How to Set Up Email Automation in Mailchimp
Build automated email sequences in Mailchimp. Welcome series, drip campaigns, and behavioral triggers step by step.
Step-by-step
How to Set Up Email Automation in Mailchimp
Create a new automation
Go to Automations → Create → Choose 'Customer Journey' for visual workflows or 'Classic Automations' for simple sequences. Start with a pre-built template for faster setup.
Set the trigger
Choose what starts the automation: subscriber signs up, tag is added, purchase is made, specific date (birthday), or manual trigger. The trigger determines who enters the journey.
Build the journey
Add steps: Send Email → Wait (delay) → If/Else (condition check) → Send Email. Design each email in the sequence. Set appropriate delays between emails (1-3 days is typical for welcome series).
Test and activate
Add yourself as a test subscriber and trigger the automation. Verify each email arrives correctly with proper timing. Once satisfied, toggle the automation to active.
Tips
Pro tips
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Start with a welcome series — it's the highest-engagement automation and sets subscriber expectations
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Use the 'If/Else' branch to split paths based on engagement (opened vs. didn't open the previous email)
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Monitor automation performance weekly for the first month, then monthly once stable
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