Mail Chimp to Online Express -Need Input

Hi, Allison, just some feedback from the opposite angle, from someone who is currently moving from OLX+RE to MailChimp+RE for email marketing.


OLX is way better at integration. You have certain merge fields, such as Salutation, which are automatically available and updated. You can link to Dynamic queries, which automatically update your email address list. You can auto-push the appeal data into the donor's record through an Attribute, and from there, import or Global Change to transfer the data to other parts of the donor record.


However, OLX also falls through in some areas where MailChimp is strong -- at least, when combined with an RE integration plugin like Chimpegration, as we're using. In OLX, you have no control over available merge fields, but with MailChimp+Chimpegration, the variety of merge fields is limited only by your ability to keep them updated. You have more felxibility in email design with MailChimp. With OLX, you cannot send to emails not included in your database, so if you use NXT, or if your communications office supports a lot of Non-Development programs like our college campus does, then you cannot send to them through OLX unless you create a Dummy record containing 5 zillion email addresses -- at which point you lose the ability to track response and conversion. Finally and most significantly, OLX does not offer donors the ability to manage subscription preferences, so any donor who doesn't want to receive your Christmas Newsletter must opt out of all future emails, and it is nearly impossible to opt that person back in again through OLX.


I could speak to the other aspects of OLX the same way - the Event forms and Donation forms. They also have pros and cons. The Donation forms are really where OLX shines, though, in that you get to keep recurring donor credit card information encrypted within your own database, rather than inside some third-party service. This does give you better control over donor information and lifetime pledges should you ever choose to switch third-party vendors.


With all this in mind, yes the best place to manage subscription preferences is through Attributes and Soliciit codes. Since OLX is built off your queries, you can really design your mail lists based off ANY queriable feature of a donor record. Therefore, in keeping with general RE best practices, exclusion fields are best as a Solicit code, and inclusion fields are best as either a Solicit code or an Attribute. If you plan to use those subscription filters for direct mail, I'd advise an Attribute because it works best with Mail. However, if the subscription preferences will only be used for email marketing, then might as well keep them in Solicit codes with the rest of yoru mail filters so that everything is in one uncluttered place.


Now it's my turn -- being new to MailChimp, coming from OLX, what are some pointers you would share with us about MailChimp?