Migrating from ActiveCampaign to Drip

Complete Guide: Migrating from ActiveCampaign to Drip (Same AccessAlly Site)

Why Migrate from ActiveCampaign to Drip?

Common reasons for migrating from ActiveCampaign to Drip:

• E-commerce Focus: Drip is purpose-built for e-commerce businesses with product-focused automation
• Revenue Tracking: Better built-in revenue attribution and purchase behavior tracking
• Simpler Interface: Some find Drip’s interface cleaner and easier to navigate
• Visual Workflows: Drip’s visual workflow builder is more intuitive for some users
• E-commerce Integrations: Native integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms
• Lifecycle Marketing: Strong tools for customer journey stages (prospects, customers, lapsed)

What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Access & Accounts

• WordPress admin access to your AccessAlly site
• ActiveCampaign admin access (for data export)
• Drip account access (must be set up and configured)
• AccessAlly license that supports CRM switching
• Access to your payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, or WooCommerce)

📋 Complete the Pre-Migration Checklist

Before proceeding, work through the complete Pre-Migration Checklist. Key items include:

• Full backup of WordPress site and database
• Export of all ActiveCampaign contact data
• Audit of your current member count, tags, and custom fields
• Data mapping spreadsheet (contacts, tags, custom fields, automations)
• Staging site setup for testing (CRITICAL for CRM switches)
• Request 2-site exception from AccessAlly support
• Downtime plan and member communication

Phase 1: Pre-Migration Setup (3-4 hours)

Step 1: Set Up Your Drip Account

If you haven’t already set up Drip:

1. Sign up for Drip (choose appropriate tier for your contact count)
2. Complete basic account setup (company info, timezone, sender details)
3. Configure email deliverability (SPF, DKIM records)
4. Set up your domain authentication
5. Test email sending (send yourself a test broadcast)
6. Create your first form and test it

Step 2: Export Your Data from ActiveCampaign

1. Log into your ActiveCampaign account
2. Go to Contacts → Export
3. Select “All Contacts”
4. Choose “All Fields” (don’t filter)
5. Select “Include Tags”
6. Click Export
7. ActiveCampaign will email you a CSV file
8. Download and open the CSV

What’s included in the ActiveCampaign export:

• Email addresses
• First and last names
• Phone numbers
• Custom fields (with field types preserved)
• Tags (in a single column, comma-separated)
• Subscription status
• Contact scores (if used)
• Date added

What’s NOT included:

• Automation workflows (must be rebuilt in Drip)
• Email campaign history
• Form designs
• Site tracking data
• Deal pipelines
• Purchase history (may need separate export)

Step 3: Map Your ActiveCampaign Data to Drip

Create a data mapping spreadsheet. Use the Data Mapping Reference Guide for complete field mappings.

Step 4: Understand Tag Structure Differences

Good news: Both ActiveCampaign and Drip use flat tag structures without categories. This makes tag migration straightforward.

Tag migration notes:

• Both systems support simple tag/untag operations
• Tag names are case-sensitive in both systems
• No category nesting to worry about (unlike Keap/Infusionsoft)
• Tag-based automation triggers work similarly
• Clean up unused tags during this process

Step 5: Recreate Your Tags in Drip

1. Make a list of all tags from your ActiveCampaign export
2. Go to Drip → Settings → Tags
3. Create each tag in Drip (you can also let them auto-create during import)
4. Use the exact same tag names for easier mapping
5. Consider color-coding tags for organization (Drip feature)

Step 6: Create Custom Fields in Drip

1. List all custom fields from ActiveCampaign
2. Go to Drip → Settings → Custom Fields
3. Create each custom field in Drip
4. Note that all fields will be text-based (no type enforcement)
5. Use exact field names as ActiveCampaign for easier CSV mapping

ActiveCampaign → Drip field type conversion:

Step 7: Connect Drip to AccessAlly (Staging Site First)

1. On your STAGING site, go to AccessAlly → Settings → General
2. Under “CRM Integration,” change from ActiveCampaign to Drip
3. Enter your Drip API credentials:
   • API Token (found in Drip → Settings → User Settings → API Token)
   • Account ID (visible in your Drip URL: drip.com/accounts/YOUR-ACCOUNT-ID)
4. Click Save and Test Connection
5. Verify the connection is successful

Step 8: Prepare Your CSV for Migration Wizard

The AccessAlly Migration Wizard expects a specific format. Transform your ActiveCampaign export.

