Migrating from Kit to AccessAlly Managed

Complete Guide: Migrating from Kit (ConvertKit) to AccessAlly Managed Contacts

Why Migrate from Kit to AccessAlly Managed?

Common reasons for migrating from Kit (ConvertKit) to AccessAlly Managed Contacts:

• Cost Savings: Eliminate monthly Kit subscription ($9-79/month depending on list size)
• Simplification: Manage everything in one system (WordPress + AccessAlly)
• Tighter Integration: Direct connection between membership site and email system
• Feature Overlap: Not using Kit’s advanced creator features (product sales, landing pages)
• Easier Management: Want member data stored directly in WordPress
• List Size: Kit pricing increases with list size – may not fit your budget

What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Access & Accounts

• WordPress admin access to your AccessAlly site
• Kit account access (for data export)
• AccessAlly license (Pro or higher for Managed Contacts)
• Access to your payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal, if applicable)
• Access to your domain’s DNS settings (for email deliverability)
• SMTP service credentials (recommended: WP Mail SMTP, Postmark, or SendGrid)

📋 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 Kit subscriber data
• Audit of your current subscriber count and tags
• Data mapping spreadsheet (contacts, tags, custom fields)
• Staging site setup for testing
• Downtime plan and member communication
• CRITICAL: Email deliverability setup plan (SMTP, SPF, DKIM)

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 (CRITICAL STEP)

AccessAlly Managed sends emails directly from your WordPress site. Proper email setup is THE MOST CRITICAL aspect of this migration.

2a. Install and Configure an SMTP Plugin

DO NOT use WordPress default email. Choose one of these SMTP services:

Recommended setup steps:

1. Choose an SMTP provider based on your email volume and budget
2. Sign up and get API credentials
3. Install WP Mail SMTP plugin (or provider-specific plugin)
4. Configure plugin with your SMTP credentials
5. Send test email and verify it arrives in inbox (not spam)

2b. Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records

These DNS records tell email providers that your emails are legitimate.

SPF Record: Authorizes your SMTP service to send on behalf of your domain

• Add a TXT record to your domain DNS
• Example: v=spf1 include:_spf.postmarkapp.com ~all (for Postmark)
• Each SMTP provider has specific SPF record requirements

DKIM Record: Cryptographic signature proving email authenticity

• Your SMTP provider will give you a DKIM record to add to DNS
• Usually a TXT record with a long string of characters
• Verifies that emails haven’t been tampered with

DMARC Record: Tells email providers what to do with failed authentication

• Add a TXT record: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]
• Start with p=none (monitoring only)
• After verifying everything works, increase to p=quarantine or p=reject

2c. Test Email Deliverability

Use Mail Tester to check your setup:

1. Go to mail-tester.com
2. Send a test email from WordPress to the address provided
3. Check your score (aim for 8/10 or higher)
4. Fix any issues identified (SPF, DKIM, spam content, etc.)
5. Repeat until you get a good score

Test with real email addresses:

• Send test emails to Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and ProtonMail
• Check that emails arrive in inbox (not spam)
• Check unsubscribe link works
• Verify email formatting looks correct

2d. Set Up Email Sending Limits

Understanding your email sending limits prevents deliverability issues.

Configure AccessAlly email sending rate:

1. Go to AccessAlly → Settings → Email Settings
2. Set a conservative sending rate (e.g., 100 emails/5 minutes)
3. This prevents overwhelming your SMTP service or hosting
4. Monitor bounce rates and adjust as needed

Step 3: Export Your Data from Kit

1. Log into your Kit account
2. Go to Subscribers
3. Click Export Subscribers
4. Select “All Subscribers” or filter by status if needed
5. Include all fields and tags
6. Download the CSV file

What’s included in the Kit export:

• Email addresses
• First names
• Tags
• Custom fields (limited – Kit has fewer custom fields than other CRMs)
• Subscription status (active/unsubscribed)
• Opt-in date

What’s NOT included:

• Sequences (must be rebuilt in AccessAlly)
• Forms (must be recreated)
• Landing pages (must be rebuilt)
• Email broadcast history
• Purchase data (if using Kit Commerce)

Step 4: Map Your Kit 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 Kit 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 Kit export.

Required columns for AccessAlly import:

• user_email – Email address (required)
• first_name – First name
• last_name – Last name (if you have it)
• 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 Kit CSV:

1. Open your Kit export in Excel or Google Sheets
2. Rename columns to match AccessAlly format:
   • Kit “Email Address” → user_email
   • Kit “First Name” → first_name
   • Kit “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., “kit-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 Kit Sequences as AccessAlly Email Wizards

Kit sequences cannot be automatically migrated. You’ll need to rebuild them in AccessAlly.

