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<Img
img="/uploads/altcraft_platform_updates_d352e54754.png"
alt="Altcraft Platform Updates"
/>

The Altcraft team keeps enhancing and refining the platform. This time, we'll delve into the new scenario editor, resource unsubscribe settings, bulk operations, and the latest improvements to split testing.

## New Scenario Editor

Scenarios serve as programs to automate marketing processes. The platform now features an enhanced editor specifically designed for working with scenarios. While the underlying logic remains unchanged, the process of creating scenarios has become significantly more user-friendly.

In terms of the scenario elements, they remain the same but are now neatly organized into four categories. You can find the section with elements in the upper-left corner of the panel.

<Gallery>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/scenario_editor_then_e752f84f52.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/scenario_editor_then_e752f84f52.png"
description="Scenario Editor on Altcraft Platform — then and now"
/>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/scenario_editor_now_8dec8ed5b1.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/scenario_editor_now_8dec8ed5b1.png"
description="Scenario Editor on Altcraft Platform — then and now"
/>
</Gallery>

In the updated editor, you can effortlessly move elements and create connections. The toolset, featuring "Apply Alignment" and "Fit View," aligns the scenario’s elements and makes sure the elements fit within the visible area of the workspace. 

<Gallery>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/applying_alignment_4513d0e1ad.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/applying_alignment_4513d0e1ad.png"
description="Applying Alignment"
/>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/alignment_2f51c72846.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/alignment_2f51c72846.png"
description="Applying Alignment"
/>
</Gallery>

The interfaces for elements such as Update Profile, API Call, JSON Filter, Import to Database, and Distribution Node have been enhanced.

Moreover, in the editor, you can now check which profiles are currently in the element and remove them from the scenario. This can be effortlessly accomplished in the real-time statistics mode, where numbers above the elements indicate the current profile count in each element.

<Img
img="/uploads/real_time_statistics_11ac64dfb0.png"
alt="Real Time Statistics in Altcraft Platform"
/>

## New Resource Unsubscribe Settings

A resource is a tool for organizing customer subscriptions to content through specific communication channels. To unsubscribe, users can click on the provided unsubscribe link. Now, the unsubscribe settings can be changed directly within the resource itself.

<Img
img="/uploads/resource_unsubscribe_settings_2c19590ab6.png"
alt="New Resource Unsubscribe Settings"
/>

**Instant unsubscribe without confirmation** is the default setting. In this scenario, when a user clicks on the unsubscribe link, they are taken to either the system or custom unsubscribe page, and their status changes to "Unsubscribed" right away.

**Delayed unsubscribe** works by having users click on the unsubscribe link, leading them to a page where they can either confirm or cancel the unsubscribe. If no action is taken within the specified timer duration, their subscription status will automatically switch to "Unsubscribed."

Moreover, an additional unsubscribe setting has been introduced for the Email channel. If the [**unsubscribe doesn't happen through the link in the email**](https://altcraft.com/blog/how-to-win-back-email-subscribers) but through the email client's unsubscribe mechanism (via List-Unsubscribe), the recipient will be redirected to the specified URL automatically.

## The Bin and Bulk Operations

To enhance user convenience on the platform, bulk operations for objects are now available. For most objects, this includes assigning groups, tags, and moving them to the bin. Additionally, you can bulk activate and deactivate campaigns, [**forms**](https://altcraft.com/features/forms-and-surveys), pop-ups, scheduled imports, and integrations.

<Img
img="/uploads/the_bin_and_bulk_98397e65ed.jpg"
alt="The Bin and Bulk Operations"
src="Bulk Operations and the Bin on Altcraft Platform"
/>

Among other features, the platform now features the bin where deleted items are placed. You can either restore them or permanently delete them at any time by navigating to the relevant section.

## Updated Testing

A/B/n testing involves sending multiple message templates to a portion of the audience, comparing their effectiveness, and sending the winning template to the rest.

One method for determining the winning template is based on user choices. Previously, users had to open additional windows containing analytical reports to make decisions.

In the Altcraft Platform update, all crucial metrics for templates are now visible in the template winner selection window. This streamlines the process of choosing the most suitable template.

<Img
img="/uploads/updated_testing_01101319d5.png"
alt="Updated Testing"
src="Updated Testing on Altcraft Platform"
/>

## Conclusion

This was a brief overview of the new features of [**Altcraft Platform**](https://altcraft.com/en). We hope you are already benefiting from the enhanced features. Our team will continue working on improving the product to empower you in bringing your ideas to life.

Explore Altcraft's upgrades, featuring a new scenario editor, bulk operations, and enhanced resource unsubscribe settings for a better user experience.

altcraft-platform-updates.png

New tools have been introduced in Altcraft Platform. In the article, we talk about the new scenario editor, bin and bulk operations and more.

Altcraft Updates: New Scenario Editor, Template Selection

Altcraft Platform Updates: New Scenario Editor and Quick Template Selection

<Video
url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hsncv8Udokg?si=YStp0XLXoL6xD45k"
/>

Business operates for customers, so it must listen to audience opinions about the product and company service. Online surveys are a way to gather feedback from users quickly, easily, and without taking much of their time.

Companies conduct customer surveys in various ways: through voting, comments, filling out questionnaires, via email marketing, or website forms. The method and platform depend on the goals and capabilities of the company.

To make an online survey useful and data easy to collect and classify, brands opt for specialized services. Online tools provide simple forms where the company's marketer enters necessary fields and questions.

In this article, we will talk about popular survey creation services, their features, advantages, and differences.

## Examples of Online Services for Form Creation and Surveys

### Google Forms

The most well-known and straightforward tool used as a survey service. The form includes options for multiple-choice answers, dropdown lists, or text input fields. The survey's appearance can be customized to fit corporate style, and data can be easily shared with colleagues.

Additionally, Google Forms offer statistical tools in the form of diagrams to monitor real-time results.

It also features response verification, such as email input and other parameters. Creating a survey takes just a few minutes, and the form link can be added to social media posts, emails, or websites.

<Img
img="/uploads/survey_in_google_forms_f6c3de605d.png"
alt="Creating a survey in Google Forms"
/>

### Yandex Forms

Yandex offers its own form constructor to create surveys for working with clients and employees. 

Yandex Forms is convenient for [**customer satisfaction surveys**](https://altcraft.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-survey-mistakes), collecting employee opinions, technical support inquiries, event registration, and managing personal tasks, easily shareable with colleagues.

The online survey adapts to your requirements, offering answer fields in test format (multiple options), open text input, rating scales, and more. Questions can be customized based on user actions. For instance, if someone indicates they have no children, subsequent questions about their ages are hidden. This demonstrates effective customer survey [**personalization**](https://altcraft.com/glossary/personalization-what-it-is-and-why-personalized-marketing-matters), enhancing overall efficiency.

### Survio

An online survey service equipped for collecting feedback, customer satisfaction data, and other information for marketing and various purposes.

It positions itself as straightforward software. To create an online survey, simply choose from over a hundred templates and add the desired design. Multimedia files can be added, and customization for your brand is available. 

