essentially the most out of it, you need to use it correctly to save lots of time!
What do I imply by that:
If you happen to design new emails incessantly, it’s good to preserve a constant fashion and really feel, proper? Doing that normally entails copying emails, utilizing a sure format, and utilizing parts inside your electronic mail (sections, columns, buildings, and many others.). There are numerous methods you may design an electronic mail and get the identical consequence. However there is just one optimum solution to do it that may consequence within the minimal effort within the brief and long term.
Be taught to make use of the weather accurately, and you’ll considerably scale back the time spent on electronic mail design!
#5: Not utilizing group parts 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 may title your tags, automations, kinds, lists, and fields. However the optimum method is determined by your general enterprise technique, your account construction, the way you prefer to see info, the type of stories you need to see, and many others. Simply remember that the principle method ActiveCampaign organizes parts 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 electronic mail authentication setup
Organising electronic mail authentication takes round 5 minutes, however surprisingly sufficient, 8 out of 10 companies completely ignore it.
In case you are critical about your electronic mail advertising and marketing, you need to all the time deal with the e-mail authentication your self. I received’t negotiate! DKIM, SPF, and DMARC needs to be dealt with asap!
It sounds kinda techy and intimidating, however these methods are a method of verifying the identification of the sender of an electronic mail message, making certain that the e-mail has not been altered throughout transmission and that it originates from a official supply – what you are promoting. They stop phishing, spoofing, and different forms of electronic mail fraud and can help you monitor deliverability and management the usage of your area in electronic mail.
ActiveCampaign’s documentation is thorough and easy sufficient for anybody to know and execute. Doing this can enable you to construct a site fame, offer you management over your electronic mail advertising and marketing, and finally enhance deliverability long run.
#7: Neglecting to have a segmentation plan
What’s the no.1 factor that separates electronic 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 attainable to as many individuals as attainable. An electronic mail marketer must ship the correct amount of emails to the correct amount and blend of individuals.
Figuring out the fitting segments to make use of is just not as simple 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
- Earnings
- B2B or B2C
The checklist might be limitless…
How will you navigate this? Simply reply three questions:
- What’s the most significant solution to section your checklist?
- What’s 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 every so often.” You’re not doing electronic mail advertising and marketing.
#8: Anticipating excellent stories with out correct setup
If you purchase a model new, shiny, tremendous superior device like ActiveCampaign, you’ll are likely to assume that “Heck, it’s a sophisticated automation device! All I’ve to do is present up, ship some emails, and ActiveCampaign will do its magic, and I’ll have every bit of information accessible after I want it!”
Effectively, it doesn’t work that method.
ActiveCampaign’s greatest power is its customizability and adaptability. However it comes with a price.
You need to:
1) know what information you need to see within the report sooner or later
2) know tips on how to arrange the technical parts of ActiveCampaigncorrectly and
3) know tips on how to implement a monitoring plan.
Lastly, remember 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 need to be on prime of your automations, consistently modifying them to can help you gather new information. 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 limitless “if/else” blocks, a number of objectives, a number of triggers, difficult circumstances, and pointless tag including.
ActiveCampaign has a number of methods of attaining the identical consequence, however in each case, there may be all the time ONE greatest solution to obtain it, and that method follows two elementary rules:
- It makes use of the minimal quantity of modules
- It’s simple 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 aim, 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 checklist 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 fairly engaged checklist 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 kind of emails that didn’t work anymore. E-mail open price plummeted, identical with click on charges. They might have additionally obtained spam complaints and large unsubscribes, probably compromising their deliverability.
The answer? Checklist cleanup!
Checklist cleanup refers to eradicating invalid, inactive, or non-responsive electronic mail addresses from an electronic mail checklist. It’s a necessary a part of your job as an electronic mail advertising and marketing supervisor as a result of this can enable you to keep sender fame, enhance your engagement price, and finally increase your electronic mail supply price and deliverability.
“How does it work in apply?” I hear you asking.
It may look so simple as “logging in often 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 subtle. Arrange well timed re-engagement and win-back sequences in your unengaged contacts, arrange the fitting circumstances for them, and also you’ll by no means must unsubscribe anybody manually.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign is an incredible device that provides you limitless prospects in personalization and automation. Nevertheless, to get essentially the most out of it, it’s good to know tips on how to use it. And to learn to use it in essentially the most environment friendly method, it’s good 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 wouldn’t have the finances for that, use the very best practices from ActiveCampaign’s weblog and use buyer help each time wanted. It’s higher to spend extra time to start with to set issues up accurately than constructing one thing quick now that may make your life tough in the long term.
