Migrating contacts from Hubspot

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Introduction

Migrating contacts from Hubspot to ActiveCampaign is an essential process for users looking to transition from one email marketing or marketing automation provider to another. This feature is significant because it allows users to retain their contacts, automate their marketing workflows, and ensure continuity in their marketing efforts. ActiveCampaign offers a migration service that simplifies the transition, ensuring that users do not lose any valuable contact information or automations during the process.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of how to successfully migrate your contacts from Hubspot to your ActiveCampaign account, featuring a step-by-step guide, best practices, and troubleshooting tips.

How to Access This Feature

To migrate your contacts from Hubspot to ActiveCampaign, you will need access to both your Hubspot account as well as your ActiveCampaign account. Ensure that you have administrative permissions in both platforms so you can manage contacts effectively.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To migrate your contacts from Hubspot, follow these steps:

Export Contacts from Hubspot

You have two options for exporting contacts from Hubspot: exporting all contacts or exporting contacts with specific fields.

Export All Contacts with All Fields

1. Log into your Hubspot account. 2. From the main dashboard, click Contacts located in the top navigation. 3. Select Contacts from the drop-down menu. 4. Click the Options menu and then click Export.

Export Contacts with Specific Fields

1. Log into your Hubspot account. 2. From the main dashboard, click Contacts located in the top navigation. 3. Select Contacts from the drop-down menu. 4. Click Add filter and choose the properties you wish to export. 5. You then have the option to export directly with those properties, or save the filter and export later.

For more details on exporting your lists from Hubspot, refer to their documentation on exporting lists.

Prepare Your Contact File

After exporting your contacts, make sure to clean your import file by removing any unwanted fields. Save your file as a CSV format. For instructions on how to save your spreadsheet as a CSV, see this guide on saving your spreadsheet as CSV.

Additionally, it is advisable to create two versions of your file: the original Hubspot export and a new clean file for importing into ActiveCampaign.

Import Your Contacts into ActiveCampaign

To import your contacts into ActiveCampaign, follow these instructions:

1. In ActiveCampaign, click Contacts located on the left menu. 2. Click the Import button. 3. Click the Import from File button. 4. A file browser will appear. Navigate to the file you wish to import and select it. 5. Once your file has processed, you will be redirected to the import screen. Here, map the columns in your file to fields in your ActiveCampaign account by selecting from the dropdown menu for each field.

  * If you do not wish to import data from a column, select Do Not Import this Field.
  * To create a new field directly from the import page, click [Add New Field] and follow the prompts.

6. Optional: Click each list that you want to add contacts to. You can add contacts to multiple lists. 7. Optional: Type in any tags you wish to apply to all contacts once they're imported.

  * As a best practice, apply a tag that indicates the source of these contacts, making it easier for you to locate this group for future bulk edits.

8. Click the Import Options dropdown and select Import As Active Contact. 9. Optional: Click the Update Existing Contacts box to search for a matching email address in your account and add any additional contact data from your file into the contact record. 10. Finally, click the Import Now button when done configuring settings.

The time it takes to import contacts will depend on the size of your CSV file.

For results of your import, you can view the import details in your ActiveCampaign account.

Configuration Options and Settings

When migrating contacts, consider the following configuration options:

• **Import List**: Make sure to select or create a list for your imported contacts.
• **Tags**: Adding appropriate tags can help you organize and manage contacts more efficiently.
• **Update Existing Contacts**: Determine if you wish to update existing contact records with new information from your import.
• **Import As Active Contact**: This option allows imported contacts to be treated as actively engaged in your campaigns.

Best Practices and Tips

1. Clean Your Import File: Before importing contacts, take the time to remove unnecessary fields and keep your data organized. 2. Save Two Versions: Always save both the original export file and a clean version of your contact file for future reference. 3. Utilize Tags: Use tags to help classify your imported contacts, especially marking their source for easy identification. 4. Familiarize Yourself with Different Terminologies: Understanding the differences between Hubspot and ActiveCampaign terminologies (like Contact Properties vs. Custom Fields) will help streamline the migration.

Common Use Cases

Migrating from Hubspot might be necessary for different reasons, including: - Transitioning to a more user-friendly marketing automation platform with multiple integrations. - Downsizing marketing budget while maintaining efficient email marketing capabilities. - Seeking better customer support and training resources to optimize marketing strategies.

Troubleshooting Section

If you encounter issues during the migration process, consider these troubleshooting tips:

• If your import fails, double-check the format of your CSV file. Ensure it's correctly formatted and all required fields are filled out.
• If contacts do not appear in your ActiveCampaign account after importing, confirm that the lists are correctly set up and that the import was completed successfully.
• For assistance with specific import errors, refer to the Troubleshooting Imports article within ActiveCampaign support.

FAQ

1. Can I import contacts without tags?

Yes, tagging is optional during the import process.

2. How do I know if my contacts were imported successfully?

After import completion, you will receive a summary indicating the status of your import.

3. Is it possible to import files larger than the allowed size?

You may need to split larger files into smaller CSV files for import.

4. What should I do if there are formatting issues with my CSV file?

Ensure that you save your file in the correct format and check for any discrepancies in the data.

5. Will my Hubspot data automatically sync with ActiveCampaign?

No, data transfer must be done manually through the migration process outlined in this article.

6. Can I update existing contacts during the import?

Yes, using the Update Existing Contacts option will allow you to do this.

7. What if I need more fields than ActiveCampaign's defaults?

You can create new custom fields directly during the import process, as needed.

For further reading about the various features related to contact management, check out additional resources available within ActiveCampaign.

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