Survio offers 19 question types, providing diversity in your internet survey. Clients can respond using star ratings, numerical values, sliders with scales, and more.

<Gallery>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/survio_forms_eacb6cb68d.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/survio_forms_eacb6cb68d.png"
/>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/forms_by_survio_c79ee6f3a9.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/forms_by_survio_c79ee6f3a9.png"
/>
</Gallery>

All data is displayed in BI dashboards, tables, and graphs. Here, it is possible to segment responses based on relevant criteria.

### Web Ask

This tool is needed to create your own test with your own questions, conduct surveys, voting, quizzes, or receive feedback. Surveys can be created in five minutes from a ready-made template or developed with a custom design.

There are also ready-made forms, already customized for various business directions. For example, surveys among customers about taxi service, travel agencies, cafes, and more. The form is flexible and follows the logic of responses: unnecessary questions are removed, which means personalization is in effect. There is also insurance against forgetfulness: if a respondent forgets to complete the survey, the data will still be sent to the common database.

<Img
img="/uploads/webask_8ed6b1070e.png"
alt="Creating a survey in Web Ask"
/>

The service integrates with Google tools, messengers, CRM, and guarantees security. There are free and paid tariffs with different degrees of limitation on the number of surveys and other parameters.

### Testograf

Survey software with an intuitive interface and automatic result processing. Suitable for marketing and HR research within the company.

The service combines functionality for studying [**customer loyalty**](https://altcraft.com/blog/customer-loyalty), brand recognition, and also sends email and SMS distributions.

For surveys in Testograf timers, progress indicators, the ability to add hints, and other features are available. You can choose a form from ready-made templates or create one yourself. The service promises high stability and data protection for users.

### Typeform

The service supports themed survey templates in various areas: marketing, HR, product creation, customer satisfaction, product feedback, or creative endeavors.

Typeform offers a survey builder, quizzes, and even registration forms for [**lead generation**](https://altcraft.com/glossary/what-is-lead-generation). The service stands out with stylish template designs, offering over three thousand even in the free plan.

<Img
img="/uploads/survey_templates_within_typeform_81211b0c5a.png"
alt="Survey templates within Typeform"
/>

If you lack survey ideas, the service suggests leveraging artificial intelligence. A robot will offer solutions after analyzing your brand's website, which you can integrate into the registration form.

<Img
img="/uploads/ai_powered_survey_creation_b510f7dbb3.png"
alt="AI powered survey creation in Typeform"
/>

### Anketolog

This service offers 22 question variations and ready-made templates for creating surveys. While lacking diverse designs, it provides sufficient ready-to-use forms for exploring customer opinions on advertising effectiveness, banners, product consumption specifics, website design assessment, packaging, and more.

<Img
img="/uploads/anketolog_b675844d4f.png"
alt="Questionnaire template in Anketolog"
/>

Surveys operate through links or ready-made widgets and can be constructed online in the cloud or on your own server (in which case, a package purchase is required).

The platform's distinctive feature is its proprietary audience of respondents in Russia and the CIS, willing to participate in studies for a specific fee. This is suitable for companies lacking a sufficient sample size for their own surveys.

### Simpoll

A tool where standard customer survey forms are available, along with examples for creating bug trackers, interview registrations, and more. Research is customizable and can be flexibly configured to meet the company's needs.

Simpoll has a very simple interface for the builder, where restrictions (survey duration) are set immediately, a template or an option to create from scratch is chosen. Styles, colors, and other elements are configured in the forms.

The survey is embedded on the website or shared through a link via email, messengers, and other communication channels.

## Forms and surveys in Altcraft Platform

[**Altcraft Platform's forms**](https://altcraft.com/en/features/forms-and-surveys) offer a simple and flexible way to create surveys, questionnaires, and feedback forms. In the intuitive editor, you'll find various question formats tailored to your needs, including single or multiple-choice options, character limits for responses, and rating scales.

### Key advantages of using Altcraft Platform for survey creation:

- Mandatory fields for obtaining comprehensive customer information. 

- Customization of surveys, questionnaires, and forms to match your brand style. Background and text colors can be adjusted, and images and even YouTube videos can be added. 

- Smart logic that adds or removes relevant questions based on user responses. 

- Automatic import of responses into the database and the ability to export results to CSV or MS Excel. 

- Analytical tools for a visual assessment of data, including charts and line graphs.

### How to create a form or survey in Altcraft Platform

Navigate to the "Forms" section and click "Create" to access the page for entering survey or form parameters. Provide details such as title, description, duration, and post-submission message.

<Img
img="/uploads/general_settings_of_forms_in_altcraft_cf2b9843ea.png"
alt="General settings of forms in Altcraft Platform"
/>

In the "Constructor" tab, add field options for responses and questions, including single or multiple-choice, drop-down lists, text, file uploads, range indicators, and other types.

<Img
img="/uploads/constructor_of_forms_in_altcraft_platform_b91eea0239.png"
alt="Constructor of forms in Altcraft Platform"
/>

Proceed to the "Appearance" tab to customize the survey style. Adjust color, text size, and font for text and buttons.

<Img
img="/uploads/appearance_of_forms_in_altcraft_platform_bac7e311fc.png"
alt="Appearance of forms in Altcraft Platform"
/>

Configure post-submission actions, such as importing into the database or sending notifications to a specific email. The database is extended from surveys using email, Message ID, or additional fields. That is, the data will not be lost and will go to the right customer profile.

<Img
img="/uploads/profiles_import_via_forms_in_altcraft_05fc622fd4.png"
alt="Profiles import via forms in Altcraft Platforms"
/>

In the "Logic" tab, visually set the sequence of pages with questions and fields by dragging icons into the desired order. Set conditions for transitioning to the next question.

<Img
img="/uploads/setting_logic_of_forms_in_altcraft_0a04653121.png"
alt="Setting logic of forms in Altcraft Platform"
/>

Once the form is ready, activate it by clicking "Enable." Obtain the link and HTML code for sharing in the "Share" tab.

<Img
img="/uploads/share_tab_for_forms_in_altcraft_6e3579db3e.png"
alt="Share tab for forms in Altcraft Platform"
/>

View survey results in the "Insights" section or the "Collected Data" tab.

## Summary

Forms for conducting surveys are essential to simplify receiving feedback from customers, handling inquiries, and conducting research. Online services offer various options for collecting data through the creation of forms, including multiple-choice questions, rating scales, and free-text fields. Customization of surveys to match your brand, setting response logic, and visual analytics are also possible.

Popular services include Google Forms, Yandex Forms, Survio, Web Ask, Testograf, Typeform, Анкетолог, Simpoll. These platforms offer both free and paid plans, survey templates, and flexible settings.

In Altcraft Platform, surveys and forms are created using an intuitive builder. The platform's advantage lies in data integration into customer profiles, providing a comprehensive user overview.

Forms for conducting surveys are essential to simplify receiving feedback from customers, handling inquiries, and conducting research.

survey-creation-services.png

About what survey creation services are: features, advantages and differences.

