Exclusion list overview

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Exclusion List Overview

The Exclusion List in ActiveCampaign is a crucial feature that helps manage your email marketing communications effectively. This list comprises email addresses that are prevented from receiving campaign and automation emails sent from your account. Understanding the Exclusion List and how to utilize it ensures that your email marketing practices adhere to compliance standards and respect the preferences of your contacts.

This article will cover what the Exclusion List is, how to access it, methods for adding and removing contacts, configuration options, best practices, and common questions regarding its usage.

How to Access the Exclusion List

To access the Exclusion List, follow these steps:

1. Click on Contacts in the left navigation menu. 2. Select List Exclusions.

Here, the Manage Exclusions page will load, displaying the current entries in your Exclusion List.

How to Add a Single Contact to Your Exclusion List

To manually add a contact to the Exclusion List:

1. From the List Exclusions page, click the Add button. 2. In the dropdown under Exclude address that, select one of the options: exactly matches, begins with, or ends with. 3. Enter the email address into the field provided. 4. Decide whether the exclusion applies to all lists or specific list(s). 5. If choosing specific lists, click each list you wish to exclude the address from. 6. Finally, click the Add button.

Once completed, the email address will appear on the Manage Exclusions page.

How to Import Multiple Contacts to the Exclusion List

To import a CSV file containing multiple email addresses into your Exclusion List:

1. Navigate to Contacts > Import. 2. Click the Import from file button. 3. Choose the file from your device that you want to import. 4. At the bottom of the Imports page, find the dropdown in the Import Options box. 5. Select the Import as Excluded option. 6. Click Import Now.

The email addresses from your file will be added to the Exclusion List.

How to Remove Contacts from the Exclusion List

You can remove contacts from the Exclusion List in the following manner:

To Remove a Single Email Address

1. Go to Contacts > List Exclusions. 2. Find the email address you want to remove. 3. Click the Delete button.

To Remove Multiple Email Addresses

1. Navigate to Contacts > List Exclusions. 2. Check the box next to each email address you wish to remove. 3. Click the Delete Selected button. 4. Confirm by clicking OK.

Additionally, if a contact mistakenly marked your email as spam and wishes to be added back, please submit a ticket to our Customer Experience Team and provide the confirmation email from the contact.

Configuration Options and Settings

The Exclusion List offers various configuration options to enhance how you manage excluded contacts:

- Exclude address that: Options include exactly matches, begins with, or ends with for specifying the criteria for exclusion. - Exclusion options for specific lists or all lists provide flexibility on how to manage communications.

Being on the Exclusion List does not change the contact's status in other campaigns or lists—they may still show as Active without receiving communications.

Best Practices and Tips

- Regularly review your Exclusion List to ensure it accurately reflects the current preferences of your contacts. - Utilize the import feature for bulk updates to manage exclusions efficiently. - Educate your subscribers on how to manage their preferences through unsubscribe links to minimize unwanted exclusions. - Keep a close eye on contacts who report emails as spam to ensure compliance and maintain a healthy sender reputation.

Common Use Cases with Examples

1. **Compliance with Preferences**: When a user opts out of communications by clicking on the unsubscribe link, they should be added to the Exclusion List to prevent future emails. 2. **Opt-out via SMS**: Contacts can also be added to the Exclusion List by responding to messages with recognized opt-out keywords, ensuring a comprehensive approach to consent management. 3. **Error Management**: If a contact mistakenly unsubscribes, maintaining their original status in records allows for seamless reintegration back into communication lists through support channels.

Troubleshooting

If you experience issues when attempting to manage your Exclusion List, consider the following:

- Ensure you have appropriate permissions to add or remove contacts on the Exclusion List. - Check for activity from contacts to ensure they're not being re-added inadvertently through spam reports or other triggers. - If you encounter technical issues, consult the support documentation or contact customer support for assistance.

FAQ

Q1: What happens if a contact is on the Exclusion List?

A: Contacts on the Exclusion List will not receive any campaigns or automation emails, although they may still appear as Active in your contacts list.

Q2: How can I see who is on my Exclusion List?

A: You can view your Exclusion List by navigating to Contacts > List Exclusions in your ActiveCampaign account.

Q3: Can I remove contacts from the Exclusion List?

A: Yes, you can remove contacts individually or in bulk from the Exclusion List at any time.

Q4: Do contacts on the Exclusion List affect my campaign metrics?

A: Yes, contacts on the Exclusion List are included in the Total Contacts shown on Campaign Summary pages, but they will not impact the delivery metrics since they do not receive emails.

Q5: Can I add partial email addresses to the Exclusion List?

A: Yes, you can specify partial email addresses that begin with or end with certain criteria when adding exclusions.

Q6: What if a contact wants to be added back after marking as spam?

A: You will need to submit a ticket to the Customer Experience Team, provided that the contact confirms their desire to be re-added.

Q7: Are there any limits to how many contacts I can add to the Exclusion List?

A: Check the ActiveCampaign plan details, as limits may vary depending on the plan you are subscribed to.

For more information about managing exclusions effectively, return to the Contacts or List Exclusions categories. ```