Setting up Mailchimp in Checkfront

Learn how to activate the Mailchimp integration, including how to select your audience, map merge tags, and show the opt-in booking form field.

New to Mailchimp? Read the first article in this series for an introduction to the Mailchimp integration.

Accessing the features mentioned in this article

Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

• Manage > Integrations > Email > Mailchimp
   

What more do I need to use this feature?

• You have created Mailchimp account with API Keys and Merge Tags
   

Which Checkfront version supports this feature - classic items, classic products, or both?

• This feature is available in both our classic items version (Inventory > Items) and our classic products version (Inventory > Products).  → Learn more about products

Set up and activate the Mailchimp integration within your Checkfront account with the following steps:

1. Log in to your Checkfront account.
2. Go to Mailchimp within Integrations (Manage > Integrations > Mailchimp).
3. Hover your mouse over the Mailchimp tile and click it to select.
4. In the pop-up window, paste the API Key you created within the API Key field.
5. Ignore the List ID field for now. We address this once your account is connected.
6. Enter the Opt-in Label you would like to appear on your booking form. 
   • This label is the text that appears next to the checkbox in your booking form, allowing the Guest to opt in to subscribing to your communications. 
   • You can also edit the text to suit your needs. By default, the value is Stay up to date on our newsletter.
7. Check the box below the Opt-in Label to activate double opt-in. 
   • If checked, this feature requires your Customer to click on the link in a verification email to confirm their subscription to the list. This process helps reduce the number of SPAM email addresses. You can edit the email contents within the Mailchimp interface.
8. Click the Activate button to complete.

After activating the integration, the modal re-opens. This time, you can select a MailChimp Audience (formerly named List) from the dropdown menu next to List ID.

• If you have only one Audience list, it is selected automatically.

The number displayed in brackets shows the email addresses already assigned to the Audience list.

Finally, you must map your Mailchimp Merge Tags to your Booking Form fields within Checkfront.

The fields in the pop-up window under Merge Tags are those configured within your Checkfront account (Manage > Layout > Booking Form).

1. Click on each dropdown menu to view a list of fields from Mailchimp.
2. Select a Mailchimp field to match the Checkfront field in focus.
3. Once you've completed the mapping, click Update.
    

Important to know: Item-specific/product-specific form fields not supported with mapping The system excludes Item-specific/product-specific form fields from the available merge tags for mapping.  Resyncing your account If you see the message No merge tags found in your Mailchimp account, click the Update option, reopen the modal to resync your account, and the Merge Tags section displays. Name and email address fields must be active Booking Form fields for your Customer's name and email address must be active to ensure that, at a minimum, this information syncs to your Mailchimp account. You are required to use the system field for Email Address (customer_email). You can use the system field for Customer Name (customer_name), or custom fields for First Name (first_name) and Last Name (last_name).

That's it! The Mailchimp extension is now ready for you to use.

A new field displays at the end of your booking form. If checked, the Customer's email address is added to your Mailchimp database after they complete their booking.

< Managing merge tags in Mailchimp