Survey Creation Services: How to Create One in Altcraft CDP

Survey & Form Creation Services: Which One to Choose

<Img
img="/uploads/altcraft_updates_tag_manager_3f90256abf.png"
alt="Platform Updates: Pop-ups, Tag Manager and Image Gallery"
/>

Altcraft Platform is committed to development: the appearance of Pop-up windows and Tag manager, also updating the gallery. Introducing new tools in the platform will help you collect leads and also easily make changes on the site using the Tag manager.

Today we will tell you more about the updates to our platform.

## Tag Manager

**Altcraft Tag Manager** is a tool to help online marketers. It allows you to manage HTML tags and JavaScript code without involving developers. You'll be able to create, add and update code fragments on your site to track user's activity and feed data into the platform. Our manager works similarly to Google Tag Manager.

**Today we will tell you more about the updates to our platform.**

A **container** is a wrapper where all tags, triggers and variables are stored. This is the main code that is added to the site and is responsible for activating tags.

A **tag** is a fragment of a code that performs a specific function (for example, displaying a pop-up to site visitors).

A **trigger** is a specific condition for a tag to fire. For example, a trigger could be a button click or a page loading.

A **variable** is a parameter to which values are passed. It is used in both triggers and tags.

The appereance of Tag manager we will show you later

## Pop-up windows

What is a pop-up? It is a window that appears on a site on top of the main content. It is necessary to attract the user’s attention and encourage him to take a targeted action: subscribing to a newsletter, offering a discount or promotion, collecting applications, etc.

You can create a pop-up in a visual editor. You can place a code of a finished pop-up on your website pages. An easier option is to use Tag manager. Tag manager's triggers will help you quickly set up conditions for a pop-up to appear on your site.

### How to create a pop-up

Go to the **“Weblayer”** section, select **“Pop-ups”** and create a new pop-up:

<Img
img="/uploads/creating_a_popup_b22c650d3a.png"
alt="Creating a pop-up in Altcraft Platform"
/>

Next, you have several types of pop-up available:

- A **pop-up modal** appears in the center of the screen and attracts a user's attention as it darkens the background of the web page. As a rule, it is needed to collect email contacts;
- A **floating bar** is located at the top or bottom of the page. Visible on a screen even when scrolling a page. Suitable for informing users about news or special offers;
- A **slider** appears in the lower right corner of a browser. It is the least intrusive and does not interfere with viewing the content of the site. It is a small window for displaying additional information, suggestions or feedback forms;
- A **page takeover** takes up the entire screen. Site users will definitely not miss this information.

<Img
img="/uploads/type_ecbbe2e0d6.png"
alt="Choosing the type of pop-up window in a business automation platform"
/>

The platform already has several templates ready. Select any of them, and then change the design, text and other elements of the pop-up in the editor.

<Img
img="/uploads/setting_1_1a84fc18f6.png"
alt="Choosing a template for a pop-up and changing its design"
/>

Next, go to the **“Actions”** section. Here you can configure the import of users who filled out the pop-up form into the profile database.

<Img
img="/uploads/setting_2_4baa4685af.png"
alt="Ability to customize user import"
/>

All that remains is to publish your pop-up on the site. There are two ways to do it. First way is adding a script to a site page manually or adding a script through a Tag manager. The second way is easier because it allows you to place a container code once on a website page. All further settings are specified in the platform interface.

### How to add a pop-up to a website using Tag manager

To add a script using the Tag manager, save a pop-up and go to the “Appearance” section. Click the Bind button and select a container. Enter a tag name, set activation settings and restrictions. Next, select a trigger (a condition for triggering the tag).

<Img
img="/uploads/trigger_2_3b8bc75899.png"
alt="Trigger selection example"
/>

Save a tag. The specified condition for displaying a pop-up will be displayed in the **“Appearance”** section.

<Img
img="/uploads/creating_a_popup_4e079a84d0.png"
alt="Setting up a popup on a website using Tag manager"
/>

Save a pop-up and publish it. Go to the linked container and click **Publish**. Select Publishing and creating a new version. Ready!

<Img
img="/uploads/making_changes_d850963ebb.png"
alt="Saving and publishing pop-ups using Altcraft Platform"
/>

You can analyze the results by pop-ups in the **“Analytics”** section.

<Img
img="/uploads/analytics_42bb1bc8ed.png"
alt="Pop-up analytics section available in Altcraft Platform"
/>

## Gallery update

The platform's gallery interface has been updated. Folders have appeared for more convenient organization of images. You can also now select multiple objects and delete or download them.

<Img
img="/uploads/new_gallery_8ec1048afe.png"
alt="New version of the gallery in Altcraft Platform"
/>

## Conclusion

We talked about the latest updates to our platform. We hope these new tools will help you improve your marketing strategy. If you have any questions or suggestions, please share with us. We are always happy to receive feedback.

New tools have appeared in Altcraft Platform. In this article we talk about pop-ups, tag manager and updated gallery.

altcraft_updates_tag_manager.png

New tools have been introduced in Altcraft Platform. In this article, we talk about Pop-ups, Tag manager and updated gallery.

Platform Updates: Pop-ups, Tag Manager and Image Gallery

Updates of Altcraft Platform: Pop-ups, Tag Manager and Image Gallery

<Img
img="/uploads/7_oshibok_v_email_rassylkah_871a188532.png"
alt="Mistakes in Email Campaigns"
/>

How much do email campaign mistakes cost? [**According to statistics**](https://www.oberlo.com/blog/email-marketing-statistics), every dollar spent on email marketing yields a return of $40. Let's assume that an email was sent with an error, such as a non-functional link to the promoted campaign page. The company will waste its marketing budget and miss out on significant revenue.


Small errors in emails can sometimes result in significant losses: money, reputation, and audience. People unsubscribe or mark emails as spam when they receive strange email campaigns with unintelligible characters, poorly readable text, and images that don't display properly. That's why it's important to verify the accuracy of each email.


In this article, we will discuss 7 common mistakes that can lead to the failure of a marketing campaign.




## 1. The mailing list is open to everyone


Displaying to the user all the addresses to which the newsletter was also sent is a serious mistake.


- Firstly, if the offer in the email is positioned as exclusive, the recipient will see that it is not true, as others have received the same email.




- Secondly, an email address is personal data of users that cannot be simply shared with other people.



- Thirdly, [**the customer database**](https://altcraft.com/glossary/everything-about-the-customer-database) will end up in the hands of competitors who may be subscribed to your newsletter.


*An example of such a mistake is simply expanding the recipient list to copy all the email addresses from someone else's database.*





<Img
img="/uploads/image8_16572d23d0.png"
alt="Example when mailing list is shown to all the database"
/>


## 2. Tags instead of user names


Automatically inserting the user's name into an email during a campaign is a [**personalization**](https://altcraft.com/glossary/personalization-what-it-is-and-why-personalized-marketing-matters) technique. This method works by configuring variables in the emails, which are then added using special tags.


However, if there is an error in the settings, the user will see a string of characters instead of their name, for example, **{first_name}**. Some people may find this amusing, but others may mistake the email as spam, lodge a complaint, and unsubscribe.



