This checklist covers most or all of the steps needed to create and send a newsletter campaign using the MailChimp email marketing service.

Let us know if you need help!

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Getting started

1. Have a plan

  • Who are your readers?
  • What content will you send?
  • How frequently will you send?
  • What are your goals?
  • Make a schedule, put it on the calendar

2. Create a MailChimp account

3. Create your contact list

  • Import email addresses if applicable
  • Create segments, groups, and tags as needed
  • Create a sign-up form
  • Publish sign-up form on your website(s)
  • Invite people to sign up in person and on social media

4. Set up a reusable email template

  • Edit the base template OIT has shared
  • Create a e-newsletter header graphic in Canva and use it to replace the default header graphic in the template
  • Edit standard sections of text that will be included in each email, like “Contact our office at:”
  • Finalize design in campaign editor

Sending some emails!

5. Create your first campaign

  • Determine who the email will be sent to.
  • Choose a template
  • Add, edit, and format content
  • Preview online
  • Proof content one more time
  • Send!

6. Create additional campaigns

  • Again, invite people to sign up in person and on social media.
  • Replicate previous campaign if desired
  • Update subject for Twitter/Facebook
  • Send!
  • Create an archive folder
  • Add archives to website

7. Evaluate success

  • Monitor open and click rates
  • Monitor bounces, unsubscribes and complaints
  • Evaluate times of day opened
  • Evaluate patterns over time
  • Adjust campaigns as necessary
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