You spent hours crafting the perfect ConvertKit auto campaign: a 5-email sequence to nurture new lead magnet subscribers and pitch your entry-level course. But three months later, you have no idea if it’s actually working. Sound familiar?
Most creators launch auto campaigns and never look at the data again. But ConvertKit auto campaign reports hold the key to fixing low open rates, reducing unsubscribes, and doubling your email-driven sales. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find, read, and optimize your reports, even if you’re a total beginner.
What Are ConvertKit Auto Campaign Reports?
First, let’s clarify the terminology: ConvertKit auto campaigns are pre-scheduled email sequences triggered by a specific action, like a subscriber joining your list via a signup form. They’re also called "sequences" or "automated emails" in the platform.
ConvertKit auto campaign reports track every interaction subscribers have with your sequence, from opens and clicks to unsubscribes and conversions. Unlike broadcast (one-time) email reports, these focus on long-term flow performance, not single-send results.
Where to Find Your ConvertKit Auto Campaign Reports
You don’t need to dig through complex dashboards to access your data. Follow these 4 simple steps:
- Log into your ConvertKit account.
- Click the Automations tab on the left sidebar.
- Select the auto campaign (sequence) you want to review from the list.
- Click the Reports tab at the top of the sequence editor.
You’ll see a high-level overview of the sequence’s performance, plus individual data for each email in the campaign.
Key Metrics in ConvertKit Auto Campaign Reports
Don’t get overwhelmed by data: focus on these 5 core metrics first. Each has a clear benchmark to help you gauge performance.
1. Open Rate
Unique open rate measures the percentage of subscribers who opened at least one email in your sequence. The industry benchmark for auto campaigns is 15-25%, though engaged lists can hit 30% or higher.
Note: ConvertKit tracks unique opens (one per subscriber) not total opens (multiple per subscriber) to give you a more accurate picture of reach.
2. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
CTR is the percentage of subscribers who clicked a link in any email in your sequence. Aim for 2-5% for auto campaigns; higher rates mean your content and CTAs are resonating.
Calculate it yourself: (Total link clicks / Total emails delivered) * 100.
3. Unsubscribe Rate
This measures the percentage of subscribers who opted out of your list after receiving an email from the sequence. Keep per-email unsubscribe rates under 0.5%, and total sequence unsubscribes under 2%.
High unsubscribe rates usually mean your content is irrelevant, too salesy, or sent too frequently.
4. Conversion Rate
If your auto campaign has a specific goal (like selling a $27 ebook), track how many subscribers complete that action after going through the sequence. Even a 1-2% conversion rate can drive steady passive income.
5. Bounce Rate
Bounces are emails that never reached the subscriber’s inbox. Hard bounces (invalid email addresses) should stay under 2% total; soft bounces (temporary issues like full inboxes) are less concerning but worth monitoring.
How to Analyze ConvertKit Auto Campaign Reports for Actionable Insights
Reading data is useless if you don’t act on it. Use these analysis frameworks to turn numbers into results:
Identify Underperforming Emails
Sort your sequence emails by open rate first. If email 3 has a 10% open rate while the rest average 22%, rewrite its subject line, test a different preview text, or adjust the send time.
For low CTR emails: make your links more prominent, add a clear call-to-action button, or reduce the number of links per email (too many choices confuse readers).
Spot Drop-Off Points
Check the "Subscribers Started" vs "Subscribers Completed" metric at the top of your report. If 40% of people drop off after email 2, revise email 2 to include a stronger hook or tease the value of email 3.
Compare Performance Over Time
Use the date range filter at the top of the reports tab to compare this month’s performance to last month’s. If you made changes to your sequence in between, you’ll see exactly how they impacted results.
5 Tips to Optimize Auto Campaigns Using Your Reports
- A/B test subject lines for your lowest-performing emails first: ConvertKit’s built-in A/B testing tool makes this easy.
- Add a low-pressure P.S. with a CTA to emails with high open rates but low clicks: most readers scan to the end of emails first.
- Delete or rewrite emails with unsubscribe rates above 1%: they’re hurting your list health more than helping.
- Tag subscribers who click specific links (like a "learn more" button for your course) to send targeted follow-up sequences later.
- Set a monthly calendar reminder to review your ConvertKit auto campaign reports: catching issues early saves you from wasted sends.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Reading Reports
- Obsessing over open rates: CTR and conversions drive revenue, not just opens.
- Comparing auto campaign metrics to broadcast metrics: broadcasts have shorter lifespans and different audience expectations.
- Ignoring date ranges: holiday periods or sales events can skew your numbers, so filter for normal business weeks when analyzing.
- Not segmenting data: if you have multiple signup sources for the same sequence, filter by trigger to see which traffic converts best.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check my ConvertKit auto campaign reports?
Review them at least once a month, or immediately after making major changes to your sequence (like rewriting emails or adding new triggers).
Can I export ConvertKit auto campaign reports?
Yes! Click the "Export" button in the top right corner of the reports tab to download a CSV file of all your sequence data, which you can open in Excel or Google Sheets.
Why is my auto campaign open rate so low?
Common causes include vague subject lines, sending from an unrecognized sender name, or your emails landing in spam folders. Use ConvertKit’s built-in spam test tool before sending to avoid deliverability issues.
Are ConvertKit auto campaign reports included in the free plan?
Yes! All ConvertKit plans, including the free tier, include full access to auto campaign reports and analytics.
Final Thoughts
ConvertKit auto campaign reports take the guesswork out of email marketing. Instead of wondering if your sequence is working, you’ll have hard data to guide every tweak and update.
If you’re new to setting up sequences, refer to our internal guide on building your first ConvertKit auto campaign for step-by-step setup instructions. For broader industry context, check out HubSpot’s annual email marketing benchmark report to see how your metrics stack up against global averages.
Ready to start optimizing? Sign up for ConvertKit’s free plan today to access your reports and turn your auto campaigns into revenue-driving machines.
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