Cloning Your Best Campaigns
TL;DR:
- Campaign cloning lets you reuse successful message templates without starting from scratch
- Perfect for regular newsletters, seasonal offers, or recurring event reminders
- Always update the content, timing, and recipient lists before sending
- Check all links and calls-to-action still work and point to current offers
- Most platforms don't copy over your original recipient list when cloning
Cloning campaigns is one of those features that looks simple but saves you hours of work. Instead of rebuilding your best-performing messages from scratch, you duplicate them and tweak what needs changing.
This works particularly well for campaigns that follow a pattern. Monthly newsletters, holiday sales, event reminders, or any message you send regularly with slight variations.
Setting Up Your Cloned Campaign
Most messaging platforms make cloning straightforward, but the real work happens after you hit duplicate.
Pick the right campaign to clone. Look for messages that got good open rates, clicks, or conversions rather than just copying your most recent send. Your analytics will show which campaigns actually worked.
Create the duplicate. Every platform handles this differently, but you're usually looking for a "duplicate", "clone", or "copy" option in your campaign dashboard.
Update everything that needs changing. This is where people often slip up. Your cloned campaign will have all the same content, but you need to review every part of it.
Change the subject line if it references dates, offers, or events that have passed. Update the main content to reflect current promotions, deadlines, or information. Swap out images if they show outdated products or seasonal content that no longer applies.
Set new timing. Choose when this campaign should send. If you're cloning a time-sensitive campaign, make sure your new send date gives recipients enough time to act on whatever you're promoting.
Sort your recipient list. This is the bit most people forget. Cloned campaigns usually don't bring over your original recipient list, so you'll need to select who gets this version. This actually works in your favour because you can target different segments or update your list with new subscribers.
Getting the Details Right
Before you send, double-check all your links. That holiday sale landing page from three months ago probably doesn't exist anymore. Your call-to-action buttons need to point somewhere current and relevant.
Preview your message on different devices. Even if the original looked perfect, small changes you've made might affect how it displays on mobile or tablet screens.
Test your unsubscribe link and any personalisation tokens. These sometimes break during the cloning process, and sending a campaign with broken unsubscribe functionality can land you in trouble with email providers.
If your campaign includes time-sensitive elements like countdown timers or limited-time offers, make sure they align with your new send date and current promotions.
FAQs
Does cloning copy over my original recipient list?
Usually not. Most platforms create a blank recipient list when you clone a campaign, which means you need to select your target audience again. This prevents accidentally sending outdated campaigns to the wrong people.
Can I edit everything in a cloned campaign?
Yes, cloning just creates a new draft with the same content and settings. You can change text, images, subject lines, send times, and recipient lists just like any new campaign.
Will my cloned campaign keep the same analytics as the original?
No, each campaign gets its own analytics tracking. Your cloned campaign will generate completely separate stats from the original, which helps you compare performance between different versions.
Jargon Buster
Campaign cloning – Duplicating an existing message campaign to reuse its structure and content while making necessary updates
Recipient segmentation – Dividing your contact list into specific groups based on interests, behaviour, or demographics for more targeted messaging
Call-to-action (CTA) – The buttons or links in your campaign that tell recipients what action you want them to take
Wrap-up
Campaign cloning works best when you treat it as a starting point rather than a shortcut. The structure and proven elements are there, but successful cloned campaigns still need thoughtful updates to stay relevant and effective.
Start with your best-performing campaigns and build a library of templates you can clone for different situations. Monthly newsletters, product announcements, event invitations – each type can have its own proven format that you refine over time.
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