Kit → AccessAlly automation mapping:

To rebuild a Kit sequence in AccessAlly:

1. Go to AccessAlly → Email Wizards
2. Create a new Email Wizard
3. Add each email from your Kit sequence
4. Set the delay between emails (e.g., “3 days after previous email”)
5. Configure the trigger (tag applied, module started, etc.)
6. Test the sequence with a test user

Step 11: Migrate Your Forms

Kit 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 Kit form (typically just email and first name)
4. Set up tag assignments for form submissions
5. Style the form to match your site design
6. Replace Kit form embeds with AccessAlly form shortcodes

For purchase forms (if using Kit Commerce):

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 Kit → AA Managed:

✅ Contact Data Integrity

• Verify total contact count matches Kit 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 (CRITICAL FOR THIS MIGRATION)

• Send test emails to multiple email providers
• Check inbox placement (not spam)
• Verify unsubscribe links work
• Test email wizard sequences
• Check email formatting on mobile and desktop
• Verify sender name and email address are correct

✅ 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 Email Performance

In the first week after migration, closely monitor email metrics:

If you see deliverability issues:

1. Re-check SPF, DKIM, DMARC records with MXToolbox
2. Test with Mail Tester again
3. Verify SMTP plugin is working correctly
4. Check SMTP service dashboard for errors or bounces
5. Consider warming up your sending domain with smaller batches first

Step 14: Monitor for 7 Days

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

• Day 1-2: Watch for immediate issues (login problems, access errors, email deliverability)
• 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?)
• Email open rates (spam folder issues?)
• Login errors or access issues
• Payment failures or subscription problems
• Form submission success rates

Step 15: 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: Emails Going to Spam (MOST COMMON)

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

Causes:

• SPF/DKIM/DMARC not configured correctly
• Sending domain has poor reputation or is new
• No SMTP plugin configured (using WordPress default mail)
• WordPress sending from wrong email address
• Email content triggers spam filters
• Sending too many emails too quickly

Solution:

1. Install and configure WP Mail SMTP or Postmark plugin
2. Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correct (check with MXToolbox.com)
3. Test email deliverability with Mail Tester (mail-tester.com)
4. Warm up your sending domain (start with small email batches of 100-500)
5. Ensure “From” email matches your domain
6. Check email content for spam trigger words
7. Add proper unsubscribe link (required by law)
8. Consider using a dedicated subdomain for email (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com)

Issue 2: 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 3: Members Can’t Log In

Symptoms: Members getting “Invalid username or password” errors

Causes:

• Passwords weren’t migrated (Kit doesn’t export passwords)
• Members trying to use their Kit passwords (Kit login is separate)
• 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: Email Sequences Not Triggering

Symptoms: Email wizards created but not sending to new members

Causes:

• Email wizard trigger not configured correctly
• Member doesn’t have the required tag for the trigger
• Email wizard not activated
• WP Cron not running properly

Solution:

1. Check email wizard trigger settings (tag applied, module started, etc.)
2. Verify the member has the trigger tag/membership
3. Ensure email wizard is set to “Active”
4. Check AccessAlly → Settings → Email Settings for sending schedule
5. Test with a fresh test user account
6. Verify WP Cron is working (use WP Crontrol plugin to check)

Issue 5: High Bounce Rate After Migration

Symptoms: Many emails bouncing (hard or soft bounces)

Causes:

• Outdated email addresses in Kit export
• Email list contains invalid addresses
• Sending too many emails too quickly
• SMTP service flagging as spam

Solution:

1. Clean your email list before migration (remove invalid addresses)
2. Use an email verification service (e.g., ZeroBounce, NeverBounce)
3. Reduce sending rate in AccessAlly settings
4. Check SMTP service dashboard for specific bounce reasons
5. Remove hard bounces immediately to protect sender reputation

Issue 6: Kit Sequences Still Sending to Migrated Subscribers

Symptoms: Members receiving duplicate emails from both Kit and AccessAlly

Causes:

• Didn’t pause or delete Kit sequences before migration
• Subscribers still enrolled in active Kit sequences

Solution:

1. Log into Kit
2. Go to Automations → Sequences
3. Pause all active sequences
4. Or remove all subscribers from sequences before deleting them
5. Send an apology email if members received duplicates

Post-Migration: Clean Up & Optimization

Week 1: Monitor & Fix Issues

• Watch for support tickets related to access, login, or email delivery issues
• Monitor email deliverability metrics closely (bounce rate, spam complaints, open rate)
• Check payment processing and subscription continuity
• Fix any data issues discovered during verification
• Adjust email sending rate if needed

Week 2-4: Optimize Email Deliverability

• Review email engagement rates (compare to Kit baseline)
• Optimize email sending reputation (gradually increase volume)
• Monitor spam complaint rates
• Clean up unused tags and custom fields
• Streamline email wizard sequences
• Update member documentation with new login process
• A/B test subject lines and send times

Month 2: Cancel Kit Subscription

• Once stable for 30+ days with good email deliverability, cancel Kit subscription
• Download final backup of Kit data (campaign history, analytics)
• Update any external integrations pointing to Kit webhooks or APIs
• Celebrate cost savings and simplified management

Migration Timeline & Downtime

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

Recommended Downtime Window: Optional 1-2 hours during low-traffic period

Email Sending Limits: What to Expect

One of the biggest differences between Kit and AccessAlly Managed is email sending infrastructure.

When AccessAlly Managed is a good fit:

• You have < 5,000 subscribers
• You send primarily transactional emails (welcome, password reset, course notifications)
• You send broadcasts infrequently (weekly or monthly)
• You’re willing to set up and maintain email deliverability
• Cost savings is a priority

When Kit might be better:

• You have > 10,000 subscribers
• You send frequent broadcasts (daily or multiple per week)
• You rely heavily on advanced automation and segmentation
• You want someone else to handle deliverability
• You use Kit’s landing pages and creator commerce features

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
• AccessAlly Managed vs CRM Integration