Use a Pre-Built Campaign

Rather than create a standard campaign from scratch, you can select from the library of Pre-Built Campaigns, which contain timely, relevant curated content that you can send to your clients and prospects. Send a single edition immediately, schedule it for future delivery, or set up a recurring pre-built campaign to create drafts or automatically send new editions as they are published.

Make sure you have created at least one list of contacts who will receive the campaign before you use a pre-built campaign. You can select one ore more existing lists when setting up the pre-built campaign, but not create new ones. Although you can reuse a pre-built campaign to set up multiple campaigns (for example, to send to different lists on different schedules), you cannot copy an existing pre-built campaign. Pre-built campaigns that you have selected and scheduled display a Scheduled indicator on the Pre-Built Campaigns page.

This article explains how to select and use a pre-built campaign. Sending a test email before sending your campaign is recommended, to verify that all content displays as expected.

Note: The following information is specific to pre-built campaigns. If you would like to select content from the Content Library manually to build your own campaign, see Create a Standard Campaign. See Campaigns for more information about the other types of campaigns available.

Find and select a Pre-Built Campaign

The Pre-Built Campaigns page lists all of the campaigns available for selection. A Scheduled indicator displays on any pre-built campaign you have already selected and scheduled. You can schedule and send the same pre-built campaign multiple times if you like (for example, to different lists).

Only use the Account Servicing campaign type to send important account-related communications.

1. To access the Pre-Built Campaigns area, click Campaigns or Campaigns > My Campaigns on the navigation menu, then click the Pre-Built Campaign button.
2. If necessary, enter keyword(s) or use the filter(s) to locate a specific pre-built campaign. Click on a campaign heading or title to open the pre-built campaign’s Campaign Detail page. The initial Campaign Detail page provides information about the selected pre-built campaign. You can apply a Branding Profile to see what the campaign will look like with your organization’s branding and preview the content of each edition.
3. Click on an edition in the Editions list to preview its content. If necessary, use the Display From and To calendars to filter the editions. You can also do any of the following:
• To schedule the pre-built campaign, click the Set up this Campaign button.
• To send a one-off campaign using the selected edition, click the Send this Edition button.
• To send a test email, click the Send Test Email button.
4. The next steps differ depending on your selection. For specific instructions, see the Set up this Campaign, Send this Edition, or Send Test Email section below.

Set up this Campaign

The Set up this Campaign option gives you the most flexibility, allowing you to delete content, add your own content, or add additional content from the Content Library. This means that after completing the Campaign Basics and Select List steps, you can save the campaign in Draft status and use the Add my Own Content option in the Add Content area to include messaging specific to your organization.

Campaign Basics

In the Campaign Basics section, enter general information about your pre-built campaign to identify it and determine how it displays to recipients and how they can interact with it. Except for the Campaign Name and Campaign Type, all of your selections in this section display to recipients.

You can only select one language for each pre-bult campaign. If you want to send the same pre-built campaign in multiple languages, you must create a separate campaign for each one. Make sure you create separate lists for these pre-built campaigns, to ensure that all contacts receive the campaign in their preferred language.

1. Click the Campaign Basics link.
2. If necessary, edit the Campaign Name. The Campaign Name does not display to recipients.
3. The Campaign Type is preconfigured and cannot be changed.
4. Enter the following required information:
1. Select a From email address. This address displays in the From field for recipients.
2. Select a Reply To email address. If recipients reply to your campaign email, their replies will be sent to this address.
3. Select a Branding Profile from the dropdown.
4. Select the Language in which any copyright and compliance text will display.
5. Click the Continue button to return to the Campaign Detail page and continue creating your pre-built campaign. Click Cancel to discard the information you entered and return to the Campaign Detail page.

Select List

You must create at least one list of recipients before completing the Select List section. You can select multiple lists if necessary. If you will be sending content in different languages, make sure you create a separate list for each one, based on the contacts’ preferred language. Dynamic lists in Draft status are not available for selection; you must save them first.

1.  On the Campaign Detail page, click the Select List link.
2. The Select List page displays. Select the checkbox beside each List of contacts you want to use for this pre-built campaign. If necessary, you can do any of the following to locate a specific list:
• Filter the Lists by entering a full or partial List Name and clicking the Search button.
• Sort the Lists by clicking on a column heading. Click the column heading again to reverse the sort order.
• Browse multiple pages of Lists by clicking the First, Previous, Next, Last, or page number links.
3. Click the Select button to add the lists to the campaign. Click Cancel to discard your selection and return to the Campaign Detail page.

Schedule Delivery

You can only schedule a pre-built campaign after completing the Campaign Basics and Select List sections. If you want to add or modify content, you must select the Save in Draft status until I choose to send option. Otherwise, the pre-built campaign will be sent with the content as is.

If any of the lists you selected are edited before a scheduled campaign is sent, the pre-built campaign will be sent to the contacts who are on the lists at the time it is sent. If necessary, you can delete a scheduled campaign edition, but you must Cancel Scheduled Delivery first.