Required columns for AccessAlly + Drip import:

• email – Email address (required)
• first_name – First name
• last_name – Last name
• tags – Comma-separated list of Drip tag names
• Custom field columns (use exact Drip custom field names)

CSV transformation steps:

1. Open your ActiveCampaign export in Excel or Google Sheets
2. Rename columns to match Drip format:
   • ActiveCampaign “Email” → email
   • ActiveCampaign “First Name” → first_name
   • ActiveCampaign “Last Name” → last_name
   • ActiveCampaign “Tags” → tags
3. For custom fields, ensure column names match Drip custom field names exactly
4. Convert any date fields to ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD)
5. Ensure tags are comma-separated in one column
6. Remove unsubscribed contacts (or handle separately with “unsubscribed” tag)
7. Save as new CSV: “activecampaign-to-drip-import.csv”

Phase 2: Migration Execution (2-3 hours)

Step 9: Import Contacts via Migration Wizard

1. On your STAGING site, go to AccessAlly → Migration Wizard
2. If you don’t see Migration Wizard, download and activate the plugin (instructions)
3. Click “Import from CSV”
4. Upload your prepared CSV file
5. Map CSV columns to Drip fields
6. Choose import options:
   • Update existing users: Check if members may already exist in WordPress
   • Create users in CRM: Check (this creates contacts in Drip)
   • Add tags: Check (applies tags from CSV)
7. Click “Start Import”

What happens during import:

• WordPress user accounts created (if they don’t exist)
• Contacts created in Drip
• Tags applied in Drip
• Custom fields populated in Drip
• Contact ID from Drip stored in WordPress user meta
• This Contact ID linking is CRITICAL for access control

Step 10: Update AccessAlly Tags and Access Rules

AccessAlly stores tag names from your old CRM. After switching to Drip, you need to update these.

1. Go through each AccessAlly Module or protected page
2. Check “Who Can Access” settings
3. Verify tag names still match Drip tags (should be identical if you used same names)
4. Update any tag-based access rules
5. Update membership levels to link to correct Drip tags

Critical areas to check:

• Module access rules
• Page protection settings
• Order form tag assignments
• Email wizard tag triggers
• Automation trigger rules
• Membership level definitions

Step 11: Link Payment Gateway Subscriptions

If you have paid members with active subscriptions, you need to ensure their Stripe/PayPal subscriptions are properly linked.

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe or PayPal
2. Match subscription IDs to member email addresses
3. In AccessAlly, go to each member’s profile
4. Verify the subscription ID is stored correctly
5. Test that failed payments will cancel access

Detailed guide: Preserving Subscriptions During Migration

Step 12: Rebuild Your Automations in Drip

ActiveCampaign automations cannot be automatically migrated. You must rebuild them in Drip’s workflow system.

Common ActiveCampaign automations to rebuild:

• Welcome sequences: Use Drip workflows
• Tag-based automations: Use Drip rules and workflows
• Purchase follow-ups: Set up in Drip workflows
• Abandoned cart sequences: Use Drip’s e-commerce triggers
• Re-engagement campaigns: Use Drip campaigns
• Behavioral triggers: Drip’s visual workflow builder

ActiveCampaign → Drip automation mapping:

Drip-specific automation advantages:

• E-commerce triggers: Purchase events, abandoned cart, product views
• Revenue tracking: Automatic revenue attribution to campaigns
• Lifecycle stages: Automatically segment by customer stage
• Multi-step workflows: Visual drag-and-drop builder

Step 13: Update Forms and Opt-ins

ActiveCampaign forms need to be replaced with Drip forms OR AccessAlly forms that submit to Drip.

