There are five steps in the process to get set up and mailing a FTP Batch Drip Campaign.
Step 1: FTP Setup
Your FTP server needs to be added to the Postalytics polling mechanism. To do this we’ll need the following information:
FTP Host
FTP Port
FTP Type
Username
Password
Initial directory
File sample including the naming convention
Step 2: Upload a Sample Data (Shell) List Into Postalytics for Mapping
We’ll need to know what fields in your data file will match to the fields in our database so one manual sample list upload will be necessary.
Upload a list that has the exact headers that the FTP file will contain along with one sample record, for mapping purposes.
Once the file is configured with the correct headers, from the main page, use the Lists drop down menu to select New List, then choose either the .CSV or Excel data file upload option.
Drag and drop, or select the contact list you created and click Next.
You’ll now be able to see a preview of the data to be uploaded. Click ‘Looks Good Start Mapping’.
Next, map all of the required fields as well as any other optional/variable fields from your data file. Click ‘Confirm Field Mapping’.
You’ll now see the mapped fields with your file headers as well as how they were mapped within Postalytics. Verify they are correct and click ‘Import Now’.
Your list will import and you’ll be shown a List Health Report, letting you know how many records were uploaded and, if there were any issues with records.. Scroll down to the bottom and click ‘Go To My Lists’
You’ll be taken to your list library where you’ll now Edit the list you just uploaded. Click Edit from the information options on the right side.
The sample record uploaded was for mapping purposes only, so now it will need to be deleted.
Click Delete from the information options on the right side.
An error message will appear indicating that there are no data rows. This is OK.
And, back in the List Library, you will see that there are now zero records in this list.
Step 3: Create Your Campaign
This step is similar to creating a Postalytics Smart Send campaign.
Select the Smart Send Campaign option.
Enter the Campaign name and the return address information.
Select the sample/shell list that you previously uploaded and mapped.
Select the template intended for this Campaign that has been proofed.
If your template is a postcard or self mailer template, the Campaign Wizard will bypass ‘Envelope’.
If your template is a letter, you’ll need to choose between the standard plain double window, or a custom single window outer envelope – if you have pre-ordered them. For more information on the Custom Envelope order process click here.
Note: Your custom envelope order will need to be finalized before you can select it. Orders take 3-6 weeks to process, and made available to use in a campaign. Contact Support for current delivery timelines. Any pending orders will be listed in the bottom section of the envelope page.
Click Next to continue.
pURL/QR Code and Tracking
The next step is to set up your pURLs for tracking. If you aren’t using pURLs or QR Codes, you’ll skip the next two steps and go to ‘Schedule’.
Choose your Domain for tracking. You can use Postalytics shared Free Domain (p.ostal.us) or a Vanity Domain – this will need to be purchased and set up through your Postalytics account.
Then, Pick A Style for the URL string. We offer Random and Friendly URL Strings.
Finally, enter a URL end in the URL end box. A URL end prevents duplicate pURLs if you plan to use your domain for multiple campaigns. Any combination of letters and numbers will work, just no special characters or symbols.
NOTE: If the domain selected has been used before and the ending URL is not unique, you’ll receive a system message asking you to change the structure before you’re able to move forward.
The URLs page is where you’ll enter your landing page URL that has the Postalytics Tracking Code Installed.
You’ll also have the option to enter a goal URL. Be sure that page includes the Postalytics Tracking Code as well.
Schedule
For this type of campaign, keep the date as the current date, even if you won’t be sending records that day.
Confirmation
Confirm that the choices made during the previous steps in the Campaign Wizard are correct.
Payment
In order to run a Campaign receiving FTP files, Direct Mail Credits are needed. You can purchase these on the Campaign payment page, or purchase them ahead of time by selecting Direct Mail Credits under your account username in the upper righthand corner.
Campaign Status
The Campaign will now be in “Scheduled for Delivery” status.
Shortly thereafter, the Campaign will move to “Sent” status. This is OK, as there were no records in the data file, so there weren’t any mailpieces created or sent. This step in the process is needed before proceeding.
Note: Please contact support@postalytics.com via email, providing us with your Campaign Name and Mail Drop ID. We will then activate the Campaign within our database. The campaign will be put into "Test Mode" so that you can send sample contacts into the campaign.
Step 4: FTP File Naming Convention
The naming convention for your files sent through FTP will need to be formatted in a specific way so that our polling mechanism can locate them and connect them with the proper Postalytics Campaign.
From the Postalytics Campaign Dashboard you’ll need the Campaign ID and Drop ID. You can find this in the URL of the dashboard.
You’ll also need the API Key (removing the dashes), found in the Connect page below your username:
These three pieces will make up the file name.
APIKEYNODASHES_CampaignId_DropId_##_#####.csv
The pound signs are optional identifiers that can be used for dates, sequences, etc.
An example file name is: ABCD1821309E4FEFAE8F219FC7679E33_12345_98765.csv
Step 5: Send Files to the Campaign via FTP
Once the campaign shell is created and is in live mode, and you’ve formatted your file naming convention, you can start dropping files into the FTP for processing.
Note: Use the same column structure and field names that you used in the shell file uploaded and mapped for the campaign.
The polling mechanism will check your directory every 10-15 minutes randomly. If a file is found, it will process and then move it to a subdirectory called ‘processed’. Please be sure this directory is created on your server.
FTP files can be saved to the server in two ways:
Single Directory – In this setup, each file in the directory is coded with at least three things. The FTP key, campaignid and dropid. The files will look something like this:
ABCD1821309E4FEFAE8F219FC7679E33_12345_98765.csv
ABCD1821309E4FEFAE8F219FC7679E33_12346_98766.csv
Optionally, there can be ending identifiers to indicate a date, serial number, etc.
Multiple Directories – In this setup instead of the files indicating the authentication and campaign to push to, the folder does that. This allows you to push any named csv file to the appropriate directory and it will be picked up. The folder and files in this case would look like:
/ABCD1821309E4FEFAE8F219FC7679E33_12345_98765_filename.csv
/ABCD1821309E4FEFAE8F219FC7679E33_12346_98766_another_filename.csv
Process Confirmation Email
You’ll know when we’ve retrieved and processed a file by the system generated confirmation email you’ll receive each time a file is processed. This email will contain the details of the file processed, such as how many pieces were imported, how many were successfully sent, and how many failed.