Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

You can also see whether the conclusion rate has increased or reduced, the length of time it takes for contacts to reach that goal, and you can search all contacts to see who did and didn’t reach the objective. ActiveCampaign’s Message Variables is my favorite function. It saves me a lots of time and effort, and neither MailChimp nor ConvertKit (upgrade: 9/2020 ConvertKit now has ” snippets”) has an equivalent feature.

Let’s say you have the first name of only some of your contacts, which is the case with my list. I typically don’t require a very first name to register to my list, but in some cases I get a very first name, such as when somebody buys an item. Wouldn’t it be great to welcome your contacts by name, in the cases when you have it? You can do this, however it’s troublesome.

I’m likewise filtering for generic terms added by other systems, such as a dash, or “Guest.” If they have a very first name, I say “Hey,” and then their given name. If they don’t, I simply say “Hey there,” (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working). By building a Message Variable in ActiveCampaign, I can quickly alter my greeting according to whether I have the contact’s given name.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

I developed a variable that’s just %greeting-hey%. If I have the contact’s name, it appears in the email. If I do not have the contact’s name, it defaults to “Hey,”. Where Message Variables truly conserve me a lot of time is by enabling me utilize the exact same automation over and over once again for my webinars, and I can quickly change out all of the details.

Here are variables for a webinar I run called “Bust Through Creative Blocks.” You can see I have a bunch of different variables here, such as the date and time of the webinar, the price of the product, offer terms, coupon code, and more. Each time I run a brand-new webinar, I can change each of these variables to match any schedule changes or offer modifications.

And here it remains in an email. This message variable enables me to quickly change out a countdown timer. I did mention earlier that a person of the cons of ActiveCampaign is their e-mail modifying experience. I changed from MailChimp, and MailChimp happens to have the best e-mail editing experience. I truly like to send basic emails.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

I have actually found that very difficult to do with ActiveCampaign. For some time, I was modifying emails in ActiveCampaign’s hybrid editor, which is quite clunky. For a very long time, I utilized ActiveCampaign’s hybrid HTML and WYSIWYG editor, which was triggered by a fundamental template I created. The interface for the HTML editor appears like it was pulled from some totally free open-source project. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Nevertheless, adding images is a bit of a task. You have to pick them from a file internet browser. There’s no drag and drop choice. ActiveCampaign’s HTML email editor requires that you compose totally in HTML. The alternative to this, if you desire to have control over the HTML, is to modify pure HTML, with a sneak peek on the side.

Adding images to ActiveCampaign’s abundant full-screen editor is a clunky experience. You need separate text boxes for above and listed below the image. Lately I have actually started using ActiveCampaign’s abundant text editor. They have some great templates, however I still wish to send out the plainest email possible. They do have some plain-looking e-mails, but they have some degree of minimal format, which you can’t get rid of – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

But, with some adjustments, I can make my e-mail quite basic. I can make it instantly take up the whole window, and I can fine-tune the typography to be slightly larger, and have a little bit more leading. The most aggravating part of ActiveCampaign’s abundant text editor is adding images. Envision you have actually simply typed out an excellent email. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

You can’t just add an image to a block of text. Instead, you have to develop two blocks of text: one for before the image, and one for after the image. If you’ve made any formatting changes, you’ll need to keep an eye on those to remain constant. That’s something to deal with when you wish to add one image, but when you desire to include several, it becomes a big chore.

They even have a basic mage editor where you can crop the image – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. MailChimp’s editor is the very best I’ve seen in all of the email marketing platforms I have actually tried. You have access to the underlying code, so you can produce a genuinely plain e-mail, offered you make a standard design template initially.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

MailChimp’s integrated image editor is extremely effective. You can resize, crop, and add custom-made text to your images. I miss MailChimp’s email-editing experience (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working). It would conserve me a little time to have that same experience on ActiveCampaign. However the highly-customizable automations I can construct on ActiveCampaign more than offset that prospective time cost savings.

ConvertKit’s email modifying experience is extremely plain, but simple to browse. Their templates are limited, which is great with me, however their email modifying experience is slightly much easier because you can develop inline images, and you can produce an absolutely plain e-mail, and even modify the underlying HTML. If you wish to make some quick edits to some emails in an automation, with ActiveCampaign, it’s cumbersome.

