Mailchimp Setup Guide
Connect Memo2Post to your Mailchimp account to automatically draft newsletter editions.
What You Will Need
- A Mailchimp account (free or paid)
- At least one email list created in Mailchimp
- Your Mailchimp API key
- Your list ID
Step 1: Find Your Mailchimp API Key
- Log into your Mailchimp account
- Click your profile icon in the top right corner
- Select "Account" from the dropdown menu
- In the left sidebar, click "Extras" then "API keys"
- Scroll down to "Your API Keys" section
- Click "Create a Key" if you don't have one already
- Copy the API key (it looks like a long string of letters and numbers)
Security: Keep your API key secret. Never share it publicly. It gives full access to your Mailchimp account. If you accidentally expose it, delete it and create a new one.
Step 2: Find Your Mailchimp List ID
- In your Mailchimp account, go to "Audience"
- Find the list you want to send newsletters to
- Click on it to open the list
- Click "Settings" on the left sidebar
- Click "Audience name and defaults"
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page
- You will see "List ID" - copy this value
The List ID is usually a combination of numbers and letters (like "a1b2c3d4e5"). Keep this handy for the next step.
Step 3: Connect Mailchimp to Memo2Post
- Log into your Memo2Post account
- Go to Settings and select "Integrations"
- Find Mailchimp and click "Connect"
- Paste your Mailchimp API key
- Paste your List ID
- Click "Verify Connection"
If the connection is successful, you will see a green checkmark next to Mailchimp in your Integrations page. If you see an error, double-check that you copied the API key and List ID exactly.
Step 4: Send Your First Newsletter Draft
- Create a new content package in Memo2Post
- When reviewing your generated newsletter, select "Send to Mailchimp"
- Your newsletter will appear as a draft in your Mailchimp campaigns
- From Mailchimp, you can edit, preview, and send when ready
The newsletter will be saved as a draft in Mailchimp, not automatically sent. This gives you a chance to review, edit, and choose when to send it to your subscribers.
Step 5: Review and Send from Mailchimp
- Log into your Mailchimp account
- Go to "Campaigns"
- Find your newly created newsletter draft
- Open it and review the content
- Make any edits if needed
- Click "Review" and then "Send" when you are ready
You have full control over when your newsletter goes out. The draft stays in Mailchimp until you choose to send it.
Troubleshooting
Connection Failed: Invalid API Key
Make sure you copied your API key exactly from Mailchimp. API keys are case-sensitive and contain both letters and numbers. If you keep getting this error, try creating a new API key in Mailchimp.
Connection Failed: Invalid List ID
The List ID is found in your Audience settings, not in your email address list. Make sure you are copying the List ID from the correct location in Mailchimp. It should be a string of numbers and letters.
Draft Not Appearing in Mailchimp
Try refreshing your Mailchimp campaigns page. The draft should appear within a few seconds. If it still does not appear, check your browser's error console or contact support.
Newsletter Formatting Issues
Sometimes formatting may look different in Mailchimp than in Memo2Post. You can edit the draft in Mailchimp's email editor to adjust fonts, colors, and layout before sending.
Best Practices
- Always review the draft in Mailchimp before sending to your subscribers
- Test the email preview on mobile devices for readability
- Edit the subject line in Mailchimp if you want something different
- Use Mailchimp's scheduling feature to send at optimal times for your audience
- Keep your API key secret and never share it
Need More Help?
If you run into issues that this guide does not cover, email us at dan@memo2post.com with details about the problem and we will help you get it working.