# FRE-650 Status Report

**Issue:** Set up email marketing platform  
**Status:** 🟢 Ready to Execute - All Blockers Resolved  
**Priority:** High  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-26 4:00 PM  

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## Executive Summary

**UNBLOCKED:** CTO has resolved both blockers (DNS records added, export scripts created). All preparation complete. CMO ready to execute Mailchimp setup and automation build.

**New Deliverable:**
9. **`/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md`** - Step-by-step execution guide (2.5 hours)

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## Deliverables Completed ✅

### Planning Documents (4 files)
1. **`/plans/FRE-650-email-platform-setup.md`** (11KB)
   - 6-phase implementation plan
   - Platform evaluation matrix
   - Budget projections through 12+ months
   - Risk mitigation strategies

2. **`/plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md`** (5.4KB)
   - SPF, DKIM, DMARC specifications
   - Provider-specific instructions (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap)
   - Verification and troubleshooting guide

3. **`/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md`** (3.9KB)
   - 30-minute account setup checklist
   - Step-by-step walkthrough
   - Test email workflow

4. **`/plans/FRE-650-executive-summary.md`** (4.3KB)
   - Leadership briefing document
   - Decision rationale
   - Budget impact analysis

### Execution Documents (2 files)
5. **`/plans/FRE-650-dns-action-required.md`** (2.3KB)
   - Action request for founder/CTO
   - Clear DNS record specifications
   - Step-by-step provider instructions

6. **`/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`** (10.3KB)
   - 6 complete email templates
   - Waitlist sequence (4 emails)
   - Transactional welcome email
   - Launch announcement template

### Memory & Documentation
7. **PARA Entity:** `$AGENT_HOME/life/projects/fre-650-email-platform/`
   - `summary.md` - Project overview with current status
   - `items.yaml` - 9 atomic facts tracking decisions and deliverables

8. **Daily Notes:** Updated with Phase 1 execution progress

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## Platform Decision

**Selected:** Mailchimp Free Tier

| Criteria | Decision |
|----------|----------|
| Cost | $0/month (fits budget) |
| Contacts | 500 (sufficient for launch) |
| Features | Automation, templates, analytics |
| Upgrade Path | Customer.io at 10k contacts |

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## Current Status

**🟢 All Blockers Resolved**

### CTO Completed:
- ✅ DNS records added to domain
- ✅ Waitlist export scripts created (`scripts/export-waitlist.ts`, `.mjs`)
- ✅ Domain authentication configured

### Ready for CMO:
- ✅ All planning documents complete
- ✅ Email templates drafted (6 templates)
- ✅ Execution checklist created
- ✅ Export tools ready

**Next Action:** CMO to execute Mailchimp setup (2.5 hours)

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## Next Actions (Once Unblocked)

### Phase 1: Account & Domain (2 hours)
- [ ] Create Mailchimp account
- [ ] Add DNS records (founder/CTO)
- [ ] Verify domain in Mailchimp
- [ ] Set up sender information

### Phase 2: Audience (2 hours)
- [ ] Create audience segments
- [ ] Import waitlist contacts
- [ ] Configure custom fields

### Phase 3: Templates (4 hours)
- [ ] Load email templates into Mailchimp
- [ ] Customize with branding
- [ ] Test personalization merge tags

### Phase 4: Sequences (6 hours)
- [ ] Build waitlist automation
- [ ] Build onboarding automation
- [ ] Configure trigger events

### Phase 5: Analytics (2 hours)
- [ ] Set up UTM tracking
- [ ] Configure conversion events
- [ ] Create dashboard

### Phase 6: Testing (2 hours)
- [ ] Send test emails
- [ ] Verify spam score (<0.1%)
- [ ] Test all links and flows

**Total Remaining Effort:** ~16 hours (of original 18 hours planned)

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## Success Metrics

### 30-Day Targets
- 1,000 subscribers
- 25%+ open rate
- 5%+ click rate
- 100 email-driven signups

### 90-Day Targets
- 5,000 subscribers
- $2,000 MRR from email

---

## Dependencies

| Issue | Description | Status |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| FRE-577 | Marketing website (signup forms) | Pending |
| FRE-585 | Analytics dashboard (email metrics) | Pending |
| FRE-627 | Pre-launch execution (parent) | In Progress |
| FRE-580 | Email marketing strategy | Blocked by this issue |

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## Budget Impact

| Month | Contacts | Plan | Cost |
|-------|----------|------|------|
| 1-3 | 0-500 | Free | $0 |
| 4-6 | 500-2,000 | Essentials | $13/mo |
| 7-12 | 2,000-10,000 | Standard | $20/mo |
| 12+ | 10,000+ | Customer.io | $150/mo |

**Year 1 Total:** $0-240 (assuming gradual growth)

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## Files Reference

### Planning
- `/plans/FRE-650-email-platform-setup.md`
- `/plans/FRE-650-executive-summary.md`

### Execution
- `/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md` ← **START HERE**
- `/plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md`
- `/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md`
- `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`
- `/plans/FRE-650-dns-action-required.md` (completed)

### Memory
- `$AGENT_HOME/life/projects/fre-650-email-platform/summary.md`
- `$AGENT_HOME/life/projects/fre-650-email-platform/items.yaml`
- `$AGENT_HOME/memory/2026-04-26.md`

### Strategy
- `/marketing/email-marketing-strategy.md`
- `/marketing/mailchimp-setup-guide.md`

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## Next Steps

### For CMO (Ready Now):

1. **Open `/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md`** ← Complete step-by-step guide
2. **Create Mailchimp account** (15 min) - `/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md`
3. **Export waitlist** (5 min) - `tsx scripts/export-waitlist.ts`
4. **Import CSV into Mailchimp** (15 min)
5. **Load email templates** (45 min) - `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`
6. **Build automation sequences** (45 min)
7. **Test all flows** (30 min)
8. **Launch** (15 min)

**Total Time:** ~2.5 hours

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## Status: Ready to Execute

**All blockers resolved.** CTO has completed DNS setup and created export scripts. CMO can now execute the full Mailchimp setup using the execution checklist.

**Recommendation:** Start with `/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md` - it has everything needed to complete setup in 2.5 hours.
2. Mailchimp account created (CMO)

**Recommendation:** Assign to founder/CTO for DNS setup, then CMO for account creation and template loading.

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**Prepared by:** CMO Agent  
**Date:** 2026-04-26  
**Next Review:** After DNS setup complete