<Img
img="/uploads/image6_0dc124200b.png"
alt="Personalization failed: tags instead of user name"
/>


### How to fix the problem


In [**Altcraft Platform**](https://altcraft.com/en) for marketing automation, such an issue will not arise. If the necessary subscriber data is not available in the database for substitution, the platform will omit the variable, and the recipient of the email will not encounter an unclear **{_fname}** or something alike. Moreover, with proper configuration, you can show a general salutation such as "**Dear customer**". To do this, simply enter the text you want to display to subscribers with incomplete data:


<Img
img="/uploads/image5_47dc163090.png"
alt="What to show if customer data is incomplete"
/>


In the platform, there is also a preview of the ready-made email with automatically filled variables. You can even choose a subscriber to preview the template on their behalf:

<Img
img="/uploads/image11_e3e89f0c2f.png"
alt="Preview of the personalized email template"
/>


## 3. Broken links in the email


If a link in the message doesn't open or leads to a 404 error page, the brand risks losing out on revenue. It's unlikely that the user will persistently investigate and contact support to get the correct link for promotions and discounts. In the best case, they may find your website through a search engine, but in the worst case, they won't take any action.


*Thus, sometimes it happens even with famous brands:*



<Img
img="/uploads/image2_4bbd81b145.png"
alt="Broken link in newsletter 1"
src="Within the email it all looks perfect..."
/>


<Img
img="/uploads/image12_a20568bc29.png"
alt="Broken link in newsletter 2"
src="...while navigating the link you get to a 404 page."
/>


### How to fix the problem


Even a newsletter with a broken link can be saved by Altcraft Platform. There is an option to replace the link in the email that has already been sent. You should go to “**Settings**” — “**Custom links**”. The error can be fixed with a couple of clicks, eliminating the need for a resend. If you discover the broken link quickly, users won't notice anything.



<Img
img="/uploads/image9_a68cedd97e.png"
alt="Replace link in an already sent email newsletter with the help of CDP"
/>


## 4. Non-functioning buttons in the email


A specific case of non-functioning links is inactive design elements. In the example shown in the image, there is a button, but when clicked, the image opens in full screen. This means that the email layout for the newsletter was done incorrectly: the marketer didn't make the button active.


If there is a duplicate link with the same [**CTA**](https://altcraft.com/blog/what-is-cta) in the body of the email, conversion can still be salvaged. However, when the button within the image is the only option for website navigation, the error can lead to monetary loss.



<Img
img="/uploads/image4_3ce42dc433.png"
alt="CTA buttons to navigate on the site "
src="Always double check to be sure that each CTA leads to a proper site page"
/>


Ensuring that the CTA button in the email correctly navigates to the intended page on the website, without displaying an image and functioning properly, is of utmost importance. It directly impacts user experience, conversion rates, and ultimately the success of your marketing campaign. Neglecting to thoroughly test and verify the functionality of the button can result in missed opportunities, frustrated recipients, and potential financial loss.


## 5. Images are not displayed


Using images and design in emails is not a recent practice for marketers, but they still make mistakes that result in images not being displayed.


Sometimes, the reason lies in the size and weight of the image, which fails to load properly for users with slow internet connections. The image format also matters: typically, JPG, PNG, and GIF formats are used, while experiments with other image types can lead to slow loading times.


Users won't wait for images to appear on the screen and are likely to close the email. And if the email is entirely composed of images, the campaign will be in vain and yield no results.



<Img
img="/uploads/image15_b93f136a1e.png"
alt="Email where image can’t be displayed"
/>




### How to fix the problem


Users of Altcraft Platform don't encounter the issue of improperly loaded images. Images in email templates are uploaded from the platform's own server. With this feature, you can easily replace any image in an already sent email.

<Img
img="/uploads/photo_2023_06_20_10_28_54_8d106fcc36.jpg"
alt="How to change image in an already sent email newsletter"
/>


## 6. Text is unreadable due to color inversion 


Sometimes marketers forget about the existence of dark mode on devices when sending email campaigns, where the light background changes to a dark one. If the text and design are not adapted for dark mode, these elements will not be visible in the email.


Usually, the problem is solved by choosing a design for images and text that looks equally good on light and dark backgrounds, as well as adjusting the transparency of image backgrounds. Additionally, not all email providers support and display the inversion correctly.



<Img
img="/uploads/image14_2edd8bc7a1.png"
alt="Text is invisible due to dark mode"
src="Light vs dark mode: on the latter the dark blue brand name is totally invisible due to the dark background"
/>





Sometimes, situations like white text on a white background occur due to color choices. That's why it's important to check the appearance of emails in different themes and, if possible, across various [**email clients**](https://altcraft.com/glossary/email-client-what-it-is-why-you-need-one-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one) to ensure optimal readability.


<Gallery>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/neudachnyj_czvet_teksta_979a7480e4.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/neudachnyj_czvet_teksta_979a7480e4.png"
/>
<GalleryItem
original="/uploads/plohoj_czvet_teksta_692ebd6ceb.png"
thumbnail="/uploads/plohoj_czvet_teksta_692ebd6ceb.png"
/>
</Gallery>




## 7. Wrong characters are displayed


Users often encounter emails with garbled or identical characters instead of text. The common cause is a mismatch in character encoding between the email service's editor and the recipient's email client. 


Additionally, such "mysterious" emails can occur when a brand attempts to stand out by using its own custom font, which may not be supported by the recipient's email client.


<Img
img="/uploads/simvoly_07b9f417a5.png"
alt="Incorrect symbols in an illegible email"
/>



### How to fix the problem


To prevent the sending of emails with garbled characters and "invisible" text, Altcraft Platform provides a preview function for emails. Before sending out the emails, you can see how they will be displayed in the mobile and desktop versions.


Additionally, you can send test emails to yourself or colleagues to ensure that the template is correctly displayed in all email clients. It's also important to consider dark mode on users' devices.
## Summary
Typical mistakes in emails that can harm a company's reputation and reduce revenue from advertising campaigns include:


- Tags or code instead of personalization and user's name.



- All recipients can see the mailing list, exposing the brand's customer base to competitors.



- Non-functioning links and buttons in the email.



- Slow-loading or completely unloading images.



- Text becoming "invisible" when displayed in a different color theme (e.g., dark mode).



- Unintelligible or identical characters instead of text in the email.


To avoid these errors in your email campaigns, it's important to check these details through test mailings or by using the preview function, as offered in the Altcraft Platform service. Additionally, the platform provides the ability to replace images and links in already sent emails.

Avoid email mistakes that damage your brand's image. Personalize emails, secure mailing lists, fix broken links, optimize image loading, ensure text visibility.

image3.png

Uncover email marketing secrets, avoid common mistakes, and optimize your strategy for maximum impact and conversions.

