Mailchimp integration

The Mailchimp integration lets you send newsletters. Mailchimp offers a free plan for up to 500 email addresses and tools to design newsletters. Ledenbeheer can automatically sync your member list with Mailchimp. To use the integration, connect Ledenbeheer to your Mailchimp account.
​

The difference between emails and newsletters

Why do I need Mailchimp if I can already send emails through Ledenbeheer?

You can send informational emails about your sports club through Ledenbeheer. Newsletters with commercial content, such as promotions for open days or sports camps, are different.

When sending newsletters, you must clearly tell contacts how to unsubscribe. The GDPR gives people in the EU the right to be forgotten and to withdraw consent they have given.
​

Do I need consent to email my members?

To send commercial emails and newsletters, you need the recipient’s active consent. This is called an opt-in: the recipient must take an action to give permission, such as selecting a checkbox.

Consent must also be given in advance, be specific and be freely given. People must be able to refuse without negative consequences (you cannot require newsletter subscriptions in your terms and conditions). Consent must not be selected automatically. Visitors choose whether to consent and when to withdraw that consent.

What does the GDPR say about important information, transactions and invoices by email?

The opt-in rules apply to commercial emails. Messages with important information about club activities, cost notes, invoices or order confirmations are transactional emails and may be sent without this consent. In other words, the emails you send through Ledenbeheer do not require member consent, provided they contain no commercial information.
​

For active members, legitimate interest can be another basis. They may benefit from messages that help them get more from a product or service they bought, or from information about similar offerings. Active customers can remain on your email list if you inform them clearly about their rights, the messages concern offerings similar to what they bought, and they can unsubscribe easily (opt out).
​

What about former members?

You may already have lists of subscribers who receive your newsletter regularly. Those contacts must also comply with the GDPR, even if you collected them earlier. It can be difficult to establish whether existing subscribers actively consented. If you cannot establish that, ask them for consent again. Without an opt-in, you may not send them newsletters. Under the GDPR, you must also be able to demonstrate consent. If you cannot prove it, you do not have it.
​

In short

Why separate Ledenbeheer emails from newsletters? If you used Ledenbeheer as a newsletter tool, members would need the option to unsubscribe from its emails. They would then also miss ordinary informational messages, which could disrupt your club. That is why informational emails are sent through Ledenbeheer and commercial newsletters through Mailchimp.

Emails sent through Ledenbeheer do not require specific consent, provided they contain no commercial information.
​

Examples of informational emails:
​

1. cost notes

2. payment reminders

3. notifications about cancelled classes

4. recommendations

5. registration confirmations

6. waitlist notifications

7. non-commercial emails you send through Communications.
   ​

Set up Mailchimp in Ledenbeheer

1. Paste the API key from Mailchimp into the “Mailchimp API Key” field. (Use this link: https://admin.mailchimp.com/account/api or sign in to Mailchimp and go to Account > Extras > API keys.)

2. Once connected, select two lists: one for students registering for courses and another for students joining additional activities. If you do not see any lists, create them in Mailchimp first.

3. Save

4. Ledenbeheer automatically asks members whether they want to receive the newsletter.
   ​

From then on, anyone who registers for a course and chooses to receive the newsletter is synced to your Mailchimp account.

​

Track newsletter results in Ledenbeheer

Frequently asked questions about the Mailchimp integration