Migrating from MailChimp

About

Applies to: All ONTRAPORT accounts.

Migrating from MailChimp involves several steps. We recommend following the steps in the order found in this article. This will allow you to start collecting new leads via ONTRAPORT web forms, and then work on migrating the rest of the information over. Several steps import from MailChimp so we recommend completing all of the steps prior to closing your MailChimp account.

If you want to start fresh with only your contacts moved over, see the Importing Contacts section. A video showing all the steps necessary is also available in that section.

Export from MailChimp

In your MailChimp account access the main drop down menu (1), click Account (2), then Settings (3) and Manage My Data (4). Click the Build My Data Backup button.

MailChimp will notify you when your data backup is ready for download. Download the zip file and unzip it to your computer. The data backup will contain folders with your account information. We will refer to these folders in each of the steps below.

View MailChimp Webforms

In MailChimp a signup form is automatically created per list. In ONTRAPORT, opt-in forms are global, created at will, insanely flexible and allow you to segment your contacts based on a wide number of factors.

ONTRAPORT uses a single database for all contacts, so you don't pay for a contact more than one time. To segment contacts we recommend using Tags. Tags are used in place of separate Lists to filter contacts into Groups; as you'll see this is a much more powerful, flexible system. We will use Tags when recreating your MailChimp web forms in ONTRAPORT.

1. Log into MailChimp in one browser window, and ONTRAPORT in another.
   
2. In MailChimp. click on Lists and then select Signup Forms from the drop down menu next to the first List.
   
   
   
3. View the number and type of fields on the form, taking note of the Field Settings tab that shows which fields are required. We will be duplicating that form in the ONTRAforms editor.
   
   
   
4. In ONTRAPORT you can create a complete stand-alone landing page for your form using ONTRApages, or create an ONTRAform for insertion on your own existing webpage. See the appropriate section below.

Webforms: Create an ONTRAform

Use this technique to create an opt in form for your website to replace your current MailChimp webform. You can create static forms of any width, pop up forms, or "click to pop up" forms easily. To create a stand-alone landing page with an opt in form follow the instructions under Webforms: Creating ONTRApages.

1. Click Contacts > Forms and click the New Form button.
   
2. Click Create New in the ONTRAform icon. The currently Featured Templates will load. Click the View by Type section in the Palette on the left and the Lead Capture templates will load.
   
   
   
3. Choose any form template you like. For this tutorial, we are using the Ignite template.
   
4. The template loads in the Canvas in a true what-you-see-is-what-you-get format. For the full information on designing and editing ONTRAforms, see our separate article on ONTRAforms. For this tutorial we will focus on editing the Smart Form, the opt in form portion of this template.
   
5. Name the form at the top left. The name is only used within ONTRAPORT, and we recommend using a naming convention to help identify the form's purpose later. You can use prefixes such as WSOI: for "Web Site Opt In" for example.
   
6. Click on Smart Form in the Palette to select it for editing then click Form.
   
   
   
7. The form fields are displayed in the Palette. In the Ignite template there is a Last Name field that is greyed out and has a red slider icon next to it. Because our MailChimp form had the Last Name exposed, click the red slider icon to unhide the last name field on the template.
   
   
   
8. Our MailChimp form had just the First Name, Last Name and Email address fields. If you want to add more fields to this form, click the + Add button.
   
9. Click on the First Name or any other field name in the Palette to expose the editing options for the field. Take note of the following:
   
   • Label: the label is what the field is called on the form. The Last Name field could be called Surname on the form.
   
   • Placeholder: puts the field name inside the field rather than above it
   
   • Required field: Check it for any fields you had required on the original MailChimp form.
   
10. Remember to click the Save button after editing each field.
    
11. When finished editing the form fields, click the Done button in the Palette to return to Smart Form editing in the Palette. Edit the Button if desired.
    
12. Click the Form Settings gear icon to load the Form Settings dialog. This is where you will edit any backend automation that happens once the form is filled out.
    
    
    
13. ONTRAPORT has several options for each section on the Form Settings dialog. For this tutorial, we will accept the default Single opt in under Opt-In Settings, with the Default Thank You Page (the Thank You page is the page your leads will see after filling out your form). You can return here later to change these options. You can learn more in our Opt-In Settings article.
    
