Switch from Active Campaign to Xendy – Onboarding guide

Introduction

Looking for a simpler and cheaper alternative to ActiveCampaign? With Xendy, you get all the tools you need to send emails, create automations, and manage your contacts — without the complexity. Switching takes just 30 minutes, and we’ll help you every step of the way.

Tired of ActiveCampaign complexity? Xendy keeps it simple

If ActiveCampaign feels bloated or too expensive, Xendy is the lean, focused alternative you’ve been looking for.

Cut your costs, not your features – With Xendy Free, send to 500 contacts for €0. Ready to grow? Try Pro free for 14 days. Then upgrade from just €9/month — no per-contact pricing or upsell pressure.

Automations you’ll actually use – Xendy makes marketing automation simple to understand and quick to implement — perfect for busy teams and ecommerce shops.

From setup to success — we’re here to help – Xendy includes personal support, from form integrations to automation flows. You’re never on your own — support is built in, not bolted on.

Free onboarding session – We’ll migrate your contacts, help rebuild your flows, and get you fully up and running in 30 minutes or less.

Preparing for the switch

Before migrating from Active Campaign to Xendy, a little preparation can make the process smooth and efficient. Follow this checklist to ensure you’re ready to start the transition.

1. Gather your account information

• Ensure you have access to your Active Campaign account credentials.
• Confirm you have admin privileges to export audience data and access other settings.

2. Review your Active Campaign data

Take stock of what you want to migrate:

• Contacts: export active subscribers only to avoid importing unsubscribed or outdated data.
• Templates: identify the email templates you want to recreate in Xendy.
• Campaign insights: note performance data for reference when setting up new campaigns.

3. Clean up your contact list

A clean database ensures better deliverability and engagement:

• Remove invalid email addresses, duplicates, and unsubscribed contacts.
• Segment your audience to maintain organized groups during the import process.

4. Decide which automations to recreate

If you’re using Active Campaign for automated workflows (e.g., welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders), list the workflows you’ll recreate in Xendy.

• Note triggers, timing, and email content for each automation.

5. Prepare for domain verification

To send emails from your domain with Xendy, ensure you have access to your domain’s DNS settings.

• Familiarize yourself with your domain host’s process for adding DNS records (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
• Xendy will provide DNS records during the setup process.

With these preparations in place, you’re ready to begin the migration. In the next section, we’ll walk you through exporting contacts from Active Campaign.

Exporting contacts from ActiveCampaign

If you’re transitioning from ActiveCampaign to Xendy, exporting your contacts is a simple process. Follow these steps to download your audience data:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account

• Navigate to ActiveCampaign.com and log in using your credentials.

2. Access the lists & segments section

1. In the left-hand menu, click “Lists & segments.”
2. Select the list or segment containing the contacts you want to export.

3. Export the contact list

1. Once you’ve selected a list or segment, click the “Manage list” dropdown menu in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Export list to CSV.”
3. ActiveCampaign will process your request and generate a CSV file.

4. Download the file

• Once the export is complete, download the file directly from the notification that appears in ActiveCampaign or your account’s exports section.
• Save the CSV file to your computer in a location that is easy to access for the next step in Xendy.

5. Review and clean the file

Before importing your contacts into Xendy, review the file:

• Validate email addresses: check for formatting issues or invalid addresses.
• Remove unnecessary data: eliminate unsubscribed, suppressed, or bounced contacts to maintain a clean list.
• Ensure proper field labels: confirm fields like name, email, and any custom attributes are clearly identified for mapping during import.

Once your contacts are exported, you’re ready to import them into Xendy and start building campaigns.

Importing contacts into Xendy

Now that you’ve exported your contacts from Active Campaign, it’s time to import them into Xendy. This process is quick and straightforward, ensuring your audience is ready for your next campaign.

1. Log in to your Xendy account

• Go to Xendy.me and log in with your credentials.
• Navigate to the dashboard to access your account.

2. Access the contacts section

1. In the left-hand menu, select “All contacts.”
2. Click “Add contacts” in the top-right corner.

3. Upload your Active Campaign file

1. Select the option to “Upload a CSV or Excel File.”
2. Drag and drop the file you exported from Active Campaign, or click to select the file from your computer.

