Blank Fields

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How to find blank fields in your ActiveCampaign account

With ActiveCampaign, tracking and managing your contact data is crucial for effective communication and marketing. One key feature that aids in this process is the ability to identify and work with blank fields in your Contact, Deal, and Account records. This functionality allows users to quickly ascertain which essential pieces of information are missing from their records, thereby enabling more targeted and personalized outreach.

Why it Matters

Finding blank fields is critical for maintaining accurate and complete records. It helps:

• Ensure that you have all the necessary information to segment your contacts effectively.
• Tailor your marketing communications to engage your audience better by filling in gaps in data.
• Optimize the sales process by knowing which deals may lack vital information for progression.

How to Access This Feature

Access to the feature depends on your ActiveCampaign plan which includes Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans. The "Blank" and "Not Blank" operators can be utilized in various locations within ActiveCampaign, including:

• The Advanced search on the Contacts overview page.
• The Campaign Summary Page.
• In automation triggers and actions (like If/Else statements, Goals, and Conditional waits).
• When assessing Contact scores.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To create a search using a blank field, follow these steps:

1. **Navigate to the Contacts Overview Page**: Click on Contacts in the main menu to go to the Contacts overview page. 2. **Initiate Advanced Search**: Click on the Search Contacts field and then select Advanced Search. 3. **Select the Field**: Click the condition dropdown to choose the field you wish to use in your blank segment. For instance, if you are searching for contacts with no last name, select Last Name. 4. **Choose the Operator**: Select the operator as Blank from the dropdown. 5. **Execute Search**: Click the Search button.

Once completed, all contacts that meet the "Blank" criteria will be displayed in the search results.

Save Your Search

After conducting your advanced search, you can save it for future use with the following steps:

1. **Reopen the Advanced Search**: Click on the Search Contacts field to reopen the Advanced Search you just created. 2. **Save the Search**: Click the Save as search button located at the bottom right. 3. **Name Your Search**: A modal will appear prompting you to name your search. Enter the name and click Save. 4. **Access Saved Searches**: Retrieve your saved searches by navigating to the Search Contacts field, then selecting Saved Searches. Click on the desired search to open it.

For more on this process, learn more about [saving your search](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/221430527).

Save Your Search as a Segment

You can also save your search as a segment for repeated use:

1. **Open Saved Search**: Click on the Search Contacts field to bring back the Advanced Search you completed. 2. **Save as Segment**: Click the Save as segment button on the bottom right. 3. **Name Your Segment**: A modal box will prompt you to enter a name for your segment. Input the name and click Save.

To further explore segment creation, please refer to the documentation on [creating segments](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/221483407).

Configuration Options and Settings

The "Blank" and "Not Blank" operators can be applied to a variety of fields within ActiveCampaign. These include:

• Custom Contact Fields
• Custom Account Fields
• Custom Deal Fields
• Predefined Account Details fields, such as:

 * Account name
 * Account URL
 * Address 1 & Address 2
 * City
 * State/Province
 * Postal Code
 * Country
 * Phone Number
 * Description
 * Number of Employees
 * Annual Revenue

• Predictive Geography fields, which consist of:

 * Country/Region
 * State
 * City
 * Zip
 * Area Code

• Contact Details fields including:

 * First name
 * Last name
 * Full name
 * Phone

Best Practices and Tips

• Regularly initiate searches for blank fields to maintain updated and complete records.
• Save searches as segments to streamline your workflow, enabling quick access for future marketing campaigns.
• Use the insights gained from identifying blank fields to customize and improve your outreach strategies.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while using the blank fields search:

• Ensure you are logged into an ActiveCampaign plan that supports this feature.
• Verify that the field selected in the search is indeed one that allows for the "Blank" and "Not Blank" operators.
• If search results do not seem correct, double-check the criteria and conditions you have set up in your search.

Related Features

The functionality of finding blank fields complements several other features in ActiveCampaign, including:

• Automation
• Contact Management
• Segmentation

FAQ

1. What types of accounts can use the "Blank" field feature?

The feature is available for users on Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans.

2. Can I search for deals with blank fields?

Yes, you can utilize the "Blank" and "Not Blank" operators within Deal records as well.

3. How do I access my saved searches later?

You can access saved searches by clicking into the Search Contacts field and selecting Saved Searches.

4. What should I do if I cannot find any blank fields in my search?

Double-check that the criteria are correctly set. Ensure the selected field allows for blank searches.

5. Can I save my searches as both searches and segments?

Yes, you can save a search as both a search for immediate use and as a segment for future use.

6. Is there a limit to the number of saved searches or segments I can have?

As of now, there is no specified limit; however, keeping them organized is advisable for ease of access.

7. What happens if I accidentally delete a saved search?

Once deleted, saved searches typically cannot be recovered. It’s advisable to keep a record of important searches elsewhere.

By effectively utilizing the blank fields feature within ActiveCampaign, you can greatly enhance the quality of your contact records, ultimately leading to a more efficient marketing strategy. ```