14. In the Palette, click Done to return to the Blocks on This Form view.
    
15. At the upper right, click the Publish button. The Publish ONTRAform dialog appears.
    
16. Under Select Your Display Type choose how you want the form to appear.
    
    • Automatic Lightbox is a pop up form that has several options in step 2 to control how it is triggered and the placement on the page. You can pop up the form after the page loads, when the user scrolls a certain amount of the page, or when their cursor heads toward the "back" or "x" buttons (called "exit intent").
    
    • Embed in Page provides a static display of the form on the page without any kind of pop up activity. This is a good choice if you are dedicating an entire page to your opt in.
    
    • Click to Pop Lightbox provides a link to click to opt in. This option allows you to put a link anywhere on the page, including in a narrow sidebar, and have the full form pop up.
    
17. After configuring your form's display options step 3 has the code you can copy to insert into your webpage.
    
    
    
18. Follow the instructions in the section below called "Recreate MailChimp Automation / Campaigns" before inserting your form code on your website.

Webforms: Creating ONTRApages

Use this technique to create stand alone landing pages with opt in forms. To create standard webforms for replacing your MailChimp webforms on your website, see Webforms: Creating an ONTRAform.

1. Click on Sites > Landing Pages in ONTRAPORT and click the New Landing Page button.
   
2. Click the Create New button in the ONTRApages icon. Selected Landing Page Templates will load. Click the View By Type section in the Palette on the left and the Lead Capture templates will load.
   
   
   
3. Many templates are free and are labeled as such. Some templates are created by designers who allow you to use them in exchange for your email address, or for a small fee, as indicated on the template thumbnails. For this tutorial, select the free Horizon template.
   
4. The template loads in the Canvas in a true what-you-see-is-what-you-get format. For the full information on designing and editing ONTRApages see our separate article on ONTRApages. For this tutorial we will focus on editing the blocks on this page.
   
5. Start by naming the page in the upper left. This name is used internally only to identify this page, and is not shown to your Contacts. We recommend using a naming convention that makes sense to you. A common method is to use a prefix for the type of page, such as LC: for "Lead Capture", and then a description of the page.
   
6. The Palette displays the Blocks On This Page view. Our first task is to move the Smart Form block up under the banner. Click and drag Smart Form up and drop it under Banner in the Palette.
   
   
   
7. We want to simplify this page, so we'll be hiding several blocks. Hover over Text, Testimonial and Divider and click the green Toggle Visibility icon to turn it red, and hide the blocks.
   
   
   
8. Edit the Banner block. You can click Banner in the Palette to edit it, or hover over the banner in the Canvas and click Edit. Hide the Button by hovering over it in the Palette and clicking the Visibility Toggle. Edit the Header and Sub-Header as needed. When finished with each one, click Save in the Palette.
   
   
9. When done editing the text, click blue Done button to return the Palette to the Blocks On This Page view.
   
10. Click on the Smart Form to edit it and then click Form.
    
11. The form fields are displayed in the Palette. These fields match our MailChimp opt in form in this case, but we can add more fields by clicking the + Add button.
    
12. Click on the First Name field name in the Palette to expose the editing options for the field. ONTRApages use the Material Design standards set by Google for color, font and size choices. We recommend you use our options in order to ensure your form looks good on all devices. Take note of the following:

    • Label: the label is what the field is called on the form. The Last Name field could be called Surname on the form.
    
    • Placeholder: puts the field name inside the field rather than above it
    
    • Required field: Check it for any fields you had required on the original MailChimp form.

13. Remember to click the Save button after editing each field.

14. When finished editing the form fields, click the Done button in the Palette to return to Smart Form editing in the Palette. Edit the Button if desired.

15. Click the Form Settings gear icon to load the Form Settings dialog.
    
    
    

16. ONTRAPORT has several options in each section of the Form Settings dialog. For the purposes of this tutorial we'll accept the default Opt-In Settings of Single opt in and the Default Thank You Page. You can return and edit these later.

17. In the Palette, click Done to return to the Blocks On This Page view.

18. At the upper right, click the Publish button. The Select a Domain dialog appears. For this tutorial we will be using the default Use Our Domain selection and choose one of the domains supplied by ONTRAPORT.

19. The first text box is for the subdomain; this is a good place to put your brand or company name if it is available. The second text box is a drop down selection box for one of the regular or secure domains supplied by ONTRAPORT. The third text box is for an optional file name.
    
