# Mailchimp Setup Guide - Product Hunt Supporter Outreach

**Created:** 2026-04-26  
**Owner:** CMO  
**Platform:** Mailchimp Free Tier  
**Goal:** Set up email infrastructure for FRE-643 supporter outreach

---

## Account Setup

### Step 1: Create Mailchimp Account

**URL:** mailchimp.com

**Plan:** Free Tier
- Up to 500 contacts
- 1,000 sends/month
- Basic email templates
- Email support
- **Cost:** $0/month

**Required Info:**
- Email address
- Company name: FrenoCorp
- Company size: 1-10
- Industry: Software/Technology

### Step 2: Complete Account Verification

1. Verify email address
2. Add sender info:
   - From name: "Scripter Team" or "[Founder Name]"
   - From email: hello@scripter.app (or current domain)
   - Reply-to: same as from
3. Add physical address (required by CAN-SPAM):
   - Use company address or registered agent

### Step 3: Create Audience

**Audience Name:** "Product Hunt Launch Supporters"

**Default Audience Fields:**
- Email Address (required)
- First Name
- Last Name
- Company/Role (custom field)
- Tier (custom field - VIP/Active/General)

**Import Seed Data:**
```csv
Email,First Name,Last Name,Company,Tier
seed1@test.com,Seed,User 1,Beta Tester,VIP
seed2@test.com,Seed,User 2,Waitlist,Active
seed3@test.com,Seed,User 3,Waitlist,Active
seed4@test.com,Seed,User 4,Waitlist,General
seed5@test.com,Seed,User 5,Waitlist,General
```

### Step 4: Create Audience Segments

**Segment 1: VIP Hunters**
- Filter: Tier = VIP
- Count: 10 contacts

**Segment 2: Active Supporters**
- Filter: Tier = Active
- Count: 25 contacts

**Segment 3: General Network**
- Filter: Tier = General
- Count: 15+ contacts

---

## Email Template Setup

### Template 1: VIP Personal Outreach

**Subject:** Quick favor? Launching on Product Hunt May 7 🚀

**Preview Text:** Can I count on your support?

**Body:**
```
Hey *|FNAME|*,

I'm launching Scripter on Product Hunt next Thursday (May 7) and could use your support!

It takes 10 seconds:
1. Go to [PH link] at 12:01 AM PT Thursday
2. Click the upvote button
3. Optionally leave a comment or share

Product Hunt is huge for early visibility. Your upvote in the first hour especially matters.

Can I count on you?

Thanks!
[Founder Name]

P.S. Happy to return the favor on your next launch!
```

**Personalization:**
- Use *|FNAME|* for first name
- Send from founder's email
- Personal subject line variation per recipient

---

### Template 2: Active Supporter Email

**Subject:** Scripter launches on Product Hunt - need your help!

**Preview Text:** You're on our waitlist, and we need your support

**Body:**
```
Hey *|FNAME|*,

You're on our waitlist for Scripter, and I wanted to give you a heads up!

We're launching on Product Hunt next Thursday, May 7. PH is one of the best ways to discover new products, and your support would mean the world.

How to help (takes 10 seconds):
1. Go to [PH link] on May 7
2. Click the upvote button
3. Share with 2 screenwriter friends

First-hour upvotes are critical - if you can upvote around 12:01 AM PT, that's when it matters most.

Any questions about the product? Happy to answer!

Thanks for being part of the journey,
[Founder Name]

P.S. Free Pro account for anyone who refers 3+ signups on launch day!
```

---

### Template 3: General Network Social Post

**For Twitter/X + LinkedIn:**

```
🚀 Launching on @ProductHunt next Thursday!

Scripter is the modern screenwriting platform:
✨ Real-time collaboration
✨ Industry-standard formatting  
✨ 33% faster than WriterDuet
✨ Free tier available

Set a reminder and please upvote! 🔗 [PH link]

#ProductHunt #Screenwriting #IndieDev
```

---

### Template 4: Follow-Up Reminder

**Subject:** Re: Product Hunt launch (2 days left!)

**Preview Text:** We're at [X] upvotes - can you help?

**Body:**
```
Hey *|FNAME|*,

Quick reminder - Scripter launches on Product Hunt in 2 days (Thursday, May 7)!

If you haven't already, please:
1. Upvote: [PH link]
2. Share with screenwriter friends

We're at [X] upvotes so far - trying to hit 500!

Thanks for the support,
[Founder Name]
```

---

### Template 5: Launch Day - We're Live!

**Subject:** 🚀 We're LIVE on Product Hunt!

**Preview Text:** Upvote now - we need you!

**Body:**
```
Hey *|FNAME|*,

We're live! Scripter is officially on Product Hunt!

🔗 Upvote here: [PH link]
⏰ Launch day ends at 12:01 AM PT

Current ranking: #[X] of the day
Goal: Top 5

Every upvote counts. Please share with 2 friends!

Thank you,
[Founder Name]

P.S. Respond to this email with questions - doing a live AMA in the comments!
```

