Create a Comparative Report

Use Comparative Reports to assess the performance of multiple email campaigns over time. Schedule and share reports, and add subscriber segments to get a better idea of how different sets of subscribers interact with your campaigns.

In this article, you'll learn how to create a Comparative Report.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin this process.

• This feature is included with Mailchimp Pro or our Premium plan
• Be sure you're familiar with Comparative Reports.
• Comparative Reports are available to account Owners, Admins, and Managers. To learn more about user permission levels, check out Manage User Levels in Your Account.
• Comparative Reports can include regular email campaigns and RSS campaigns sent in the last 18 months only.

Create a Comparative Report

To create a Comparative Report, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click Create Comparative Report.
   

3. Click Rename Report.
   

4. In the Name this report pop-up modal, type your report name, then click Save Report Name.
   

5. Click the Choose an audience to get started drop-down, then select the audience you want to use for your report.
   
   After you select an audience, its sent campaigns appear on the screen.

6. Use the filters to choose which campaigns to compare.
   
   As you select filters, we'll display the sent campaigns that match your criteria. To clear your filters, click Clear filters. Your report will update to include future campaigns sent to your audience if they match the filters you set for the report.

7. Review the selected campaigns based on the set filters. Campaigns are selected by default, and display a blue checkmark. To deselect or reselect an individual campaign, click the name of the campaign.
   
   You can also click Select All or Deselect All.

8. Click Compare Campaigns to run your Comparative Report. Note that the button text will include the number of campaigns you've selected.

We'll generate your report in the background and notify you in your Profile menu when it’s done. You can work elsewhere in your account while you wait, or add segments to your report to take a close look at specific subscriber engagement.

Your Comparative Report is saved on the Reports page under the Comparative tab. We'll display a status icon to let you know your results are generating. When your results are ready, you can generate your first Snapshot.

Generate a report snapshot

A Snapshot is the final report that's generated each time you run a Comparative Report. It shows how your campaigns have performed up to that point in time.

To generate a report Snapshot, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click the Comparative tab.
   

3. Click the drop-down for the report you want to work with, then select Generate Snapshot.
   
   It may take a moment for your Snapshot to generate on the Report History page, where we'll store all the Snapshots for your report.

4. When your Snapshot is finished, click View Snapshot.

You can visit the Report History page at any time to view the Snapshots for your report. To get to your Report History page, click the Edit Report dropdown next to any Snapshot, then click View Report History.

Schedule a report Snapshot

If you plan to frequently use comparative data, schedule a report to generate a Snapshot weekly or daily at a specific time.

To schedule a report Snapshot, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click the Comparative tab.
   

3. Click the drop-down for the report you want to work with, then select Schedule report.
   

4. In the Schedule this report pop-up modal, set when you want to generate report Snapshots, then click Schedule Report.
   
   After you schedule the report, you’ll see the clock icon next to your report on the Reports page. Under the report name, you’ll also see the next date and time your report is scheduled to run.
   

Unschedule a report Snapshot

To unschedule a report Snapshot, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click the Comparative tab.
   

3. Click the drop-down for the report you want to work with, then select Unschedule report.
   

That’s it! You’ve unscheduled a report, which means automatic Snapshots will no longer generate.

Share a report Snapshot

If you want to send your latest comparative data to someone, share your report Snapshot. You can only share reports that have generated at least one Snapshot.

To share a report Snapshot, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click the Comparative tab.
   

3. Click the drop-down for the report you want to work with, then select Share latest Snapshot.
   

4. In the Share latest snapshot pop-up modal, type in the email address of the person you’d like to share the Snapshot with, then click Share. Add up to 5 email addresses separated by commas.
   

Awesome! You’ve shared your latest report Snapshot.

To share older Snapshots, click the drop-down for the report you want to send on the Report History page, then click Download CSV. Once the CSV file downloads, share it with anyone you’d like.

Add a segment to a Comparative Report

To learn how specific subscribers engage with your campaigns over time, add segments or groups of segments to your Comparative Report. Add segments to your report when you create it, or add segments later on the Report Preview page.

To add a segment to a Comparative Report, follow these steps.

1. Click Analytics, then click Reports.
   

2. Click the Comparative tab.
   

3. Click Edit Report or Finalize Report next to the report you want to work with. Comparative Reports that don’t have a Report Preview or Snapshot yet are still in a draft state and will show Finalize Report.

4. In the Results section of the Report Preview page, click Add segment to report.
   
   If your report shows the Edit Report button, you’ll need to first set your report details and click Compare Campaigns before you reach the Report Preview page.

5. Type in a name for your segment and add as many conditions as you’d like. Add the conditions to a group if you’re looking at several related conditions.
   

6. When you’re ready, click Add Segment To Report.
   

It may take time for your segment to generate on the Report Preview page depending on the conditions you set. When your segment generates, compare the results to the Baseline data shown in the Results section. You can add up to 4 segments to a report, and each segment can include as many conditions as you’d like. Edit, remove, or replace your segments at any time from the Report Preview page.

For more information about how to use segments with your Comparative Reports, check out About Comparative Reports.