Option 1: Use Drip Forms

1. Create forms in Drip → Forms
2. Embed Drip form code on your WordPress pages
3. Style forms to match your site
4. Set up tag assignments and workflow triggers
5. Configure form-specific automation

Option 2: Use AccessAlly Forms (Recommended for membership sites)

1. Create forms in AccessAlly → Opt-in Forms
2. Configure to submit to Drip
3. Better integration with WordPress/AccessAlly features
4. More control over styling and behavior
5. Can trigger AccessAlly automations AND Drip workflows

Phase 3: Go-Live and Verification (2-3 hours)

Step 14: Test Everything on Staging

Before touching your live site, thoroughly test on staging:

✅ Authentication & Access

• Member login works
• Content access rules work correctly
• Tags control access properly
• Different membership levels work
• Password reset functions

✅ Contact Data

• All contacts imported to Drip
• Tags applied correctly
• Custom fields populated
• Contact IDs linked in WordPress

✅ Forms & Automations

• Forms submit to Drip
• Purchase flow works end-to-end
• Workflow triggers fire correctly
• Email sending works

✅ Payments & Subscriptions

• Subscription linking works
• Failed payment handling tested
• Purchase creates correct access

Step 15: Switch Live Site to Drip

When staging tests pass, switch your live site:

1. Schedule downtime (2-4 hour window recommended)
2. Announce to members (email notification of brief maintenance)
3. Put site in maintenance mode
4. Create fresh WordPress backup
5. Export final ActiveCampaign data (capture any new contacts since staging)
6. Switch AccessAlly to Drip (same steps as staging)
7. Import any new contacts from final export
8. Verify access rules and tags
9. Test login for 3-5 members
10. Take site out of maintenance mode
11. Monitor closely for 1-2 hours

Step 16: Complete Post-Migration Checks

Work through the complete Post-Migration Verification Checklist. Key items for AC → Drip:

✅ Contact Data Integrity

• Verify total contact count matches ActiveCampaign
• Check 10 random contacts in Drip for complete data
• Verify Contact IDs properly stored in WordPress
• Check for duplicate contacts
• Verify custom fields populated

✅ Access & Permissions

• Test login as multiple member types
• Verify access to protected content for each membership level
• Check tag-based access rules work
• Test content unlocking based on tags
• Verify drip content release still works

✅ Tags & Custom Fields

• Verify tags migrated correctly (sample 10 contacts)
• Check custom fields populated in Drip (remember: all stored as text)
• Test tag-based access rules
• Verify tag assignment via forms

✅ Forms & Automations

• Test each opt-in form submission
• Verify form data reaches Drip
• Test order form purchases
• Confirm post-purchase workflows fire in Drip
• Test auto-login after purchase
• Verify email sequences trigger correctly

✅ Subscriptions & Payments

• Verify active subscriptions linked correctly
• Test new purchase flow end-to-end
• Test subscription cancellation
• 🚨 CRITICAL: Test failed payment handling
• Verify member access aligns with payment status

Step 17: Monitor for 7 Days

Don’t cancel ActiveCampaign immediately. Monitor for issues during the first week:

• Day 1-2: Watch for immediate access issues, login problems
• Day 3-5: Monitor form submissions and workflow triggers
• Day 6-7: Check subscription/payment handling

What to monitor:

• Member support tickets (migration-related confusion?)
• Login errors or access issues
• Payment failures or subscription problems
• Form submission success rates
• Workflow trigger verification
• Email deliverability (Drip has different sending infrastructure)

Step 18: Clean Up

Once migration is stable (7+ days):

1. Disconnect ActiveCampaign from AccessAlly (remove API keys)
2. Deactivate Migration Wizard plugin
3. Export final ActiveCampaign data for records
4. Downgrade or cancel ActiveCampaign (keep 30 days as safety net)
5. Remove staging site’s 2-site exception (contact AccessAlly support)
6. Update member documentation with any CRM-related changes
7. Archive migration documentation for future reference

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Contact IDs Not Linking (CRITICAL)

Symptoms: Members have correct tags in Drip but can’t access content

Causes:

• Contact ID not stored in WordPress user meta during import
• Contact ID stored under wrong meta key
• WordPress user exists but Drip contact doesn’t
• Drip API connection broken during import

Solution:

1. Check WordPress user meta for “drip_contact_id” or “contact_id”
2. If missing, re-import the user via Migration Wizard with “Update existing users” checked
3. Verify the Contact ID in Drip matches the stored ID
4. In Drip, search by email to find the contact’s subscriber ID
5. Test access after fixing Contact ID

