Exporting from one email service and importing into another one can have it’s problems. That’s what Katherine mentioned in a Facebook business group and so I decided to make this video for her and anyone struggling with this issue. 

Tell me what you’re bumping into, and I’ll try and make a video to help you.

I appreciate questions from you, the real people. That’s exactly what happened here. When Katherine shared her email list migration challenges, I knew I had to help. And I figured if she was facing these issues, others probably were too.

Exporting Your List: Getting Ready for Change

Why You Might Switch Services

There are two main reasons why you might want to switch email services:

• To cut down on costs
• To get better features for your needs

What Happens When You Export

You can’t exactly come out of one service and straight into another service with the exact same spreadsheet.

When you export your list, here’s what you need to know:

1. Your old service will give you a spreadsheet
2. This spreadsheet might not be ready to use right away
3. Some important info might be missing

Common Export Issues

Here’s what often goes wrong:

• Only email addresses come through
• Names get left behind
• Tags don’t transfer over

For example, when Catherine tried to move her list, she only got email addresses. All her tags stayed behind in the old service.

What To Do Next

Before you move to your new service, you’ll need to:

1. Check what data you got in your export
2. Make sure all the important info is there
3. Clean up the spreadsheet before importing

Cleaning Up Your CSV: Keeping What Matters

What my vision would be when I’m importing is really just to bring in a very neat CSV, which just has email, name, and last name.

Step 1: Download Your List

1. Export your email list as a CSV file
2. Save it where you can easily find it

Step 2: Look at Your Spreadsheet

1. Open the CSV file
2. Take a look at all the columns
3. Figure out which info you want to keep

Step 3: Keep Only What You Need

The most important details to keep are:

• Email address
• First name
• Last name

Step 4: Clean Up Extra Columns

1. Find all the extra columns you don’t need
2. Highlight these columns
3. Delete them to keep your file neat

Step 5: Add Important Tags

If you have key tags you want to keep:

1. Make a new column
2. Name it “tag one”
3. Add only the most important tags

Pro Tips:

• Keep your CSV file simple
• Less info means fewer import problems
• Focus on the basic contact details
• Only keep tags that really matter

Remember: A clean, simple CSV file will make your import much easier. Think of it as spring cleaning – keep only what you’ll use in your new email service.

Understanding Tags vs. Groups: Adapting to New Platforms

It is about knowing, “how does this email platform work, and how does the new email platform work, and which bits are transferable, and how can I optimize?”

Different Systems, Different Names

Each email service has its own way of grouping contacts:

• Mailchimp uses tags
• MailerLite uses groups

How to Handle Your Tags

When moving your list, try these steps:

1. Look at your export file
2. Check if your tags are there
3. Make new columns for important tags
4. Name them “tag1”, “tag2”, etc.

Smart Ways to Import

Break your import into smaller chunks:

• Make separate files for each group
• Import one group at a time
• Example:
  • One file for “fun” tagged contacts
  • Another file for “happy” tagged contacts

Tips for Success

Keep these points in mind:

• Look at how both platforms work
• Find what features match up
• Plan your groups before importing
• Take your time with the process

Remember: Moving your tags to groups needs planning. Small imports often work better than one big move.

Importing to MailerLite: Step-by-Step Demo

When I go to add subscribers, I’m going to choose to add them via CSV, then I’m going to choose my fancy document I’ve created.

Step 1: Get Your CSV Ready

1. Open your spreadsheet
2. Save it as a CSV file
3. Keep it simple with basic info

Step 2: Start the Import

1. Log into MailerLite
2. Go to Subscribers
3. Click “Add Subscribers”
4. Choose “Import from CSV”
5. Pick your CSV file

Step 3: Match Your Fields

When the matching screen appears:

• Match “Email” to email field
• Match “First Name” to first name
• Match “Last Name” to last name
• Skip any tag columns that don’t match

Step 4: Set Up Groups

For your tags:

• Create a new group if needed
• Click the “+” to make a new group
• Put contacts in groups based on their old tags
• Do this during the import process

Pro Tips

• Import in small batches
• Create groups as you go
• Skip columns you can’t use
• Keep it organized from the start

Remember

• MailerLite uses groups instead of tags
• You can make new groups during import
• Match fields carefully
• Take your time to get it right

This step-by-step process helps you move your list while keeping it organized. Focus on getting your basic info in first, then sort everyone into the right groups.

