How to send your first campaign on Mailchimp
Quick Answer
To send your first campaign on Mailchimp, create a new regular email campaign, select your audience, design your email using templates or the editor, and send it after reviewing. The process takes about 15-20 minutes from start to finish.
Prerequisites
- Active Mailchimp account
- At least one contact in your audience
- Email content prepared
- Basic understanding of email marketing
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Create a new campaign
Log into your Mailchimp account and click Create Campaign in the top navigation bar. Select Email from the dropdown menu, then choose Regular campaign type. This is the most common option for newsletters and promotional emails.
Regular campaigns are best for one-time sends, while automated campaigns are for triggered emails based on subscriber actions.
2
Select your audience
On the campaign setup page, click To to choose your audience. Select the audience you want to send to from the dropdown list. You can send to your Entire audience or create a Segment to target specific subscribers based on criteria like location, engagement, or tags.
For your first campaign, consider creating a small test segment of 10-20 contacts to ensure everything works correctly.
3
Configure campaign details
Fill out the From section with your name and email address. Add a compelling Subject line that encourages opens. Optionally, add Preview text that appears next to the subject line in most email clients. Click Save and Continue when done.
Keep subject lines under 50 characters for better mobile display and avoid spam trigger words like 'FREE' or 'URGENT'.
4
Choose a template
Select a template for your campaign. Choose from Basic layouts, Themes, or Saved templates. For beginners, start with a Simple Text or 1 Column layout. Click Select on your chosen template to open the email designer.
Mobile-responsive templates automatically adjust to different screen sizes, which is crucial since over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices.
5
Design your email content
Use Mailchimp's drag-and-drop editor to customize your email. Click on text blocks to edit content, drag new content blocks from the right panel, and upload images by clicking Content then Image. Add your logo, write your message, and include a clear call-to-action button. Click Save and Continue when finished.
Always include an unsubscribe link (Mailchimp adds this automatically) and your physical business address to comply with anti-spam laws.
6
Preview and test your campaign
Click Preview and Test to review your email. Use Enter Preview Mode to see how it looks on desktop and mobile. Send a Test Email to yourself by entering your email address and clicking Send Test. Check for typos, broken links, and formatting issues.
Test your email in different email clients using Mailchimp's inbox preview feature if available on your plan.
7
Review campaign checklist
Mailchimp will show a Pre-send Checklist highlighting any issues or recommendations. Address any Errors (marked in red) as these prevent sending. Review Warnings (marked in yellow) and make improvements if needed. Ensure all items are resolved or acknowledged.
Common errors include missing subject lines, no recipients selected, or authentication issues with your sending domain.
8
Send your campaign
Once all errors are resolved, click Send Now to immediately send your campaign, or click Schedule to send it at a specific date and time. Confirm your choice in the popup dialog. After sending, you'll see a confirmation message and can track your campaign's performance in the Reports section.
The best times to send emails are typically Tuesday through Thursday between 9 AM and 2 PM in your audience's time zone.
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Campaign won't send due to authentication errors
Go to Settings > Domains and verify your sending domain. You may need to add DNS records provided by Mailchimp to authenticate your domain.
Images not displaying in email preview
Ensure images are under 1MB in size and uploaded to Mailchimp's content studio. Use JPG or PNG formats and check that image URLs are not blocked by firewalls.
No contacts showing in audience selection
Import contacts first by going to Audience > Import contacts. Ensure contacts have opted in to receive marketing emails to comply with GDPR and CAN-SPAM regulations.
Email looks broken on mobile devices
Use Mailchimp's mobile-responsive templates and test using Preview Mode. Keep text size at least 14px and ensure buttons are at least 44px tall for easy tapping.
Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Mailchimp website before purchasing.