Send an email

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Use the "Send an email" automation action

Introduction

The Send an email automation action within ActiveCampaign allows users to send automated email campaigns to contacts as part of their marketing strategy. This feature is essential as it streamlines communication with your audience, ensuring timely delivery of content, promotional messages, or updates. By utilizing automation, businesses can maintain constant engagement with their contacts, thus enhancing customer relationships and driving conversions.

This article will provide detailed insights into the Send an email action, covering how to access the feature, step-by-step instructions for configuration, available options, best practices, troubleshooting tips, and a comprehensive FAQ section to help you utilize this automation effectively.

How to Access This Feature

To access the Send an email automation action, log in to your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the Automations section. Here, you can either create a new automation or edit an existing one where you want to integrate this action. Remember that if you are editing an automation that's currently active, you must first set it to Inactive to make changes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to effectively add and configure the Send an email action in your automation:

1. **Create or Edit an Automation**:

  - Navigate to the Automations section.
  - Choose to either create a new automation or select an existing one to edit.

2. **Add the "Send an email" Action**:

  - Click on the “+” button to add a new action.
  - Select the Send an email option from the available actions.

3. **Choose How to Configure Your Email**:

  After adding the action, you will see several options to configure your email. These include:
  - Create a new email: Building a new campaign from the ground up.
  - Start from an existing email: Copying a previously sent campaign.
  - Save and design later: Adding the action without immediate configuration.
  - Select an email in this automation: Choosing an existing campaign assigned to the automation.

4. **Follow the Steps Based on Your Choice**:

  - If you choose Create a new email, select from options like **Build from AI**, **Blank canvas**, or **Select a template**.
  - If you opt for Start from an existing email, choose between the Past Campaigns or Current Automation tabs to find the email you wish to copy.

5. **Edit Your Campaign**:

  Once in the campaign editing experience:
  - Modify essential details such as Campaign name, Subject line, Preheader, and Sender details.
  - Adjust tracking options and enable Predictive sending if necessary.

6. **Design Your Email**:

  - After configuring the initial settings, you can click Edit design to customize the appearance of your email.
  - Use options to update styles, add blocks, and modify the content until satisfied.

7. **Preview and Test**:

  - Utilize the Preview option to visualize your email as it will appear to recipients.
  - Send a test email using the Send a test button to review how the email delivers in a real-world context.

8. **Finalize Your Campaign**:

  - Ensure all required fields are completed and that the design is finalized before saving.
  - Return to the main automation editing screen and activate the automation once your email campaign is set up.

Configuration Options and Settings

When configuring the Send an email action, consider the following important configuration options:

- Open/Read Tracking: Enables tracking of emails when contacts open them. - Link Tracking: Monitors when contacts click on any links in your email. - Reply Tracking: Tracks replies to your email campaigns. - Google Analytics: For additional performance metrics, set up integration with Google Analytics.

Inside the Send an email modal, you can edit these tracking preferences to enhance your email's effectiveness.

Best Practices and Tips

- Always preview your emails before sending to ensure they display correctly on various devices. - Utilize the Build from AI feature to create engaging campaigns quickly. - Regularly test your emails using the Test Campaign option to verify compatibility across email clients. - Take advantage of Split Testing to determine which email variations resonate best with your audience. - Use clear and compelling subjects to improve open rates and engagement.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **Welcome Series**: Automatically send a welcome email when a new subscriber joins your mailing list. - **Promotion Announcements**: Notify subscribers about special promotions through a designated email campaign. - **Content Updates**: Inform and engage your users when new content is available, such as blog posts or product announcements.

Troubleshooting Section

If you experience issues with the Send an email action: - Ensure the automation is set to Active. - Verify that all required details in the campaign are correctly completed; missing information can prevent sending. - Check your email account’s sending limits and ensure you have the necessary permissions to send emails.

FAQ

1. How do I edit an email after I've saved it in the automation?

To edit an email, return to the Send an email action within your automation. Click on it to reopen the configuration and modify the details or design as needed.

2. Can I use the same email in multiple automations?

No, an email assigned to a Send an email action cannot be used in another action simultaneously. You must either copy it or create a new version.

3. What happens if I forget to activate my automation?

If you do not activate your automation after configuring the Send an email action, the email campaigns will not be sent to your contacts.

4. How can I analyze the performance of my emails?

You can track the performance through the tracking options such as Open/Read Tracking and link statistics provided by ActiveCampaign.

5. Is it possible to split test different email versions in the same automation?

Yes, you can use the Send an email action’s split testing feature to test different variations of your emails. Up to 5 variations can be compared simultaneously.

6. What types of emails can I create using the Send an email action?

You can create promotional emails, newsletters, automated responses, and follow-ups based on the preferences of your audience and your marketing strategy.

7. How can I ensure high deliverability for my emails?

To improve email deliverability, ensure you have verified your sender details, maintain a clean contact list, and use engaging subject lines to encourage opens and interactions.

This comprehensive overview of the Send an email automation action is designed to help you effectively utilize ActiveCampaign for seamless communication with your contacts. For more detailed assistance or specific inquiries, refer to the respective sections within the Automations documentation or consult additional resources. ```