Using Custom Reporting Recipes

``` Navigation: Main_Page > Reports > Using Custom Reporting Recipes

Using Custom Reporting Recipes

Custom reporting recipes within ActiveCampaign allow users to harness prebuilt dashboards and templates as a foundation for creating personalized reports that serve specific business needs. These recipes are instrumental for analyzing marketing efforts, sales performance, and automation outcomes, making it easier to track the effectiveness of campaigns. Understanding how to utilize these recipes is crucial for marketers and sales teams seeking actionable insights from their data.

Introduction

The Custom Reporting Recipes feature enables users to access various templates that can be customized to enhance reporting capabilities. By utilizing these templates, users can create tailored reports that focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that matter most to their business. This allows teams to make data-driven decisions based on comprehensive insights from their campaigns or sales efforts.

How to Access Custom Reporting Recipes

To gain access to the custom reporting templates, follow these steps:

1. Click Reports on the left menu.
2. Select the Custom Reports option.
3. Click on the folders menu (toggle navigation) located in the right corner.
4. The Folder Content drawer will slide out. Select the Shared folder.
5. Click the Recipes option.

Upon completing these steps, you will be presented with a growing list of Dashboards and Looks available for selection. It's advisable to begin your exploration with the Marketing Overview Dashboard, Automation Overview Dashboard, or the Sales Overview Dashboard.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below is a detailed guide on how to utilize custom reporting recipes effectively:

1. **Access a Reporting Template**

  - Upon selecting a dashboard or look, the reporting template will load, showcasing metrics for your campaigns or automations corresponding to the selected template. Each metric is displayed within its own tile.

2. **Explore Metrics**

  - To inspect how the data for any tile was constructed:
    - Hover over the tile.
    - Click the vertical ellipsis that appears.
    - Select the Explore From Here option.
  
  The page will then reload, providing insights into how that metric was developed. By selecting the Filters bar at the top, you can view the filters applied to curate the data for that metric.

3. **Adjust Filters**

  - Alter the displayed metrics by removing filters via the X, expanding or constraining data logic by clicking the + button, or applying additional filters from the provided dropdowns. To refresh the results based on your modifications, click the Run button.

4. **Saving Your Work**

  - After customizing the metric view to your satisfaction, you can save your configuration:
    - Click the gear icon on the top right of the page.
    - Hover over Save and select either Save as a Look, Save as a new Dashboard, or Save to an existing Dashboard.
    - Complete the Title field with a name for your Look or Dashboard.
    - Choose the folder where you wish to save your Look or Dashboard.
    - Keep in mind that saving to the Group folder will make your report accessible to other users within Custom Reporting.
    - Finally, select Save to finalize.

Configuration Options and Settings

Utilizing the Custom Reporting Recipes feature involves working with several key configuration options, including:

• **Metrics Tiles**: These represent the various data points available in the reporting templates.
• **Filters**: Used for refining the data displayed. You can manage these directly from the metric view.
• **Look Saving Options**: Options for saving include Save as a Look, Save as a new Dashboard, and Save to an existing Dashboard.

Best Practices and Tips

- Begin with standard reports such as the Marketing Overview Dashboard to familiarize yourself with the available templates and metrics. - Regularly review and update your saved Looks to keep your dashboard relevant and insightful. - Encourage team collaboration by saving reports in the shared Group folder to leverage collective insights. - Utilize the filtering options to isolate specific campaigns or periods that require closer analysis.

Common Use Cases

1. **Performance Tracking**: Use the Sales Overview Dashboard to monitor sales metrics and identify trends in customer behavior. 2. **Campaign Effectiveness**: Evaluate the Marketing Overview Dashboard to assess the performance of various marketing campaigns and optimize accordingly. 3. **Automations Evaluation**: The Automation Overview Dashboard helps in measuring the success of automation workflows, providing insights for future automation strategies.

Troubleshooting

- **Issue**: Custom Reports not displaying any data.

 - **Resolution**: Ensure that relevant filters are not overly restrictive and check the date range for the data being queried.
 

- **Issue**: Difficulty saving Looks or Dashboards.

 - **Resolution**: Confirm you have permission to save in the selected folder or try choosing a different location.

FAQ

1. What is a Custom Reporting Recipe?

  A prebuilt dashboard or look that serves as a template for creating custom reports in ActiveCampaign.
 

1. How do I access Custom Reporting Recipes?

  By navigating to the Reports section and selecting Custom Reports followed by accessing the Shared folder and the Recipes option.

1. Can I customize how metrics appear in my report?

  Yes, you can use filters to alter the data presented in your metrics.

1. What happens if I save a Look in the Group folder?

  The saved Look will be accessible to other users who have access to the Group folder.

1. Is there a way to analyze the data behind the metrics?

  Yes, you can explore how metrics are built by utilizing the Explore From Here option on each tile.

1. Are there any tutorials available for using Custom Reporting?

  While this article covers the essentials, further resources may be available through the ActiveCampaign support documentation.

1. Can I create my own custom dashboards?

  Yes, you can save your modifications as a new Dashboard or Look based on existing templates.

These instructions and insights will empower users of ActiveCampaign's Custom Reporting Recipes feature to harness the full potential of their data for reporting and analytics, thus enabling informed strategic decisions.

```