MailChimp customer community
Interest Group Management and Subscribing (Major limitations)
I just spent 3 days having to merge data from 5 different emails lists to put them all together into one mailchimp list with 5-8 interest groups.
After all this I was shocked to find out that if user A was subscribed to interest group 1, and then later on uses our embedded subscribe form to try to subscribe to another interest group that they get the error "user@domain.com is already subscribed to list X"!
There is no way for the user to then easily update their interest groups other then clicking on a link in a previous email campaign.
This doesn't work if you have different interest groups for different sections of your website. So in the news section I have a subscribe form to allow the user to get those types of emails, and then other sections they subscribe to the other section.
We also have a subscribe form on the bottom of every page ( http://www.sikhnet.com ) with all the different interest groups. If the user subscribes to one, and then later browses the website and decides to sign up for a different interest group they get that same error with no help on how to add that interest group.
Either there should be a way for the user to update their profile from an embeeded form link, or a different error message which gives them info about HOW they can add that other group.
Ideally the system should do checks when a user subscribes and if the interest group that they are singing up for is not selected then it should add it. They user should only get the error message if they are subscribing for an interest group that they are already on. So there needs to be a dual level checking.
This is a MAJOR limitation and has put a big damper on my mailchimp enthusiasm. I hope you seriously consider the suggestions and see how this will greatly improve usability.
The crux of this is that if I were to create 5 separate email lists in mailchimp I could no longer have a single subscribe form for users and would have to have 5 different subscribe forms.
Either way is LOSE LOSE.
Please help! I'm lost in the jungle....
After all this I was shocked to find out that if user A was subscribed to interest group 1, and then later on uses our embedded subscribe form to try to subscribe to another interest group that they get the error "user@domain.com is already subscribed to list X"!
There is no way for the user to then easily update their interest groups other then clicking on a link in a previous email campaign.
This doesn't work if you have different interest groups for different sections of your website. So in the news section I have a subscribe form to allow the user to get those types of emails, and then other sections they subscribe to the other section.
We also have a subscribe form on the bottom of every page ( http://www.sikhnet.com ) with all the different interest groups. If the user subscribes to one, and then later browses the website and decides to sign up for a different interest group they get that same error with no help on how to add that interest group.
Either there should be a way for the user to update their profile from an embeeded form link, or a different error message which gives them info about HOW they can add that other group.
Ideally the system should do checks when a user subscribes and if the interest group that they are singing up for is not selected then it should add it. They user should only get the error message if they are subscribing for an interest group that they are already on. So there needs to be a dual level checking.
This is a MAJOR limitation and has put a big damper on my mailchimp enthusiasm. I hope you seriously consider the suggestions and see how this will greatly improve usability.
The crux of this is that if I were to create 5 separate email lists in mailchimp I could no longer have a single subscribe form for users and would have to have 5 different subscribe forms.
Either way is LOSE LOSE.
Please help! I'm lost in the jungle....
Tags: groups, interest, manage, subscriptions, update
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dan K on -
Hello Singh,
The update profile link is specifically designed to do what you are asking. You are correct, the subscribe tool will not allow redundant data to exist in your list or manage an update and the update link is set specifically in an email campaign. This because that link is specifically keyed off of a unique ID related to email, why it can't exist in a site external to a campaign.
Any time data management tools are needed external to our hosted tools or an active email, the data is expected to be managed through an API connection. If you need it, API documentation lives here:
http://www.mailchimp.com/api/
If you would like to submit a request that this process be revised, you can do so here:
http://jungle.mailchimp.com/forum/categories/wish-lists/listForCate...
Noting this comment:
"The crux of this is that if I were to create 5 separate email lists in mailchimp I could no longer have a single subscribe form for users and would have to have 5 different subscribe forms."
I wouldn't recommend creating separate lists, instead create one list and set a hidden field that you can populate through a hidden value that you set when you place your sign up forms in your collection sites. Basically set a value in each hidden field that identifies where your data is being collected or generally reflects the groups that you are wanting to manage.
I hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Dawn Martinello on
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Dan - could you explain the hidden field workaround to someone who's new (read: spell it out big guy!)
I just added my wish to the wishlist and I think this may be the workaround I've been looking for.
I currently have one list that has several groups on it for people to choose from. However I also have an affiliate program coming out and a new product launch where I'd like to be able to use that main list but embed a form (with your magic hidden field perhaps) that will allow me to send my newsletters to that segment.
Basically I just need to figure out how to keep everyone on one list for my sanity and pocket book, but be able to send out emails to segments based on what page they've signed up on.
Much thanks!!
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
I've had similar experiences. When I first started with Mailchimp, I heard the recommendation of using segments rather than separate lists and was all set to go that direction. While I continue to believe in it conceptually, in practice it has proved difficult.