    
    
20. After making your selections click the Save & Publish button. An easy way to visit the new page is to click the Publish button again and click the Current Hosting: URL. Your new opt in page will display in a new tab.
    
21. Follow the instructions in the section below called "Recreate MailChimp Automation / Campaigns" before inserting your form code on your website.
    

Recreate MailChimp Email Templates

We recommend selecting the ONTRAmail editor and creating a new email. This is easier than copying the email from MailChimp and having to change all of the embedded links and images that MailChimp includes.

If you're strongly committed to converting an exported Mailchimp email template, this one minute video shows the process to convert an exported email template into an ONTRAPORT HTML email. It includes the process to move the images used in the email template from MailChimp to ONTRAPORT.

Here are the step by step, detailed instructions:

1. Navigate to the templates folder in the MailChimp data backup you downloaded.
2. Double click on the template name to open it in your web browser.
   
3. Right click on the rendered email template in your browser and select View Source.
   
4. Right click on the code and choose Select All, then right click again and choose Copy.
   
5. In ONTRAPORT, click Campaigns > Messages and click the New Message button.
   
   
   
6. Select the HTML Email editor.
   
   
   
7. Click the Source button and right click, and paste, the HTML code into the page.
   
   
   
   
8. Click the Source button again. The email is rendered in the editor window. Right click on the first image and select Image Properties from the drop down.
   
   
   
9. Right click and copy the image URL in the URL field, then click the Select Hosted Image button next to that field.
   
   
   
10. On the Insert Image dialog, click the Upload tab, and paste the image URL into the Enter URL field. Then click Go.
    
    
    
11. ONTRAPORT will copy the image from the MailChimp server and store it on the ONTRAPORT server, then return you to the Browse tab of the image manager. Click on the image and click the Select Image button. Click the OK button on the Image Properties dialog to return to the email. Repeat this process for each image in your message template.
    
    
    
12. After editing your email, be sure to click the Copy from HTML button below the HTML editor window to create a plain text version of the email. This is a best practice to avoid your email hitting the spam folder!
    
    
    
13. Name your email (1), using a naming convention prefix such as "MC:" and indicate it is a template. Give it a Subject Line (2) and then click Save (3).
    
    
    
14. Using this email as a template: The HTML Email editor does not use templates. To create a new newsletter from this email, go to Contacts > Messages and select the email, then click Copy. Rename the copy of the email and edit the copy for your new broadcast.
    
    
    

Migrate MailChimp Email Campaigns

The campaigns_content folder in your MailChimp data backup contains the email messages from past MailChimp campaigns. If you want to save a copy of the email in the ONTRAPORT Messages library, use the process outlined above under Recreate Email Templates. While these migrated messages will not have any statistics associated with them, they will be available within your ONTRAPORT account to copy and reuse.

Recreate MailChimp Automation / Campaigns

In ONTRAPORT, you will convert most of these to Campaigns, with send an email and wait elements being the most common replacements.

There is no direct import of MailChimp Automation. We recommend opening your MailChimp and ONTRAPORT account in separate browser windows so you can re-create the automations as elements in Campaigns in ONTRAPORT. This example shows how to re-create a simple welcome message automation as a Campaign.

1. Open your MailChimp account in one browser window and select the Automation tab.
   
   
   
2. Hover over the Welcome message and click the Edit button. The automation will show the Trigger, and the Schedule, Segment and Action for the Welcome message. ONTRAPORT treats these items differently allowing you more flexibility for each opt-in form you have, as we'll see in a moment.
   
3. Open ONTRAPORT in a new browser window. Navigate to Campaigns and click the New Campaign button. You may also add to an existing Campaign.
   
   In ONTRAPORT, Campaign elements such as Triggers and Goals can specify what actions the new contact automatically receives. This allows a ton of flexibility in designing specific follow-up for specific forms.
   
4. Name the Campaign related to the automation/list you're migrating. You may also wish to add a note that the Campaign is adapted from the MailChimp Welcome Automation.
   
5. Add a new Trigger element or modify an existing one.
   
   
   
6. Click the + Add Trigger button.
   
7. Select "Contact Submits a Form" for the Trigger. Use the dropdown to select the ONTRAform or Smart Form block on the ONTRApage you created.
   
