Contact list statuses explained

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Contact List Statuses Explained

ActiveCampaign is a powerful customer experience automation platform that allows users to manage contacts effectively through various statuses. Understanding how to utilize these statuses can help optimize your marketing campaigns and improve engagement with your audience. In this article, we will explore the different contact statuses available in ActiveCampaign, their implications, and how to manage these statuses efficiently.

Introduction

Contact statuses are crucial for email marketing and SMS marketing efforts. Each contact on your list can have one of four different statuses: Active, Unconfirmed, Unsubscribed, or Bounced. Knowing what each status means, along with the corresponding actions you can take, is vital for ensuring optimal communication with your audience. The correct management of these statuses can enhance your email deliverability, maintain compliance with regulations, and improve overall marketing effectiveness.

How to Access This Feature

To access the contact statuses feature within ActiveCampaign, navigate to the Contacts section on the dashboard. Here, you will be able to see your contact lists and filter them according to the various statuses defined in this article.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To filter contacts by their status, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Contacts Overview page. 2. Look for the row of filters located above your contacts. 3. Click on the dropdown labeled Any next to the Status filter. 4. A menu will display, showing the available contact statuses: Active, Unconfirmed, Unsubscribed, and Bounced. 5. Select the desired status to filter your contacts accordingly. 6. You can combine filters. For example, filter by list and then by contact status to refine your search.

If "None" is selected for the List filter, the status dropdown will be hidden. Remember, only contacts with an Active status for at least one list count toward your contact limit.

Configuration Options and Settings

While there are no specific configuration options to modify contact statuses directly, understanding the implications of each status is critical:

• Active: Contact is fully engaged and can receive messages.
• Unconfirmed: Contact needs to confirm subscription to receive future messages; does not count toward contact limit.
• Unsubscribed: Contact has opted out; also does not count toward contact limit.
• Bounced: Contact can no longer receive messages due to delivery issues; does not count towards contact limit.

Each status affects how you communicate with your contacts and helps to maintain the integrity of your lists.

Best Practices and Tips

1. **Regularly monitor contact statuses** to maintain a clean and responsive contact list. 2. Implement a clear double opt-in process to minimize the number of Unconfirmed contacts. 3. Use the Filter Contacts by Status feature to target your messages effectively and ensure compliance with marketing regulations. 4. Consider regularly merging contacts to avoid duplicates and maintain a streamlined database. 5. Be proactive about managing Unsubscribed and Bounced contacts to enhance email deliverability rates.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **Active Contacts**: Sending a monthly newsletter to all active contacts to keep them informed and engaged. - **Unconfirmed Contacts**: Sending a reminder email to encourage unconfirmed contacts to complete their subscription and confirm their consent. - **Unsubscribed Contacts**: Utilizing unsubscribe data to improve future campaigns and reduce opt-out rates by analyzing feedback. - **Bounced Contacts**: Running a clean-up of your contact list by identifying and removing bounced contacts to improve sender reputation.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with contact statuses, consider the following:

- If a contact should be Active but isn't receiving emails, ensure they have confirmed their subscription and that their status does not show as Unsubscribed or Bounced. - If you notice gaps in your engagement rates, verify the list segmentation and double-check the statuses of your contacts. - For any technical issues, refer to the ActiveCampaign help resources or contact support for assistance.

Related Features

- To learn more about managing engagement, visit the Engagement Tracking section in ActiveCampaign. - For insights on compliance, refer to the Terms of Service for guidelines on handling unconfirmed contacts.

FAQ

What is an Active contact?

An Active contact is one who is subscribed to either an email or SMS marketing list, has not opted out, and is eligible to receive marketing messages.

How do I confirm Unconfirmed contacts?

Unconfirmed contacts receive a status if they have filled out a double opt-in form but have yet to click the confirmation link. You can resend a confirmation email if needed.

What happens to Unsubscribed contacts?

Contacts who unsubscribe will no longer receive any emails or SMS messages and do not count toward your contact limit.

What causes a contact to have a Bounced status?

A contact is marked as Bounced when their email address or phone number cannot be reached after delivery attempts.

How do duplicates affect contact statuses?

Duplicates can arise when the same phone number is entered in different formats or exists alongside an email address. It's important to merge duplicates to ensure accurate status reporting.

Do Unsubscribed contacts count toward my contact limit?

No, contacts that are unsubscribed from all lists are not counted toward your contact limit unless they are Active on at least one list.

Can I merge duplicated contacts?

Yes, you can merge contacts to consolidate information and ensure a clean, efficient contact database.

By understanding and utilizing contact statuses effectively, you can enhance your marketing effectiveness and ensure free-flowing communication with your audience. For more information on specific topics mentioned, visit Contacts. ```