In case you missed our latest email alert, we’re launching a new version of MailChimp in January/February 2009. The main reason we’re doing this is to do some humongous database work, so that we can offer you powerful campaign automation tools (like autoresponders).
But in addition to autoresponders, there will be other cool stuff.
And here’s a sneak-peek at that other cool stuff:
[...] Mailchimp posted a sneak peak at some of the new features in version 4 of their service, slated to be introduced in the [...]
Hi there, when will you be launching your Drip Campaign feature? I’d really like to start one in early January. Thanks and Happy Holidays.
Hi Danielle,
We’re working on that feature simultaneously, but it’s too huge to launch at the same time as v4. the v4 upgrade will be a huge undertaking, and we don’t want to risk launching too much at once, to be honest.
So it’ll be a very fast point release right after v4 launches and the dust settles.
When, exactly, that happens will depend on how smoothly the v4 launch goes.
I can’t wait for v4… please stop teasing us and roll it out!!!
Dang if you could just get the drip campaigns to roll out with v4 that would be awesome. I think that is always the missing component to any email marketing software.
- Tony
Nice, Highrise integration!!!! Will Highrise know when someone was sent an email?
Awesome work guys.
For the drip campaigns, will there be an API function to create one? (akin to the current campaignCreate function but for drip campaigns)
If I could programmatically specify the emails to send and the time interval in days (if not days + hours) between the emails, that would be perfect for my application.
We’re excited about the autoresponders coming. As a current MailChimp customer, we are building a new website but hope to get autoresponders from you instead of having to pay our web firm to custom build them.
I know you can’t devulge much, but could you at least promise your autoresponders will be as good as your competitors (e.g. Aweber and Get Response)?
@Tony – autoresponders have always been requested every now and then by MailChimp customers, but lately it’s become a huge request. Not sure why, but we’re working on it as fast as possible. v4 lays the groundwork for them, and we’re hoping v4.1 (autoresponders) will be a very fast followup.
We’re finding that the term “autoresponders” is starting to become a blanket term for “automated messaging” and “transactional” messages, so people are using it to describe all sorts of email campaigns (drip, post-purchase followups, event reminders, receipts, etc).
The specific type we’re working on is the “scheduled sequence of campaigns that are initiated when someone subscribes to a list.” Some call this a “drip campaign.”
@Sunni – I’ll make sure to submit your request to the API team.
Any plans to add multiple newsletter subscription forms ?
So again, just to clarify, you will or will not have a function in Mail Chimp V4, on January 19th, that will work like a drip campaign?
@Danielle – On January 19th, v4 will not include drip campaigns.
@Marcel – Not sure what you mean by “multiple newsletter subscription forms.”
You can setup as many different lists as you want, and each list gets its own signup form that you can customize. So you can have infinitely many lists.
Or, if you want people to signup to multiple “newsletters” at once, I guess you could create a list with a signup form that has interest groups on it. Each interest group would be a different type of newsletter. Then, when you send newsletters, use segmentation to specify which group to send to.
http://blog.mailchimp.com/segmentation
Hi Ben, any idea when V4.1 will be coming out? What if I set up a drip campaign in SalesForce now, can I eventually link it to MailChimp?
Hi Danielle,
I can’t give an ETA on v4.1 (and its drip campaigns), but we’re working on it already, and a lot depends on how smoothly v4.0′s launch goes.
In terms of whether or not you should create a drip campaign in Salesforce, my guess is that you’d need to actually create all your campaigns in MailChimp. You wouldn’t be able to integrate campaigns into MailChimp. Only lists.
So when it goes live, you could setup a drip campaign in MC, then integrate a list with your SF, then send the drip to that list.
Hope that makes sense, and i wish I could be more definitive with 4.1 ETA, but then my engineers would kill me.
Ben-
You guys are doing great stuff. Keep up the excellent work! This video is exciting. I love the map overlay option. Very excited about that as I bring on more international customers.
Thanks as always!
Brian
Salesforce integration is a great news. That was the only thing left to have on that solution before my moving from Constant Contact to Mailchimp…
That map is very messed up. A bad projection. Please pick something a bit more “equal area”?! Compare with Google Maps etc etc to see what I mean. Africa is not tiny compared to N America
Only 7 days to go. I’m really looking forward to the new release. Will you release it all at once or upgrade in parts?