Best Practices: Keeping Your List Organized

Get a tidy CSV file. Come over to MailerLite, import those people into MailerLite, and when you’re importing them as a CSV, create the new group, and that is essentially gonna behave just like tagging did at Mailchimp.

Export by Tag

1. Go to Mailchimp
2. Find the tag you want to export
3. Export all contacts with that tag
4. Save your CSV file

Keep Only Essential Data

When cleaning your CSV, keep only:

• Names
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers (if you collect them)
• Addresses (if you need them)

Create Clean Groups

In MailerLite:

• Make a new group for each tag
• Import your clean CSV file
• Match your data to the right fields
• Put people in the right groups

Smart Tips for Groups

Good news about MailerLite groups:

• No limits on the free plan
• Make as many as you need
• Groups can be big or small
• Works just like Mailchimp tags

Quick Import Option

Want a faster way? Try this:

• Look for “Import from Mailchimp” button
• Connect your Mailchimp account
• Let MailerLite move your list
• Match your fields in the new system

Remember

• Keep your data clean
• Only bring what you need
• Make groups that make sense
• Take time to organize well

Groups in MailerLite work just like tags in Mailchimp. You can send emails to specific groups, just like you did with tags. This makes the switch easy once you get set up.

Troubleshooting & Cost-Saving Tips

Personally, I think Mailchimp does get expensive, and there’s gonna come a point where it just makes a lot of sense for you to do that.

Common Questions About Moving Your List

Q: What data should I make sure to keep when moving my list?

A: Always keep first names and last names along with email addresses. These are the most important pieces of information for your list.

Q: Can I move my tags directly from Mailchimp to MailerLite?

A: No, tags won’t transfer automatically. You’ll need to recreate them as groups in MailerLite.

Q: Is it worth manually adding tags as groups?

A: Yes! Even if you spend an hour doing it yourself or pay someone to help, you’ll likely save money in the long run due to Mailchimp’s higher costs.

Q: What’s the most cost-effective way to handle the move?

A: Consider these options:

• Move subscribers in small batches
• Manually add important tags as groups
• Focus on your most active subscribers first
• Get help if you have a large list

Q: How can I save money when switching platforms?

A: Here are some money-saving tips:

• Compare platform pricing carefully
• Only move active subscribers
• Keep just the essential data
• Use the free plan features in MailerLite
• Consider hiring help for a one-time task versus paying high monthly fees

Need a Hand? Support Services & Final Thoughts

If you need a hand if you wanna get it off your plate, if you need a hand to stop grinding gears, let me know.

Let Me Help You

Sometimes tech tasks can be tricky. That’s why I’m here to help! I offer a simple service called “Natasha on tap” where you can book me by the hour to help with your tasks.

How It Works

• Book me for one hour at a time
• Need more time? Just let me know
• I can handle bigger projects too
• Simple booking and payment process

What I Can Help With

I’m skilled in many areas:

• Email services
• Canva design
• Website building
• Marketing plans
• Social media
• Content creation
• Digital assets
• Online courses
• Tech platforms like:
  • Go High Level
  • Kartra
  • Click Funnels

More Skills

I can also help with:

• Digital photography
• Copywriting
• General tech support
• Marketing strategy

Ready When You Are

If you’re stuck with any tech task or just want to hand it over to someone else, I’m here. No need to keep struggling – let’s work together to get things done right.

Remember, sometimes the smartest move is asking for help. Whether it’s moving your email list or tackling other tech tasks, I’m here to make it easier for you.