Send an email with Mailchimp
If you want to email more than 500 people or include additional formatting such as unique headers and inline images, use the Mailchimp integration. You can choose which People lists to sync with Mailchimp and send your emails directly from there.
Important
Your account must be connected to your Mailchimp account before you can sync with Mailchimp.
Sync a People list to Mailchimp
Only a person’s primary email address is synced between the People list and Mailchimp. Syncing creates a Mailchimp tag using the list's name and ID number. You can only connect one audience with Planning Center, but you can make many tags in that audience.
From the Lists page, create a new list or select an existing list name.
Select the Settings tab.
Select Sync now in the Mailchimp status area. Depending on the size of your list, syncing may take a couple of minutes.
(Optional) If you want the list to re-sync automatically, turn on the Re-sync every night switch.
Warning
Refreshing the list removes anyone who is no longer on it from the Mailchimp tag.
Open the list in Mailchimp
After syncing is complete, the button changes to View in Mailchimp. Select View in Mailchimp to open the list.
You might see differences between your list count and Mailchimp tag count due to the following reasons:
There is a delay in syncing due to server load.
Duplicates: Mailchimp only emails unique email addresses, but the list might have people with the same email address.
Unsubscribes: if someone unsubscribes from a Mailchimp email, they are unsubscribed from all future emails.
Profiles in your list do not have an email address.
The wrong name: Mailchimp uses merge tags to populate names on emails.
Tip
As a Mailchimp administrator, you can search for the tag using a list name.
Create and send an email campaign
Create an email campaign to email your list. You can do this anytime, before or after syncing your list.
Follow Mailchimp's guide to create a styled email campaign.
Follow Mailchimp's guide to send an email campaign to a tag.
Mailchimp errors
If you get an error when syncing your list, choose it from those listed below and follow the solution.
Error | Issue | Solution |
|---|---|---|
<email address> must be verified before you can send from this address | The "from" email address must be a verified domain name in your Mailchimp account. | Follow the Mailchimp instructions to verify the domain. |
Temporary Error | Many email addresses have unsubscribed or been permanently deleted. | Check the email addresses in Mailchimp to see what actions must be taken. |
Merge Fields | You have required Merge Tags that are not allowed. | Only Email Address, First Name, Last Name can be required. Uncheck any required tags. |
Invalid Address | One of the email addresses in the list is invalid. | Using the error given, check the email address and change it. |
Campaign Not Ready | The Mailchimp account is suspended. | Log in to Mailchimp and fix any issues listed. |
Sync Error | Someone who no longer has manager or higher permissions in Mailchimp enabled the integration between Planning Center and Mailchimp. | A Planning Center organization administrator, who is also a manager or higher administrator in Mailchimp, will need to disconnect and reconnect the Mailchimp integration. |
Tip
Although people who use the free version of Mailchimp don't have access to Mailchimp support, there are helpful guides and tutorials on Mailchimp's Help page.
Unsubscribes in Mailchimp
When someone unsubscribes from an email campaign sent through Mailchimp, they will no longer receive emails from any People List synchronized with Mailchimp.
However, if they meet the list conditions, you will still see them on the List Results tab, and they will remain in the Mailchimp audience.
Here are the different statuses Mailchimp recognizes:
Unsubscribed - administrator: If a Mailchimp administrator unsubscribes someone, they will be resubscribed the next time a sync is initiated.
Unsubscribed - person: If a person clicks on the unsubscribe link in an email sent through Mailchimp, they will NOT be resubscribed by a sync. A Mailchimp administrator can resend the opt-in confirmation email from their contact profile.
Removed - Archived: If a Mailchimp administrator archives someone, they will be re-added and resubscribed the next time a sync is initiated.
Removed - Permanently Deleted: If a Mailchimp administrator permanently deletes someone, they will not be resubscribed by a sync. They must be added back using a Mailchimp Form.