How to export last open and click data by subscriber from MyEmma?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 10 Aug 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
7 min read
Migrating from one email service provider (ESP) to another can be a complex process, especially when it comes to retaining valuable historical data. A frequent challenge I encounter with clients transitioning from platforms like MyEmma is the need to export granular engagement metrics, specifically the last open and last click dates for each subscriber. This data is critical for understanding audience engagement over time and ensuring a smooth transition of your email program without losing valuable insights.
While most ESPs offer robust reporting on campaign-level performance, aggregating specific subscriber-level engagement data across all mailings can be surprisingly difficult. This is particularly true for metrics like the absolute last time a subscriber opened or clicked any email sent from the platform, rather than just within a single campaign. Such detailed historical data is vital for segmenting your audience effectively in a new system and preventing deliverability issues.
The ability to access this information directly impacts your ability to identify active subscribers, sunset unengaged contacts, and maintain a high sender reputation in your new environment. Without it, you might inadvertently import inactive subscribers, which can lead to higher bounce rates and spam complaints, ultimately harming your deliverability.
Understanding MyEmma's data export capabilities
MyEmma provides comprehensive reporting features, typically accessible through each mailing's Response page. Users can view various engagement metrics, including opens, clicks, shares, and opt-outs for individual campaigns. This data is exportable on a per-campaign basis, allowing you to download response data into a zipped CSV file. You can find more details on how to export campaign response data through MyEmma's documentation.
However, the challenge arises when you need a cumulative view of a subscriber's last activity across all campaigns. MyEmma's primary export functionality focuses on individual campaign performance. While you can obtain lists of subscribers who opened or clicked specific mailings, aggregating this information to determine the absolute last open or click date for each subscriber across their entire history with your account is not a straightforward, one-click export option.
This limitation means that for a complete migration, a simple campaign-level export may not provide the holistic subscriber engagement data needed for advanced segmentation or list hygiene in a new ESP. It requires a more nuanced approach to data extraction and consolidation.
Key export considerations
Campaign-level exports: MyEmma readily provides data for individual campaigns, including who opened and clicked.
Subscriber-level aggregate data: Obtaining the last open or last click date across all mailings per subscriber is not a standard direct export.
Data aggregation: You may need to manually combine data from multiple campaign exports to compile a comprehensive subscriber engagement profile.
Navigating MyEmma's reporting for engagement metrics
MyEmma's Response page offers various tabs like Overview, Opens, Clicks, Shares, New Sign-ups, and Opt-outs. While these provide a detailed snapshot for each mailing, they are not designed to give you a single last activity date for each subscriber across all your campaigns. The Insights feature provides aggregate views of audience and engagement metrics over custom timeframes, but again, typically not down to individual subscriber last activity across the entire account.
The primary method for extracting subscriber data in MyEmma is through audience exports. You can export contacts to a CSV file from your Audience tab, either from specific groups or segments. These exports primarily contain contact fields and subscription status, but not detailed historical engagement metrics like last open or click dates from every past campaign.
To get a sense of overall engagement, some users resort to exporting data for multiple campaigns and then merging and de-duplicating this information in a spreadsheet program. This manual process can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially for accounts with a large number of campaigns and subscribers.
Data type
Direct export availability
Effort for aggregate subscriber data
Campaign opens/clicks
Yes, per mailing.
Low (specific campaign).
Subscriber contact lists
Yes, from Audience tab.
Low (basic contact info).
Last open date by subscriber
No, not directly across all mailings.
High (manual aggregation required).
Last click date by subscriber
No, not directly across all mailings.
High (manual aggregation required).
Strategies for obtaining subscriber-level data
Since MyEmma's standard export options don't easily provide the last open and click dates across all campaigns for each subscriber, you might need to explore alternative strategies. One potential avenue is to leverage MyEmma's API. For developers, the Emma API could offer more granular access to event data, allowing you to programmatically pull all open and click events and then process them to find the most recent activity for each unique subscriber.
This approach typically involves iterating through your historical campaigns, pulling the engagement data for each, and then using a script or database to consolidate this information. You would identify the unique subscriber (usually by email address) and then record the latest open and click timestamps associated with them. This requires technical expertise in API integration and data manipulation.
