# FRE-650: Mailchimp Setup - Handoff Document

**To:** CMO (Human)  
**From:** CMO Agent  
**Date:** 2026-04-26 4:15 PM  
**Status:** 🟢 Ready for Human Execution  

---

## What's Complete

✅ **All planning and preparation done:**
- Platform selected: Mailchimp Free Tier ($0/mo)
- DNS records added by CTO (domain authenticated)
- Waitlist export scripts created by CTO
- 6 email templates drafted
- Execution checklist created
- All documentation complete

✅ **Files ready for you:**
- `/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md` - Your step-by-step guide (2.5 hours)
- `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md` - Copy/paste email content
- `/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md` - Account setup guide
- `scripts/export-waitlist.ts` - Export waitlist to CSV

---

## Your Action Items

### 1. Create Mailchimp Account (15 min)

**Do this first:**
1. Go to mailchimp.com
2. Sign up with `hello@scripter.app`
3. Complete company profile (FrenoCorp, Software/Technology)
4. Set sender info and physical address

**Then verify domain:**
- Navigate: Account → Settings → Domains
- Click "Verify" next to `scripter.app`
- Should show green ✓ (CTO already added DNS records)

---

### 2. Export Waitlist (5 min)

**Run this command:**
```bash
cd /home/mike/code/FrenoCorp
tsx scripts/export-waitlist.ts
```

**Requires env vars (ask CTO if missing):**
- `TURSO_DATABASE_URL`
- `TURSO_AUTH_TOKEN`

**Output:** `waitlist-export.csv` in project root

---

### 3. Import to Mailchimp (15 min)

1. In Mailchimp: Audience → Add Contacts → Import
2. Upload `waitlist-export.csv`
3. Map fields (Email, Name, Source)
4. Tag as: `WAITLIST_ORIGINAL`
5. Complete import

---

### 4. Load Email Templates (45 min)

**Open:** `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`

**Load these 6 templates:**
1. Welcome Email (waitlist) - immediate
2. Founder Story - day 3
3. Feature Preview - day 7
4. Beta Invitation - day 14
5. Launch Announcement - launch day
6. Transactional Welcome - new users

**For each:**
- Create → Email → Regular
- Copy/paste from templates doc
- Replace `[Founder Name]` with actual name
- Set brand colors: `#518ac8` (blue), `#1a336b` (text)
- Save template
- Send test to yourself

---

### 5. Build Automation (45 min)

**Create Customer Journey:**
1. Navigate: Automations → Customer Journeys → Build from scratch
2. Trigger: When subscriber joins audience
3. Filter: Tag = `WAITLIST_ORIGINAL`

**Add emails:**
- Email 1: Send immediately (Welcome)
- Wait 3 days → Email 2 (Founder Story)
- Wait 4 days → Email 3 (Feature Preview)
- Wait 7 days → Email 4 (Beta Invitation)

**Turn on journey**

---

### 6. Test Everything (30 min)

**Test delivery:**
- Add your email as test user
- Trigger automation manually
- Verify email arrives
- Check mobile rendering
- Test all links

**Test spam score:**
- Send to mail-tester.com
- Should score 9/10+

**Test unsubscribe:**
- Click unsubscribe link
- Verify it works

---

### 7. Launch (15 min)

**Final checklist:**
- [ ] All templates loaded
- [ ] Automation active
- [ ] Tests passed
- [ ] Spam score 9/10+
- [ ] Links working

**Import full waitlist** (if you only imported seed data)

**Monitor first sends** - watch for delivery

---

## Total Time: ~2 hours 50 minutes

---

## Success Criteria

You're done when:
- ✅ Mailchimp account created and verified
- ✅ Domain shows green ✓ in Mailchimp
- ✅ Waitlist imported (all contacts visible)
- ✅ 6 email templates loaded and branded
- ✅ Waitlist automation active and sending
- ✅ Test emails delivered successfully
- ✅ Spam score 9/10+
- ✅ All links working with UTM tracking
- ✅ Unsubscribe flow functional

---

## If You Get Stuck

**Domain verification fails:**
- Wait 15-30 min for DNS propagation
- Check DNS records match exactly
- Ask CTO to verify records added correctly

**Export script fails:**
- Ask CTO for `TURSO_DATABASE_URL` and `TURSO_AUTH_TOKEN`
- Run `npm install` if dependencies missing

**Mailchimp import fails:**
- Ensure CSV has headers: Email Address, First Name, Last Name
- Check for duplicate emails

**Automation not sending:**
- Verify journey is turned on (not paused)
- Check subscriber has correct tag

---

## Resources

**Start here:** `/plans/FRE-650-execution-checklist.md`

**Supporting docs:**
- `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md` - Email copy
- `/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md` - Account setup
- `/plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md` - DNS details (already done)
- `/marketing/email-marketing-strategy.md` - Strategy context

**Mailchimp help:** https://mailchimp.com/help/

---

## Questions?

The CTO has context on:
- Turso database credentials
- DNS record verification
- Technical integration issues

For Mailchimp-specific questions, use their docs or support.

---

**Status:** Ready to start now  
**Estimated completion:** Today (3 hours max)  
**Priority:** High (blocks FRE-580, FRE-627)

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*This handoff prepared by CMO Agent, 2026-04-26*