BlueLena Resource Guide: Importing contacts is a necessary step when setting up your email service provider to reach your desired audience.

What are Imports?

Imports are a tool used to upload contact lists into the platform or to update existing contact information. This feature allows publishers to efficiently manage their audience database, ensuring that their communications reach a wider readership.

Why would I use Imports?

  • Subscriber list growth
    • Importing contacts allows new publications to expand their subscriber base by adding new readers acquired through different channels, such as event attendees or “best of” voting platforms.
  • Consolidating data sources 
    • Publications can use imports to centralize subscriber data acquired on another platform and append more information to an existing contact. This could include using a third-party wealth screening or data append tool or survey results. If you are looking to import data to a custom contact field you may choose to create one, such as income or other demographic data, allowing you to segment audiences based on these conditions. You can learn more about this process and setup here.

How do I use Imports?

If you’re looking to import contacts from another source to ActiveCampaign, you can learn more about this process and setup here.

How do I manage imported contact’s tags, lists and automations?

If you’re looking to manage a contact’s tags, lists and automations, you can learn more about this process and setup here.

How do I import contacts without triggering an automation?

  • BlueLena sets up many automations for you and you’ll want to think carefully about the automations that can be triggered when contacts are added to a list or have certain contact information updates. When importing contacts either as new additions to the list, or to update their information, consider how changing the data may trigger automations like a welcome series or other automated messaging.  There are two ways to control whether automations are triggered by an import.
    • During the import, you’ll see a toggle that will control whether the imported information triggers automations. When in doubt, disable the triggering of automations so you don’t send messaging by accident. This option bypasses all automations.
    • If you only want new contacts to bypass specific automations, you’ll have to pause those automations before importing. Setting an automation to “Inactive” in ActiveCampaign provides the ability to add contacts to your account without initiating that automation. This action also temporarily pauses any contacts currently in the automation, preventing them from progressing further until the automation is reactivated. Make sure you restore the automation to Active when the import is complete.
  • If you’re looking to import contacts into an active automation, you can learn  more about this process and setup here.