As an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant (ICC), I spend the better part of my day in Infusionsoft applications. I am either building out new application or maintaining the applications of clients or myself. With this in mind I encounter nuances in the software every day. These are not problems or bugs - you should know by now that I think this software totally rocks. Instead they are little things that take longer to call tech support about than to actually receive the answer to. But they are pretty big deal when you are focused on the best end product possible not to mention trying to stay efficient and "get it right the first time" so you can "set it and forget it". Here is a list of some of the more common nuances and how to work with them so that you can avoid glitches and save time.
Always use Firefox when working in your Infusionsoft application. These days, I am finding that the web browsers Internet Explorer and Chrome are operating more consistently than Firefox, but when it comes to working in your Infusionsoft application, put up with Firefox and use it at all times. To be clear: you can use IE to work in your Infusionsoft application. However, all the programming tied to Infusionsoft works via Firefox - not necessarily true via IE (and it doesn't work at all via Chrome yet). For an example, see the next tip.
Alt codes do not work when created using your IE browser. If you need a trademark symbol in an HTML email for a web form, you can create one via the alt code "ALT0153" (this is not Infusionsoft specific - this is the general Alt code for ?). If you prep an HTML email in your Infusionsoft application using the IE web browser and you type in the trademark alt code, the ? WILL show up in the drag and drop builder. HOWEVER, the end product WILL NOT be a ? - it will be a series of symbols that are 110% NOT what you wanted showing up in an email. Set up (or edit) the SAME EMAIL logged in via Firefox and you will not have this problem after entering the alt code.
Do not copy paste an HTML email into the HTML email builder. I once had a client do this recently and then he spent a lot of time trying to edit and fix the formatting of the email he was trying to build. I had to break it to him - it couldn't be saved - scrap it and start over. It seems like a quick way to prep an email, but it turns into a hot mess fast. Take a little extra time and prep it properly. Which leads me to my next tip...
Put your copy into a text software before pasting it into the HTML email builder. Microsoft Word copy LOOKS perfectly plain text - but it isn't. When you copy/paste copy from Word into your Infusionsoft application you will often find formatting "off" and symbols will change form. For example, apostrophes turn into question marks. If you have copy prepped in a Word doc, copy and paste it into something like Notepad and then copy paste into your Infusionsoft email builder from there.
Always test emails before they are sent. These seems obvious but trust me, if you are using Infusionsoft to its greatest potential, you (or somebody) is prepping a lot of copy in the system that will eventually push out to your prospects, clients and customers. An email can look fine in the prep window and then when you send the test and it comes into your Outlook inbox (or whatever email software you use) things could be "off". It's usually due to some of the other "no no's" mentioned above being done, but not always. Sometimes I will prep a long email and some of the font change I made didn't take throughout the email and I catch it when reviewing the test copy. Always, always test.
When you are reviewing a test email, test all of the links in the email. Again, this sounds like a "duh, Jessica", but when you are dealing with a lot of volume you WILL forget to test links if you don't make it a part of a regular QC system. Just because something is hyperlinked and LOOKS clickable, you might have forgotten something as simple at the "http://" ( Note: The software automatically fixes that now so it's a poor example, but a common one to help illustrate the point.). Or, you just plain put the wrong link in. Always, always test.
Make sure everyone that has a user account knows about the nuances and takes steps to avoid them. An Infusionsoft application can have up to 5 users so 5 different people could be prepping and tinkering in the application. There is nothing more frustrating than prepping a lengthy sequence properly and then someone else logs in to change a thing or two and does so in IE and throws off some of the formatting. It's dangerous, actually. Not dangerous like starting a fire or causing an auto accident, but it can cause emails to go out the door wrong, and it can really cause frustration.
Jessica Maes is an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant (ICC) and the owner of Maes Consulting, Inc - a company that provides Infusionsoft strategy, implementation and ongoing support to businesses of all sizes.
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