I’ll click on an email, and it takes me to the editor for that email. Keep in mind that I can’t even Command + Click to open it in another tab. Whether they indicated to or not, ActiveCampaign has handicapped Command + Click from the automation editor. If I wished to switch backward and forward in between various e-mails, I would intuitively be inclined open the exact same automation in various tabs, then open the particular e-mails from each of those tabs.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

In the Automations area, there’s a “Handle Messages” location. From here, you can see all of the messages in each of your automations. You can edit each one, or you can Command + Click to open each in a new tab to more quickly edit your entire series. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Contrast that with ConvertKit’s Series.

Again, it would save me a great deal of time to have ConvertKit’s automation e-mail editing experience on ActiveCampaign – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. But selecting an email marketing platform is like choosing a spouse. ActiveCampaign offsets it with their Message Variables, more robust automations, and advanced division. Mentioning segmentation, another factor I switched from MailChimp to ActiveCampaign was that MailChimp has actually restricted division options.

You can combine characteristics with an AND/OR operator, and you can blend and match those groups of qualities with another AND/OR operator. With MailChimp, you can only section by AND/OR, nevertheless MailChimp’s Pro plan enables more sophisticated segmenting, for an additional $199 a month. In my search for the best email marketing platform, I saw many others, some of which I have actually already mentioned.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

ConvertKit. If I weren’t on ActiveCampaign, I would most likely be utilizing ConvertKit. Their automations are a lot easier to build, though they aren’t as flexible as ActiveCampaign’s, and their segmentations options aren’t as sophisticated either. They likewise don’t have objective tracking, or Message Variables. MailChimp. You currently understand that I changed from MailChimp to ActiveCampaign.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

You can likewise see whether the completion rate has actually increased or decreased, how long it considers contacts to reach that goal, and you can search all contacts to see who did and didn’t reach the objective. ActiveCampaign’s Message Variables is my preferred function. It conserves me a heap of effort and time, and neither MailChimp nor ConvertKit (upgrade: 9/2020 ConvertKit now has ” bits”) has a similar function.

Let’s say you have the very first name of only some of your contacts, which holds true with my list. I generally do not need a first name to register to my list, but sometimes I get a given name, such as when somebody buys a product. Would not it be nice to greet your contacts by name, in the cases when you have it? You can do this, however it’s troublesome.

I’m likewise filtering for generic terms added by other systems, such as a dash, or “Guest.” If they have a given name, I say “Hey,” and then their given name. If they don’t, I just state “Hey there,” (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working). By developing a Message Variable in ActiveCampaign, I can easily change my welcoming according to whether or not I have the contact’s given name.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

I developed a variable that’s merely %greeting-hey%. If I have the contact’s name, it appears in the e-mail. If I do not have the contact’s name, it defaults to “Hey,”. Where Message Variables truly conserve me a great deal of time is by allowing me use the exact same automation over and over once again for my webinars, and I can rapidly alter out all of the information.

Here vary for a webinar I run called “Bust Through Creative Blocks.” You can see I have a lot of various variables here, such as the date and time of the webinar, the cost of the product, offer terms, discount coupon code, and more. Each time I run a new webinar, I can alter each of these variables to match any schedule changes or deal modifications.

And here it is in an email. This message variable enables me to quickly alter out a countdown timer. I did discuss earlier that a person of the cons of ActiveCampaign is their email editing experience. I switched from MailChimp, and MailChimp occurs to have the finest email modifying experience. I truly like to send easy e-mails.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

I’ve discovered that really difficult to do with ActiveCampaign. For awhile, I was modifying e-mails in ActiveCampaign’s hybrid editor, which is quite clunky. For a long time, I used ActiveCampaign’s hybrid HTML and WYSIWYG editor, which was triggered by a fundamental template I produced. The interface for the HTML editor appears like it was pulled from some complimentary open-source project. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Nevertheless, including images is a bit of a task. You have to choose them from a file web browser. There’s no drag and drop option. ActiveCampaign’s HTML email editor needs that you make up totally in HTML. The option to this, if you wish to have control over the HTML, is to modify pure HTML, with a preview on the side.

