What happens when I change an email?

Changing an email address in Salesforce or Mailchimp involves several key considerations to ensure data integrity and synchronization between the platforms. One of the first things to consider is the direction of the change.

Salesforce to Mailchimp

If the email address is updated in Salesforce—whether for a contact, lead—we will attempt to update the corresponding record in Mailchimp, provided the person is active on one or more Mailchimp audiences. Keep in mind this process works with the Salesforce standard email field.

If you want this process to work with a custom email field on the contact or lead, you must ensure it is mapped within our field mapping section, Salesforce to Mailchimp. The interactive demo below shows how that works.

Note: The Mailchimp API requires email changes to be sent over one record at a time. It can not process bulk updates to emails. This limitation only applies to email updates. Other field updates are handled singly and in bulk.

Mailchimp to Salesforce

Conversely, if the email address is changed directly in Mailchimp, the change will be reflected in Salesforce when the primary sync occurs. The sync between Mailchimp and Salesforce typically runs every hour, allowing for regular updates and minimizing discrepancies. However, for this process to work efficiently, field mappings between Salesforce and Mailchimp must be properly set up Specifically, the email field must be mapped between the two systems. 

Additionally, this setup becomes particularly important if a business is working with or using custom email fields. If a custom email field is in use, it must be mapped in field mappings toward Mailchimp to to ensure that changes are reflected in both systems. 

In conclusion, when changing an email address in Salesforce or Mailchimp, it’s essential to consider the direction of the update and ensure proper field mapping between the systems.