# Mailchimp Audience Setup for Product Hunt Launch

**Created:** 2026-04-26  
**Owner:** CMO  
**Status:** Ready for data import

---

## Mailchimp Account Setup

### Step 1: Create Account
1. Go to [mailchimp.com](https://mailchimp.com)
2. Sign up with: `founder@scripter.app` (or marketing email)
3. Choose **Free plan** (up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month)
4. Complete audience onboarding

### Step 2: Create Audience
**Audience Name:** `Product Hunt Launch - May 2026`

**Default From Email:** `founder@scripter.app`  
**Default From Name:** `Scripter Team`

---

## Audience Segments

Create 3 segments based on tier:

### Segment 1: VIP Hunters
**Criteria:** Manual selection (top 10 contacts)  
**Size:** 10 people  
**Purpose:** Personal founder emails, first-hour upvotes

**Fields:**
- Email (required)
- First Name
- Tier = "VIP"
- Company/Role
- Contacted (Yes/No)
- Committed (Yes/No/Pending)

### Segment 2: Active Supporters
**Criteria:** Top 25% by engagement (earliest signups, most referrals)  
**Size:** 25 people  
**Purpose:** Email outreach, upvote + share

**Fields:**
- Email (required)
- First Name
- Tier = "Active"
- Signup Date
- Referrals Count
- Contacted (Yes/No)
- Upvoted (Yes/No)

### Segment 3: General Network
**Criteria:** Remaining waitlist + social followers  
**Size:** 15+ people  
**Purpose:** Social posts, email blasts

**Fields:**
- Email (required)
- First Name
- Tier = "General"
- Signup Date
- Source (UTM, organic, referral)

---

## Import Process

### Prepare CSV
**File:** `/marketing/waitlist-export.csv`

**Columns:**
```csv
email,first_name,tier,signup_date,referrals_count,company_role
```

### Import Steps
1. Go to Audience → Manage Contacts → Import Contacts
2. Upload CSV file
3. Map fields:
   - `email` → Email Address
   - `first_name` → First Name
   - `tier` → Custom Field (create new)
   - `signup_date` → Custom Field (create new)
   - `referrals_count` → Custom Field (create new)
   - `company_role` → Custom Field (create new)
4. Add to audience: `Product Hunt Launch - May 2026`
5. Auto-tag by tier

### Create Segments
After import, create saved segments:

**VIP Hunters:**
```
Tier | contains | VIP
```

**Active Supporters:**
```
Tier | contains | Active
```

**General Network:**
```
Tier | contains | General
```

---

## Email Templates Setup

### Template 1: VIP Personal (Founder)
**Name:** `PH - VIP Personal Outreach`  
**Send To:** VIP Hunters segment  
**Subject:** `Quick favor? Launching on Product Hunt May 7 🚀`

### Template 2: Active Supporter Email
**Name:** `PH - Active Supporter Outreach`  
**Send To:** Active Supporters segment  
**Subject:** `Scripter launches on Product Hunt - need your help!`

### Template 3: General Network Social
**Name:** `PH - General Network Blast`  
**Send To:** General Network segment  
**Subject:** `🚀 Launching on Product Hunt next Thursday!`

### Template 4: Follow-Up Reminder
**Name:** `PH - Follow-Up Reminder`  
**Send To:** All segments (filter: Contacted = Yes, Upvoted = No)  
**Subject:** `Re: Product Hunt launch (2 days left!)`

### Template 5: Launch Day - We're Live
**Name:** `PH - We're Live!`  
**Send To:** All segments  
**Subject:** `🚀 We're LIVE on Product Hunt!`

### Template 6: Thank You (Post-Launch)
**Name:** `PH - Thank You`  
**Send To:** All segments  
**Subject:** `We did it! Thank you 🎉`

---

## Campaign Schedule

| Campaign | Date | Segment | Template | Status |
|----------|------|---------|----------|--------|
| VIP Personal | April 28 | VIP Hunters | Template 1 | Draft |
| Active Email #1 | April 29 | Active Supporters | Template 2 | Draft |
| General Blast | April 30 | General Network | Template 3 | Draft |
| Follow-Up #1 | May 1-3 | Non-responders | Template 4 | Draft |
| 2 Days Left | May 5 | All | Template 4 | Draft |
| Tomorrow! | May 6 | All | Founder email | Draft |
| We're Live! | May 7 12AM | All | Template 5 | Draft |
| Progress Update | May 7 2PM | All | Social post | Draft |
| Final Hours | May 7 8PM | All | Urgency email | Draft |
| Thank You | May 8 | All | Template 6 | Draft |

---

## Custom Fields Setup

Create these custom fields in Mailchimp:

| Field Name | Type | Options | Required |
|------------|------|---------|----------|
| Tier | Dropdown | VIP, Active, General | Yes |
| Company/Role | Text | - | No |
| Signup Date | Date | - | No |
| Referrals Count | Number | - | No |
| Contacted | Yes/No | - | Yes |
| Committed | Yes/No/Pending | - | Yes |
| Upvoted | Yes/No | - | No |
| Shared | Yes/No | - | No |

---

## Tracking Setup

### UTM Parameters
All links in emails should include:
```
?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=producthunt_launch
```

### Click Tracking
- Enable click tracking in Mailchimp
- Track these links:
  - Product Hunt page link
  - Scripter homepage
  - Social share links

### Metrics to Monitor
- Open rate (target: 40%+)
- Click rate (target: 10%+)
- Upvote conversion (track via PH analytics)
- Unsubscribe rate (keep under 2%)

---

## Compliance

### CAN-SPAM Requirements
- ✅ Physical address in footer (Scripter address)
- ✅ Unsubscribe link (automatic in Mailchimp)
- ✅ Clear "from" name and email
- ✅ No misleading subject lines

### GDPR Considerations
- All contacts opted in via waitlist signup
- Clear purpose stated (product updates + launch info)
- Easy unsubscribe available
- Data retention policy defined

---

## Next Actions

1. **Create Mailchimp account** (CMO/Founder)
2. **Set up custom fields** (15 minutes)
3. **Import waitlist CSV** (once CTO exports)
4. **Create segments** (VIP, Active, General)
5. **Build email templates** (use templates from `/marketing/product-hunt-supporter-outreach.md`)
6. **Schedule first campaign** (VIP outreach, April 28)

---

## Resources

- [Mailchimp Free Plan](https://mailchimp.com/pricing/)
- [Import Contacts Guide](https://mailchimp.com/help/import-your-contacts-into-mailchimp/)
- [Create Segments](https://mailchimp.com/help/create-a-segment/)
- Email templates: `/marketing/product-hunt-supporter-outreach.md`
- Live tracker: `/marketing/product-hunt-supporter-tracker-live.md`

---

**Status:** Ready for execution. Waiting on waitlist data export from CTO.