1. On the Campaign Detail page, click the Schedule Delivery button and select one of the following radio buttons:
• Save in Draft status until I choose to send

  This option creates all editions of the pre-built campaign in draft status on the Campaign Detail page, allowing you to modify each edition before scheduling and sending, if necessary. Do one of the following:

  • Click the title of the edition to display a preview, display the delivery options, or end the pre-built campaign:
  • Schedule Delivery
    1. Click the Schedule Delivery button.
    2. Enter the Date in mm/dd/yyyy format, or click the calendar to select a date.
    3. Enter the Time (including a space and a.m. or p.m.), or click the clock to select the time.
    4. Click the Schedule Now button to schedule delivery.
  • Send Test Email
  • Send Now
    1. Click the Send Now button.
    2. You are prompted to confirm the sending of your pre-built campaign. Click the secondary Send button.
  • End Campaign

    If you do not want to create or send any more editions of a pre-built campaign, you can end the campaign.

    1. Click the End Campaign button.
    2. A confirmation message displays. Click the End Campaign button to end the campaign, or click the Cancel button to return to the campaign.
  • Locate the edition you want to modify and click the Details link to open its Campaign Detail page. You can do any of the following:
  • Edit the Campaign Basics.
  • Change the lists of recipients by clicking the Select List link.
  • Modify the content by clicking the Design Email link.

    You can add content from the Content Library to your campaign (including content that your organization has uploaded), enter custom content manually, or include some of both. You can format manually entered content as needed, add images to it, and use merge variables to personalize the email with your organization’s information and/or recipients’ information. Arrange the content sections in the order in which you want them to display to campaign recipients. You do not need to add all content in a single session; use the Save Layout and Content button if you want to save your progress and return later.

    1. The Add Content page displays. You can add content in either of two ways:
    • Add from Content Library
      1. Click the Add from Content Library button.
      2. Locate each piece of content you want to add in the Content Library and select the checkbox beside it. The Content Library also includes any content your organization has uploaded to My Content and any customized content saved to Edited Content.
      3. Click the Select Content button. A section is added for each piece of content you selected. Each section displays a thumbnail image, title, teaser text, and Read More button. If you selected a piece from My Content or Edited Content, click the Read More Link to open the Content Detail page in a new tab, where you can edit the content if necessary.
    • Create New Content
      1. Click the Create New Content button to add a blank textbox to the section.
      2. Enter text or copy and paste from another source.
      3. Use the formatting ribbon to format your content as needed. Hover over an option on the ribbon to display its function.
         You can add images to your content and add hyperlinks to them, if necessary. Images must be in PNG or JPG/JPEG format and should not exceed 800px in width. Use the Image Formats options on the formatting ribbon to style your images.
      4. To personalize your content with your organization’s information or recipients’ own information, you can add merge variables. Merge variables only populate for client contacts, not for employees. To add a merge variable, do the following:
      1. Place your cursor where you want to add the variable, then click the Insert Merge Variables button or begin typing the merge variable code. When you begin typing the code, a list of merge variables displays for selection.
      2. Select a merge variable from the list to insert it.
      3. Click the Test Merge Variable link label to open a preview of the campaign email with the variables added. Select a contact from the To: dropdown to populate the variable(s) with their information.
      4. Click the Done button or the Return to Design Email link label when you have finished testing the merge variable(s).
      5. Repeat these steps to add additional custom content.
    2. If necessary, rearrange content sections by clicking the move icon  beside a section and dragging it to its new location. You can remove a section of content by clicking the delete button in the corner of it.
    3. Click the Save Layout and Content button to return to the Campaign Detail page.
  • Schedule Delivery
    1. Click the Schedule Delivery button.
    2. Enter the Date in mm/dd/yyyy format, or click the calendar to select a date.
    3. Enter the Time (including a space and a.m. or p.m.), or click the clock to select the time.
    4. Click the Schedule Now button to schedule delivery.
  • Send Test Email
  • Send Now
    1. Click the Send Now button.
    2. You are prompted to confirm the sending of your campaign. Click the secondary Send button.
• Send automatically on a schedule

  This option automatically sends the pre-built campaign on the default schedule or a schedule of your own choosing. The default schedule displays in the Confirm Schedule pop-up window after you have selected the scheduling options.

  1. The Send on default schedule checkbox is selected by default. Do one of the following:
  • Leave the checkbox selected to send the campaign on the preset schedule (which displays on the pre-built campaign’s initial Campaign Detail page when you first select it). The Start On date you choose affects when the first edition is sent.

    If the Start On date you select is the same as or earlier than the edition's predefined distribution date, the first edition is sent on the distribution date. If the Start On date is later than the distribution date, the first edition is sent on the Start On date.

