How do I switch to SendFox from another email platform?

Switch to SendFox by exporting only your subscribed contacts, importing them in Audience → Contacts → Import contacts, then rebuilding your forms. Every plan.

What does switching to SendFox involve?

Moving from another email platform takes three steps: export your subscribed contacts from your old tool, import them into SendFox, then rebuild your signup forms, Smart Pages and welcome emails.

Starting fresh rather than switching? See How do I start a newsletter with SendFox? For quick answers to common questions, see the SendFox FAQ.

Importing contacts works on every plan. The Free plan holds up to 1,000 contacts and sends 3,000 emails a month; for more, see SendFox Pro plans.

Imported contacts don't receive a confirmation email from SendFox, so they won't be asked to opt in again.

Which platform are you coming from?

Coming from another tool? Most email tools can export your contacts as a CSV file. Follow the steps below.

Why should I export only subscribed contacts?

SendFox adds every row of a CSV file as a subscribed contact. It doesn't read a status column, so people who unsubscribed or bounced in your old tool would become subscribed again in SendFox. They didn't agree to hear from you, and emailing them hurts your deliverability.

When you export, choose your old tool's subscribed (or active) contacts only. Someone who already unsubscribed in SendFox stays unsubscribed: an import never re-subscribes them.

How do I import my contacts?

1. Go to Audience → Contacts and click Import contacts.
2. Click Upload a file and choose your CSV file.
3. Map your columns. Email is required; you can also map first and last names. To bring other data, create the custom fields in SendFox first. Columns you don't map aren't imported.
4. Optionally add tags under Tag them on import, such as the name of your old tool. Every contact in the file gets them.
5. Under Select a list for your new contacts, choose an existing list or name a new one, then click Continue & import contacts.

Files with fewer than 1,000 rows are added right away. Larger files run in the background, and SendFox emails you when the import is done. For file layouts from specific platforms, see How do I format a CSV file to import contacts into SendFox?.

Used tags or segments in your old tool? Export one file per tag or segment and add the matching tag with Tag them on import as you upload each one. See how contact tags work.

What do I need to rebuild in SendFox?

Only contacts come across. Your past campaigns stay in your old tool, and the rest is rebuilt in SendFox:

• Signup forms: create a SendFox form and replace the old embed code on your site.
• Smart Pages: rebuild your old tool's signup pages as Smart Pages and update your links.
• Welcome emails and sequences: recreate them as automations.
• Personalization: use SendFox's personalization tags, such as {{contact.first_name}}.
• Sending domain: validate your domain so your emails come from your own address.
• Paid subscribers: paid subscriptions can't be transferred, so paying readers subscribe again through a SendFox paid newsletter (Pro). See How do I move paid subscribers to SendFox?

Troubleshooting

My import was blocked

• A CSV file can have up to 100,000 rows. Split a larger file and import it in parts.
• An import can't take you over your plan's contact limit. SendFox tells you before it starts, and only email addresses that are new to your account count toward the limit.

Fewer contacts arrived than I exported

• SendFox keeps one contact per email address, so duplicates merge. See whether SendFox creates duplicate contacts.
• Rows without a valid email address are skipped.

Someone who unsubscribed in SendFox was in my file

• They stay unsubscribed. An import never re-subscribes a contact who unsubscribed in SendFox.

Still stuck? Browse the SendFox Help Center or email support@sendfox.com with the number of rows in your file and the name of the list you imported into.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my imported contacts get a confirmation email?

No. SendFox doesn't send a confirmation email to imported contacts, so import only people who agreed to hear from you.

Can I bring my tags or segments across?

Yes, one file at a time. Export each tag or segment separately and add the matching tag with Tag them on import.

Do my past campaigns come across?

No. Only contacts are imported. Your past campaigns stay in your old tool, and you write new emails in SendFox.