What is MailChimp?

MailchimpMailChimpA popular email marketing and marketing automation platform.
More About MailChimp is a versatile marketing campaign tool that enables easy email subscriberSubscriberSomeone who willingly opts to receive updates, content, or services from a specific source.
More About Subscriber management. Integrating Mailchimp with your WordPress site streamlines your marketing efforts. Check out the “What is MailChimp?” article. We’ll guide you using Mailchimp with WordPressWordPressOpen-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites and blogs.
More About WordPress via the pluginPluginA piece of software that can be easily installed and activated on a CMS platform to enhance its capabilities.
More About Plugin or traditional code.

MailChimp Explained

In 2001, MailChimp was established as a web designWeb DesignCreating and organizing the visual layout, user interface, and overall aesthetics of a website.
More About Web Design agency. Since then, it has steadily emerged as the preferred email marketing solution for small and large corporations. Mailchimp for WordPress is a plugin that connects your WordPress website to Mailchimp, streamlining marketing campaigns and user management. 

The reason behind its widespread popularity is its user-friendly interface. You can accomplish a variety of tasks without the need to leave your web browserBrowserA software application that enables you to view and interact with websites.
More About Browser or learn to code. With MailChimp, you can effortlessly:

• Send attractive marketing material that looks professional
• Set up automated email campaigns
• Create and share signup forms
• Target specific audiences based on location or demographic information
• Access comprehensive reports with detailed insights
• Integrate with your online store to drive sales
• Build landing pages
• Run effective social media ad campaigns

Once you familiarize yourself with the full potential of MailChimp, you can leverage the power of direct email marketing to cultivate a dedicated following, enhance your return on investment (ROIROIReturn on Investment is a measure used to evaluate the profitability and efficiency of an investment or project.
More About ROI), and boost your revenue.

To get started, you’ll need to create a Mailchimp account, which can be done by registering on their website, and choosing between the free or paid options.

MailChimp Free vs. Premium

Your contact count determines Mailchimp’s pricing, and each plan has a monthly email-sending limit. They now provide a free trial for the Essentials (up to 50,000 contacts) and Standard (up to 100,000 contacts) plans. You’ll need to provide payment details and receive an email reminder before the trial ends. You can switch plans or cancel within the 1-month trial.

New users and those switching from free/pay-as-you-go plans are now charged per contact, including unsubscribed contacts and unconfirmed opt-ins. This change could increase your costs significantly based on the proportion of unsubscribed contacts.

MailChimp also offers a pay-as-you-go option with the same features as monthly plans. They have a Free plan for up to 500 contacts and 1000 monthly emails (with ads). The Essentials plan starts at $13/month for 500 contacts and 5000 monthly email sends. The Standard plan begins at $26.50/month with advanced automation, and the Premium plan offers all-areas access starting at $299/month.

Essential Features

MailChimp offers diverse features that can optimize your email marketing efforts, making it an excellent choice for any website owner. With automation, custom templates, analytics, and more, MailChimp empowers you to create effective campaigns and build strong relationships with your audience. Let’s review some of the main features of MailChimp for WordPress. 

• RSSRSSReally Simple Syndication is a technology that allows users to easily access and distribute content from various sources in a standardized format.
  More About RSS-to-email subscriptions. Connect with subscribers effortlessly by tying your RSS feed to MailChimp for automated updates.
• Custom email templates. Design eye-catching emails to captivate your audience and enhance engagement.
• Automatic welcome emails and autoresponders. Greet new subscribers automatically and streamline message delivery.
• Comprehensive analytics reports. Utilize detailed user demographics to tailor content and boost your promotional strategy.
• PerformancePerformanceRefers to how fast a website or web application loads and responds to user interactions.
  More About Performance monitoring tools. Track campaign progress and make timely adjustments for better results.
• Abandoned cart emails. Recover lost sales by reminding users of pending items in their cart.
• Scheduled email campaigns. Plan and launch emails strategically to maximize your business growth.

How to Set Up MailChimp on WordPress with Plugin

Setting up MailChimp on WordPress is simple. You can find various MailChimp plugins on the official repository, but checking their compatibility with the latest WordPress versions is essential.

