# FRE-650: Mailchimp Execution Checklist

**Status:** 🟢 Ready to Execute  
**Priority:** High  
**ETA:** 2-3 hours to complete all phases  

---

## Prerequisites ✅

- [x] DNS records added (CTO completed)
- [x] Waitlist export scripts created (CTO completed)
- [x] Email templates drafted (CMO completed)
- [x] Domain authentication configured (CTO completed)

---

## Phase 1: Account Setup (15 min)

### 1. Create Mailchimp Account
- [ ] Go to **mailchimp.com**
- [ ] Click "Sign Up Free"
- [ ] Email: `hello@scripter.app`
- [ ] Complete profile:
  - Company: FrenoCorp
  - Industry: Software/Technology
  - Size: 1-10

### 2. Configure Sender Info
- [ ] From name: "Scripter Team"
- [ ] From email: `hello@scripter.app`
- [ ] Reply-to: `hello@scripter.app`
- [ ] Add physical address (required by CAN-SPAM)

### 3. Verify Domain
- [ ] Navigate: Account → Settings → Domains
- [ ] Click "Verify" next to `scripter.app`
- [ ] Confirm all checks show green ✓
- [ ] If failed, wait 15 min and retry

**Time:** 15 minutes  
**Complete when:** Domain shows "Verified" in Mailchimp

---

## Phase 2: Export & Import Waitlist (20 min)

### 1. Export Waitlist Data
```bash
cd /home/mike/code/FrenoCorp
tsx scripts/export-waitlist.ts
```

**Requires environment variables:**
- `TURSO_DATABASE_URL`
- `TURSO_AUTH_TOKEN`

**Output:**
- `waitlist-export.csv` (Mailchimp-ready)
- `waitlist-export.json`

### 2. Import into Mailchimp
- [ ] In Mailchimp: Audience → Add Contacts → Import
- [ ] Choose "Upload a file"
- [ ] Select `waitlist-export.csv`
- [ ] Map fields:
  - Email Address → Email Address
  - Name → First Name
  - Source → Tag (or custom field)
  - Status → Tag
- [ ] Tag as: `WAITLIST_ORIGINAL`
- [ ] Complete import

### 3. Verify Import
- [ ] Check audience count matches export
- [ ] Spot-check 3-5 emails
- [ ] Confirm tags applied correctly

**Time:** 20 minutes  
**Complete when:** Waitlist contacts visible in Mailchimp audience

---

## Phase 3: Load Email Templates (45 min)

### Templates to Load
From `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`:

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 user signup

### For Each Template:
- [ ] Navigate: Create → Email → Regular
- [ ] Choose "Build from scratch" or basic template
- [ ] Copy/paste email body from templates doc
- [ ] Replace placeholders:
  - `[Logo]` → Upload Scripter logo
  - `[Founder Name]` → Add actual name
  - `[Link]` → Add actual URLs
- [ ] Set brand colors:
  - Primary: `#518ac8`
  - Text: `#1a336b`
  - Button: `#518ac8` (white text)
- [ ] Save template with clear name
- [ ] Send test to own email
- [ ] Verify mobile rendering

**Time:** 45 minutes (7-8 min per template)  
**Complete when:** All 6 templates loaded and tested

---

## Phase 4: Build Automation (45 min)

### Waitlist Sequence Automation

**Create Customer Journey:**
- [ ] Navigate: Automations → Customer Journeys → Build from scratch
- [ ] Trigger: When subscriber joins audience
- [ ] Filter: Tag = `WAITLIST_ORIGINAL`

**Add Email Actions:**

1. **Email 1 (Immediate)**
   - [ ] Add action: Send email
   - [ ] Choose: Welcome Email template
   - [ ] Timing: Immediately

2. **Email 2 (Day 3)**
   - [ ] Add action: Wait (3 days)
   - [ ] Add action: Send email
   - [ ] Choose: Founder Story template

3. **Email 3 (Day 7)**
   - [ ] Add action: Wait (4 days)
   - [ ] Add action: Send email
   - [ ] Choose: Feature Preview template

