What To Know
- Archiving Mailchimp contacts is a crucial step in maintaining a clean and organized email list.
- Create a segment based on the tag and set up a recurring automation to archive contacts from that segment on a regular basis.
- Yes, you can create an automation workflow to tag inactive contacts and archive them on a regular basis.
Archiving Mailchimp contacts is a crucial step in maintaining a clean and organized email list. By archiving inactive or unengaged contacts, you can improve deliverability, reduce bounce rates, and gain valuable insights into your audience. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the step-by-step process of archiving Mailchimp contacts effectively.
Step 1: Identify Inactive Contacts
The first step in archiving contacts is to identify those who are inactive or unengaged. Mailchimp provides several options for identifying inactive contacts:
- Last Campaign Activity: Filter contacts based on their last campaign activity date.
- Engagement Level: Segment contacts based on their open and click rates.
- List Growth: Identify contacts who have not opened or clicked any emails within a specific time frame.
- Bounce Rate: Archive contacts with a high bounce rate, indicating invalid email addresses or inactive accounts.
Step 2: Create an Archive Segment
Once you have identified inactive contacts, create a new segment named “Archive.” Drag and drop all the inactive contacts into this segment. This will separate them from your active contacts for easier management.
Step 3: Archive Contacts
To archive contacts from the Archive segment, follow these steps:
1. Click on the “Audience” tab in Mailchimp.
2. Select the “Segments” tab.
3. Find the Archive segment and click on the “Actions” dropdown.
4. Choose “Archive.”
Mailchimp will move all the contacts in the Archive segment to the Archived Contacts section.
Step 4: Set Up Automated Archiving
To automate the archiving process, create an automation workflow:
1. Create a trigger based on your preferred inactivity criteria (e.g., no campaign activity within 3 months).
2. Add an action to tag contacts who meet the trigger criteria.
3. Create a segment based on the tag and set up a recurring automation to archive contacts from that segment on a regular basis.
Step 5: Monitor Archived Contacts
After archiving contacts, it’s important to monitor their status and make adjustments as needed. Mailchimp provides insights into the number of archived contacts, their demographics, and the reasons for their inactivity. Regularly review these insights and reactivate contacts if they show signs of engagement.
Step 6: Handle Unsubscribes and Bounces
Contacts who unsubscribe or experience hard bounces should be automatically removed from your list and archived. Mailchimp has built-in features to handle unsubscribes and bounces, ensuring that your list remains clean and compliant with email regulations.
Step 7: Data Analysis and Insights
Archived contacts provide valuable data for improving your email marketing strategies. Analyze the demographics, engagement patterns, and reasons for inactivity to gain insights into your audience. Use this information to refine your campaigns, target inactive contacts with re-engagement efforts, and enhance your overall marketing effectiveness.
Final Thoughts: Archiving for List Health and Engagement
Archiving Mailchimp contacts is an essential practice for maintaining a healthy email list and improving engagement. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can automate the archiving process, identify inactive contacts, and gain valuable insights into your audience. Regular monitoring and analysis of archived contacts will help you optimize your email campaigns and drive better results.
Basics You Wanted To Know
Q: Why should I archive Mailchimp contacts?
A: Archiving inactive contacts improves deliverability, reduces bounce rates, and provides insights into your audience.
Q: How do I identify inactive contacts?
A: Use Mailchimp’s filters based on last campaign activity, engagement level, list growth, and bounce rate.
Q: Can I automate the archiving process?
A: Yes, you can create an automation workflow to tag inactive contacts and archive them on a regular basis.
Q: What happens to archived contacts?
A: Archived contacts are separated from active contacts and can be monitored for signs of engagement.
Q: Should I archive contacts who unsubscribe or bounce?
A: Yes, unsubscribed and bounced contacts should be automatically removed from your list and archived.
