Convert your lists to communication-based lists

When creating and implementing a preference center, we recommend that all lists in your account be subscription-based and that you create no more lists than the ones to which you intend to send email marketing messages. This helps drive higher engagement and conversion rates and decreases unsubscribe rates and spam complaints.

In this article, you’ll learn how to convert your current lists to communication-based lists to help you take full advantage of the Preference Center feature.

Take note

• If your lists are already subscription-based list, you do not need to convert your lists
• Do not delete old lists once you convert them to communication-based lists(s). Doing so will create data loss for your account
• Learn best practices for creating, naming, and maintaining lists
• Learn how to create segments
• Learn about ActiveCampaign list statuses

Convert your lists to a communication-based list

1. Find the list you want to convert:
   • Click Contacts on the left menu
   • Click Lists on the left panel
     
   • Locate the list you want to convert, then click the list's name to display all contacts in the list
2. As a best practice, we recommend adding a tag to all contacts you are removing from your old list for future reference. To do so:
   • Click the “Edit all” button
   • A modal window will appear. Click “Add a tag”

   • Type the tag name into the field provided, then click “Add”

       We recommend creating a tag that includes the name of the list that you’re converting. For example, the tag can be “Old_List_Name_Date.”

   • Click the “Apply” button
   • Confirm you want to apply the changes by clicking “Apply changes to X contacts”
   • Click “Okay”
3. Next, create a new list. This will be your subscription-based list. To do so:
   • Click Lists on the left panel 
   • Click the "Add a list" button
   • A modal window will appear. Complete the fields in the modal
   • Click the “Save” button
4. Add contacts to your new list:
   • From the Lists page, locate and open the old list you want to convert 
   • Click the "Edit all" button
   • The Bulk Edit tool will open. Click the "Subscribe to a list" action
   • Select the new list you created in Step 3
   • Click the “Apply” button
   • Click the acknowledgement box and "Confirm" button to continue
   • Click “Apply changes to X contacts”
   • Click “Okay”
5. Confirm that your contacts were successfully added to the new list:
   • Click "Lists" on the left side panel
   • Click the list name
   • Review contacts in the list to ensure it's correct
6. Unsubscribe contacts from the old list:
   • From the new list, click the "Edit All"  button to open the Bulk Edit tool
   • Select the "Unsubscribe from a list" option 
   • Select the old list
   • Click "Apply"
   • Click "Apply changes to x contacts"
   • Click "Okay"
   • Note that it may take a few moments for the changes to take effect
7. Confirm that the contact count in your old list(s) is 0.
8. As a best practice, rename your old list. If you want to move your old list to the bottom of your lists, type “Z_OLD_” in front of the list name. To do so:
   • From the Lists page, locate your old list
   • Click the down arrow next to the “Import contacts” button for that list
   • Select “Edit” from the list of options
   • In the name field, provide a different name for your old list or type “Z_OLD_” in front of the list name
   • Click the “Save” button