4.2 KiB
4.2 KiB
FRE-650: Email Marketing Platform Setup - Executive Summary
Status: Planning Complete ✅ | Priority: High | ETA: 3-5 days
Decision: Mailchimp Free Tier
After evaluating Customer.io ($150/mo), SendGrid ($50/mo), and Mailchimp (Free), we selected Mailchimp Free Tier for launch:
- Cost: $0/month (fits budget constraints)
- Contacts: 500 (sufficient for current ~200 waitlist + launch growth)
- Features: Email automation, templates, basic analytics
- Upgrade Path: Mailchimp Essentials ($13/mo) at 400 contacts, Customer.io ($150/mo) at 10k contacts
Deliverables Created
1. Comprehensive Setup Plan
File: /plans/FRE-650-email-platform-setup.md
- 6 implementation phases with detailed checklists
- Platform evaluation matrix
- Technical implementation guide (DNS records, API integration)
- Success metrics and KPIs
- Budget projections through 12+ months
- Risk mitigation strategies
Effort: 18 hours total across 3-5 days
2. DNS Authentication Guide
File: /plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC record specifications
- Provider-specific instructions (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap)
- Verification workflow
- Troubleshooting guide
- Security best practices
Action Required: Founder/CTO to add DNS records (15-30 min)
3. Quick Start Checklist
File: /plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md
- 30-minute account setup guide
- Step-by-step walkthrough
- Test email workflow
- Common troubleshooting
Owner: CMO
4. PARA Memory Entity
Location: $AGENT_HOME/life/projects/fre-650-email-platform/
- Project summary and key decisions
- 7 atomic facts (platform decision, budget, timeline, dependencies, metrics)
- Linked to related issues (FRE-577, FRE-585, FRE-627)
Implementation Phases
| Phase | Tasks | Duration | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Account & Domain | Mailchimp setup, DNS records | 2 hours | CMO + CTO |
| 2. Audience | Segments, import waitlist | 2 hours | CMO |
| 3. Templates | Base + transactional templates | 4 hours | CMO + Designer |
| 4. Sequences | Build email automations | 6 hours | CMO |
| 5. Analytics | UTM setup, dashboard | 2 hours | CMO + CTO |
| 6. Testing | QA, spam testing, compliance | 2 hours | CMO |
Success Metrics
30-Day Targets
- Subscribers: 1,000
- Open Rate: 25%+
- Click Rate: 5%+
- Email-Driven Signups: 100
90-Day Targets
- Subscribers: 5,000
- Email Revenue: $2,000 MRR
Dependencies
- FRE-577: Marketing website (signup form integration)
- FRE-585: Analytics dashboard (email metrics tracking)
- Domain Access: DNS records for authentication (CTO action)
Next Actions
Immediate (Today)
- CMO: Create Mailchimp account
- CTO: Add DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
Tomorrow
- CMO: Verify domain in Mailchimp
- CMO: Import waitlist contacts
- CMO: Begin template design
This Week
- CMO: Build all email sequences (waitlist, onboarding, conversion)
- CTO: Integrate signup forms with Mailchimp API
- CMO: Test all flows, launch waitlist sequence
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 |
Total Year 1 Cost: $0-240 (assuming gradual growth)
Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Low deliverability | High | Proper DNS setup, warm-up period, list cleaning |
| Spam complaints | High | Double opt-in, clear unsubscribe, quality content |
| Platform lock-in | Medium | Export contacts monthly, document workflows |
| Budget constraints | Medium | Free tier sufficient for 500 contacts |
Resources
- Main Plan:
/plans/FRE-650-email-platform-setup.md - DNS Guide:
/plans/FRE-650-dns-records.md - Quick Start:
/plans/FRE-650-mailchimp-quickstart.md - Email Strategy:
/marketing/email-marketing-strategy.md - Mailchimp Setup:
/marketing/mailchimp-setup-guide.md
Owner: CMO
Created: 2026-04-26
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Status: Ready to execute Phase 1