Schedule an email campaign

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How do I schedule an email campaign

Scheduling an email campaign is a powerful feature in ActiveCampaign that allows you to deliver your messages at a specific date and time. This capability is especially important for aligning your campaigns with critical business events or marketing activities, ensuring your audience receives your content at the most opportune moment. In this article, we will explore how to access this feature, provide step-by-step instructions to help you schedule your campaigns effectively, discuss configuration options, share best practices, and address common questions regarding this functionality.

How to access this feature

To access the scheduling feature for email campaigns, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Click on Campaigns in the left menu to navigate to the Campaign Overview page.

Step-by-step instructions

Scheduling an email campaign can be done from either the Campaign Overview page or the Campaigns Calendar. Here are the detailed steps for both methods:

How to schedule a campaign from the Campaign Overview

1. Navigate to the Campaigns section. 2. Click the Continue button for the campaign you want to schedule (or create a new campaign). 3. On the Campaign Summary page, scroll down to the Schedule section. 4. Click the Schedule button. 5. (Optional) If desired, click Use Predictive Sending to optimize sending times for better engagement. This feature adjusts the sending time to the best moment for your contact to increase the likelihood of engagement. 6. Set the desired Delivery Date and time for your campaign.

  * Click into the Delivery Date field and select your preferred date from the calendar view.
  * Confirm the time zone displayed to the right of the time field; this indicates the time zone being used for scheduling.

7. Click the Set Schedule button. 8. Finally, click the Finish button at the top of the page to complete the scheduling process. If the button reads Send Now instead of Finish, this indicates that the campaign has not been scheduled correctly. Verify that your schedule details are saved in the Schedule section.

Please note: When making changes to the scheduled date and time, clicking the Save and exit hyperlink will revert the campaign back to a DRAFT status. To keep the campaign in SCHEDULED status, ensure you click the Finish button.

How to schedule a campaign from the Campaigns Calendar

The Campaigns Calendar allows you to create a new campaign simply by clicking on today’s date or any future date. If selecting a future date, it will automatically set the scheduled date for your campaign. For detailed instructions on creating a new campaign via the Campaigns Calendar, refer to the relevant ActiveCampaign documentation.

How to stop or cancel a scheduled campaign

In ActiveCampaign, there are two options to prevent a scheduled campaign from being sent. You can either stop or cancel the scheduled campaign. For complete instructions on how to do this, please refer to the appropriate support article on stopping or canceling a campaign.

Configuration options and settings

When scheduling an email campaign, there are several configuration options available to optimize your campaigns, including:

• Predictive Sending: This option allows ActiveCampaign to automatically send your emails at the best time for each individual contact, maximizing engagement and response rates.

Best practices and tips

1. **Plan Ahead**: Ensure you schedule campaigns ahead of major events or product launches to maximize visibility. 2. **Use Predictive Sending**: If you have the option, utilizing predictive sending can significantly increase engagement rates by targeting your audience more effectively. 3. **Check Time Zones**: Always verify the time zone used for scheduling to ensure campaigns send at the appropriate local times. 4. **Test Campaigns**: Consider running tests with different scheduled times to see when your audience is most responsive. 5. **Monitor Performance**: After sending, review metrics to understand the success of the timing and adjust future campaigns accordingly.

Common use cases with examples

1. **Holiday Promotions**: Schedule campaigns for specific holidays or events (e.g., Christmas sales) to align with shopping trends. 2. **Webinars and Events**: Promote upcoming webinars by scheduling your campaign to arrive shortly before the event starts, enhancing attendance rates. 3. **Product Launch Announcements**: Ensure announcements are sent on the launch day to create buzz and drive immediate interest.

Troubleshooting section

If you encounter issues when scheduling an email campaign, consider the following:

• **Did you select a future date?** Verify that the delivery date is set for the future, not in the past.
• **Check your internet connection**: If the buttons are not responsive, ensure your connection is stable.
• **Ensure you have sufficient permissions**: Some account restrictions might prevent scheduling capabilities, so check your account level.
• **Contact support**: If none of the above resolves the issue, reach out to ActiveCampaign support for assistance.

FAQ

• Q1: Can I schedule multiple campaigns at once?

A1: No, each campaign must be scheduled individually; however, you can create and save multiple campaigns to be scheduled later.

• Q2: What happens if I miss the scheduled time?

A2: If you miss the scheduled time, the email will not send automatically; you’ll need to reschedule it.

• Q3: Can I change the scheduled time after setting it?

A3: Yes, you can revise the scheduled time by editing the campaign in the Campaign Summary.

• Q4: Will my contacts see the same delivery time if I use predictive sending?

A4: No, predictive sending adjusts the delivery time for each contact based on their engagement patterns.

• Q5: Is this feature available in all ActiveCampaign plans?

A5: Yes, the scheduling feature is available across all ActiveCampaign plans, including Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise.

• Q6: Can I cancel a scheduled campaign after it has been set?

A6: Yes, you can cancel a scheduled campaign before it is sent, following the cancellation process outlined in the support documentation.

• Q7: What should I do if my campaign fails to send at the scheduled time?

A7: Verify your scheduled time settings and check for any error messages in your account. If issues persist, contact ActiveCampaign support for further assistance.

Related features

- Learn more about how to create a campaign in ActiveCampaign's Campaigns feature. - Explore the advantages of using Predictive Sending in your campaigns for optimized engagement.

By following these guidelines and utilizing the scheduling feature effectively, you can greatly enhance your email marketing strategy within ActiveCampaign. Use this comprehensive article as a reference to ensure successful campaign scheduling and execution. ```