Complete Guide: Migrating from Drip to AccessAlly Managed Contacts

Complete Guide: Migrating from Drip to AccessAlly Managed Contacts

Why Migrate from Drip to AccessAlly Managed?

Common reasons for migrating from Drip to AccessAlly Managed Contacts:

• Cost Savings: Eliminate monthly Drip subscription ($39-$1,599/month)
• Simplification: Manage everything in one system (WordPress + AccessAlly)
• Email List Size: Drip doesn’t fit your current list size or email sending needs
• Feature Overlap: Not using Drip’s advanced e-commerce features
• Easier Management: Want member data stored directly in WordPress

What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Access & Accounts

• WordPress admin access to your AccessAlly site
• Drip account access (for data export)
• AccessAlly license (Pro or higher for Managed Contacts)
• Access to your payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal)
• Access to your domain’s email settings (for email deliverability)

📋 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 Drip contact data
• Audit of your current member count and tags
• Data mapping spreadsheet (contacts, tags, custom fields)
• Staging site setup for testing
• Downtime plan and member communication

Phase 1: Pre-Migration Setup (2-3 hours)

Step 1: Enable AccessAlly Managed Contacts

1. Go to AccessAlly → Settings → General
2. Under “CRM Integration,” select “Managed Contacts (no CRM)”
3. Click Save Changes
4. AccessAlly will reload with Managed Contacts features enabled

Step 2: Set Up Email Deliverability

AccessAlly Managed sends emails directly from your WordPress site. Proper email setup is CRITICAL for deliverability.

1. Install an SMTP plugin (recommended: WP Mail SMTP or Postmark)
2. Configure SPF and DKIM records for your domain
3. Set up a dedicated sending subdomain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com)
4. Send test emails to verify deliverability
5. Check spam scores using Mail Tester (mail-tester.com)

Step 3: Export Your Data from Drip

1. Log into your Drip account
2. Go to Settings → Account
3. Click “Export All Subscribers”
4. Drip will email you a CSV file (may take 15-30 minutes for large lists)
5. Download and open the CSV file

What’s included in the Drip export:

• Email addresses
• First and last names
• Custom fields
• Tags
• Subscription status (active/unsubscribed)
• Opt-in timestamps

What’s NOT included:

• Automation workflows (must be rebuilt)
• Email campaign history
• Email templates
• Form designs

Step 4: Map Your Drip Data to AccessAlly

Create a data mapping spreadsheet. Use the Data Mapping Reference Guide for details.

Step 5: Recreate Your Tags in AccessAlly

1. Make a list of all tags from your Drip export
2. Go to AccessAlly → Tags
3. Create each tag in AccessAlly
4. Use the exact same tag names for easier mapping

Step 6: Prepare Your CSV for Import

The AccessAlly Migration Wizard expects a specific CSV format. You’ll need to transform your Drip export.

Required columns for AccessAlly import:

• user_email – Email address (required)
• first_name – First name
• last_name – Last name
• user_pass – Leave blank (AccessAlly will generate passwords)
• accessally_add_tags – Comma-separated list of tags
• accessally_add_memberships – Membership levels (if applicable)

How to transform your Drip CSV:

1. Open your Drip export in Excel or Google Sheets
2. Rename columns to match AccessAlly format:
   • Drip “Email” → user_email
   • Drip “First Name” → first_name
   • Drip “Last Name” → last_name
   • Drip “Tags” → accessally_add_tags
3. Add a user_pass column (leave blank)
4. If contacts have multiple tags, ensure they’re comma-separated in one cell
5. Remove unsubscribed contacts OR add them with an “Unsubscribed” tag
6. Save as a new CSV file (e.g., “drip-to-accessally-import.csv”)

Phase 2: Migration Execution (1-2 hours)

Step 7: Download and Activate the Migration Wizard Plugin

1. Go to AccessAlly → Utilities
2. Find “Migration Wizard Plugin”
3. Click Download to get the plugin ZIP file
4. Go to WordPress → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
5. Upload the Migration Wizard ZIP file
6. Click Activate Plugin

Full instructions: Using the AccessAlly Migration Wizard Plugin

Step 8: Import Your Contacts

1. Go to AccessAlly → Migration Wizard
2. Click “Upload CSV File”
3. Select your prepared CSV file
4. Map the CSV columns to AccessAlly fields (should auto-detect if named correctly)
5. Choose import options:
   • Update existing users: Check this if some contacts may already exist
   • Send welcome email: UNCHECK this (you’ll email members separately)
   • Generate passwords: Check this
6. Click “Start Import”

Monitor the import progress:

• The Migration Wizard shows a progress bar
• Check for error messages (common: duplicate emails, invalid email formats)
• Save the import log for troubleshooting

Step 9: Link Payment Gateway Subscriptions

If you have paid members with active subscriptions, you need to link their Stripe/PayPal subscriptions to their WordPress accounts.