4. Map your fields

• Xendy will prompt you to match the columns in your CSV file (e.g., email address, name) to the appropriate fields in Xendy’s database.
• Ensure each field is correctly mapped to avoid errors.
• Click “Confirm mapping” when done.

5. Import your contacts

• Once the mapping is confirmed, click “Import contacts” to begin the upload.
• Xendy will process your data and notify you when the import is complete.

6. Verify your imported contacts

• After the import is complete, review the contact list in Xendy to ensure:
  • All data has been imported correctly.
  • Fields like names, emails, and segments are accurate.

7. Organize your contacts

Use Xendy’s segmentation features to organize your audience:

• Create segments: group contacts based on purchase behavior, demographics, or engagement.
• Dynamic segments: automatically update segments based on predefined rules.

Tips for a successful import

• Remove duplicates: check for any duplicate entries that might have been included in your Active Campaign export.
• Add missing fields: if you notice missing data (e.g., customer names), you can manually update these contacts in Xendy.
• Check contact status: ensure only active subscribers are added to avoid emailing inactive or unsubscribed users.

With your contacts successfully imported, you’re ready to recreate your campaigns and workflows in Xendy. In the next section, we’ll guide you through rebuilding your email campaigns and automations in Xendy for a seamless transition.

Recreating campaigns and automations in Xendy

After importing your contacts, the next step is to set up your email campaigns and automations in Xendy. This ensures you can continue your marketing efforts seamlessly.

1. Rebuilding email campaigns

Start with templates or build from scratch

• Navigate to “Create your first email” in the left-hand menu.
• Choose one of the following options:
  • New email: use Xendy’s drag-and-drop editor to create an email from a blank canvas.
  • Template: select a pre-designed template and customize it to match your branding.

Tips for recreating campaigns

• Reference your Active Campaign emails for consistency in design and messaging.
• Use Xendy’s editor to:
  • Add images, text blocks, and buttons.
  • Personalize with dynamic fields (e.g., first name, purchase history).

2. Recreating email automations

Identify key workflows

• Review the automations you used in Active Campaign, such as:
  • Welcome email sequences.
  • Abandoned cart reminders.
  • Customer reactivation campaigns.

How to set up automations in Xendy

1. Go to “Email automations” in the left-hand menu.
2. Click “New automation” to start creating a workflow.
3. Define the target audience using dynamic segments (e.g., new subscribers, customers with abandoned carts).
4. Add steps to your workflow:
   • Email 1: set up the initial email.
   • Delays: add timing between emails (e.g., send the next email after 2 days).
   • Additional emails: add follow-ups to keep the workflow engaging.

3. Testing your campaigns and automations

• Preview emails: use Xendy’s preview feature to ensure emails look great on desktop and mobile.
• Test automations: add a test contact to your workflow to verify triggers, timing, and email content.

4. Activating campaigns and automations

• Once you’re satisfied with the setup, click “Activate” to launch your workflows and campaigns.
• Monitor performance using Xendy’s real-time analytics.

5. Enhancing your campaigns with Xendy’s features

• Customizable themes: set global styles for headings, body text, and buttons to save time and maintain brand consistency.
• Survey blocks: add feedback surveys to emails for insights into customer satisfaction.
• Abandoned cart blocks: include dynamic product recommendations in abandoned cart emails.

Tips for a seamless transition

• Recreate high-performing campaigns first to ensure continuity.
• Use Xendy’s dynamic segmentation to fine-tune targeting for automations.
• Take advantage of Xendy’s advanced analytics to optimize future campaigns.

With your campaigns and automations rebuilt, you’re fully set up in Xendy. In the next section, we’ll discuss verifying your domain to ensure successful email delivery.

Verifying your domain in Xendy

Before sending emails from Xendy, you need to verify your domain. This step ensures that your emails are delivered reliably and appear professional, using your own domain (e.g., info@yourcompany.com).

1. Why domain verification is important

• Improved deliverability: ensures emails reach your audience’s inbox instead of the spam folder.
• Professional appearance: emails are sent from your domain, building trust with recipients.
• Compliance: verifies that you own the domain, preventing unauthorized use.