Issue 2: Tags Not Controlling Access

Symptoms: Members have tags in Drip but content access doesn’t match

Causes:

• Tag names in AccessAlly don’t match Drip exactly (case-sensitive)
• Access rules reference old ActiveCampaign tag names
• Contact ID linking issue (see Issue 1)
• Drip sync delay (tags take a few seconds to sync)

Solution:

1. Go to AccessAlly module or page protection settings
2. Check “Who Can Access” tag names
3. Compare to exact tag names in Drip (case-sensitive!)
4. Update tag names in AccessAlly to match Drip
5. Test access again
6. Wait 30 seconds and test again (API sync delay)

Issue 3: Custom Fields Lost Data Type

Symptoms: Number or date fields no longer validating correctly

Causes:

• Drip stores all custom fields as text (no type enforcement)
• ActiveCampaign enforced field types, Drip doesn’t
• Data imported correctly but stored as strings

Solution:

1. Accept that Drip stores everything as text
2. If you need type validation, implement it in AccessAlly forms
3. For dates, use ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD) consistently
4. For numbers, ensure values are numeric strings (no commas or symbols)
5. Consider using tags instead of custom fields for boolean values

Issue 4: Workflows Not Triggering

Symptoms: Drip workflows not firing when expected

Causes:

• Workflow not activated
• Trigger conditions not met
• Contact already passed through workflow (can’t re-enter by default)
• Workflow configured for wrong event

Solution:

1. Check workflow is “Active” (not draft or paused)
2. Review trigger conditions (tag applied, form submitted, purchase made)
3. Check workflow settings for “Allow re-entry”
4. Test with a fresh test contact (no workflow history)
5. Check Drip activity log for the contact

Issue 5: Subscription Payments Not Linked

Symptoms: Active subscribers showing as “no subscription” in AccessAlly

Causes:

• Subscription IDs not properly transferred during migration
• Email address mismatch between Stripe and WordPress
• Subscription metadata not stored correctly
• Payment gateway webhook not configured

Solution:

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe or PayPal
2. Match subscription IDs to WordPress user emails
3. Manually update AccessAlly subscription data for each user
4. Verify payment gateway webhooks point to your site
5. Test failed payment handling for each subscription

Detailed guide: Preserving Subscriptions During Migration

Issue 6: Forms Not Submitting to Drip

Symptoms: Form submissions not creating/updating contacts in Drip

Causes:

• AccessAlly not properly connected to Drip
• Form configured for old ActiveCampaign connection
• Drip API rate limit reached
• Form fields don’t match Drip field names
• API token expired or invalid

Solution:

1. Verify AccessAlly → Drip connection still active
2. Edit form settings in AccessAlly
3. Ensure form is set to submit to Drip (not ActiveCampaign)
4. Check field mappings match Drip custom field names
5. Test form submission and verify in Drip activity log
6. Check Drip API rate limits (usually very generous)

Issue 7: All Members Lost Access After Migration

Symptoms: Every member getting “You don’t have permission” errors

Causes:

• Contact IDs not linking (most common – see Issue 1)
• Tag names changed during migration
• AccessAlly connection to Drip broken
• Membership level settings cleared
• Incorrect API credentials

Solution:

1. DON’T PANIC – this is fixable
2. Check AccessAlly → Drip connection is active
3. Test connection (Settings → General → Test Connection)
4. Pick one test member and troubleshoot their Contact ID (see Issue 1)
5. Once you fix the root cause, it affects all members
6. If you can’t fix quickly, consider rolling back to ActiveCampaign temporarily

ActiveCampaign vs. Drip: Key Differences to Know

Understanding these differences helps you set expectations and plan your migration:

Migration Timeline & Downtime

Total Time Estimate: 5-7 hours (plus 2-3 hours testing)

Recommended Downtime Window: 2-4 hours on a weekend or low-traffic period for the live site switch

Need Help?

Migration Support:

• Review the Migration Support Policy
• For CRM switch assistance: Contact AccessAlly support
• Consider professional migration help for large or complex sites

Related Guides:

• Pre-Migration Checklist
• Post-Migration Verification
• Data Mapping Reference
• How to Migrate CRMs and Keep The Same AccessAlly Site
• Preserving Subscriptions During Migration