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MailChimp - Awesome

by Josh Anderson
27 replies
In the IM world it is easy to get caught up in the norm and never hear about other great system for running your email campaigns.

I use Aweber, I have a Getresponse account and I like them both. Great companies, features, and systems.

However, we were recently integrating a few more email list management systems including MailChimp, ConstantContact, Analytic Approach, and Send Pepper... I leave iContact off that list because their api is still in beta.

Out of all the systems the two worst to work with, from a programmatic standpoint are Constant Contact and iContact and the best to work with is MailChimp.

But beyond that... MailChimp is impressive in many ways. Clean site, clean api, clean documentation, clean UI, Can Do approach...

And have you seen their client base:

MailChimp Customers | MailChimp.com

You can easily assume that due to the caliber of client base that they have that delivery rates, accessibility, and flexibility are part of the package.

Since Aweber and Getresponse have both gone through price increases its also important to note that...

www.MailChimp.com costs about the same.

So when everyone is chatting about the two IM favorites... just remember there are other players out there that you can consider as well.
#check #mailchimp
  • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
    Another MailChimp Fan!

    I love what MailChimp offers: G analytics integration, split tests and a sexy front end. What I don't love is having to explain to other folks why I don't use the big email providers anymore. That funny look is about the only "drawback" I have with it.

    MailChimp is one of those services that just makes me happy to use, every single time I use it. I think I remember doing a rendition of the funky monkey the day they released the drip campaign feature.

    I'd never recommend switching if you are satisfied with your current email provider, but if you aren't happy with or have too many frustrations with your current provider, give MailChimp a go.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jagged
      Originally Posted by CaseWhitney View Post

      .....a sexy front end.
      I don't remember Aweber having a "sexy front end"
      ....now I have to go check em out...:p
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    • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
      Originally Posted by CaseWhitney View Post

      What I don't love is having to explain to other folks why I don't use the big email providers anymore.
      What big email providers would that be?

      Mail Chimp boasts 80,000 publishers.
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      • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
        The big email provider I get most flack for not using is Aweber.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    Another great thing about mailchimp is that there is a plugin for wordpress in the wind that will link mailchimp, google analytics and your site with all the stats etc all in your dashboard so no need to go anywhere else to see how campaigns are working etc.

    WordPress + MailChimp + Analytics = Awesomeness – Dougal Campbell's geek ramblings

    Quentin
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  • Profile picture of the author embrown
    I love MailChimp. I've been using their free service and recently upgraded to the paid version. The community is great and the features are solid. I've never even tried the others and I don't really want to.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I've always handled my mailing lists myself. Some time ago I decided to go with a paid service instead. I checked them all out, and ended up with MailChimp and never regretted it for a minute.
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  • Profile picture of the author LB
    How are they with single-optin lists?
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    • Profile picture of the author embrown
      Originally Posted by LB View Post

      How are they with single-optin lists?
      I was reading about this yesterday. MC only does double opt in
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    • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
      Originally Posted by LB View Post

      How are they with single-optin lists?
      If you do your own sign up forms, yes you can do single optin lists.

      From their help desk:

      If you MailChimp's signup forms, we do require the full double opt-in process and there is not a way to turn off the email that asks for confirmation to join your list.


      If you want to create your own single opt-in forms, you may do so, but we still don't recommend single opt-in. Here's a great example of why we don't recommend single opt-in.
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      • Profile picture of the author embrown
        Originally Posted by CaseWhitney View Post

        If you do your own sign up forms, yes you can do single optin lists.

        From their help desk:

        If you MailChimp's signup forms, we do require the full double opt-in process and there is not a way to turn off the email that asks for confirmation to join your list.


        If you want to create your own single opt-in forms, you may do so, but we still don't recommend single opt-in. Here's a great example of why we don't recommend single opt-in.
        The things I was reading must've been older. Sorry the misinformation
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    I want three major things out of my mailing list provider.

    1. Autoresponder with at least 10 pre-arranged emails that go out at specified intervals after signup.

    2. Newsletters where I can schedule emails to be delivered on specified dates AND TIMES.

    3. Broadcasts where I can send an email immediately to the entire list.

    GetResponse is promising everything on this list except specified times for my newsletter, as far as I can tell. They're supposed to, er, WORK starting next week.

    I don't know if AWeber offers all of this, but if I discover they do, I'd switch in a heartbeat. I'm not really researching that yet, because I'd like to give GetResponse an opportunity to get their act together - after all, I'm not even ready to start building my list yet. Once I am, I'll start looking at AWeber.

    But since I have knowledgeable advocates of the service right here, does MailChimp offer all of this?
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      1. Autoresponder with at least 10 pre-arranged emails that go out at specified intervals after signup.
      Not sure what the limit is, I'm not sure there is a limit that I can find.

