We set up a lot of websites. And many of those websites need to have an online subscription form for their newsletters. The vast majority of our clients use MailChimp because it’s free up to 2,000 subscribers and integrates really well with most things.
Yesterday, I was setting up a sign-up form on a website for a client and no matter what I did, nobody got subscribed to the list. I set these up a lot, so I was feeling pretty inept when it wasn’t working. I started by using the Beaver Builder subscribe module with the MailChimp API. This usually works perfectly. It found the list, but when I subscribed, nothing happened. I got no verification email and I wasn’t added to the list.
So I needed to test if it was a Beaver Builder issue or a MailChimp issue. Next I added a subscribe form via Gravity Forms with their MailChimp add on. I used the MailChimp API. I turned off the double opt-in, and I tried again. Still, no luck.
My last attempt was to use the MailChimp hosted sign-up form. This is literally the link they give you that is hosted on their own servers that will allow people to subscribe to your list. I added in my email address, and nothing. I got no email, no response, and was not put on the list.
I was stumped. I could not figure out why this wasn’t working and I was frustrated. Furthermore, MailChimp actually doesn’t offer support unless you have a paid account and this particular client had a free account. I Googled and Googled. (And I consider myself a pretty advanced Googler.) I found nothing. I searched through their help docs. Nothing.
Finally, I went to Twitter and tweeted at MailChimp my issue. I sent them the link to the hosted sign-up form and they tried it too. And guess what? They didn’t get it either. But they knew immediately what it was.
The list’s sender address was a Yahoo email. And apparently Yahoo does not play nice with MailChimp’s services.
I didn’t set up their list for them, I was just integrating it into their site so I hadn’t paid attention to the sender. I quickly set up an email address for the client on their domain, changed the sender in the list, and tried again. Success!
Today I wrote up this post because I know someone else will have this same issue and not know how to solve it and be frustrated like I was. I do believe that this is going to be an issue with either Yahoo or Hotmail, but Gmail or any domain email should work fine.
Amy Masson
Amy is the co-owner, developer, and website strategist for Sumy Designs. She's been making websites with WordPress since 2006 and is passionate about making sure websites are as functional as they are beautiful.
Thank you so much Amy!
This problem was driving me crazy since 2 months!
Hi! Same issue. My subscribers are not being added to my mailchimp list. I am using test emails between mine and my husband’s (all gmail) and it will not subscribe any.
Hi, i’m having a similar experience. i have set up a private email with the website but no subscriber is getting into the audience. everything is working fine. the site is connected to mailchimp and i don’t know what could be the problem.
Hi,
I guess I should feel lucky in a way but unlucky because they haven’t resolved my luck. I am using a free account but Mailchimp has attempted to assist me. I thought they just don’t offer any Live Chat with free accounts?
Here is my issue, I have setup a few pages on Instapage and then integrated Mailchimp for my email service. I have ran several tests on a couple of my pages using one of my email addresses.
The results, I receive an email notification on Instapage. I also receive my subscription to my email which is a gmail account. I subscribe and then receive my confirmation, then I confirm but nothing shows up at all in Mailchimp. Instapage has done a ton of investigating and says things are working on their end. I haven’t heard anything more from Mailchimp.
As I have said, Mailchimp previously has been in touch with me a few times but not in the last 24 hours. They’ve never mentioned anything about no support for free accounts.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thank you!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! My client had an AOL email address and I’ve spent all day troubleshooting. I hate that MailChimp can’t provide any support if you don’t have a paid account. Appreciate your help!
Happy to help!
In my case is the oposite. And quite strange because till yesterday it was perfectly working with a private domain mail adress, but today not. Then I changed the from email to @hotmail.com and working… If I don’t find this post I would be crazy at this time. Thank you.
I am not receiving opt-in email confirmation at free emails ( yahoo , gmail etc.) but am receiving them a paid servers( I am using paid server to send) any advise would be greatly appreciated? Thank you
When you subscribe to other people’s newsletters, or when people subscribe to yours?
How did you change the email?
It’s within the settings in MailChimp.
Same issue for me with a yahoo address so I tried my gmail account and still subscribe feature isn’t working..not sure what I can do to fix it. Only so many you tube tutorials I can do! Any updated guidance?
Hi, Got the same problem also. I did not get an email and not get on list either. im using a gmail account. how to fix that?
Are you using gmail as the main email address on the account and as the “sender” email on your list?
Hi, I’m having a similar problem. I did a test and subscribed to my own blog using an embedded Mailchimp form.
I got a ‘success’ message but nothing appeared in my inbox. My email address is a Hotmail address.
How can I fix this?
Hi Scott,
Question – did you get added to the list at all even without the email? Or did you not get an email and not get on the list? Do you have a gmail or or other email you could try it from? Hotmail can be fickle.