How to Migrate Your Email List to Kajabi Without Hurting Deliverability

Email migration doesn’t have to be messy. Here’s how to keep your list healthy, your automation running, and your open rates strong.

Migrating your email platform is one of those tasks that feels simple—until you're knee-deep in data exports, broken automations, and a plummeting open rate. Because your message is only powerful if it actually lands in their inbox.

If you’ve ever moved email platforms before, you probably know the feeling—that nervous flutter as you wonder, “Will my emails even get delivered?”

One wrong move and suddenly your carefully nurtured list is missing half your opens, your automations aren’t firing, or worse… your emails are landing straight in spam.

But here’s the good news: migrating your email list to Kajabi doesn’t have to mean sacrificing deliverability or confusing your subscribers. With a clear plan and the right prep work, you can make the move smoothly—and set yourself up for stronger, more strategic email marketing on the other side.

Let’s walk through how to do it right.

Why Email Migration Needs a Thoughtful Approach

Your email list isn’t just a spreadsheet of names—it’s one of the most valuable assets in your business. And yet, list migration is often rushed or treated like a simple import/export task.

That’s where things can go sideways. Here’s what can happen if it’s not handled properly:

• Deliverability drops: Your emails land in spam or go unopened.
• Segmentation gets messy: Tags and audience groups don’t transfer cleanly.
• Automations break: Welcome sequences or lead magnet follow-ups don’t fire.
• Subscribers disengage: People receive irrelevant emails or get missed altogether.

If you’ve spent time building trust with your audience, the last thing you want is to lose that momentum because of a back-end mistake.

Best Practices for a Healthy Email Move

Here’s what I recommend when preparing to move your list to Kajabi:

1. Clean Your List First

Don’t move cold or unengaged subscribers just for the sake of a big number. This is your chance to start fresh with a healthy, engaged list.

• Remove duplicates, bounced addresses, and contacts who haven’t opened anything in at least 6+ months.
• Tag your most active subscribers so you can re-engage quickly after the move.

2. Export (and Import) with Intention

Most platforms allow you to export both contacts and associated data—like tags, notes, and custom fields.

• Be intentional about what you include.
• Map old tags to your new Kajabi tagging system so everything stays organized.

3. Authenticate Your Custom Email Domain

This one’s critical—and often missed. When you use Kajabi to send emails, you want to make sure those emails are being sent from you, not Kajabi’s shared sender reputation.

• Set up your custom domain’s SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records (Kajabi gives you these settings inside your email configuration).
• This helps protect your email reputation, improve deliverability, and prevent your messages from landing in spam folders.
• It also builds trust with inbox providers (like Gmail and Outlook) and ensures your name stays attached to your sender identity.

If you're unsure whether this is already in place, it’s worth double-checking. One misconfigured setting can make the difference between inbox and junk mail.

4. Rebuild Automations with Timing in Mind

Kajabi’s email automation system is powerful, but it works differently from platforms like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or ActiveCampaign.

• Rebuild key automations (like welcome sequences) directly in Kajabi.
• Pay close attention to timing—especially if you’re running evergreen offers or onboarding new students.

5. Keep Your Segmentation Strategy Intact

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If you’ve already built smart audience segments, bring them with you—but make sure they’re reflected accurately in Kajabi using tags, email sequences, or product access.

Kajabi Email: More Than Just a Sending Tool

One of the things I love about Kajabi is how deeply integrated email is with everything else—offers, landing pages, checkouts, automations, memberships.

That level of integration also means it’s worth taking the time to learn how to use it strategically.

• Broadcasts: Perfect for one-time announcements, limited-time offers, event reminders, and regular newsletters. Quick to send and easy to personalize, broadcasts help you stay nimble and responsive with your marketing.
• Newsletters: Kajabi’s built-in Newsletter feature gives you a streamlined way to stay connected with your audience on a regular basis. What makes it even more powerful is that you can create sections that are publicly viewable as a free offer, or lock them behind a paywall as a paid member perk. It’s a smart way to add extra value to your membership or program while building deeper engagement with your community.
• Sequences: Ideal for onboarding, nurturing, or delivering lead magnets. These timed, automated emails let you build trust and momentum without the manual effort.
• Automations: Where the real magic happens. You can trigger emails based on product purchases, opt-ins, or tag changes—but also based on student actions like completing a lesson, passing a quiz, or submitting an assessment. Just be sure to test thoroughly to keep the experience smooth and intuitive.

Done right, Kajabi email doesn’t just send messages—it helps you strategically guide your audience through a connected experience.

Stay Consistent and Protect Your List

Your audience is used to hearing from you in a certain way. Changing platforms can disrupt that—but it doesn’t have to.

Here’s how to maintain trust:

• Let subscribers know what’s happening (especially if your sender email address is changing).
• Send a “we’ve moved” message as your first Kajabi email to reintroduce yourself and reset expectations.
• Stay consistent in your tone, frequency, and value—even as the back end changes.

Ready to Migrate Your Email List Without the Headaches?

Moving your list to Kajabi doesn’t have to mean risking your deliverability, losing subscribers, or spending hours troubleshooting tech.

If you’re ready to do it the right way—with your segmentation intact, your email reputation protected, and your automations set up to actually support your business—let’s chat.

📧 Book a quick call today to discuss your email migration and let’s make your next move feel smooth, strategic, and stress-free—just like it should.