7 Mistakes in Email Campaigns That Bring Losses for You

7 Mistakes in Email Campaigns That Can Result in Significant Losses for You

<Img
img="/uploads/BLOG_oblozhka_kejsa_2_08e171407b.png"
alt="From 8% to 15%: How Cuva Implemented Personalized Marketing and Achieved Better Sales Results"
/>

[***Cuva***](https://cuva.ru/) is a service of gift certificates for vacations in hotels throughout Russia with an open date. The recipient chooses where and when to go. Such a service is unique in this country. *Cuva*'s rating on *Yandex* at the moment is 5.0.

## Why they chose Altcraft Platform

### *Cuva* was seeking for a tool that would meet the following criteria:

- ability to set up customer communication at all stages of the Customer Journey Map with minimal involvement of IT specialists;


- a convenient HTML editor with cross-cutting fragments;


- integration of other communication channels if needed;


- sending and receiving API requests in scenarios.

Furthermore, there was a need for ongoing technical support assistance.
[***Altcraft CDP platform***](https://altcraft.com/en) met all the needs and was able to solve the main issues. The *Altcraft* team set up the platform within two weeks, and the marketers started working.


## Results

**Setting up various scenarios for automating interactions with the service's customers**

### A welcome chain

Welcome emails are an important element of email marketing. Such a chain is implemented so that the business immediately informs the customer about its work. The main goal is to establish trust from the beginning of the introduction and thereby work with customer loyalty.

**How the scenario was performed**

We placed a form on the website, and after filling it out, visitors received an email with a promo code for a ₽500 discount on purchasing a certificate. If a person did not take advantage of the offer, we sent them a reminder about the discount after seven days.

### Upselling

After the customer has made a purchase, it is important to stay in touch with them and regularly remind them of your business. It is essential to interact with customers in a non-intrusive way so that upselling does not seem too pushy.

**How this strategy was implemented**

A month after the first purchase, the customer was offered to place the next order with a discount. The promo code was valid within the restricted time. If the buyer did not respond to the offer, they were reminded of the discount.

<Img
img="/uploads/Do_prodazhi_011ef0acfa.png"
alt="Upselling"
/>

### Reactivating customers 

Reactivation brings customers back to interacting with the business. Additionally, reactivation is necessary in order to:

- increase sales;


- save budget on email marketing;


- improve the reputation of the IP address.

**How the strategy for [customer reactivation](https://altcraft.com/blog/how-to-reactivate-inactive-email-subscribers) was implemented**

Thanks to deep segmentation in the *Altcraft Platform*, subscribers were analyzed by activity. Those who had not opened emails in the last nine months were removed from the database. The rest were then divided into the following segments:

1. those who had not opened emails in 3 months;


2. those who read emails but did not click on links;


3. those who opened emails, clicked on links but did not make another purchase in six months.

The first segment was sent a secret email with useful content. The second segment was sent a survey, the answers to which made it clear what subscribers wanted to see in the mailings. The third segment was given a promo code with a limited time discount.

### Omnichannel marketing

Omnichannel marketing, as well as multichannel, uses multiple channels to communicate with potential customers. However, unlike the latter, in omnichannel marketing, all the channels are synchronized. An omnichannel strategy is impossible without a special system in which all the data is stored. *Altcraft Platform* became such a system for *Cuva*.

**How was omnichannel implemented**

We set up an automation scenario to synchronize the work of the call center and email channel. Now, hot leads — those who opened the email but did not make a purchase — are transferred to the call center, where operators help them complete the deal.

The scenario involved three steps. First, we sent an email with a promo code to subscribers. Then we checked whether the recipient opened the email or not. If opened, it means they are interested. The data of these subscribers were then passed to the call center through the API call node.

<Img
img="/uploads/Prodazhi_cherez_call_center_a824134143.png"
alt="Sales via call center"
/>

### Connecting a Telegram channel/Telegram bot 

The volume of *Telegram* traffic in Russia stands at 68% today, and by these figures, the messenger has long surpassed WhatsApp*. When you have such an effective lead generation tool at your disposal, it's hard to resist. 

The *Telegram* channel, along with email newsletters and a *VK* group, has become a platform for the team to inform subscribers about interesting places to travel and share attractive promotional offers.

Currently, the channel is actively developing. In the future, they plan to use *Altcraft Platform* to automate posting in the *Telegram* channel, as well as sending newsletters to subscribers' direct messages.

## How marketing has changed during the collaboration with Altcraft

CRM marketing is based on analyzing customer behavior. With *Altcraft*'s CDP, key data is collected in one place and personalized offers are created for each segment based on that data. Then, these offers are delivered through a user-friendly channel.

This approach has a positive impact on sales. **Over the past year, the share of sales realized through CRM marketing tools has increased from 8 to 15%.**

The email channel shows the highest conversion rate. For example, **on Black Friday, 54% of revenue came from subscribers who purchased a certificate after clicking a link in an email.**

## Future plans 

1. **Connect the SMS channel.** Email newsletters are more focused on useful content, while SMS messages are suitable when it is necessary to promptly inform subscribers of important information. For example, to talk about limited promotions or remind them that the certificate expiration date is approaching.


2. **Assign tasks directly in AmoCRM.** We want to automate the process of transferring the request to the CRM system. When a client is active in messages (opens, clicks), a new task is instantly created in AmoCRM. Then the sales department picks up the interested lead.


3. **Track user behavior before their first purchase.** Tracking user behavior before their first purchase is one of our top priorities. It's important for us to understand what motivated the user to place an order. What hotels did they view? Did they compare locations? Did they purchase a certificate right away or return after some time? By collecting this data, we can improve the customer journey and personalize our email campaigns.

**The product belongs to Meta, a company recognized as extremist in Russia.*

Cuva is a Russian company selling gift certificates for vacations in hotels. Collaborating with Altcraft Platform they increased sales from 8% to 15%.

cuva_case.png

Seeking a right decision for your business to catch up with the competitors? Want to study what they do right now to win?

Cuva: Better Sales Results via Personalized Marketing

From 8% to 15%: How Cuva Implemented Personalized Marketing and Achieved Better Sales Results

<Img 
img="/uploads/obnovlenie_altcraft_platform_2023_3e621ca927.png"
alt="Altcraft Platform updates: machine learning, new reports and WhatsApp"
/>

Altcraft Platform continues to evolve. This post will highlight the new features that have been added to the platform over the last year, including integrations, enhanced analytics, and machine learning capabilities — and there's more to come.

## Analytics

In our previous platform update article, we announced our plans to transfer all analytics to ClickHouse, a database management system designed for the quick processing of SQL queries in real-time. Our migration to ClickHouse is now complete, and we'd like to share the new functionality that's available as a result.

### New reports

The platform now has two new analytical tools: the channel report and the traffic report. 

The channel report provides data on all events tracked in campaigns, including message delivery and open rates, reads and clicks, subscriptions, complaints, unsubscribes, and other metrics. With this report, you can [**gauge the effectiveness of each communication channel**](roi-romi-roas-difference) and pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of your strategy.

<Img 
img="/uploads/channel_report_example2_7bf11ab4be.png"
alt="New reports"
/>

The traffic report allows you to obtain valuable data on subscriber traffic. You can create a report based on a specific traffic source, such as a channel, tracking pixels, or forms. The report is built on hits, which are a unit of traffic measurement. A hit is counted when a user's action on the website results in a request being sent to the server. For example, if the traffic source is a channel, a click on a message would be considered a hit, while for a pixel, registering a goal would be a hit.

