Keeping a clean email list is like keeping your room tidy. A tidy room is easier to use. A clean email list works better. It means your messages go to real people. It also helps Mailchimp know you are a good sender. This prevents your emails from going to spam folders. Thus, archiving cleaned contacts is a smart move.
What Exactly Are Mailchimp "Cleaned Contacts"?
In Mailchimp, a "cleaned contact" is an email address that can no longer receive your emails. Mailchimp marks them this way automatically. This happens because sending emails to them has failed. These failures are called "bounces." Think of a bounce like a letter returning to sender. There are two main types of bounces. It is good to know about both.
One type is a "hard bounce." This is a permanent problem. For example, the email address might not exist. Maybe someone typed it wrong. Or, the email account was closed. When a hard bounce happens, Mailchimp cleans that contact right away. They stop trying to send emails to it. This is because it will never work. Therefore, it saves you time and effort.
The second type is a "soft bounce." This is a temporary problem. The person's inbox might be full. Their email server could be down. Or, the email might be too big. Mailchimp will try to send to soft-bounced addresses again. If it keeps bouncing, it becomes a hard bounce. Then, it turns into a "cleaned contact." So, cleaned contacts are those that are truly undeliverable. You cannot send them marketing emails.
Mailchimp automatically stops sending to these cleaned addresses. This protects your sending reputation. A good reputation means your emails reach inboxes. A bad reputation means emails go to spam. Mailchimp helps you maintain a good standing. Therefore, knowing about cleaned contacts is key.
Why Archiving Cleaned Contacts Is a Smart Move
You might wonder why you should archive cleaned contacts. After all, Mailchimp already stops sending to them. However, archiving has some big benefits. The main one is about money. Mailchimp charges you based on the number of contacts in your audience. This includes people you can't even email!
Archiving cleaned contacts removes them from your active contact count. This means you might pay less for your Mailchimp plan. It is like putting old toys in a storage box. They are still there, but not taking up space in your room. This can lead to real savings. Especially if you have many cleaned contacts.
Furthermore, a smaller, cleaner list is better for your reports. Your email open rates will look higher. Your click rates will also improve. This is because you are only counting real, reachable list to data people. These numbers give you a clearer picture. You can see how well your emails are doing. So, it helps you make better decisions. Archiving keeps your data tidy and accurate.
Archiving also helps with your sender reputation. Email providers like Gmail or Outlook watch how you send emails. If you send many emails that bounce, it looks bad. It makes you seem like a spammer. By archiving cleaned contacts, you reduce bounces. This improves your sender score. It means your emails are more likely to land in the inbox. Ultimately, it helps you reach your actual audience.
Sometimes, people confuse archiving with deleting. Deleting a contact removes them forever. You cannot get their information back. Archiving is different. When you archive a contact, their data stays in Mailchimp. It is just moved to a special "archived contacts" section. You can still view their history. You can even unarchive them later if needed. This is very useful. It gives you flexibility.
Consider this: you had a customer who changed their email. Their old email became a cleaned contact. You archive it. Later, they sign up with their new email. You still have their old data archived. This helps you connect their new entry to their past actions. It keeps your customer records more complete. Therefore, archiving is a powerful tool.
How to Archive Cleaned Contacts in Mailchimp Step-by-Step
Archiving cleaned contacts in Mailchimp is quite simple. You do not need to be a computer expert. Just follow these easy steps. Soon your list will be cleaner. First, you need to log into your Mailchimp account. Use your username and password. This takes you to your main dashboard. It is like the control panel for your email marketing.
Once you are logged in, look for the "Audience" icon. It usually looks like a group of people. Click on it. This will open up your audience dashboard. Here you see your lists of contacts. If you have many lists, pick the one you want to clean. It is important to choose the correct audience.
Next, you will see an option for "All contacts." Click on this. This shows you every contact in that audience. Now, you need to find the "cleaned" ones. Mailchimp marks these with a special status. You might see a "cleaned" tag next to their email. It is easy to spot.
Filter for Cleaned Contacts: Now, you need to find only the "cleaned" ones. Look for a "Segment" or "Filter" option. You might see a dropdown menu. Select "Contact Status." Then, choose "Cleaned." This will show only those contacts.
Select Contacts to Archive: Once you see the cleaned contacts, select them. You can check the box next to each name. To select all, there is often a "Select All" checkbox. This saves a lot of time.
Archive the Contacts: With the cleaned contacts selected, look for an "Actions" dropdown menu. Click on it. From the choices, select "Archive." Mailchimp will ask you to confirm. Type "ARCHIVE" into the box. Then, click the "Confirm" button. This moves them to your archive.
It is important to remember that archiving is not permanent deletion. You can still see them. They are just in a different place. Mailchimp provides clear instructions. So, just follow the prompts carefully.
Viewing and Unarchiving Cleaned Contacts
After you archive contacts, they are still within Mailchimp. They are not gone forever. You can always view them. You can even bring them back if needed. This feature is very helpful. It means you do not lose data. It also means you can correct mistakes. Or you can adapt to new situations.
To view your archived contacts, go back to the "Audience" section. Look for the "Manage Audience" dropdown. Click on it. You will see an option like "View archived contacts." Click this. A new table will appear. This table shows all your archived contacts. You can see their email addresses. You can also see their history.
Sometimes, you might want to unarchive a contact. Perhaps an email address becomes active again. Or you fix a typo. To unarchive, find the contact in your archived list. Check the box next to their name. Then, look for an "Unarchive" button or option. Click it. The contact will move back to your active list. They will also get their previous status back. For example, "subscribed."
It is important to note: if you import a contact that was previously archived, Mailchimp might unarchive them automatically. This can be useful. But make sure you still have permission to email them. You do not want to send emails to people who do not want them. Always respect privacy.
Keeping Your Mailchimp List Healthy
Archiving cleaned contacts is just one part. It is part of keeping your email list healthy. A healthy list means better results. It means your emails reach more people. It also helps you save money. There are a few other tips to keep in mind. They will help you have a great email list.
Firstly, always use a "double opt-in." This means people sign up. Then, they get an email. They must click a link in that email to confirm. This makes sure their email is real. It also makes sure they truly want your emails. This reduces bounces from the start. It brings higher quality subscribers.
Secondly, regularly check your campaign reports. Mailchimp provides reports for every email you send. Look at the "bounced" section. Pay attention to hard bounces. Also, look for recurring soft bounces. These tell you which emails are causing problems. This helps you know when to archive.
Thirdly, consider sending re-engagement campaigns. Some contacts might just be inactive. They are not opening your emails. But they have not bounced. You could send them a special email. Ask if they still want to hear from you. Give them a reason to click. If they do not respond, then consider archiving them. This keeps your list active.
Finally, never buy email lists. These lists often have many bad email addresses. They can hurt your sender reputation very badly. Always get people to sign up themselves. This builds trust. It also ensures you have interested subscribers. A clean, engaged list is your best asset.
By following these steps, you can keep your Mailchimp audience strong. Archiving cleaned contacts is a simple but powerful action. It leads to better email deliverability. It helps you understand your audience better. Most importantly, it saves you money on your Mailchimp plan. So, make it a regular habit. Your email marketing will thank you.
