Date based campaign

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How to Send a Date-Based Campaign

Introduction

A date-based campaign is an effective way to engage your contacts based on specific dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, or any other date fields in your records. This feature allows you to automate email delivery relative to a contact's date field, enabling you to send pertinent information to your audience when it matters most. By utilizing this capability, businesses can foster stronger relationships with their contacts, increase engagement, and enhance the overall customer experience.

How to Access This Feature

To access the date-based campaign feature, you need to log into your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the Campaigns section of the main dashboard. This feature is available for users on the following plan types: Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To create and send a date-based campaign, follow these steps:

1. Click Campaigns in the main menu, then select Create a Campaign.
2. On the Campaign Type page:

  * Enter the name of your campaign in the field provided.
  * Select the Date Based option.
  * Click Next

1. The Campaign Summary page will load. Provide the necessary information in the fields or begin designing your campaign. For additional insights on creating campaigns, refer to “A look at the new campaign workflow.”
2. Locate the Date Based Delivery section on the Campaign Summary page. Here, you will configure when and how often the date-based campaign will run:

  * **Sends** - Choose from On, Before, or After the specified date.
  * If you select Before or After, you will be prompted to enter how many days, weeks, months, or years from the chosen date that you would like the campaign to be sent.
  * In the next field, click the dropdown menu to select the date field you wish to use.
  * In the third field, choose between Yearly or Once Only for the campaign run frequency.

1. To finalize your campaign, click the Finish button located at the top right corner.

Your campaign will now be scheduled to go out to contacts as they meet the specified date criteria. The send time is determined by the time zone set in your account.

Configuration Options and Settings

When setting up your date-based campaign, consider the following configuration options:

• **Sends**: This option allows you to define whether the campaign sends emails On, Before, or After the selected date.
• **Date Calculation**: If selecting Before or After, you must specify the time frame for how many days, weeks, months, or years relative to the chosen date.
• **Date Field Selection**: Choose the appropriate date field from the dropdown menu, whether it is a custom date field or a system default field such as the list subscription date.
• **Campaign Frequency**: Define the campaign's frequency as either Yearly or Once Only depending on the nature of your outreach.

Best Practices and Tips

Here are some best practices to ensure your date-based campaigns are effective:

• **Personalization**: Use custom date fields for events relevant to your contacts, like anniversaries or birthdays, to personalize communication.
• **Test Your Campaigns**: Prior to launching, always test your campaigns to verify that emails are scheduled correctly relative to the defined dates.
• **Monitor Engagement**: Keep track of engagement rates post-campaign to gauge effectiveness and adapt future campaigns based on results.
• **Segment Your Contacts**: Utilize tags or custom lists to segment your audience for better targeting based on specific traits or behaviors.
• **Plan Ahead**: Schedule your campaigns well ahead of time to allow for adequate preparation and follow-up communication.

Common Use Cases with Examples

Date-based campaigns can be employed in various scenarios:

• **Birthday Campaigns**: Send special promotions or messages to contacts on their birthday using their birthday date field.
• **Anniversary Campaigns**: Celebrate the anniversary of a customer's subscription, offering a discount or thank you note.
• **Event Reminders**: Notify contacts a few days prior to an event they previously expressed interest in or RSVP'd for.
• **Membership Renewals**: Use the subscription date field to remind customers when their membership or service is about to expire.

Troubleshooting Section

Should you encounter issues while setting up your date-based campaign, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• **Check Time Zone Settings**: Ensure your account's time zone is correctly set. This affects delivery times for your campaigns.
• **Validate Date Fields**: Confirm that the date fields you are trying to utilize exist and contain valid data for your contacts.
• **Campaign Not Sending**: If your campaign does not appear to send, double-check the schedule and the selected criteria (date, frequency) for accuracy.

Related Features

Consider exploring other related features within ActiveCampaign to complement your date-based campaigns, such as:

• Automation: For crafting a series of chained actions based on dates.
• Segmentation: To better target the right audiences for your campaigns.
• Contact Lists: To manage and organize your contacts effectively.

FAQ

1. What types of date fields can I use for date-based campaigns?

You can either use a custom date field you create or a system default field, such as a list subscription date.

1. Can I schedule more than one date-based campaign?

Yes, you can create multiple date-based campaigns, each targeting different date fields or sending at different times.

1. What should I do if my contacts are not getting the emails?

Check your account's time zone settings and ensure the selected dates are valid for your contacts.

1. Can I personalize my messages in a date-based campaign?

Yes, you can use personalization tags to tailor your messages for better engagement.

1. Is there a limit on how far in advance I can schedule a campaign?

While there is no explicit limit, it is advisable to set campaigns in alignment with your marketing strategy and at reasonable intervals.

1. What happens if someone cancels their subscription after I schedule a campaign?

If a contact unsubscribes after having been scheduled for a date-based campaign, they will not receive the email.

1. Can I see a report of past date-based campaigns?

Yes, you can track the performance of your past campaigns through the reporting feature in ActiveCampaign.

By utilizing the date-based campaign feature effectively, you can enhance your email marketing strategy and create meaningful interactions with your audience. ```