   
   
8. Adjust the Settings including:
   
   
   • Which Contacts can activate this trigger (most often this will be any contact in account)
     
   • If a trigger is activated and the contact is already on this campaign map (many choose add here again when triggered)
     
   • If the trigger can only be activated once per Contact (Most leave this unchecked. Only select this checkbox if the form fillout should be limited to the first time the form is filled out).
   
   
   
   
9. Below the Trigger on your Campaign map, add asend an email action element. Adding the element directly below the Trigger sends the immediately immediately. Wait elements take the place of the schedule option in MailChimp. You can choose to use an email you've already created in your ONTRAPORT account, create a new one or copy your Welcome message from MailChimp.
   
   
   
   We recommend selecting the ONTRAmail editor and creating a new email for your welcome message. This is easier than copying the email from MailChimp and having to change all of the embedded links and images that MailChimp includes.
   
   To select an email you've already created in ONTRAPORT, use the pulldown and select the email message with you wish to use. Skip to step 11.
   
   To create a new message in ONTRAmail, under the Send Contacts this Email pulldown, select +Create New Message. Enter a message name and click the Save and Edit button to create the message now. For instructions on creating an email using ONTRAmail, see this article. Once the message is created, skip to step 11.
   
10. We recommend selecting the ONTRAmail editor and creating a new email. This is easier than copying the email from MailChimp and having to change all of the embedded links and images that MailChimp includes. To convert a Mailchimp email message, allow extra time and follow steps 1 - 13 under Recreate Email Templates, then complete the process by:
    
    
    1. Edit the email to remove the MailChimp subscription information at the bottom of the message. MailChimp templates typically use tables for this information. Right click to select the table and select Delete Table. If you make a mistake, CTRL - Z will restore the recent deletion.
       
       
       
    2. Highlight and then use the Insert Merge Field drop down to replace the first name, company name, etc. information in the email. This converts the MailChimp merge fields to ONTRAPORT merge fields.
       
    3. After editing your email, be sure to click the Copy from HTML button below the HTML editor window to create a plain text version of the email. This is a best practice to avoid your email hitting the spam folder!
       
       
       
11. Click the Save button at the upper right to save the new message. After a short delay you will return to the Email element on the Campaign map.
    
12. Click the Save draft button at the upper right to save the new Campaign.
    
13. Continue adding other Campaign elements until your follow-up process after a form fillout is complete. If you'd like to "drip" other communications out over time, add Wait elements in between your emails. The example below shows a welcome email that fires immediately after the form is filled out, a wait for 2 days until 10am in the Contact's timezone, then a follow-up email.
    
    
    
14. When you're ready to go live, click the save and publish button. Test the campaign by filling out your form to ensure the Campaign is added to the contact record and the welcome email fires.

Import MailChimp Lists / Contacts

MailChimp stores contacts in "Lists". The same contact may be on more than one List in MailChimp, and each appearance counts toward your total contact limit.

ONTRAPORT uses a centralized Contacts Database so you don't pay for the same contact twice. Don't be surprised if you see less total contacts after importing your contacts!

To segment your new Contacts in ONTRAPORT to match the Lists in MailChimp we use Tags and create "Groups" based on those Tags. Going forward, think of your former MailChimp "Lists" as "Groups" in ONTRAPORT. Here's a video with all the steps to import your MailChimp "Lists":

Quick Import and Tag

If you just want the First Name, Last Name, Company and Email address fields populated you can follow this Quick Import process. The MailChimp files are ready to import! This video shows the steps required. Each step is detailed below.

Import Use Cases

Importing More Fields:

The import process above can import all the fields if you like; you just add more field matching in Step 4 of 5 of the import process. For fields that don't match up, you can create a new Custom Field. Keep in mind:

• Custom Fields are limited by the amount of data used.
  
• ONTRAPORT will not use the fields set by MailChimp for any of it's internal functions. For example, "Date Added" in ONTRAPORT will always represent the date the Contact was added to ONTRAPORT. To track the contact's original opt in date in MailChimp see the Custom Field Example use case below.
  
• You can add multiple tags during the import process if needed. Tags help you segment your Contacts into Groups, and can also be used in automated processes later.