Adding images to ActiveCampaign’s abundant text editor is a cumbersome experience. You need separate text boxes for above and listed below the image. Lately I have begun utilizing ActiveCampaign’s rich full-screen editor. They have some good design templates, however I still want to send out the simplest email possible. They do have some plain-looking e-mails, however they have some degree of very little format, which you can’t get rid of – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

But, with some changes, I can make my e-mail pretty fundamental. I can make it instantly use up the entire window, and I can tweak the typography to be a little bigger, and have a little more leading. The most aggravating part of ActiveCampaign’s abundant full-screen editor is including images. Picture you’ve just typed out an excellent e-mail. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

You can’t just add an image to a block of text. Instead, you need to develop 2 blocks of text: one for prior to the image, and one for after the image. If you have actually made any formatting modifications, you’ll need to keep an eye on those to stay consistent. That’s one thing to handle when you wish to add one image, however when you wish to add numerous, it ends up being a big chore.

They even have a basic mage editor where you can crop the image – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. MailChimp’s editor is the best I have actually seen in all of the e-mail marketing platforms I’ve attempted. You have access to the underlying code, so you can develop a genuinely plain e-mail, offered you make a basic template initially.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

MailChimp’s built-in image editor is incredibly powerful. You can resize, crop, and include customized text to your images. I miss out on MailChimp’s email-editing experience (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working). It would save me a little time to have that very same experience on ActiveCampaign. However the highly-customizable automations I can build on ActiveCampaign more than offset that prospective time savings.

ConvertKit’s email modifying experience is really plain, however simple to navigate. Their templates are limited, which is great with me, but their e-mail modifying experience is a little simpler in that you can create inline images, and you can create a completely plain email, and even edit the underlying HTML. If you wish to make some quick edits to some e-mails in an automation, with ActiveCampaign, it’s cumbersome.

I’ll click on an email, and it takes me to the editor for that email. Note that I can’t even Command + Click to open it in another tab. Whether they implied to or not, ActiveCampaign has handicapped Command + Click from the automation editor. If I desired to switch backward and forward between different e-mails, I would intuitively be inclined open the exact same automation in different tabs, then open the particular emails from each of those tabs.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

In the Automations section, there’s a “Manage Messages” location. From here, you can see all of the messages in each of your automations. You can modify every one, or you can Command + Click to open each in a brand-new tab to more easily modify your whole sequence. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Contrast that with ConvertKit’s Series.

Once again, it would save me a great deal of time to have ConvertKit’s automation email modifying experience on ActiveCampaign – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. However picking an e-mail marketing platform is like picking a spouse. ActiveCampaign makes up for it with their Message Variables, more robust automations, and advanced segmentation. Speaking of segmentation, another factor I changed from MailChimp to ActiveCampaign was that MailChimp has actually limited segmentation choices.

You can combine attributes with an AND/OR operator, and you can mix and match those groups of characteristics with another AND/OR operator. With MailChimp, you can only sector by AND/OR, however MailChimp’s Pro strategy enables more sophisticated segmenting, for an extra $199 a month. In my look for the perfect e-mail marketing platform, I saw many others, some of which I have actually currently pointed out.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

ConvertKit. If I weren’t on ActiveCampaign, I would probably be utilizing ConvertKit. Their automations are a lot easier to build, though they aren’t as versatile as ActiveCampaign’s, and their divisions choices aren’t as sophisticated either. They likewise do not have objective tracking, or Message Variables. MailChimp. You currently know that I changed from MailChimp to ActiveCampaign.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

To begin developing an automation in ActiveCampaign, start with a “trigger.” There are a variety of ways you can activate an automation, consisting of: When a tag is added When a contact signs up for a list When a contact sends a type E-commerce and on-site options (readily available in the “Pro” plan) When the contact reaches a particular point in another automation.

From there, you can begin developing the actions in your automation. Some actions that are readily available in ActiveCampaign’s automations are: Send out an email Inform a staff member Wait conditions If/then conditionals Split traffic for screening Avoid to other parts of the automation Track goals (The contact can skip to the objective’s place in the automation.) Start or end another automation, or end the current automation Post a webhook Subscribe or unsubscribe the contact to/from lists Update contact information Add and get rid of tags Include a note Lead scoring, SMS and website messages, and Facebook Customized Audience management are all “Pro” functions – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Contrast with ConvertKit‘s Automations, which are more restricted. On ConvertKit, you can set off an automation when: The contact sends a form The contact purchases A tag is included to the contact A custom-made field is upgraded with a specific value From there, you can produce Conditions, to inspect whether the contact has a certain tag or customized field value.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

You can also create Occasions, which are a bit like ActiveCampaign’s Objectives, but without the reporting. You can track an Event when: A tag is included or removed The contact purchases A date happens A custom-made field is upgraded with a certain worth You do not develop e-mails in ConvertKit’s Automations.

