Findmypast is a British-owned world leader in online family history, with over 18 million registered users across its family of brands, which includes Findmypast, Genes Reunited, the British Newspaper Archive, and Twile. Its lead brand, also called Findmypast, is the home of the world’s most comprehensive online collection of British and Irish records.
The platform provides an accessible family history experience, supplemented by expert guidance from in-house specialists at every step of the way. By combining the best of British and Irish records with unique DNA and family tree experiences, it brings new discoveries to users across the globe every day.
The Findmypast (FMP) team wanted to provide a more personal and engaging experience to users after logging into their account. In order to ensure maximum relevance and optimizing personalization – while also avoiding repetitive messaging – FMP needed to solve the following challenges:
Marigold Engage’s website capabilities unlock a new level of advanced targeting based on campaign data and website behavior. The personalized dashboards significantly improve the user experience and provide unique content for all customer types.
Sarah Wilson
CRM Manager, Findmypast
Using Marigold Engage’s dynamic website content capabilities, FMP used the dashboard on its platform to display personalized messages to logged-in users. The team created a content and behavioral data strategy, replete with website content blocks and journeys that match the interests and proficiency level of individual users. Every user’s experience is different, based on complex business rules defined via Selligent.
Personalized Findmypast dashboard content included:
Specific ‘onboarding content tiles’ directing new users to useful family records and educational content such as PDFs and video tutorials. Content tiles were displayed based on behavioral data gathered from engagement with onboarding emails.
Direct download links to the FMP mobile app for iOS and Android users.
Promotions such as free trials and 10% discounts on subscriptions and record sets.
Content tile requesting marketing opt-in.
Implementation of seasonal sales on DNA research tools (Mother’s Day etc.)
Weekly content update for seasonal news, topical history and new blogs.
Using Selligent to display personalized content via the website dashboard struck a chord with Findmypast users.
“We like the advanced targeting that the Selligent SITE module allows, drawing on campaign data and website behavioral activity,” said Sarah Wilson, CRM Manager for Findmypast.
Data collected in Selligent during the 26-week-long campaign also allowed for identifying highly engaging content.
Based on learnings from the dynamic dashboard campaign, FMP created an ‘abandon’ function on its platform using Selligent SITE’s shopping cart feature. After a specific time frame, users who abandon paywalled content automatically receive targeted messages to encourage further engagement, conversion, or upsell to the subscription.
As a result of the optimizing personalization dashboard campaign, the FMP team achieved milestones such as:
Marigold: where relationships take root.