If API access isn't feasible, the manual method of exporting campaign response data for all your historical mailings remains an option, albeit a laborious one. After exporting each campaign's opens and clicks, you would need to compile these into a master spreadsheet. For each subscriber, you would then find the most recent date from all the 'open' timestamps and all the 'click' timestamps in your consolidated data set. This can be critical for defining unengaged subscribers for removal or re-engagement.
Example pseudo-code for API data processingpython
subscribers_data = {}
for campaign in all_campaigns:
campaign_opens = api.get_opens(campaign.id)
campaign_clicks = api.get_clicks(campaign.id)
for open_event in campaign_opens:
email = open_event['email']
open_time = open_event['timestamp']
if email not in subscribers_data or open_time > subscribers_data[email].get('last_open', ''):
subscribers_data[email]['last_open'] = open_time
for click_event in campaign_clicks:
email = click_event['email']
click_time = click_event['timestamp']
if email not in subscribers_data or click_time > subscribers_data[email].get('last_click', ''):
subscribers_data[email]['last_click'] = click_time
# subscribers_data now holds last_open and last_click for each subscriber
Importance of historical engagement data for deliverability
The effort to extract this detailed engagement history is worthwhile because it directly impacts your email deliverability. When you migrate to a new ESP, maintaining a clean and engaged list is paramount. Importing a list with a high percentage of inactive or unengaged subscribers can signal to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that your sending practices are poor, potentially leading to higher spam placement rates or even blocklisting (or blacklisting) of your domain or IP.
By knowing each subscriber's last open or click date, you can proactively segment your audience. You can create a highly engaged segment for your initial sends from the new ESP, which helps build a positive sender reputation quickly. For subscribers who haven't engaged in a long time, you can implement re-engagement campaigns or choose to suppress them entirely. This strategic approach minimizes risks and helps ensure your emails land in the inbox.
Furthermore, this data is invaluable for understanding the true health of your list. It allows you to identify trends in engagement, pinpoint segments that are becoming stale, and refine your content strategy. Even if it requires some manual work or development, the long-term benefits for your email program's success and overall deliverability are significant.
Ability to create highly engaged segments for initial sends.
Improved sender reputation and inbox placement.
Better resource allocation on truly interested subscribers.
Enhanced personalization and targeting capabilities.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Before migrating, conduct a thorough audit of all data available for export from MyEmma, beyond just contact lists.
Prioritize exporting campaign-level open and click reports, then aggregate this data manually or via scripts to derive subscriber-level last activity dates.
Segment your current list based on engagement data before migrating to ensure you only move highly active subscribers initially.
Use the last open and click data to define sunsetting policies for inactive subscribers in your new ESP.
Common pitfalls
Overlooking the challenge of aggregating subscriber-level engagement data across all campaigns when planning migration.
Relying solely on MyEmma's standard contact exports, which often lack the crucial last open and click dates.
Importing an entire historical list into a new ESP without prior segmentation based on engagement.
Underestimating the time and resources required for manual data consolidation if API access is not utilized.
Expert tips
Always check the ESP's API documentation for hidden gems regarding data extraction, as direct UI exports can be limited.
Consider a phased migration, starting with only your most engaged subscribers to quickly establish a positive sender reputation with your new ESP.
Leverage the migration as an opportunity to clean your list, removing truly unengaged subscribers identified by their last activity data.
Document your data extraction and transformation process meticulously for future reference or audits.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they found that MyEmma's primary export functionality provides campaign-level data, not overall subscriber-level last open or last click dates.
2022-11-30 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says that while MyEmma allows exporting campaign response data, obtaining aggregated historical open and click data per subscriber can be challenging.
2022-12-01 - Email Geeks
Ensuring a smooth transition
Exporting last open and click data by subscriber from MyEmma presents a specific challenge, as the platform's standard exports are primarily campaign-centric. While direct, aggregate subscriber-level data might not be a one-click affair, the effort to obtain this information is crucial for any email program migration.
Whether through meticulous manual aggregation of campaign reports or by leveraging MyEmma's API, securing this historical engagement data allows for intelligent list segmentation, improved deliverability, and a stronger foundation for your email marketing efforts in a new environment. Investing time in this data extraction ensures you carry over not just your contacts, but also their valuable engagement history.
MyEmma is the need to export granular engagement metrics, specifically the last open and last click dates for each subscriber. This data is critical for understanding audience engagement over time and ensuring a smooth transition of your email program without losing valuable insights.
