IN BRIEF
This article explains how to sign up for a MailChimp account, integrate it with iClassPro, create an Audience/List, sync customer contact information, and create a campaign. Integrating MailChimp allows you to use customer data from iClassPro to build branded marketing messages and track campaign engagement. 

• Overview
• Accessing the Feature
• Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Step 1: Sign Up for a Free MailChimp Account
  • Step 2: Integrate Your New MailChimp Account With iClassPro
  • Step 3: Create an Emailing List or Audience
  • Step 4: Sync Contacts from iClassPro
  • Step 5: Create a Campaign in MailChimp
• Troubleshooting & FAQs
• Related Articles

Overview

IClassPro already offers built-in customer communications using the Email Blast feature. However, for those who wish to maintain audience lists, run email campaigns, and other managed communications, iClassPro can be integrated with MailChimp via an API key.

MailChimp is an external email marketing platform that allows you to create branded messages, integrate social media, and track email performance. Integration with iClassPro allows you to export core family contact details, including email address, first name, last name, gym location, phone, and address.

Free MailChimp accounts have limitations; paid plans unlock additional features.

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Accessing the Feature

To integrate MailChimp with iClassPro, you will generate an API Key from your MailChimp account and paste it into SETTINGS>SETUP>GENERAL SETTINGS>CONFIGURE MAILCHIMP.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sign Up for a Free MailChimp Account

1. Go to www.MailChimp.com and select "Sign Up Free".
2. Complete the required fields to create your account.
3. MailChimp will send an email to activate the account. Select the activation link.
4. After activation, complete the remaining MailChimp account setup steps.
5. Once setup is complete, you are ready to integrate the account with iClassPro.

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Step 2: Integrate Your New MailChimp Account With iClassPro

1. Log in to your MailChimp account.
2. Go to Account Settings.
3. Expand the Extras menu and select "API Keys".
4. On the API Keys and Info page, select "Create a Key".
5. Copy the entire API Key.
6. Log in to iClassPro as an admin user.
7. Go to SETTINGS>SETUP>GENERAL SETTINGS>CONFIGURE MAILCHIMP.
8. Paste your API Key into the field provided. 
   
9. Disable "Send an Opt-In Confirmation Email to Each Recipient" if you want to prevent MailChimp from sending opt-in emails to customers.
   • This avoids a follow-up email containing full contact details for verification.
   • Because customers already provided this information during enrollment and unsubscribe options exist in both systems, the opt-in email may cause confusion.
10. Select Save to complete the integration.

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Step 3: Create an Emailing List or Audience

MailChimp requires at least one Audience/List for iClassPro to sync contact data.

1. Go to the Audience menu in your MailChimp account.
2. Select "Create Audience" and follow the setup steps.
3. (Optional) Paid MailChimp plans support multiple Audiences.

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Step 4: Sync Contacts from iClassPro

Important Note: The MailChimp export includes all email addresses linked to a family record. Email addresses not linked to a specific guardian will not include name, address, or phone values.

1. Log in to iClassPro and go to the Families, Students, or Staff page.
2. Use the filters on the left side of the screen to create the group you want to sync.
3. Select Select All, or individually select records to sync.
4. After selecting records, new action icons appear at the bottom of the page. Select the MailChimp icon. 
   
5. Choose the desired Audience/List from the dropdown menu.
6. Select Export to MailChimp to begin the sync. 
   
7. A Background Task starts and batches records in groups of 1,000 for processing. 
   
8. The Background Task report will show:
   • Sent: email addresses successfully exported
   • Errors: records missing email addresses or marked as “unsubscribed”
9. Select Get Status in the Background Task to see detailed batch status from MailChimp. 
   
10. Once MailChimp finishes processing:
    • Errors are listed with descriptions
    • The Operation ID can be used to locate problematic records in the final Background Task report. 
      

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Step 5: Create a Campaign in MailChimp

1. Select the Campaigns menu in MailChimp.
2. Select "Create Campaign" and follow the guided instructions.
3. After sending a campaign, view live statistics in MailChimp’s reporting tools.

For more information, see these additional help documents from Mailchimp:

• Getting Started with Campaigns
• About Email Reports

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Troubleshooting & FAQs

• Why are some contacts showing as “Errors” during export?
  • Records without email addresses or with the email status marked as “unsubscribed” will be flagged as errors. Review the Background Task report for details.
• Why are customers receiving extra emails asking to confirm their subscription?
  • The “Send an Opt-In Confirmation Email to Each Recipient” option is still enabled in your MailChimp integration settings. Disable it under SETTINGS>SETUP>GENERAL SETTINGS>CONFIGURE MAILCHIMP.
• Why is customer data missing (name, address, phone) in MailChimp?
  • Email addresses not associated with a specific guardian record will export without name or contact details.
• How do I check the status of an export batch?
  • Select the Get Status link in the Background Task report to view MailChimp’s batch processing results.

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Related Articles

• What are Background Tasks?
• How Do I Send Email Blasts?
• How Do I Create Custom Communication Templates (Email/SMS/Push Notification)?

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