1. Export your active subscriptions from Stripe or PayPal
2. Match subscription IDs to member email addresses
3. Use the Migration Wizard’s “Link Subscriptions” feature
4. Or manually update each member’s subscription ID in AccessAlly

Detailed guide: How to Migrate Subscription Payments

Step 10: Rebuild Your Automations

Drip automations cannot be automatically migrated. You’ll need to rebuild them in AccessAlly.

Common Drip automations to rebuild:

• Welcome sequences: Use AccessAlly email wizards
• Tag-based automations: Use AccessAlly automation triggers
• Purchase follow-ups: Set up order form automations
• Re-engagement campaigns: Use AccessAlly’s scheduled email feature

AccessAlly automation tools:

• Email Wizards: Time-based email sequences
• Automation Triggers: Tag-based actions
• Order Form Actions: Post-purchase automations
• Module Triggers: Content-based automations

Step 11: Migrate Your Forms

Drip forms need to be recreated as AccessAlly opt-in forms or order forms.

For opt-in forms:

1. Go to AccessAlly → Opt-in Forms
2. Create a new form
3. Match the fields from your Drip form
4. Set up tag assignments for form submissions
5. Style the form to match your site design
6. Replace Drip form embeds with AccessAlly form shortcodes

For purchase forms:

1. Go to AccessAlly → Order Forms
2. Create order forms for each product
3. Connect to Stripe or PayPal
4. Set up product links (memberships, tags)
5. Configure post-purchase automations

Phase 3: Post-Migration Verification (1-2 hours)

Step 12: Complete Post-Migration Checks

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

✅ Contact Data Integrity

• Verify total contact count matches Drip export
• Check 10 random contacts for complete data (names, tags, custom fields)
• Search for duplicate accounts
• Verify unsubscribed contacts have correct status

✅ Access & Permissions

• Test login as a member (use an incognito window)
• Verify access to protected content
• Check each membership level works correctly
• Test content unlocking based on tags

✅ Tags & Custom Fields

• Verify tags migrated correctly (sample 10 contacts)
• Check custom fields populated correctly
• Test tag-based access rules

✅ Email Deliverability

• Send test emails to Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo
• Check inbox placement (not spam)
• Verify unsubscribe links work
• Test email wizard sequences

✅ Forms & Automations

• Test each opt-in form submission
• Verify form data reaches WordPress user profile
• Test order form purchases (use Stripe test mode)
• Confirm post-purchase automations fire
• Test auto-login after purchase (if enabled)

✅ Subscriptions & Payments

• Verify active subscriptions linked correctly
• Test new purchase flow end-to-end
• Test subscription cancellation
• Verify payment failure handling
• Check that member access aligns with payment status

Step 13: Monitor for 7 Days

Don’t cancel your Drip account immediately. Monitor for issues during the first week:

• Day 1-2: Watch for immediate issues (login problems, access errors)
• Day 3-5: Monitor email deliverability and engagement rates
• Day 6-7: Check for subscription/payment issues

What to monitor:

• Member support tickets (any migration-related confusion?)
• Email bounce rates (deliverability issues?)
• Login errors or access issues
• Payment failures or subscription problems
• Form submission success rates

Step 14: Deactivate Migration Wizard Plugin

Once migration is complete and verified:

1. Go to WordPress → Plugins
2. Find “AccessAlly Migration Wizard”
3. Click Deactivate
4. Click Delete to remove the plugin

Why? The Migration Wizard is only needed during migration. Removing it reduces your plugin footprint.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Contacts Imported But Missing Tags

Symptoms: Contacts exist in WordPress, but don’t have any AccessAlly tags

Causes:

• Tags weren’t created in AccessAlly before import
• Tag names in CSV don’t exactly match AccessAlly tag names (case-sensitive)
• accessally_add_tags column formatted incorrectly

