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Email Marketing Migration Guide

Switching from your current email marketing platform to BetterUnite's integrated email marketing module can be accomplished with ease in just a few simple steps.

 

When transitioning from your current email marketing platform, such as MailChimp, ConstantContact, or others, focus on these three key areas:

  1. Transferring your contacts and mailing lists/groups to BetterUnite: facilitated through direct built-in integrations and import features
  2. Establishing your email campaign examples or templates: supported by direct built-in integration or HTML import features
  3. Other considerations when switching your email platform: a) Unsubscribe preference forms b) Custom embedded subscription forms c) Any custom fields tracked in your existing platform

 

1. Import Contacts into BetterUnite

 

Depending on your email platform, you might have the option for direct integration to import your contacts, mailing lists, groups, and associated contact tags straight into your BetterUnite account. For instance, if you're transferring data from MailChimp, ConstantContact, and several others, the integration allows you to import all these details with just one click. Other platform integrations also support contact imports, but the inclusion of tags or mailing lists may vary based on the email platform. Your initial step should be to set up your integration within BetterUnite (which takes only seconds) and review the available import options.

When importing contacts, consider any customizations you've made in your current email platform, such as custom fields. The built-in integrations import a specific set of fields, so if your needs extend beyond basics like full name, email, phone, tags, and groups, you should consider the straightforward export/import method. You can export your contact information from your existing email platform to a CSV file and import it directly into your BetterUnite account, including any tag or group information. If you're not comfortable with this process, contact support@betterunite.com to take advantage of our free data migration assistance.

 

Following example shows the direct import mechanism available in all of our email platform integrations.

 

2. Import Email Campaign and Template Designs

 

Typically, organizations using email platforms maintain a few email "templates" that serve as the standard format for various communications. Depending on the platform, these might be saved as templates, or more commonly, organizations clone the last email campaign sent to prepare the next one. When switching to a new email platform, you can simplify setting up your emails in BetterUnite by copying the existing sample/template email content and designs, avoiding the need to start from scratch. With the built-in email campaign import feature, you can either directly import your chosen email campaign designs (available for MailChimp) or export your campaign design from your current platform and import it into your BetterUnite account.

 

Here is an example walkthrough of these options:

a) Direct Integration with MailChimp to import email designs

1) In your email marketing page in BetterUnite, click the action button and select Import Email option

1a) Alternatively, in your MailChimp integration page, select "Import Email Campaigns & Templates" button

2) Once your MailChimp integration is activated, you'll see a list of your MailChimp campaigns. You can choose a campaign to import into BetterUnite and click on Import Now.

3) This action will duplicate the MailChimp campaign's HTML content into BetterUnite as a new email campaign, transferring any applicable settings, such as HTML content, Subject Line, and Preview Text.

4) After the campaign is duplicated, you just need to go over the content, modify any merge fields and unsubscribe links present in your campaign to complete it. Keep in mind that the format for merge fields and unsubscribe links varies between email platforms, so these fields won't automatically convert to BetterUnite. Instead, you'll need to review and adjust the merge fields using the BetterUnite editor.

5) To reuse the campaign later, you can either clone it at any time or save it as a template to use when crafting a new email.

 

b) Html import to re-create your existing email designs

 

If your email platform is not in our direct integration options, you can opt for an HTML import instead. Most email platforms allow you to export your email campaign content as an HTML file. You can then use this HTML file with our Import Email tool to recreate your email design in BetterUnite.

For MailChimp users who use the email templates feature, note that the integration doesn't automatically access this content. Instead, go to your template in MailChimp, select the Export to HTML option, and then use the HTML import feature to bring it into BetterUnite.

As with option 1, you'll need to check the merge fields and unsubscribe links to ensure they're correctly set up. When importing from an HTML file, provide the email name, and either click browse file or drag your HTML file into the import area to start the process.

 

 

3) Additional areas to consider when migrating your email platform

a) Unsubscribe preferences forms

Currently, BetterUnite Email Marketing Platform supports unsubscribe links, but the feature for contacts to manage their own subscription preferences for different lists is not yet available. If this functionality is crucial for your operations, you will need to handle it separately.

2) Custom embedded subscription forms

 

At present, BetterUnite does not offer the ability to create custom embedded subscription or newsletter sign-up forms. However, this feature is included in a significant upcoming update focused on forms, so please stay tuned for its availability in the product.

3) Custom fields in your current platform

In BetterUnite, you have the option to create custom contact fields. This is important if you've set up custom fields in your current email platform, such as MailChimp, and wish to transfer that information to BetterUnite. The direct integration with BetterUnite only transfers a predefined set of fields, which might not include your custom fields. To address this, you can export your contacts, along with custom field data, to a CSV file from your current platform and then use BetterUnite's built-in import tool to bring them in. This method also supports importing mailing lists and tags.