The issue you describe is one problem. Another, mentioned in other threads, is the one-click unsubscribe process (no confirmation step for the user to choose whether to opt out of all segments or just some).
Segments are great in theory and we still use them in some situations. But the subscribe/unsubscribe process for segments has made it difficult to rely on them more fully.
Still, I love Mailchimp and given the rapid pace of their development I'm hopeful that it's just a matter of time before it's changed.
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Permalink Reply by Gurumustuk Singh on -
The cascade of issues continue! Thanks for the reply tim, this is another big surprise to me since I didn't realize that if you un-subscribe that you opt out from all the interest groups. I was so excited about mailchimp and have been telling everyone about it for months (before I actually found out all these issues) and now I have to say I'm pretty bummed out.
One of the major reasons I moved from a self hosted mail list using expensive Lyris listmanager was to be able to have all the "interest" lists together which gives more flexibility for when we want to send information only to some segments or the whole list.
When mailchimp describes the interest groups functionality these MAJOR limitations are not highlighted. So when you have the video showing "which method to use" (multiple lists vs. 1 list with interest group) it doesn't list these very important points. I have to say I'm pretty frustrated because I have spent so much time just getting setup and moved over and now I'm in a hard place with no solution or indication from MailChimp that this is even important.
Dan, I already am using the method you suggested of having hidden fields so that a user in one section of the website can subscribe to the list with that particular interest group, however the problem with this method is that if I sign up in one section of the website for that particular interest group and then go to another section and try to sign up for a different interest group I get an error saying I'm already signed up.
Am I the only one who can see this problem??
The interest group field should be used as a sort of "sub" email list and checks for unsubscribes/subscribes should check this field.
If this is not possible then you should allow a single subscribe form that can be used to subscribe to multiple lists on one form.
Definitely not a happy chimp this week...
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Permalink Reply by Ben Chestnut on
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We've been operating from a paradigm that "all list subscription preferences will be handled via a link within sent email campaigns."
We've received some requests in the past to allow subscribers to manage the profiles via a link on a website. But we don't want to get into password management, customization of login screens, password reminders, etc.
However, we received another request from a user that it would be nice if their subscribers could enter their address on a signup form (perhaps because they want to join a different/additional interest group) and then the following could happen:
1) The form gives back an alert message, like: "You're already on this list, so we sent you an email to update your preferences"
2) The subscriber gets an email with a link that allows them to go edit their preferences (including interest groups) like they'd get now with our *|UPDATE_PROFILE|* merge tag.
Seems like a win-win for us all, but you guys let me know what you think.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on
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Yes, Ben, this would be a good solution to the problem.
Easier still is a web form that updates the subscribers preferences and then sends a confirmation email (to the old email address if it changes). Like Sikhnet, we used Lyris before Mailchimp and it allowed us to do that. But maybe there are risks for abuse that we didn't consider in that model. And, I agree with you, avoiding logins and passwords is critical. So this seems like a good way of handling it.
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Permalink Reply by Gurumustuk Singh on
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Ben, I really appreciate you responding again and seriously considering this issue. In spite of my love of mailchimp this issue has been the biggest pain in moving to mailchimp.
I like Tim's idea because it would work in the context of what the user is doing, but if that is not possible then your idea would definitely be big improvement over the current situation which isn't user friendly.
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I'll put together something internally for the dev team to look at. Will shoot for the moon and ask for what Tim proposes, plus what I described (they're not mutually exclusive). Then allow the dev team to prioritize what gets implemented. Keep in mind we've already got one point release scheduled for late this month, and it's too late to get worked in there. After late October, it's *extremely* difficult to launch new features, because the holiday season begins here in the US -- can't "rock the boat" too much with new changes during this period. But the team is good at working out miracles, so stay tuned to the MailChimp Blog for updates.
Thanks for all the input!
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Permalink Reply by Bryan Hammond on -
Ben, has their been any mailchimp updates containing the fixes you have described here? I am particularly interested in this topic and would like to know when/if the update is available.
Bryan
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Hi Bryan (and all), I think the team is planning a major update (end of January, early February-ish) to the way people can setup lists, setup separate interests, and then to manage and merge interest groups in their lists. They want to attack the root of the problem there first.
The idea I wrote above (where a user can use your signup form to adjust their interest group prefs, instead of clicking from one of your emails) does not look like it made the cut for our next release.
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Permalink Reply by Bryan Hammond on
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Thanks for responding Ben. I look forward to the new update.
Hopefully down the road you can put something into play as mentioned that will let people sign up to multiple lists which have the interest group set via hidden field without getting the "error" message.
Bryan
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