For more on how ActiveCampaign compares to ConvertKit, read my ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign contrast. The main way I build my list is through an e-mail course. ActiveCampaign makes it easy for me to build my e-mail course precisely how I wish to build it. Numerous marketers construct extremely simple email series for their “email courses.” A contact register, and then that contact instantly begins getting lessons.

It was easy to build with ActiveCampaign, but difficult when I was with MailChimp. I don’t do that technique. My e-mail course is by hand synced with this countdown timer on my site. You need to sign up by Friday night, and a new course starts each Monday early morning. When I initially tried this approach, I was on MailChimp.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Here’s the automation I use to welcome brand-new trainees to my Design Pitfalls course. There’s a couple of things going on here: The automation sends out all contacts a “welcome e-mail (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working).” The automation confirms that it’s not Friday. If it’s not Friday, the automation waits till it is Friday. At 11am, it sends out a “pump up” email to get the students prepared for next week’s course, and motivate them to share it with buddies.

The contact will start getting lessons the following Monday morning. If it is Friday and after 7pm, the contact missed registration for next week’s class. They’ll get the pump up e-mail the following Friday morning, and lessons the Monday after that. It was impossible for me to automate this with MailChimp.

When I run a webinar, I don’t wish to send out the very same e-mail to every person on my list. I wish to send them the suitable email for their level of engagement – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Here’s the automation I utilize to promote an evergreen webinar: First it confirms that they have not already bought the item I pitch in the webinar.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Then it sends out a series of e-mails to get them thinking about the webinar, and to motivate them to sign up. If they sign up, they instantly hit the “Objective” towards completion of the webinar, and the automation ends. If they do not sign up, they get contributed to an automation promoting a rebroadcast of the webinar. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

This enables me to personalize my messaging, in other automations, based upon the contact’s engagement with the webinar. Here’s the WebinarJam combination panel: I can include tags based upon whether the contact signed up, participated in, missed out on, or based upon how long they remained in the webinar. These tags can then set off automations within ActiveCampaign.

It costs me cash, and it makes it most likely that my e-mails go to spam or Gmail’s promotions tab. People who do not open my emails make it harder for other emails to get to the people who actually desire them! The “Pro” strategy of ActiveCampaign has lead scoring built in.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Here’s an automation I obtained from ActiveCampaign’s library of automations, which I use to inform which contacts aren’t engaging with my emails. When a contact subscribes, this automation includes a “0 days” tag. As time passes, it includes new tags for 7 days, one month, 60 days, etc Each time they open an e-mail, a separate automation eliminates them from this automation, removes all of those tags, and starts this automation over again.

This automation can be frustrating initially, and this is one of those cases where I want ActiveCampaign had a more out-of-the-box solution. However, due to the fact that you can do anything with ActiveCampaign, in some cases you need to build things from scratch. ActiveCampaign has an option to delete non-active subscribers, which I do not advise.

Some subscribers do not have actually tracking switched on, so their opens aren’t tape-recorded. Others still desire to be subscribed but have been hectic. Here’s my reactivation series: I send one email asking if they still wish to be subscribed, and briefly explaining why I keep my e-mail list tidy. In one week, I send them another email (if they already clicked on the verification link in the previous email, they’ve already been eliminated from the automation using a different automation) – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

The automation then unsubscribes them. My emails likewise have a link to a type where they can enter their email address to let me understand that they don’t have tracking enabled. This form adds a tag that I utilize to filter those contacts out. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. I utilized to include this tag when they clicked a link, however when individuals don’t have tracking on, it makes those links not work so reliably! I only send out a simple “do you still desire my emails?” confirmation.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

To begin building an automation in ActiveCampaign, start with a “trigger.” There are a number of methods you can trigger an automation, including: When a tag is included When a contact signs up for a list When a contact sends a kind E-commerce and on-site options (available in the “Pro” plan) When the contact reaches a certain point in another automation.