Some of the most popular free and premium MailChimp for WordPress plugins include the following: 

• Contact Form 7 Extension supports multiple contact forms, mailing lists, and APIAPIApplication Programming Interface serves as a bridge that enables different software systems to communicate and interact with each other.
  More About API keys. The free version includes single and double opt-in forms, while the premium version offers advanced features like verification emails and unlimited custom fields.
• Mailmunch is an email marketing solution with both free and paid plans. The premium plan includes landing pages, analytic reports, responsive templates, and SEOSEOSearch Engine Optimization involves optimizing various website elements to make it more attractive to search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
  More About SEO optimization to convert email readers into customers.
• Easy Forms for Mailchimp is a ready-to-go plugin allowing unlimited form insertion into pages, posts, or widgets. It integrates with various plugins like WooCommerceWooCommerceA free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress.
  More About WooCommerce and Contact FormContact FormA crucial component of any website that allows visitors to connect with the website owner or administrator.
  More About Contact Form 7, and provides extensive customization options.
• MailOptin is a premium plugin with a flexible form builder, offering multiple display options and exit-intentIntentA purpose or goal behind a user’s action on a website.
  More About Intent technology to boost conversionConversionA process of turning a website visitor, social media follower, or any other potential customer into an actual paying customer.
  More About Conversion rates. It also provides A/B testingA/B TestingA method used to optimize websites and improve user experiences by comparing two or more variations of a web page to determine which one performs better.
  More About A/B Testing and enhanced reporting through Google AnalyticsGoogle AnalyticsA web analytics service that provides valuable insights into the performance and user behavior on websites and mobile applications.
  More About Google Analytics.
• MailChimp for WooCommerce plugin ensures data synchronization, marketing automation, and embedded pop-up forms. It offers analytical reports on marketing performance, customers’ purchase history, and purchase frequency.
• Forms for Mailchimp by Optin Cat is compatible with the Gutenberg editor, facilitating easy and intuitive form creation. It includes various opt-in form types and extends functionality in the premium version.

How to Set Up MailChimp on WordPress without Plugins

To integrate MailChimp without additional plugins, follow these steps:

• Create a MailChimp account. Sign up with a valid email address and choose a plan.
• Upload your audience data. Set up an email list or import your existing subscribers.
• Integrate MailChimp with WordPress. In your MailChimp dashboard, go to Integrations, select WordPress, and generate the code for your subscription form.

• Add the code to your website. Access your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Theme EditorEditorThe interface that allows you to write and format text, add images, embed media, and much more.
  More About Editor, and paste the code before the closing </head> tag in the headerHeaderA visual and typographical band or menu commonly situated at the uppermost part of a website’s interface.
  More About Header.php file of your current theme.

Finally, check the connection in MailChimp’s dashboard to ensure the subscription form appears on your website, and subscribers’ data will automatically be added to your audience.

In a Nutshell 

So, why is it better to choose MailChimp for WordPress over other mailing services? It stands out as the leading email marketing service worldwide, and its popularity owes much to its seamless integration with WordPress. With WordPress powering over a third of all websites globally, MailChimp’s developers ensured their service works flawlessly with this widely-used CMSCMSA content management system is software aiding users to create, manage, and modify website content.
More About CMS.

But WordPress compatibility is just one of MailChimp’s merits. The platform boasts an extensive knowledge base and a user-friendly dashboard, making it one of the most approachable email marketing solutions.

Affordability is another advantage of MailChimp. If you have a subscriber list of fewer than 2,000 contacts and send up to 10,000 emails per month (with a daily limit of 2,000 emails), you can use MailChimp’s free plan. While the free version may need some features found in paid subscriptions, it still serves as a valuable tool for burgeoning online projects seeking to grow their audience without straining their budget on an expensive service.

As your website gains momentum, upgrading your MailChimp subscription is seamless, unlocking enhanced marketing capabilities. With MailChimp’s reliable service and WordPress integration, businesses can effectively manage their email marketing campaigns and easily expand their reach.