<Img 
img="/uploads/traffic_report_example_320a99a814.png"
alt="Traffic report"
/>

**What features do the two new reports share?**

**1. Customization.** Create a report tailored to your needs by selecting only the relevant parameters and metrics. Use filters to remove irrelevant data and focus on key metrics. A three-level detailed analysis can help you delve deeper into the information you've gathered.

**2. Saving.** Weekly reports often require analyzing the same information. You group the data, set filters, choose a time period, and then repeat all these steps again in a week. Now you can avoid this. Save the current report settings and get the required statistics in a couple of clicks at any time.

**3. Comparison.** Let’s say, you're testing a new email template and want to compare its conversion rate to the old one. Build a report on the email channel and group data by templates. Then, select the templates you want to compare and use the comparison mode to see how the metrics (opens, clicks, and other metrics) have changed.

<Img 
img="/uploads/comparsion_mode_a568bce0fa.png"
alt="Comparison mode in new reports"
/>

### Form analytics

We don't just create new analytics tools, we also improve old ones. This time, we've significantly revamped our web form analytics. In addition to statistics on form views and completions, you can now [**analyze respondent answers**](customer-satisfaction-survey-mistakes). Individual user responses can be found in the "Collected Data" section, while an overall summary for each question is available in the "Analytics" section. We believe these enhancements will help you process customer feedback and requests more efficiently, ultimately increasing their loyalty.

<Img 
img="/uploads/form_analytics_example_ed8ab77016.png"
alt=""
/>

## New communication channel — WhatsApp*

Now, you have the ability to engage with your subscribers on WhatsApp*. With a message open rate exceeding 90%, according to TextBack data, it's no surprise that many companies are utilizing this channel to keep their customers informed of important events, order status changes, or upcoming activities.

To [**send personalized messages to WhatsApp users**](whatsapp-newsletters), you'll need to use the WhatsApp Business API. In Altcraft Platform, integration with this API is facilitated through the official provider, [**360dialog**](https://www.360dialog.com/). You will be required to fill out an application form, verify your company on Facebook, and confirm your phone number to use this integration.

After all the formalities have been taken care of, the integration of the Altcraft Platform with 360dialog can be set up. It is important to note that message templates must be created in the 360 Client Hub, and not in our platform. Once you have connected, these templates will become available in the Altcraft Platform editor.

<Img 
img="/uploads/whatsapp_templates_45e90ff899.png"
alt="WhatsApp integration via 360dialog"
/>

All you have to do is fill in the variables, and the template can be used in campaigns.

<Img 
img="/uploads/whatsapp_template_filling_in_893717fe86.png"
alt="WhatsApp integration via 360dialog"
/>

Currently, the platform only supports the sending of HSM templates. These templates are used to initiate a dialogue with the user and require prior approval from Facebook.

## Best time to send messages

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and our journey to full-fledged machine learning started with the best time to send messages. Now, you don't have to guess when to deliver a message to your subscriber. Machine learning algorithms will do it for you.

Based on the uploaded model, the algorithms will analyze the history of message opens in your campaigns and select the best time to send for each profile in your database. The best time is the day of the week and hour when the subscriber is most likely to open the message.

To access this functionality, enable machine learning in your database and wait for the first data calculation. The algorithms will only choose the optimal sending time for profiles with a history of at least one week. We will show you what to do next with an example.

Let's say that every Monday you share the latest book releases with your subscribers. You used to send one message to the whole audience at 10 am, but now you want to send the message to each subscriber at a time that works best for them.

First, create a dynamic segment that selects the best delivery time based on the "current time" condition. 

<Img 
img="/uploads/ml_segment_example_a5cd1d6d47.png"
alt="Segment by best send time"
/>

Then, configure a regular campaign to run every Monday, every hour, and select the dynamic segment you created as the recipient. This segment will be calculated before each send, so profiles that have the best delivery time as the current hour will be included. As a result, each subscriber will receive the message on Monday at the optimal time for them.

<Img 
img="/uploads/regular_campaign_scheldule_ba94114dd7.png"
alt="Regular campaign settings"
/>

You can also set up sending messages at a convenient time for subscribers using a scenario. The new "Waiting for the best delivery time" node works almost like the "Pause" node, but it takes into account machine learning data. The profile won't move on to the next step of the scenario until the optimal time or day for sending them a message arrives.

By sending messages to customers at a time that works best for them, you can improve the CTR and Open Rate of your email campaigns, and reduce the number of unsubscribes and complaints.
Google Ads integration

Our team is continuously expanding the list of integrations with advertising platforms, and we're excited to announce our latest addition: Google Ads. 

You can now sync customer data from static segments in Altcraft Platform with audiences in Google Ads. To get started, link your Google Ads account with our platform through the connection and set up the integration.

<Img 
img="/uploads/integrations_c0c1e147d4.png"
alt="Google Ads integration"
/>

Once your customer data has been uploaded, you can [**leverage it to launch targeted ads**](what-is-retargeting) on Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, and other platforms of the contextual media network.

## Two-Factor Authentication

Security is the cornerstone of our platform, and we regularly take measures to improve it. This time, we have added an extra level of account protection — 2FA or Two-Factor Authentication. 

Users can enable 2FA at their profile security settings. Once activated, logging in to the platform will require not only a login and password but also a one-time code generated by a special application. 

## Conclusion

We hope this brief overview of the new platform features has given you some ideas on how to use the functionality to enhance your marketing strategy. If you have any questions or suggestions for improving the platform, please feel free to [**share them with us**](mailto:sales@altcraft.com).

**Product of Meta, a company recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation.*

Read about the latest updates in the Altcraft marketing automation platform. WhatsApp channel, custom reports, best send time to send messages and more.

obnovlenie altcraft platform 2023.png

For those who have been waiting for updates in our platform for a long time.

Altcraft Platform Updates: ML, New Reports, WhatsApp

Altcraft Platform Updates: Machine Learning, New Reports and WhatsApp

<Img
img="/uploads/how_to_send_an_email_blast_665202bc02.jpg"
alt="How to Send an Email Blast"
/>

Wondering how to send an email blast? Need to know what an email blast is? Trying to figure out how to create an email blast?

If you want to make the most of email blast marketing, you’re in the right place! Mail blasting is a proven way to get your message to potential customers quickly. Once you know how to do email blast, you’ll find mail blasting an easy and effective email marketing approach.

Whether you know it or not, you have probably seen an email blast example in your own inbox. Now, let’s explore how to leverage them for your business.

## What is an Email Blast?

An email blast is an email marketing tactic also known as an email broadcast.

When you send email blast, you’re sending a message to a large group of contacts at once. For example, if you have an existing email list with three segments – leads, customers, and past customers – an email blast would reach all of them. However, you would still [**personalize**](dynamic-content) the message with custom fields.

Some email blast examples include announcing a new product, a new feature, or a limited-time offer.