---

### Template 6: Thank You (Post-Launch)

**Subject:** We did it! Thank you 🎉

**Preview Text:** Here's what we accomplished together

**Body:**
```
Hey *|FNAME|*,

WOW. Thank you!

Thanks to supporters like you, Scripter launched on Product Hunt with:
- [X] upvotes
- [Y] comments  
- [Z] signups on day one
- Top [N] product of the day

This is just the beginning. We're committed to building the best screenwriting platform ever.

Start writing free: [link]

With gratitude,
[Founder Name]
```

---

## Campaign Schedule

Load these into Mailchimp as scheduled campaigns:

| Campaign | Date | Time | Audience | Template |
|----------|------|------|----------|----------|
| VIP Personal | April 28 | 9:00 AM PT | VIP (10) | Template 1 |
| Active Email #1 | April 29 | 10:00 AM PT | Active (25) | Template 2 |
| General Social | April 30 | 12:00 PM PT | Social posts | Template 3 |
| Follow-up #1 | May 2 | 10:00 AM PT | Non-responders | Template 4 |
| 2 Days Left | May 5 | 9:00 AM PT | All 50+ | Template 4 variant |
| Tomorrow! | May 6 | 12:00 PM PT | All 50+ | Founder email |
| We're Live! | May 7 | 12:05 AM PT | All 50+ | Template 5 |
| Progress Update | May 7 | 2:00 PM PT | All 50+ | Social post |
| Final Hours | May 7 | 8:00 PM PT | All 50+ | Urgency variant |
| Thank You | May 8 | 10:00 AM PT | All 50+ | Template 6 |

---

## Testing Checklist

Before launching campaigns:

### Pre-Launch Tests

- [ ] Send test email to own address
- [ ] Check personalization (*|FNAME|*) works
- [ ] Verify all links work (PH link, scripter.app)
- [ ] Test on mobile device
- [ ] Test in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail
- [ ] Check spam score (Mailchimp has built-in checker)
- [ ] Verify sender info displays correctly
- [ ] Check email renders correctly (dark mode, light mode)

### Seed Data Test

- [ ] Import 5 seed emails
- [ ] Send test campaign to seed data
- [ ] Track open rate (should be 100% for seed)
- [ ] Track click rate (should be 100% for seed)
- [ ] Verify segmentation works (VIP vs Active vs General)

---

## Success Metrics

### Email Performance Benchmarks

| Metric | Industry Avg | Our Target |
|--------|--------------|------------|
| Open rate | 20% | 40%+ (personal outreach) |
| Click rate | 2-3% | 10%+ (clear CTA) |
| Response rate | 1-2% | 15%+ (VIP personal) |
| Unsubscribe | <0.5% | <1% |
| Spam complaints | <0.1% | 0% |

### Launch Day Targets

| Metric | Target |
|--------|--------|
| VIP commitments | 10/10 (100%) |
| Active commitments | 20/25 (80%) |
| General commitments | 10/15 (67%) |
| **Total supporters** | **40+/50 (80%)** |
| Launch day upvotes | 500+ |
| First-hour velocity | 50+ |

---

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**Issue:** Emails going to spam  
**Fix:** 
- Verify sender domain (add SPF, DKIM records)
- Avoid spam trigger words ("free", "guarantee", etc.)
- Include physical address (required)
- Add unsubscribe link (Mailchimp auto-adds)

**Issue:** Low open rates  
**Fix:**
- Improve subject lines (personal, urgent, curious)
- Send from person, not company
- Test send times (Tuesday-Thursday mornings best)
- Segment by engagement

**Issue:** Links not working  
**Fix:**
- Double-check PH link before scheduling
- Use link shortener for tracking (bit.ly)
- Test all links in preview mode

---

## Budget

**Mailchimp Free Tier:** $0/month
- 500 contacts (we need 50)
- 1,000 sends/month (we need ~200)
- Basic templates
- **Upgrade option:** Essentials $13/mo for more features

**Total Cost:** $0 (free tier sufficient)

---

## Next Steps

1. **Create Mailchimp account** (CMO - 15 min)
2. **Verify sender info** (CMO - 5 min)
3. **Import seed data** (CMO - 10 min)
4. **Create segments** (CMO - 10 min)
5. **Build email templates** (CMO - 30 min)
6. **Send test to seed data** (CMO - 10 min)
7. **Founder reviews VIP list** (Founder - 20 min)
8. **Load VIP emails** (CMO - 10 min)
9. **Schedule campaigns** (CMO - 20 min)

**Total Time:** ~2 hours setup

---

## Resources

- Mailchimp Docs: docs.mailchimp.com
- Email Best Practices: mailchimp.com/resources
- CAN-SPAM Compliance: ftc.gov/business-guidance

**Related Docs:**
- `/marketing/product-hunt-supporter-outreach.md` - Full outreach strategy
- `/marketing/product-hunt-supporter-tracker-live.md` - Live tracker sheet
- `/marketing/email-marketing-strategy.md` - Email best practices

---

**Status:** Ready to execute  
**Owner:** CMO  
**ETA:** Complete setup within 2 hours