2. Steps to verify your domain

Follow these simple steps to complete domain verification in Xendy:

Step 1: link your domain

1. In the left-hand menu, select “Link your domain to Xendy.”
2. Enter the domain name you want to verify (e.g., yourcompany.com).
3. Click “Verify.”

Step 2: add DNS records

After clicking “Verify,” Xendy will display the DNS records you need to add. These typically include:

• 3 CNAME records
• 1 MX record
• 1 SPF record
• 1 DMARC record

Access your domain provider’s settings (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare) and add these records to the DNS settings.

Step 3: re-verify in Xendy

1. Return to Xendy after adding the DNS records.
2. Click “Verify” again.
3. If everything is configured correctly, a green success message will appear, confirming that your domain is verified.

3. Troubleshooting domain verification

If your domain fails to verify:

• Double-check the DNS records to ensure they match the ones provided by Xendy.
• Ensure DNS changes have propagated (this can take up to 24 hours).
• Contact your domain provider for assistance with adding DNS records.

4. What’s next?

With your domain verified, you’re ready to send emails from your custom domain confidently. In the next section, we’ll guide you through sending your first email with Xendy to complete the migration process.

Sending your first email with Xendy

With your domain verified and contacts imported, you’re ready to send your first email. Xendy makes this process simple and intuitive, whether you’re starting from scratch or using a template.

1. Navigate to “create your first email”

• In the left-hand menu, select “Create your first email.”
• Click “New concept” to begin.

2. Choose how to build your email

Option 1: new email

• Start with a blank canvas.
• Use Xendy’s drag-and-drop editor to add and customize:
  • text blocks.
  • images or logos.
  • buttons and CTAs.
  • dynamic content blocks for personalized emails.

Option 2: template

• Select a pre-designed template from Xendy’s library.
• Customize the template to match your branding:
  • Edit colors, fonts, and styles.
  • Update placeholder text and images with your own content.

3. Add your content

• Subject line: write an engaging subject line that grabs attention.
• Body content: use concise, clear messaging that resonates with your audience.
• Call-to-action (CTA): include actionable buttons or links to drive engagement (e.g., “Shop Now,” “Learn More”).

4. Preview and test your email

• Click “Preview” to check how your email looks on desktop and mobile devices.
• Use the “Send test email” feature to send a sample email to yourself or your team for final review.

5. Send or schedule your email

Option 1: send immediately

• If you’re ready to send, click the dropdown arrow in the top-right corner.
• Select “Send immediately.”

Option 2: schedule for later

• If you want to send your email at a specific time, select “Schedule for later.”
• Choose the desired date and time, then click “Schedule email.”

6. Track performance

Once your email is sent, monitor its performance under “Sent” in the left-hand menu.

• View key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.
• Use these insights to refine future campaigns.

Tips for success

• Use personalization fields (e.g., name, location) to make emails more engaging.
• A/B test different subject lines or CTAs to see what works best.
• Always review your email for typos or formatting issues before sending.

With your first email sent, you’ve successfully completed the migration to Xendy! In the final section, we’ll recap key points and provide additional resources to help you explore more of Xendy’s features.

Knowledge base: your migration companion

Switching platforms doesn’t have to be complicated, and Xendy’s knowledge base is here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you need help exporting contacts, setting up automations, or verifying your domain, the Knowledge Base provides comprehensive resources to ensure a smooth transition.

What you’ll find in the knowledge base:

• Step-by-step guides: detailed instructions for tasks like importing contacts, creating campaigns, and integrating webshops.
• Best practices: tips on optimizing email campaigns and improving deliverability.
• Troubleshooting help: solutions to common challenges during setup or migration.
• Video tutorials: visual guides to help you quickly master Xendy’s features.

How to access the knowledge base:

• Visit the Help center from your Xendy dashboard.
• Use the search bar to find specific topics or browse categories for inspiration and guidance.

For further assistance, Xendy’s support team is available via email or live chat to answer your questions. With these resources, transitioning to Xendy has never been easier.

Frequently asked questions