From there, you can start building the actions in your automation. Some actions that are readily available in ActiveCampaign’s automations are: Send out an email Alert a staff member Wait conditions If/then conditionals Split traffic for testing Avoid to other parts of the automation Track objectives (The contact can avoid to the goal’s place in the automation.) Start or end another automation, or end the current automation Post a webhook Subscribe or unsubscribe the contact to/from lists Update contact information Add and get rid of tags Add a note Lead scoring, SMS and site messages, and Facebook Custom Audience management are all “Pro” features – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Contrast with ConvertKit‘s Automations, which are more restricted. On ConvertKit, you can activate an automation when: The contact sends a form The contact buys A tag is included to the contact A custom-made field is upgraded with a particular value From there, you can develop Conditions, to examine whether the contact has a particular tag or custom field worth.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

You can also develop Events, which are a bit like ActiveCampaign’s Objectives, however without the reporting. You can track an Event when: A tag is added or gotten rid of The contact buys A date happens A customized field is upgraded with a specific worth You don’t develop emails in ConvertKit’s Automations.

For more on how ActiveCampaign compares to ConvertKit, read my ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign comparison. The main way I construct my list is through an e-mail course. ActiveCampaign makes it easy for me to build my email course exactly how I ‘d like to develop it. Lots of online marketers develop really easy e-mail series for their “email courses.” A contact indications up, and after that that contact instantly starts getting lessons.

It was simple to construct with ActiveCampaign, however difficult when I was with MailChimp. I do not do that technique. My email course is manually synced with this countdown timer on my website. You need to register by Friday night, and a brand-new course begins each Monday early morning. When I initially attempted this methodology, I was on MailChimp.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Here’s the automation I use to invite brand-new trainees to my Design Pitfalls course. There’s a couple of things going on here: The automation sends out all contacts a “welcome e-mail (Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working).” The automation validates that it’s not Friday. If it’s not Friday, the automation waits up until it is Friday. At 11am, it sends out a “pump up” email to get the trainees ready for next week’s course, and motivate them to share it with good friends.

The contact will begin getting lessons the following Monday early morning. If it is Friday and after 7pm, the contact missed out on enrollment for next week’s class. They’ll get the pump up email the following Friday morning, and lessons the Monday after that. It was difficult for me to automate this with MailChimp.

When I run a webinar, I don’t want to send out the same e-mail to every individual on my list. I wish to send them the proper e-mail for their level of engagement – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. Here’s the automation I utilize to promote an evergreen webinar: First it confirms that they haven’t currently bought the item I pitch in the webinar.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Then it sends a series of emails to get them thinking about the webinar, and to encourage them to sign up. If they register, they right away struck the “Goal” towards completion of the webinar, and the automation ends. If they do not register, they get contributed to an automation promoting a rebroadcast of the webinar. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

This allows me to personalize my messaging, in other automations, based upon the contact’s engagement with the webinar. Here’s the WebinarJam combination panel: I can include tags based upon whether the contact signed up, attended, missed out on, or based upon the length of time they remained in the webinar. These tags can then set off automations within ActiveCampaign.

It costs me cash, and it makes it most likely that my e-mails go to spam or Gmail’s promos tab. People who don’t open my emails make it harder for other e-mails to get to individuals who truly want them! The “Pro” strategy of ActiveCampaign has actually lead scoring built in.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

Here’s an automation I received from ActiveCampaign’s library of automations, which I use to tell which contacts aren’t engaging with my emails. When a contact subscribes, this automation adds a “0 days” tag. As time passes, it adds brand-new tags for 7 days, thirty days, 60 days, etc Each time they open an e-mail, a separate automation removes them from this automation, eliminates all of those tags, and starts this automation over again.

This automation can be overwhelming in the beginning, and this is one of those cases where I wish ActiveCampaign had a more out-of-the-box service. But, since you can do anything with ActiveCampaign, often you need to construct things from scratch. ActiveCampaign has an option to delete inactive customers, which I don’t advise.

Some customers do not have tracking turned on, so their opens aren’t taped. Others still want to be subscribed but have been hectic. Here’s my reactivation series: I send out one e-mail asking if they still desire to be subscribed, and briefly discussing why I keep my email list clean. In one week, I send them another email (if they already clicked on the confirmation link in the previous email, they’ve already been eliminated from the automation utilizing a separate automation) – Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working.

Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working

The automation then unsubscribes them. My emails also have a link to a form where they can enter their email address to let me know that they don’t have tracking allowed. This type adds a tag that I use to filter those contacts out. Why Does The Active Campaign Gmail Extension Stop Working. I used to add this tag when they clicked on a link, but when people don’t have tracking on, it makes those links not work so dependably! I only send out an easy “do you still desire my e-mails?” confirmation.