## When to Use Email Blast?

The best time to use an email blast is when you need to get the word out about a new business or offering fast.

If you can commit to doing A/B/n testing but you still need to make contact with potential buyers quickly, the email blast is the way to go. You can make the most of your customer data platform and get fresh eyes on your message right away, when it is at the peak of its relevance.

It is important not to overuse the email blast. If you send out an email broadcast for every little thing, you might lose subscribers. Plus, an email blast should only be sent to people you already have a relationship with.

The best email blast examples are enticing and add a lot of value even though they aren’t hyper-targeted!

## How to Create Email Blast

Here are the seven steps to create an email blast:

**1. Make Sure Your Email Database Is Clean**

Before any email blast, check your deliverability statistics and your [**email database**](how-to-build-an-email-database). Get rid of outdated entries that are causing emails to bounce. Also make note of any recent email messages with low deliverability so you know what to avoid in your email blast. These steps help you avoid being marked as spam in the future.

**2. Warm Up Your IP**

Warming up your IP establishes a good seller reputation and makes it less likely ISPs will automatically block your email messages. It is essential to warm up your IP if it is new or if you have not used it for an email campaign in the last 30 days. You must gradually increase the volume of emails you send over a period of several days. You can learn more about how to [**warm up your IP**](how-to-inbox) successfully.

**3. Determine Your Message Goals**

What do you plan to accomplish and what are the key metrics you need to monitor over time? Do you have a specific target for sign-ups or sales? Do you need to drive traffic to a particular page? This guides messaging and helps you set a baseline to know whether subsequent emails are trending in the right direction.

**4. Find the Right Marketing Automation Software**

The goal of your campaign, the size of your email list, and the messaging features you want to use will all come together to influence which [**marketing automation software**](https://altcraft.com/en) meets your needs best. Be certain whatever suite you select [**integrates**](/features/integration) with your Customer Relationship Management so you can keep all data in one place.

In Altcraft Platform, you can send a broadcast in a few clicks. Just choose your target audience, message content, and launch day:

<Img
img="/uploads/how_to_send_email_broadcast_in_altcraft_platform_4153415a62.png"
alt="How to send email broadcast in Altcraft Platform"
/>

**5. Create the Email Message**

On the surface, an email message seems simple enough: It’s a subject line, body, images, and a call-to-action. But each element must be fine-tuned to your intended audience. Craft the subject line with care, as well as the first 30 characters of the message, which are visible in the preview used by most mobile email clients. Altcraft Platform comes complete with its own [**drag-and-drop email builder**](/features/email-template-editor) to make this process easier.

<Img
img="/uploads/Visual_editor_96859a19ed.gif"
alt="HTML Drag-and-Drop Builder"
src="HTML Drag-and-Drop Builder in Altcraft Platform"
/>

**6. Embed Personalization in Your Message**

The cardinal rule of email marketing is this: No matter how many people you’re really talking to, your message should read like one-to-one communication. [**Use the data**](data-driven-marketing) you already have on your subscribers to build out custom fields with relevant content. First name personalization is a terrific place to start.

<Img
img="/uploads/facts_about_personalization_eecce752f8.jpg"
alt="Why personalization is important"
src="Facts About Personalization"
/>

**7. Use Your Subscriber Data to Improve Your Results**

By using audience segmentation, you can send a more personalized message even though you may be talking to thousands of people at once. The thrust of your message may be the same for everyone, but you might tweak the wording for leads, current customers, and past customers.

**8. Conduct A/B/N Testing to Refine Your Messaging**

Rome wasn’t built in one email. After 3-5 days, take a look at your [**data**](/features/analytics) so you’re equipped with lessons learned for the next email blast. Open rate, click-through rate, and unsubscribes are especially important to keep an eye on. If you’ve been [**split testing**](/features/mvt) so far, determine your winner and document the results.

<Img
img="/uploads/how_to_do_an_email_blast_the_right_way_1f71ed0166.jpg"
alt="How to do an email blast"
/>

## Conclusion

Done right, an email blast accelerates results from any promotion. With the tips above, you’ll be ready to create an email blast whenever your marketing plans call for it.

If you have any questions about how to send a broadcast, please [**contact us**](mailto:sales@altkraft.com).

Once you know how to do email blast, you’ll find mail blasting an easy and effective email marketing approach.

how-to-send-an-email-blast.jpg

Mail blasting is a proven way to get your message to potential customers quickly. Once you know how to do email blast, you’ll find mail blasting an easy and effective email marketing approach.

Email Blast: What Is It and How to Send It

How to Send an Email Blast

<Img
img="/uploads/blog_8746406d02.jpg"
alt="How to Use Customer Feedback to Increase Sales"
/>

A customer review is a feedback from customers on your products or services and an obligatory attribute of the business. However, companies do not always understand its significance: they do not collect, they only react to positive reviews and do not work with negative ones. This approach is a mistake. Reviews build customer loyalty, inform users about the product smoothly, help identify flaws, improve the product and drive sales. We are about to tell you why customer feedback is important and how to get it correctly.

## Why customer feedback is important

[**89%**](https://www.oberlo.com/blog/online-review-statistics) of buyers read reviews before a purchase, so ignoring customer reviews is a bad idea. 

**Reviews build customer trust.** A product without reviews is suspicious, as the one that has only positive comments. Companies are afraid of criticism, so they often publish good impressions on their websites. However, users do not believe such "sterile" responses and go to third-party sources: Google Maps, [**Tripadvisor**](https://www.tripadvisor.com/), [**Yelp**](https://www.yelp.com/). Another way to get to the truth is to check out social networks.

Unscrupulous companies ignore and remove negative reviews, but this approach cannot do anything but annoys customers. Don’t be afraid of bad reviews, react to such feedback. 45% of consumers say they’re more likely to visit a business that responds to negative reviews.

<Img
img="/uploads/examples_responding_negative_reviews_1b1e2d5a3b.webp"
alt="Example of how to respond to negative reviews"
src="Example of how to respond to bad reviews correctly"
/>

**Customer feedback** is also an increase in sales. Nine out of ten online orders are made by people after reading reviews. A good, detailed commentary is more convincing than any ad campaign. It helps customers understand if a product is right for them. Research from "AliExpress Russia" showed that 65% of buyers turn to someone else's opinion for this purpose. People read user stories and find information that is not in the standard description. For example, you can find out that shoes are small in size only from the reviews in the product card on the company's website or marketplace.

Reviews are the basis of Booking and Airbnb services for booking hotels and daily accommodation. No descriptions and beautiful photos will help you if someone writes about cockroaches in the room.

<Img
img="/uploads/Screenshot_from_2021_07_30_17_36_18_c4c4ef6294.png"
alt="Reviews on Airbnb"
src="Reviews on Airbnb"
/>

## How to get customer feedback

The best way to get feedback is to ask. People don't always write them by themselves. Some of them don't think it's important, others just forget. They are also more likely to leave bad feedback and not share positive impressions.

