Predictive Sending

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How to Use Predictive Sending to Automate Send Times

Introduction

Predictive Sending is an innovative feature within ActiveCampaign that allows you to automate and optimize the timing of your email campaigns based on the individual habits of your contacts. By utilizing predictive analytics, this feature enhances engagement by determining the most effective time to send emails, thereby creating a more personalized experience for each recipient. It is especially useful for businesses seeking to improve communication and connection with their audience.

This feature is available for the following plan types: Pro and Enterprise. However, it is important to note that predictive sending is not available for 1:1 emails or trial accounts, and it only applies to Standard campaign types.

How to Access Predictive Sending

You can manage Predictive Sending directly from two primary contexts within ActiveCampaign: Automations and Campaigns.

In Automations

1. Navigate to the Automations section from the left menu. 2. Either choose an existing automation or create a new one. 3. Click on the (+) node where you would like to add your email action.

In Campaigns

1. Access the Campaigns section from the left menu. 2. Either select an existing campaign or initiate the creation of a new campaign.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1. 1. Using Predictive Sending in Automations

1. From the Automations section, select your automation or create a new one. 2. Click the (+) node to add an email action. 3. Select Sending and then click on the Send an email action. 4. Choose one of the following options in the modal window:

  - Create a new email - Build a campaign from scratch.
  - Start from an existing email - Copy an email you’ve previously created.
  - Save and design later - Add a send action and then come back to design the email later.
  - Select an email in the automation - Choose an existing campaign within the automation.

5. Click Continue. 6. For new emails or existing emails, follow the prompts to complete the email creation process and make sure to click the Predictive Send option before saving. 7. For selecting an existing email, choose the email from the dropdown menu and click Save. Then, open the email action to enable the Predictive Send option.

1. 1. 1. Using Predictive Sending in Campaigns
         1. From the Campaigns Overview List View

1. In the Campaigns section, navigate to the List View tab. 2. Click to open an existing campaign or click the Create a campaign button. 3. Select the Standard campaign type and proceed. 4. In the Campaign Summary, click the Schedule button. 5. Enable the Use Predictive Sending option. 6. Choose the desired Delivery Date and Start Time for the campaign. 7. Finalize the email design and complete the fields before clicking on the Finish button.

1. 1. 1. 1. From the Campaigns Calendar

1. Go to the Calendar tab in the Campaigns section. 2. Click on the future date for your campaign. 3. In the modal, enter a Campaign Name, select the Standard Campaign Type, and enable the Use Predictive Sending option. 4. Click the Next button after entering the necessary details. 5. Design your campaign and click the Finish button to schedule it.

Configuration Options and Settings

With Predictive Sending, there are several important configuration choices:

- **Predictive Send**: This option enables the system to use historical open data to determine the best send time for your emails. - **Wait Action**: It is advisable to add a Wait action after the Send Email action in your automation to prevent contacts from progressing until their email has been sent.

Best Practices and Tips

- Add a Wait action after the Send Email to manage contact flow through your automation effectively. - Use Predictive Sending judiciously; particularly avoid using it for time-sensitive communications. - Monitor performance by reviewing the sent times listed in the contact's profile under the activity stream. - Regularly engage contacts to accumulate enough data for the predictive model to be effective.

Common Use Cases

- **Automated Follow-ups**: Predictive Sending is great for engagements like follow-up emails where timing can make a significant difference in open rates. - **Newsletters**: Use this feature for sending newsletters tailored to when contacts are most likely to engage. - **Promotional Campaigns**: For campaigns that are critical to your marketing efforts, ensuring your messages are sent at optimal times increases engagement.

Troubleshooting

If you face any issues using Predictive Sending, consider the following:

- Ensure that you have enabled the predictive sending option for the email campaign or automation. - Check that you are using the Standard campaign type where Predictive Sending is supported. - If there are no recorded open activities for a contact, emails may be sent at random times.

FAQ

1. What plan levels support Predictive Sending?

Predictive Sending is offered to users on the Pro and Enterprise plans.

2. Can I use Predictive Sending for one-to-one emails?

No, Predictive Sending is not available for individual emails.

3. How does Predictive Sending work?

Predictive Sending analyzes your contacts' historical email open times to choose optimal send times.

4. What happens if a contact has no open data?

Emails will be sent randomly within 24 hours if a contact has no recorded open data.

5. Can I disable Predictive Sending once it's enabled?

Yes, you can modify or disable Predictive Sending in the same locations where you enabled it.

6. How does Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection affect Predictive Sending?

Emails sent to contacts using Apple devices with iOS 15 and Mail Privacy Protection will still be included in open analytics.

7. Will using Predictive Sending affect the timing of my emails?

Yes, emails will be sent based on the predicted best time for each contact, improving engagement.

For more details, visit ActiveCampaign's official documentation. ```