Solution:

1. Verify all tags exist in AccessAlly → Tags
2. Check tag name spelling and capitalization
3. Re-export a small CSV sample with just emails and tags
4. Re-import using “Update existing users” option

Issue 2: Emails Going to Spam

Symptoms: Members report not receiving emails, or emails land in spam folder

Causes:

• SPF/DKIM not configured correctly
• Sending domain has poor reputation
• No SMTP plugin configured
• WordPress sending from wrong email address

Solution:

1. Install and configure WP Mail SMTP or Postmark plugin
2. Verify SPF and DKIM records are correct (check with MXToolbox)
3. Test email deliverability with Mail Tester (mail-tester.com)
4. Warm up your sending domain (start with small email batches)
5. Ensure “From” email matches your domain

Issue 3: Members Can’t Log In

Symptoms: Members getting “Invalid username or password” errors

Causes:

• Passwords weren’t migrated (Drip doesn’t export passwords)
• Members trying to use their Drip passwords
• Email addresses imported incorrectly

Solution:

1. Send password reset emails to all members after migration
2. Use AccessAlly’s “Generate New Passwords” feature
3. Create a migration announcement email explaining password reset process
4. Set up a help page with password reset instructions

Recommended announcement template:

Subject: Important: We’ve upgraded our member portal

Hi [First Name],

We’ve migrated to a new member management system to serve you better. Your account has been transferred, but you’ll need to set a new password.

To access your account:

1. Go to [your login page URL]
2. Click “Forgot Password”
3. Enter your email address: [their email]
4. Check your email for password reset link
5. Create a new password

All your content access and membership benefits remain the same.

Questions? Reply to this email.

Issue 4: Subscription Payments Not Linked to Members

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

Causes:

• Subscription IDs not linked during migration
• Email address mismatch between Stripe and WordPress
• Wrong subscription ID format

Solution:

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe
2. Match subscription IDs to WordPress user emails
3. Manually link subscriptions in AccessAlly user profiles
4. Test failed payment handling for each subscription

Detailed guide: Migrating Subscription Payments

Issue 5: Custom Fields Not Imported

Symptoms: Custom field data missing from member profiles

Causes:

• Custom fields not created in AccessAlly before import
• CSV column names don’t match custom field slugs
• Custom field data in wrong format

Solution:

1. Go to AccessAlly → Custom Fields
2. Create each custom field (exact same name as Drip)
3. Note the field slug AccessAlly generates
4. Update your CSV column headers to match field slugs
5. Re-import with “Update existing users” checked

Issue 6: Members Getting Duplicate Emails

Symptoms: Members receiving the same email multiple times

Causes:

• Duplicate contact records in WordPress
• Multiple email wizards triggering for same action
• Migration Wizard ran multiple times

Solution:

1. Search for duplicate email addresses in WordPress → Users
2. Merge or delete duplicate accounts
3. Check AccessAlly → Email Wizards for duplicate sequences
4. Verify automation triggers aren’t firing multiple times

Post-Migration: Clean Up & Optimization

Week 1: Monitor & Fix Issues

• Watch for support tickets related to access or login issues
• Monitor email deliverability and bounce rates
• Check payment processing and subscription continuity
• Fix any data issues discovered during verification

Week 2-4: Optimize

• Review email engagement rates (lower than Drip? Check deliverability)
• Optimize email sending reputation (gradually increase volume)
• Clean up unused tags and custom fields
• Streamline automation workflows
• Update member documentation with new login process

Month 2: Cancel Drip

• Once stable for 30+ days, downgrade or cancel Drip subscription
• Download final backup of Drip data (campaign history, analytics)
• Update any external integrations pointing to Drip webhooks
• Celebrate cost savings! 🎉

Migration Timeline & Downtime

Total Time Estimate: 4-6 hours (plus 1-2 hours of testing)

Recommended Downtime Window: 2-4 hours on a weekend or low-traffic period

Need Help?

Migration Support:

• Review the Migration Support Policy to understand what support is available
• For complex migrations or paid help: Contact AccessAlly support

Related Guides:

• Pre-Migration Checklist
• Post-Migration Verification
• Data Mapping Reference
• Migrating to AccessAlly Managed Contacts Guide
• How to Migrate Subscription Payments