Forwarded Campaigns

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How are forwarded Campaigns tracked?

Forwarded campaigns are an essential aspect of tracking the effectiveness of email marketing in ActiveCampaign. Understanding how these forwards are monitored allows marketers to gauge engagement and refine their strategies. This feature matters because it provides insights into how many times a message is shared and the overall reach beyond direct recipients.

How to access this feature

To access the tracking statistics for forwarded campaigns, navigate through these simple steps:

1. **Log in** to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Click on the **Reports** menu located in the main navigation. 3. Select the campaign you want to analyze by clicking its name. 4. In the campaign summary box, you will see the tracking information related to forwarded campaigns.

Step-by-step instructions

To effectively track forwarded campaigns, follow these detailed instructions:

1. **Add the Forward to Friend Tag**:

  Ensure your campaign or automation email includes the %FORWARD2FRIEND% personalization tag. This tag is crucial for tracking forwards. Without it, no forwards will be recorded.
  

2. **Monitor Clicks**:

  When a contact clicks the %FORWARD2FRIEND% link, it registers as a forward. The action shows up in the contact's activity stream, which can be accessed by checking the contact's profile record.
  

3. **View Forward Data in Reports**:

  You can analyze the performance of your forwarded campaigns by:
  - Going to **Reports** in your account.
  - Clicking on the desired campaign name.
  - Looking at the Summary box for details on how many contacts clicked the forwarding link.
  

4. **Individual Forward Tracking**:

  To see a list of contacts who forwarded the email, simply click on the Forwards line within the Summary box.

Configuration options and settings

When setting up your campaigns, consider the following bold configuration options related to forwarded campaigns:

- **%FORWARD2FRIEND% Tag**: This is the primary tag needed for tracking forwards. Ensure it is inserted into any email where tracking is desired. - **Activity Stream**: This is where you can see all interactions from a specific contact, including their forwarding actions.

Remember, if the campaign lacks the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag, it will show "Not Tracked" in the Summary box, indicating that no forwards are counted.

Best practices and tips

To optimize the tracking of forwarded campaigns, consider these best practices:

- Always include the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag in your email campaigns to capture forwarding metrics. - Regularly review click reports to assess engagement levels and refine future email strategies based on these insights. - Encourage recipients to share emails with friends by clearly labeling the forwarding option and highlighting the benefits. - Ensure your emails are designed to be shareable, which may improve the likelihood of being forwarded.

Common use cases with examples

Forwarding tracking can be particularly useful in various scenarios:

- **Promotional Campaigns**: If you are running a special promotion, using the forwarding tag allows you to see how many new potential leads are generated through existing contacts sharing your email.

- **Newsletters**: Monitoring forwards for newsletters can inform you about the content that resonates most with your audience, guiding future topics.

- **Event Invitations**: If you are sending invitations to an event, tracking forwards can help gauge interest and track how effectively your invitation spreads.

Troubleshooting

If you find that forwarded emails are not being tracked correctly, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

- Check that the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag is included correctly in the email content. If it's missing, no forwards will be counted. - Review the reports section; if it states "Not Tracked," this is an indicator that the necessary tag was not present in the campaign. - Remember that forwards initiated through a contact's email service provider (ESP) without using the tag will also not be tracked.

FAQ

1. What does the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag do?

The %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag allows tracking of when a contact decides to forward the email to someone else.

2. Will all forwards be counted?

No, only those resulting from clicking the %FORWARD2FRIEND% link will be counted. Forwards made through the email service provider's native forwarding option are not tracked.

3. How can I view the list of contacts who forwarded my campaign?

You can view the list by going into the campaign report, then clicking on the Forwards line within the Summary box.

4. Where can I find the forwarded campaign data?

Forwarded campaign data can be found under the **Reports** section, accessible via your main navigation.

5. What happens if I forget to add the forwarding tag?

If the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag is not included, the campaign will show "Not Tracked" in the Summary box, and no forwarding data will be collected.

6. Are forwarded campaigns useful for measuring engagement?

Yes, tracking forwarded campaigns provides insights into recipient engagement and can help refine future marketing strategies.

7. Can I track forwarded emails in automation sequences?

Yes, as long as the %FORWARD2FRIEND% tag is included in the automated emails, forwards will be tracked similarly to standard campaigns. ```