Let’s start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, let’s start with creating and setting up a Mailchimp account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to Mailchimp<\/a> and sign up for an account. Don’t forget to activate it using the link that you’ll receive in your email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After clicking the link in your email to activate your account, you’ll be directed to the Account Set Up<\/strong> page. The first step will be to choose a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this example, I’ll choose the Free plan, of course. \ud83d\ude00 I recommend that you do the same if you’re new to Mailchimp. Maybe you won’t like it and decide not to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you’re ready, click the Next<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set up your profile by adding your name, business name, website URL, and phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last two are optional. I don’t know why the business name is mandatory, as if everyone has a business. Maybe someone is blogging for pleasure, not money, for example? It’s an annoying request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyway, click on the Continue<\/strong> button when you’re done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add your address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, they’ll ask if you already have a list of contacts, meaning people who already signed up somewhere else to receive emails from you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do have a list, choose Yes<\/strong>. Then, you’ll have to select how many email contacts do you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that the Free plan only includes up to 2000 contacts. If you’re going to import more, you’ll have to upgrade your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since I don’t have a list of contacts, I’ll choose No<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Customize<\/strong> step, select if you sell products or services online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New questions can appear, depending on what answer you choose. For Products<\/strong>, Services<\/strong>, or Both<\/strong>, you’ll get this additional question: “How do you currently sell online?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you choose Neither<\/strong>, then you’ll be asked if you plan to sell products or services in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the Continue<\/strong> button once you’re done. You’ll be directed to the Mailchimp dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last thing to do for your Mailchimp account setup is to choose if you want to receive different types of newsletters from Mailchimp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to Buy or Sell WordPress Sites?<\/p>\n\n\n\n At ReadyShip, we offer an all-in-one WordPress solution for those looking to start a blog or site, as well as the opportunity for WordPress developers or professionals to sell their products!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have visitors from the European Union, you’ll have to make your subscription form, along with your newsletter, compliant with the GDPR law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And last time I checked, and if I understood correctly, the GDPR law requires you to allow users to choose what type of newsletters they want to receive. That’s besides giving their consent to store and use their email address, along with other personal information that you might require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GDPR law is weird and susceptible to interpretation, so please do your own research as well. I might not have gotten it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More similar laws are starting to pop up as well, because why not have 200 different privacy laws to deal with, right? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Brazil has come up with Brazilian General Data Protection Act<\/a>. California, in the United States, has a similar law, called California Consumer Privacy Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, basically, you can’t run away from this nightmare, no matter where your audience is coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyway, let’s see how to enable GDPR marketing permissions in Mailchimp, which will work with the Segments<\/strong> that we’ll set up in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From your Mailchimp dashboard, go to Audience<\/strong> > All contacts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From the Settings<\/strong> drop-down, choose GDPR fields and settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There, you’ll see a page with a form, called GDPR Marketing Preferences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can add whatever title, description, and legal text you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Marketing preferences<\/strong> options, I like to add different types of newsletters, so that the users opt-in for the one they’re interested in. This will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I replaced the default description with “Please select the newsletters that you want to subscribe for”, and Marketing preferences<\/strong> with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click the Save GDPR settings<\/strong> button when you’re done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might be interested in Groups<\/a> instead. The plugin that I recommend at the end<\/a> works with Groups but not with Segments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Segments in Mailchimp allow you to send targeted newsletters to your subscribers. Think about them as categories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you might want to send your latest posts to all subscribers, but marketing newsletters only to some, not all of them. Basically, it’s what I mentioned in the above section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When users choose what type of newsletter they want to receive, in the marketing preference section, their email address will automatically go to the specific Segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s see how to create Segments in Mailchimp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From your Mailchimp dashboard, go to Audience<\/strong> > Segments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the Create Segment<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, I want to create a Segment where the users who choose Latest posts<\/strong> from Marketing preference<\/strong> are added. That way, they only receive a newsletter with my latest posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s what I did. I:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can add multiple conditions, depending on your needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you’re done, click on the Preview Segment<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the Save Segment<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After saving, a popup will appear, where you can name the Segment. I named it “Latest posts subscribers”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the Save<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, if you go to Audience<\/strong> > Segments<\/strong> from your dashboard, you’ll see it there, in the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repeat these steps for every Segment that you want to create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for an All-in-One WordPress Solution?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ReadyShip offers you ready-made WordPress sites and blogs, plus high-quality managed AWS hosting with free SSL and CDN, at no initial cost!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mailchimp lets you create two types of subscription forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s start with the first one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to Audience<\/strong> > Signup forms<\/strong> and select Form builder<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s a lot of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can build your subscription form by adding, editing, removing text and fields. You can design it by changing colors, fonts, etc. And you can also translate it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The changes will save automatically, there’s no button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that you can do this for your signup form, unsubscribe form, confirmation page, and a lot more, as you can see in the Forms and response emails<\/strong> drop-down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you care about details like I do, you’ll spend a lot of time here. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n After finishing setting up your Mailchimp subscription form for WordPress, go to Audience<\/strong> > Signup forms<\/strong> and select Embedded forms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, you’ll have a bunch of other options. You can also preview your subscription form, but it might look different than it will look on your WordPress site. Mine is the default one because I didn’t spend any time on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The important thing to do here is to copy that HTML code where it says Copy\/paste onto your site<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, usually, you want to embed this Mailchimp subscription form in a WordPress widget – in your sidebar, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, log in to WordPress, go to Appearance<\/strong> > Widgets<\/strong> and drag a Custom HTML<\/strong> widget to your sidebar. Then, paste the code from Mailchimp to embed the subscription form in WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check your embedded Mailchimp subscription form in the front-end now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mine looks ugly, of course, because I didn’t tweak it at all. Your WordPress theme might also interfere with the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check if the Mailchimp subscription form works, and the subscriber is added to the proper Segment, based on the marketing preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I added an email address and chose the Latest posts<\/strong> preference, and it worked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The email address was added in the Latest posts subscribers<\/strong> Segment, but not<\/span> in the Marketing subscribers<\/strong> Segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second option Mailchimp offers you – a pop-up with a subscription form that you can add to your WordPress website or blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s see what you need to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Mailchimp, go to Signup forms<\/strong> and select Subscriber pop-up<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the Connect Site<\/strong> link. It will bring up a pop-up where you need to add your website’s URL and accept the terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, click on Get started<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll be given a code that you need to paste into the Go to your WordPress website and install the Insert Headers and Footers<\/a> plugin. If you need help, here are 4 ways to install a WordPress plugin<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Set Up a Mailchimp Account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-plans.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-profile-setup.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-address.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"list](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-contacts-yes.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-contacts.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"customize](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/customize-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/customize-mailchimp-products.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/customize-mailchimp-neither.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 7<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-newsletter.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. Set Up Marketing Permissions for GDPR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mailchimp-audience.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"GDPR](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/gdpr-marketing-permissions-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"gdpr](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/marketing-permissions-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"marketing](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/marketing-preferences-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Create Segments in Mailchimp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"segments](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/audiences-segments-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"create](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/create-segment-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"segment](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/segment-marketing-permissions-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"save](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/save-segment-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"name](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/name-segment-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/segments-table-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n4. Create and Embed a Mailchimp Subscription Form in WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"signup](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sign-up-forms-mailchimp-1.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"form](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/form-builder-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Forms](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/forms-response-emails.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"embedded](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/embedded-forms-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"copy](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/copy-form-code-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 5 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"embedded](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/embedded-mailchimp-subscribe-form-widget-wordpress.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/subscribe-form-mailchimp-wordpress-sidebar.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 7<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"subscriber](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/subscribed-success-segment.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n5. Create and Add a Mailchimp Subscription Pop-Up in WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"subscriebr](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/subscriber-pop-up-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/connect-site-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<head><\/code> section of your WordPress site. So, click on the Copy To Clipboard<\/strong> button. Leave the pop-up open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/connect-site-mailchimp-code.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/head-mailchimp-code.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"check](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/check-connection-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"customize](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/customize-pop-up-subscriber-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"subscriber](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/display-on-exit-mailchimp-popup.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"enable](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/enable-subscribe-pop-up-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"mailchimp](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/subscriber-pop-up-form-wordpress.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"account](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/account-settings-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"api](\"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/api-keys-mailchimp.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n