Send a pushdown campaign

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ACHQ - Send a Pushdown Campaign

One of the main advantages of ACHQ (ActiveCampaign HQ) is its ability to facilitate streamlined marketing efforts between a franchise head office and its sub-accounts. The feature known as a pushdown campaign allows head office administrators to create and distribute campaigns directly to various sub-account administrators. This capability not only simplifies the campaign management process but also ensures consistent messaging across different franchise locations or branches.

In this article, we will cover the entire process of sending a pushdown campaign from start to finish, including access points, step-by-step instructions, configuration options, best practices, and troubleshooting tips.

How to Access This Feature

To access the feature for sending a pushdown campaign, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Navigate to the top menu and click on Campaigns.

From there, you can start creating a new pushdown campaign by selecting the relevant options as outlined in the subsequent sections.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed steps to successfully send a pushdown campaign:

1. **Click Campaigns** on the top menu. 2. **Click the "Publish new campaign" button**. This action will take you to the Campaign Summary page. 3. On the Campaign Summary page, complete the following fields:

  - **Campaign name**: Assign a unique name for the campaign.
  - **Subject line**: Enter a compelling subject line that will attract your audience's attention.
  - The From Name and From Email fields are automatically populated with the default settings from the sub-account. These settings cannot be altered.

4. **Select your template**:

  - Click the Select template button.
  - To preview a template, hover over it and click Preview.
  - Choose the desired template by clicking on it. You can also use the search bar for easier navigation through the available templates.

5. On the Campaign Summary page, **click the "Select accounts" button** to choose the sub-accounts for your pushdown campaign. 6. On the Select Accounts page:

  - Select the checkbox next to each sub-account you want to include in the pushdown campaign.
  - Click the Select button to confirm your choices.

7. (Optional) To target specific contacts, you can **select a segment** from the dropdown list on the Campaign Summary page.

  - You have the option to create a new segment during this step.

8. (Optional) Click the Test button to send a test campaign. You can choose from three options:

  - **Quick Test**: Send a single test to specified email addresses.
  - **Multiple Version Test**: Send customized versions of the test to designated email addresses per sub-account.
  - **Pushdown Test**: Send a test to administrators of included sub-accounts, with space for comments or instructions.

9. To schedule your campaign, **click the "Schedule" button**:

  - Select the delivery date.
  - Set the delivery time.
    - To send the campaign immediately, set the delivery time to 5 minutes later than your current time.
  - Select a timezone:
    - **Sub-account’s time zone**: The campaign will send according to the time set for the selected sub-account.
    - **Your time zone**: The campaign will send according to the time set in the administrator’s time zone.
  - Click the Set Schedule button.

10. **Click the "Send" button** to initiate the campaign. 11. A modal window will appear. Click the Confirm and schedule button.

A confirmation message will appear at the top of the Campaign Summary page, indicating that the campaign is scheduled to be sent. If you need to halt the campaign, use the Cancel button provided.

Configuration Options and Settings

Here are some important configuration options and settings to keep in mind while sending a pushdown campaign:

- The Campaign name and Subject line are crucial for identification and initial engagement. - The settings for From Name and From Email cannot be altered as they default to the sub-account’s parameters. - Once templates are selected, they reflect the design choices available in the parent ActiveCampaign account. - Available segmentation options are directly linked to the parent account, meaning that any changes made at the parent level will immediately appear in ACHQ after refreshing.

Best Practices and Tips

To maximize the effectiveness of your pushdown campaign, consider the following best practices:

- **Clear Subject Lines**: Always ensure your subject lines are clear and engaging to improve open rates. - **Test Before Sending**: Utilize the test options extensively to ensure that your campaign is functioning correctly and appears as intended in different user interfaces. - **Segment Smartly**: Take advantage of segmentation features to personalize content for specific audiences within your sub-accounts. - **Review Timing**: Make sure to schedule campaigns considering the time zones of your sub-accounts for maximum impact.

Common Use Cases with Examples

Pushdown campaigns are particularly useful in various scenarios:

- **Franchise Promotions**: A head office can launch an exclusive promotional offer and send it directly to all franchise locations simultaneously. - **Seasonal Campaigns**: For seasonal events or holidays, pushdown campaigns ensure that all branches are aligned with the same messaging and promotion. - **Brand Announcements**: When a new brand message, product, or service is launched, a pushdown campaign can quickly convey this information to all branch administrators.

Troubleshooting Section

If you encounter issues while setting up or sending a pushdown campaign, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

- Ensure your internet connection is stable and try refreshing the page if you experience loading problems. - Verify that you have selected the required sub-accounts and that the templates are properly displayed. - If you need to cancel a scheduled send, use the following steps:

 1. Click Campaigns to navigate to the Campaigns page.
 2. Click the Edit button for the campaign you want to cancel.
 3. Select the Cancel scheduled send option at the top of the Campaign Summary page.
 4. Finally, click the Remove schedule button.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel a scheduled send?

You can cancel a send for any campaign with a “Scheduled” status. To cancel: 1. Click Campaigns to access the Campaigns page. 2. Click the Edit button for the respective campaign. 3. Select the Cancel scheduled send button at the top. 4. Confirm by clicking the Remove schedule button.

How do I modify templates in ACHQ?

All templates within the ACHQ account reflect those in your parent ActiveCampaign account. To modify a template, adjustments must be made within the parent account, appearing in ACHQ after a refresh.

How do I edit a segment?

Similar to templates, segments in the ACHQ account directly reflect modifications made in the parent ActiveCampaign account. Edit segments from the parent account for updates to appear.

How do I send a campaign immediately?

You can send campaigns immediately by specifying a time that is at least 5 minutes later than your current time.

How do I add or remove subaccounts from a campaign?

To modify the subaccounts included: 1. Click Edit accounts on the Campaign Summary page. 2. Check boxes for accounts to include and uncheck those to remove. 3. Click the Select button to finalize.

How do I manage or find the message variables?

Message Variables are personalized tags for use in campaigns and must be established in each sub-account with their respective location-specific information. For more information on using message variables, refer to the relevant documentation on ActiveCampaign.

By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to effectively using pushdown campaigns in your marketing strategy through ActiveCampaign HQ. ```