    Examples:

    • If the Start On date is May 1 and the distribution date is May 2, the edition will be sent on May 2.
    • If both the Start On date and the distribution date are May 3, the edition is sent on May 3.
    • If the Start On date is May 7 and the distribution date is May 5, the edition is sent on May 7.
  1. Enter the Date in mm/dd/yyyy format, or click the calendar to select a date for the Start On section.
  2. Enter the Time (including a space and a.m. or p.m.), or click the clock to select the time for the Start On section.
  3. Click the Start Campaign button to apply the schedule you entered.
  • Deselect the checkbox to set your own schedule.
  1. Enter the Date in mm/dd/yyyy format, or click the calendar to select a date for the Start On section.
  2. Enter the Time (including a space and a.m. or p.m.), or click the clock to select the time for the Start On section.
  3. Select the Day of the Month or the Week and Day radio button.
  • If you selected Day of the Month, select the day of the month when you want the pre-built campaign to send from the Repeats on Day dropdown menu. If you always want the campaign to send on the last day of the month, for example, select 31.
  • If you selected Week and Day, select 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or Last from the first dropdown menu, then select the weekday from the second dropdown menu.
  2. Click the Start Campaign button.
  3. The schedule you selected displays in a pop-up window. Click the Confirm Schedule button to apply the schedule as it displays, or click Cancel to close the pop-up and edit the schedule.

Send this Edition

Select the Send this Edition option to send the pre-built campaign as-is. If you select this option, you cannot edit the edition’s content (that is, delete content, add your own content, or add additional content from the Content Library).

You must complete both the Campaign Basics and Select List sections before you can schedule or send your pre-built campaign.

Campaign Basics

In the Campaign Basics section, enter general information about your pre-built campaign to identify it and determine how it displays to recipients and how they can interact with it. Except for the Campaign Name and Campaign Type, all of your selections in this section display to recipients. The Campaign Type is preconfigured and cannot be changed.

The Subject field only displays on the Campaign Basics page if you selected the Send this Edition option.

You can only select one language for each pre-built campaign. If you want to send the same campaign in multiple languages, you must create a separate pre-built campaign for each one. Make sure you create separate lists for these campaigns, to ensure that all contacts receive the pre-built campaign in their preferred language.

1. Click the Campaign Basics link.
2. If necessary, edit the Campaign Name. The Campaign Name does not display to recipients.
3. Enter the following required information:
1. Select a From email address. This address displays in the From field for recipients.
2. Select a Reply To email address. If recipients reply to your campaign email, their replies will be sent to this address.
3. Enter a Subject line for the email. You can insert a merge variable if necessary. For a complete list of merge variables, click here.

   To use the Test Merge Variables link, you must have selected at least one list of recipients. Merge variables only populate for client contacts, not for employees. To add a merge variable to the Subject field, do the following:

   1. Place your cursor where you want to add the variable in the Subject field and then click the Insert Merge Variable button or begin typing the merge variable code. When you begin typing the code, a list of merge variables displays for selection.
   2. Select a merge variable from the list to insert it.
   3. Click the Test Merge Variables link to preview the email with the merge variable(s) included. Select a contact in the To: dropdown to populate the variable with that contact’s information in the preview.
   4. Click the Return to Send Email link to continue creating your pre-built campaign. You must complete all required fields before clicking the Send button.
4. Select a Branding Profile from the dropdown.
5. Select the Language in which any copyright and compliance text will display.
4. Click the Continue button to return to the Campaign Detail page and continue creating your pre-built campaign. Click Cancel to discard your entries and return to the Campaign Detail page.

Select List

You must create at least one list of recipients before completing the Select List section. You can select multiple lists if necessary. If you will be sending content in different languages, make sure you create a separate list for each one, based on the contacts’ preferred language. Dynamic lists in Draft status are not available for selection; you must save them first.

1. On the Campaign Detail page, click the Select List link.
2. The Select List page displays. Select the checkbox beside each List of contacts you want to use for this campaign. If necessary, you can do any of the following to locate a specific list:
• Filter the Lists by entering a full or partial List Name and clicking the Search button.
• Sort the Lists by clicking on a column heading. Click the column heading again to reverse the sort order.
• Browse multiple pages of Lists by clicking the First, Previous, Next, Last, or page number links.
3. Click the Select button to add the lists to the pre-built campaign. Click Cancel to discard your selection and return to the Campaign Detail page.

Delivery Options

You can only send your pre-built campaign after completing the Campaign Basics and Select List sections. You can schedule the campaign to send in the future, send a test email, or send the campaign edition immediately. If the list you selected is edited before a scheduled campaign is sent, the pre-built campaign will be sent to the contacts who are on the list at the time it is sent. If necessary, you can delete a scheduled campaign edition, but you must Cancel Scheduled Delivery first.

• Schedule Delivery
  1. Click the Schedule Delivery button.
  2. Enter the Date in mm/dd/yyyy format, or click the calendar to select a date.
  3. Enter the Time (including a space and a.m. or p.m.), or click the clock to select the time.
  4. Click the Schedule Now button to schedule delivery.
• Send Test Email
• Send Now
  1. Click the Send Now button.
  2. You are prompted to confirm the sending of your campaign. Click the secondary Send button.

Send a Test Email

If you clicked the Send Test Email button, you can immediately send a test email using the edition you previously selected.

1. Enter the destination email address in the Test Email Recipient field.
2. Click the Send Test Email button.