      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      2. Newsletters where I can schedule emails to be delivered on specified dates AND TIMES.
      From MailChimp:

      Q: Can I schedule a time and date to send a campaign?
      A: To schedule a campaign, go to the last step of the campaign builder, which is also called the pre-delivery checklist, and scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see 4 options under the checklist. Click on the "schedule delivery" button and from there you can choose the date and time you want your campaign to go out.

      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      3. Broadcasts where I can send an email immediately to the entire list.
      I've set up and sent an e-mail to my list(s) immediately.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clayton Jolin
    After hearing a few good things about iContact, I'm with them now.

    However, MailChimp looks better when I go through this thread. Just one simple question, can I have a "no double-opt-in" list? aWeber doesn't allow it and thats why I didn't go with them.

    I just have a list of emails from my customers (their paypal emails) and I want to just shoot them to my mailing list and start sending updates.

    Regards.
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Mailchimp have more features than most but their terms list affiliate marketing content as prohibited content. This is why I haven't used them in the past.


    Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      Mailchimp have more features than most but their terms list affiliate marketing content as prohibited content. This is why I haven't used them in the past.
      Not exactly. They don't allow MLM content. And they have a whole section for the MailChimp Affiliate program. That would be odd, if they had an aff program of their own but didn't allow customers to promote them!

      From the help desk:

      Unacceptable Use & Content
      MailChimp was built to help businesses send email marketing to their customer lists. Simple as that.
      You may NOT use MailChimp to send the following types of content:
      • Pornographic or potentially offensive material (even if it's totally legit and double opt-in---it'll just get us in trouble)
      • Multi-level marketing campaigns (even if it's just to a circle of friends)
      • Deliberately false or misleading information
      • Emails to people who are not customers, and who did not specifically request to receive emails from you or your client.
      • Racist, hateful, and nasty emails meant to harass others
      You get the picture. And just because it's not on this list, it doesn't mean it's okay to send. If you've got something inappropriate, don't be a jerk---keep it off MailChimp.

      For information on lists that are ok and not ok to use on MailChimp visit this page.
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      • Profile picture of the author rondo
        Originally Posted by CaseWhitney View Post

        Not exactly.
        I'm referring to this page: Anti-Spam Policy and Terms of Use | MailChimp.com
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        • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
          Originally Posted by rondo View Post

          I don't like discrepancies. I've not had a prob with MailChimp. I sent in a customer support request for clarification. will post it when they respond.

          Vanessa
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          • Profile picture of the author mememe303
            Originally Posted by CaseWhitney View Post

            I don't like discrepancies. I've not had a prob with MailChimp. I sent in a customer support request for clarification. will post it when they respond.

            Vanessa
            Hi Vanessa:

            I'll be interested in the response you get from customer support. Please be sure to share it with us. Thanks.
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            • Profile picture of the author CaseWhitney
              The MailChimp team responded right away and I hadn't posted this earlier.
              You are correct, you can not prospect through our system to MLM or affiliate lists/programs.

              If you know a friend and want to tell them about our service, we do offer an affiliate program you can refer them through. To use this service you simply give your friend your affiliate link. You don't upload your entire list of friends and send them a bulk email for the sake of blindly promoting a service such as ours.
              I hope this helps clarify.
              @rondo
              You had it right, the ToS is still a no go for affiliate marketing content.
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          • Profile picture of the author xtreme newbie
            I read the Mail Chimp anti-spam policy cited here and it does specifically name "affiliate marketing" as a niche they don't serve. Darn because I have Mail Chimp now.
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  • Profile picture of the author 123rlp
    I have a Aweber account and it is set up as a singel opt in account.Is there a way to transfer all your email Add. From one company to another?
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
    Think of Mail Chimp as a high quality, high delivery rate service... that keeps it that way by serving a specific target market.

    Companies communicating with their customers.

    It is not really the kind of service that affiliate marketers use to pitch other people's products to their list.

    It is the kind that you use if you are a service provider or brand that communicates with your client base about your own products and services.

    Expect higher delivery rates and better relationships with ISPs because they are more picky and strict about who they let use their service.

    For affiliate marketing lists you should stick with the service providers that seek out and cater to that particular market of publishers... IE. that is why I have my lists with the popular IM companies. But for my web based service communication I am considering MailChimp.
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  • Profile picture of the author webatomic
    I spent all day excitedly setting up my Mailchimp campaign only to have them shut it down because it's promoting a"work-at-home" site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ray Abraham
    Glad I searched Google first and read this post.
    So, what's the next best thing - aside of the two giants -? Anyone?
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  • Profile picture of the author malcasid
    Wow I love MailChimp! And I didn't know that affiliate marketing was against their TOS

    I guess I'll have to change to another autorepsonder then.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    I don't do any affiliate marketing over e-mail, just marketing my own products, sending newsletters and such.

    MailChimp works great for me.
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