Mailchimp setup guide: from account creation to first automated campaign
Mailchimp's interface has changed significantly since most 'setup guide' articles were written. This guide reflects the current UI and the 3-automation minimum viable Mailchimp setup.
Get Mailchimp working for your business in under 3 hours.
Outils recommandés (classés)
| # | Tool | Starting price | Rating | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mailchimp | Free | 4.3/5(12,400) | Try Mailchimp |
Protocole de résolution
- 01
Step 1: Configure sending domain
Audience → Signup Forms → Set up an email address with your domain (john@yourcompany.com, not gmail). Under Account → Domains, add and verify your domain. This single step improves deliverability by 40% compared to sending from a free email address.
- 02
Step 2: Import contacts and create an audience
Audience → Manage Contacts → Import. Use CSV format. Required field: email. Recommended: first name, last name, source. Apply a tag to imports so you can segment by list origin later. Don't import unsubscribed or bounced contacts from your old tool.
- 03
Step 3: Set up welcome automation
Automations → Customer Journeys → Welcome new subscribers. Trigger: new subscriber joins audience. Set a 3-email sequence: immediate welcome, day 3 value email, day 7 soft offer. This automation runs forever and costs you nothing after setup.
FAQ
Is Mailchimp still the best email marketing tool?
Mailchimp is the easiest to start with and has the largest ecosystem of integrations. However, its automation capabilities are weaker than ActiveCampaign, and its ecommerce features are weaker than Klaviyo. Best for: simple newsletter + basic automations, teams new to email marketing, businesses with under 2,000 subscribers.