4. **Email 4 (Day 14)**
   - [ ] Add action: Wait (7 days)
   - [ ] Add action: Send email
   - [ ] Choose: Beta Invitation template

**Save & Activate:**
- [ ] Name: "Waitlist Nurture Sequence"
- [ ] Turn on journey
- [ ] Verify all emails scheduled correctly

**Time:** 45 minutes  
**Complete when:** Automation active and sending emails

---

## Phase 5: Testing (30 min)

### 1. Test Email Delivery
- [ ] Add test email to audience (your email)
- [ ] Tag as: `TEST_USER`
- [ ] Manually trigger automation for test user
- [ ] Verify Email 1 arrives within 5 min
- [ ] Check email rendering:
  - Desktop (Gmail, Outlook)
  - Mobile (iOS Mail, Gmail app)
  - Dark mode

### 2. Test Links & Personalization
- [ ] Click all links in each email
- [ ] Verify `*|FNAME|*` merge tag works
- [ ] Check UTM parameters on all links
- [ ] Test unsubscribe flow

### 3. Test Spam Score
- [ ] Send test to mail-tester.com
- [ ] Score should be 9/10 or higher
- [ ] Fix any issues flagged

### 4. Test Analytics
- [ ] Enable open tracking
- [ ] Enable click tracking
- [ ] Verify UTM parameters in Google Analytics

**Time:** 30 minutes  
**Complete when:** All tests pass, spam score 9/10+

---

## Phase 6: Launch (15 min)

### 1. Final Checklist
- [ ] All templates loaded
- [ ] Automation active
- [ ] Tests passed
- [ ] Spam score acceptable
- [ ] Links working
- [ ] Unsubscribe working

### 2. Import Remaining Waitlist
- [ ] If seed data only, import full waitlist now
- [ ] Verify all contacts tagged correctly

### 3. Monitor First Sends
- [ ] Watch for first email sends
- [ ] Check delivery rates
- [ ] Monitor bounce/complaint rates

### 4. Document Setup
- [ ] Save all login credentials
- [ ] Document automation logic
- [ ] Create handoff doc for team

**Time:** 15 minutes  
**Complete when:** First waitlist emails sending successfully

---

## Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

| Phase | Time | Status |
|-------|------|--------|
| 1. Account Setup | 15 min | ⏳ Pending |
| 2. Export & Import | 20 min | ⏳ Pending |
| 3. Load Templates | 45 min | ⏳ Pending |
| 4. Build Automation | 45 min | ⏳ Pending |
| 5. Testing | 30 min | ⏳ Pending |
| 6. Launch | 15 min | ⏳ Pending |

---

## Success Criteria

- [ ] Mailchimp account created and verified
- [ ] Domain authentication complete (green checks)
- [ ] Waitlist imported (all contacts visible)
- [ ] 6 email templates loaded and branded
- [ ] Waitlist automation active and sending
- [ ] Test emails delivered successfully
- [ ] Spam score 9/10 or higher
- [ ] All links working with UTM tracking
- [ ] Unsubscribe flow functional

---

## Resources

- **Email Templates:** `/plans/FRE-650-email-templates.md`
- **Quick Start Guide:** `/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md`
- **DNS Records:** `/plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md`
- **Export Script:** `scripts/export-waitlist.ts`
- **Mailchimp Docs:** https://mailchimp.com/help/

---

## Troubleshooting

**Domain verification fails:**
- Wait 15-30 minutes for DNS propagation
- Check DNS records match exactly (no typos)
- Ensure TXT records not proxied by Cloudflare

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

**Mailchimp import fails:**
- Ensure CSV has headers: Email Address, First Name, Last Name
- Remove duplicates before import
- Check email format (no invalid characters)

**Automation not sending:**
- Verify journey is turned on (not paused)
- Check subscriber has correct tag
- Ensure email template is saved (not draft)

---

**Owner:** CMO  
**Created:** 2026-04-26  
**Status:** Ready to execute