The feedback formats:

- **Text reviews** — a description of the product or service by the client. It can be an opinion or a detailed review.
- **Photo reviews** — photos describing a product or service. Sometimes buyers even take pictures of the unpacking process and pay attention to the packaging.
- **Video reviews** — in the format of a "talking head" or professional reviews, for example, in blogs on Youtube.
- **Audio reviews** are not the most popular, but easy, because the user does not need to formulate the text or waste time shooting a video.


### How to ask for feedback

**Send an email asking to describe the buying experience.** This is what sellers on Amazon often do when a buyer has received an order.

<Img
img="/uploads/amazon_message_template_96a0b225ae.webp"
alt="Amazon seller request for review"
src="Amazon seller request for review"
/>

**Use website pop-ups or special forms.** Sometimes a user wants to capture his impression but does not understand how to do it on your website. Make it easy for the customer — don't hide the feedback form. If the feedback is negative, your managers should see and process it than wait until users leave such a review on popular platforms.

**Call the customer once he makes a purchase.** For example, banks and Internet providers ask clients to rate a consultation as soon as they help them deal with a problem. With modern tools, a call from a living person is not even required, a robot will do everything for you.

**Conduct a survey on social media**. Ask a series of questions, either short-answer or multiple choice.
 
**Ask for a review in person** at the moment of receiving the purchase. In this case, you can take a photo of the customer with the product, record a video, or just conduct a quick survey. However, don't insist if the client doesn't want to film or leave feedback. Everything should be voluntary and honest.
 
**Collect feedback from customer chats** when they write to you personally about their problem. It's also a good way to deal with negative customer experience before it goes public.

**Look for reviews on social media — on the accounts of users or in the comments.** Do it using requests or special services: YouScan, SemanticForce, IQBuzz and others. They show mentions of the company by keywords. You can also process negative reviews and respond to user questions.

## How to encourage customers to write reviews about a company, products and services

You can ask for feedback over and over again. There’s no point. Users stuck in a rut forget about you, or they just do not want to waste time on a review. This is where thanks for the feedback as a bonus comes in handy.

What should be offered to customers for feedback:

- Discount for the next order or gift. If there is a discount for a related product, then you will also make an upsell.
- Bonus for a recommendation on social media or to a friend. If a client publishes a review on his account or tells a friend about you (for example, sends a promo code or a referral link), he will receive a discount, points to a bonus account, or a freebie. In our marketing automation platform [**Altcraft Marketing**](https://altcraft.com/en), it’s easy to generate personal promotional codes and award points for a referred friend in the loyalty program management [**module**](https://altcraft.com/features/loyalty-programs).
- Competition for the best, detailed, creative product review, for example, in the form of a review.

You can also show reviews of other clients. The principle of social proof works here — people often make decisions or do something because they look at others.

## What matters when collecting feedback

**Leaving a review should be as simple and fast as sending a message on Facebook.** For example, you cannot fail to notice the section for rating the film on Netflix. All you need to do is to tap a star. And it doesn't matter if you watch a movie on the website or in a mobile app.

<Img
img="/uploads/netflix_5a0bd5d5cb.webp"
alt="Reviews on Netflix"
src="An example of collecting ratings for movies on Netflix"
/>

**Make sure to thank your customers for their feedback.** They have spent their time on you, so appreciate it and you will get their loyalty in return.

**Don't write puff pieces.** If you buy a review, people will notice this, and it will cause only negative emotions. Especially if you recently received bad comments and immediately decided to cover them with a few positive ones. Hundreds of reviews about a young company that has just appeared on the market will be suspicious as well.

**Explain what you want to get from the customer in the review**: product photo or detailed description. General phrases in the response are not credible; they are useless for the company.

"I liked everything. I recommend it.” — this is a poor choice of words for a review. Why did you like it? What are the features of a product or service? Likewise with "I didn't like it." What exactly? To get detailed answers, the client needs to be given a hint through questions. You can ask the following questions:
- Why did you choose our product?
- What problem did you want to solve with our product? What was the result?
- What expectations did you have from the product and did it live up to them?
- Would you recommend our product?
- What would you like to change?
- What did you like the most?

## Benefits of collecting customer feedback

A product that makes the customer happy sells well. Solve the user problem, address his needs and you will make him happy. The only way to find out if your product has worked is to ask consumers. Therefore, customer reviews are the key to increase sales.

What’s your profit from collecting and analyzing customer feedback?

- **Feedback will help you improve your product or service.** You will find out what your customers like and what annoys them, what prevents them from using your product. Reviews will give unexpected insights.

- **Increased customer loyalty.** Asking for and responding to feedback is a way to show that you hear the customer and care about them. Bad responses should be responded to constructively, not ignored. The correct answer and analysis of the situation can turn a disgruntled client into a brand advocate. Other users will see the answer and make a mental note: “This company is not indifferent to customer problems”.

- **Reviews find "breaches" in a product or service and seal them off.** When launching a product, you rely on [**marketing research**](how-to-do-market-research), and this is reviews that complement them in the process. Through them, you will study consumer behavior in reality, and not in a simulated situation.

- **Returning customers and increasing revenue.** If the buyer is disappointed in the product, received a poor-quality service and writes about it, then the answer will not only reduce the negative, but also bring the client back. How? Offer to fix everything and do it 100%. Then the client will buy from you again. He may even recommend your product to his friends and acquaintances.

- **Building future strategies of the company based on feedback from customers** and creating products for the needs of people.

- **Additional promotion.** Reviews are unique content that mentions your brand and does not repeat itself in descriptions on different websites. Take reviews on your website and use them on social media.

## What Altcraft Marketing offers

Altcraft Marketing has its own built-in service for creating surveys. This tool is called [**Forms**](updates-telegram-bot-facebook-ads-manager). Using it, you can easily collect the customer data you are interested in. If you know in advance what your customers are unhappy with, you will be able to quickly react to negative reviews and maintain a positive opinion of your brand.

Implement an NPS survey through "Forms". In a Net Promoter Score survey, customers are asked to answer the question: “On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our business to a friend or colleague?”. Those who gave a score of 9 or 10 are promoters; 7 or 8 — passives; less than 7 — detractors. Such a survey is considered to be very useful in measuring [**customer loyalty**](customer-loyalty).

The survey can be posted on a separate page or embedded in the site as an iframe code. When it is published, its analytics will open for you.

<Img
img="/uploads/NPS_survey_in_Altcraft_NPS_dbacab3a8b.png"
alt="NPS Survey in Altcraft Marketing"
src="NPS Survey in Altcraft Marketing"
/>

## Conclusion

Customer feedback is the key to increasing sales. Of course, this is not a guide to action, but only opinions that need to be filtered and analyzed. Reviews let you know how your product or service works and what customers actually want to see. Get to know your audience. This way, you will improve the product or service and fine-tune it to better meet customer expectations.

Why is customer feedback important? In a new article, we will tell you why customer reviews are important and how to collect them correctly.

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Customer feedback is important to a brand. We will tell you how to collect reviews and use them to increase sales.

Customer Feedback: How to Collect and Use It to Increase Sales

How to Use Customer Feedback to Increase Sales

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