Custom Field Example:

To import the field OPTIN_TIME to keep track of when a contact originally opted in to your MailChimp list follow these steps:

1. When you get to Step 4 of 5 in the import process select Create new field from the drop down next to OPTIN_TIME.
   
   
   
2. The Field Editor loads. The System Information tab contains the ONTRAPORT Date Added field, and is a natural place to put the MailChimp original opt in date. Click + Add Field under the column that has the Date Added field. Name the field and set the Field Type as Date. Do not check off "This field is required". Click Save.
   
   
   
3. Click the Save button in the upper right to return to the import process.
   
   
   
4. You may have to select the new field again in the drop down next to OPTIN_TIME when you return to Step 4 of 5 of the import process. Continue to add more custom fields or continue with the import process.

Importing Unsubscribed Contacts:

MailChimp provides a separate file for each of your Lists with those contacts that have unsubscribed. Because ONTRAPORT is also a great CRM with functions far beyond just email you can import these lists as well. In Step 3 of 5 during the import process check off the box to Import these contacts with bulk mail set to 'Transactional Only'. This will prevent ONTRAPORT from sending bulk email to these contacts, and avoid exposing you to spam complaints.



What can you do with Contacts with bulk mail set to 'Transactional Only'? Unlike just a mailing app, ONTRAPORT allows you to still interact with your customers even if they do not want to receive bulk email from you.

• Send an individual email to them from their Contact Record.
  
• Record their visits to Landing Pages via ONTRAPORT's built in tracking.
  
• Send them postcards (US addresses only).
  
• Send them SMS (they must opt in to SMS).
  
• Retain their history in case they opt back in.
  
• Record phone calls from or to them in the Contact Record.
  
• Use ONTRAPORT's IMAP function to keep track of their email to you.

Create Segmented Groups for Your Former MailChimp Lists

Instead of viewing individual "Lists" in MailChimp, in ONTRAPORT you will use "Groups" to view the contacts. To create a Group for a particular Tag added during the import process, click the Manage Groups button. Create a new Group using the Group Condition Contact Tags > Contains > and your MailChimp Tag. Here is such a Group for our Small Business Resources List we tagged with MC: Small Business Resources:

 

Other Resources

ONTRAPORT Projects get you up to speed quickly. Select a project and the training module will walk you through the process step-by-step. You can pause and come back at any time, and using the training program does not interfere with using ONTRAPORT, making it ideal for both beginning and advanced ONTRAPORT clients. Make sure ONTRAPORT is open in another tab then click on the following links to see the Projects in your account:

• Create an ONTRAform
• Create an ONTRAmail Message
• Create an ONTRApages Landing Page
• Import Your Contacts

FAQs

Q. How can I avoid sending the same email to a Contact if they were in multiple Lists in MailChimp? I got complaints because of this; sometimes I send the same email to my "Customers List" and my "Prospects List". Now they are in multiple Groups in ONTRAPORT so I'll have the same problem. Help!

A. Instead of sending the email as a broadcast to each Group use a Step Sequence. Import the email into the first step of the Step Sequence with the time to send set to "Immediately". Then, in the Contacts Database, select each Group and subscribe it to the Step Sequence. ONTRAPORT automatically filters out duplicate additions to the Step Sequence so only one email will be sent to the contact, even if they are in multiple Groups.

Q. Do you require all my contacts to double opt in again?

A. No. If they were opted in on your other list we will allow you to import them and start mailing after approval. Approval may take up to 48 hours if your list is pulled for review. Please note that we watch both the bounce and complaint rate continuously; if you reach a 7% bounce rate or 0.35% complaint rate at any time we consider your mailings to be "spam". If you have any questions, need to "warm up" a list you haven't mailed in a while, etc., please be proactive and let our Postmasters help you succeed. Contact them at postmaster@ontraport.com.

Q. What are you doing to ensure my emails get delivered?

A. There are certain things an email service provider (ESP) does to ensure delivery. Our Postmaster outlined some of the things we do in this ONTRAPORT Answers post: How Does ONTRAPORT Promote Excellent Email Deliverability?

Articles in this section

• Start Here
• Migrating to ONTRAPORT from Another Platform
• Migrate from Active Campaign
• Migrate from AWeber
• Migrating from MailChimp
• Custom Import Services
• Stripe Gateway Migration
• Migrating to ONTRAPORT from Office AutoPilot