Predictive Sending

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Update: Predictive Sending

Introduction

Predictive Sending is an advanced feature provided by ActiveCampaign that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the optimal timings for sending email campaigns. This feature is designed to enhance email marketing efforts by ensuring that recipients receive emails when they are most likely to engage. By leveraging behavior-driven insights, Predictive Sending helps marketers boost engagement rates significantly.

The importance of this feature lies in its ability to eliminate guesswork regarding email send times. Instead of following a fixed schedule, this feature allows intelligent decisions based on user behavior and preferences, ultimately leading to higher open and interaction rates.

How to Access Predictive Sending

Predictive Sending can be accessed through the **Campaign Calendar** and the **Campaign Sending Page**. To utilize this feature, users must have a Pro or Enterprise plan.

To start using Predictive Sending:

1. Ensure you have at least one campaign that has been sent with Predictive Sending enabled.
2. If you haven't enabled it yet, follow the setup instructions in the next section.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here are the detailed steps to use Predictive Sending effectively:

1. **Login** to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Navigate to the **Campaigns** section from the dashboard. 3. Create a new campaign or select an existing campaign. 4. During the campaign setup, ensure you enable **Predictive Sending**. 5. Schedule your campaign's send time (typically for a time period that aligns with your audience's engagement). 6. After sending your first campaign with this feature enabled, the system will begin learning from audience behavior. 7. It's crucial to continue engaging users as the system performs updates weekly to refine sending times.

By sending campaigns regularly, you allow Predictive Sending to optimize timing recommendations based on evolving customer preferences.

Configuration Options and Settings

When configuring Predictive Sending, keep the following options in mind:

• **Predictive Sending**: Ensure this feature is turned on while setting up your campaigns.
• **Schedule Settings**: Choose a time frame that is likely to maximize engagement, based on historical data and audience behavior.

The AI technology will automatically calculate the best send times based on recipient activity and preferences every week after campaigns are sent using this feature.

Best Practices and Tips

1. **Regular Campaigns**: Send campaigns consistently. The more campaigns you send, the better the AI becomes at understanding optimal send times. 2. **Analyze Engagement**: Monitor the performance of your campaigns closely. Use reports to glean insights that may inform future scheduling. 3. **Targeted Offers**: Timing is essential for sending time-sensitive offers, such as sales or promotions. Use Predictive Sending to optimize these timings. 4. **Engage New Subscribers**: Incorporate new subscribers into your campaigns promptly; their behavior will influence the predictions quickly.

Common Use Cases with Examples

• **Flash Sales**: Schedule a flash sale email to be sent at a time calculated to generate the highest interest, thus improving sales conversions.
• **Holiday Promotions**: Utilize the ability of Predictive Sending to send holiday offers when your audience is most engaged, enhancing interaction and sales during peak times.
• **Engagement Campaigns**: For regular newsletters or updates, employ Predictive Sending to ensure they land in inboxes when recipients are most likely to check their email.

Troubleshooting

While Predictive Sending is generally reliable, users may encounter challenges. Here are common troubleshooting tips:

• **Not Seeing Expected Results**: If engagement levels do not improve as anticipated, reevaluate the list segmentation and ensure you are actively engaging your contacts during the week.
• **Inactivity**: Ensure that the campaigns are sent to contacts who are regularly engaging with your content, as the AI needs sufficient data to function optimally.

Related Features

For further enhancement of your email campaigns, consider also exploring:

• Campaigns: Overall management of your email campaigns.
• Automation: Automate your marketing campaigns for efficiency and effectiveness.

FAQ

1. What is Predictive Sending?

Predictive Sending is a feature that predicts optimal email send times based on recipient behavior to maximize engagement.

1. How does Predictive Sending work?

It utilizes AI algorithms that analyze user interactions with emails to suggest the best send times.

1. Is Predictive Sending available to all users?

No, it is available only to Pro and Enterprise plan users.

1. How often are send times recalculated?

Send times are recalculated every week based on the latest user engagement data.

1. Do I need prior campaigns for it to work?

Yes, you must have sent at least one campaign with Predictive Sending enabled for the system to start learning.

1. Can I manage Predictive Sending settings?

The settings are enabled during the campaign creation process; you must toggle it on when setting your schedule.

1. What should I do if results are not improving?

Analyze your engagement metrics and reconsider how you're segmenting and targeting your audience to enhance engagement.

For additional insights, please refer to the guide on [how to use predictive sending to automate send times](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000030839-How-to-use-predictive-sending-to-automate-send-times). ```