Especially looking forward to the salesforce intregration tool.
With concerns to A/B testing. Is Mail Chimp developing a way to test two completely different emails (subject line, content, graphics, everything basically), so that we can see what the results are for two different email content/designs? Then we could determine which works best?
@JoeBurgess – We’re looking into making an interface to make A/B’s easy, but there’s already a way to do that now with dynamic content merge tags: http://blog.mailchimp.com/ab-test-your-email-design-and-content-in-mailchimp/
@JohanTrip – The v4 release will be all at once. I’m putting together a system alert email right now, and plan to send later today or early tomorrow with a full list of features. Thanks, and be sure to send feedback afterwards (would be great if you joined us at: http://jungle.mailchimp.com )
Bring on V4!!!!
Speaking of A/B Tests, is there going to be a way that you can set a different Google Analytics code based on Test Group A or B? That way you can get stats on what actually converts, not just clicked?
Thanks
Chris
looking forward for the highrise integration… we are already counting the days…
Ben, I like your RSS-To-Email tool but being EST timezone any RSS/emails are currently required to go out at 3am EST or 8am GMT which is not an ideal time for my customers. The RSS is updated at 11am EST so ideally we would be able to schedule an RSS-To-Email check around 12 noon EST. Is this something we can do? Maybe one of your system hacks if not a V4 release.
@Mark – We’re exploring different options, but can’t promise anything anytime soon. It’s a question we get asked a lot, so I imagine it might happen someday.
Our next priority after launching v4 is automated (autoresponder) campaigns. After that, we’ll look at and revise the feature roadmap again.
[...] weekend (Jan 17th at 12am) MailChimp is upgrading to version 4 which is a big upgrade which I expect a lot from. Here is a video detailing some of the new [...]
I’m glad to see autoresponders in the latest release. It will be fantastic to see a drip campaign capability in the near future. I’m doing a presentation on tech tools next month and look forward to mentioning your product.
Hi Ben,
So it’s been at least 2 weeks since anyone asked about the drip campaigns (auto responders).
Any closer to any news?
Also, am I right that this blog has no RSS feed set up for me to subscribe to?
Hi Russell, we’re currently shooting for late March to launch drips.
Oh yeah – where’d my RSS icon go?!? I made a tweak to my WP theme, and must’ve deleted it. That’s what I get for playing around with plugins. Thanks for pointing that out.
We’re working on a new MailChimp website that we’ll launch very soon. That’s got a whole new layout for the blog, with a nice big RSS feed link.
Thanks, Ben.
That’s fantastic news.
Looking forward to getting my drips dripping.
I’m currently trialing both Get Response and Aweber (actually Profollow, an Aweber reseller with old pricing structure) and I was excited to run across the entries on MailChimp’s autoresponders/drip campaigns.
I love the click overlays … very cool.
Is v4.1 on-track and progressing well?
Let me know if you need any beta-testers!
@Chase – The eta for v4.1 and drips is late March. Server upgrades and a new website (plus onboarding 3 new hires) put a slight delay in our 4.1 schedule. Did I just use the word “onboarding?”
Thanks for the update on 4.1, Ben. v4 is running smooth for me…nice work on the upgrade and looking forward to the “drip campaign” feature!
I’m also waiting on the drip/autoresponder feature before I switch over to Mail Chimp.
It’s the one thing that will completely tip the scales in favor of MC over anything else out there.
Thanks!!
Yep, me too just waiting for Drip Campaigns. When its done can you email me.
Hi Ben,
Any updates on the autoresponders or “drip campaign” features? Still late March?
Thanks for all your great work. Viva la Chimp!
Steve
Hi Steve, just posted about autoresponders: http://blog.mailchimp.com/mailchimp-version-41-features-list/
Launching this weekend. Thanks!
Hi again,
Sorry to keep on about this
But your comparison page says that autoresponders are due in March.
It’s nearly the end of March, any news for us?
We’ve still got a few more days!
Launching this weekend: http://blog.mailchimp.com/mailchimp-version-41-features-list/