diff --git a/Tech/Sessions/mailerlite-classic-to-new-migration.md b/Tech/Sessions/mailerlite-classic-to-new-migration.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ade469a --- /dev/null +++ b/Tech/Sessions/mailerlite-classic-to-new-migration.md @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +--- +project: mailerlite-classic-to-new-migration +type: session-notes +status: completed +path: Tech/Sessions +tags: + - mailerlite + - wordpress + - migration + - sunnies +created: 2026-04-29 +updated: 2026-04-29 +--- +# MailerLite Classic to New Migration + +## Outcome + +PBS email infrastructure fully migrated from MailerLite Classic to New +MailerLite. All active PBS subscribers, forms, automations, and the +site-wide popup are now running on the New platform. PBS stays within the +free tier (~120 active subscribers, well under the 500 limit). + +Classic remains active as a shared account with Jenny's writer audience, +which was tabled for a later decision. + +## What Changed + +- Active PBS subscribers (~120) exported from Classic by group and imported +into New, group by group, with automations disabled on import to avoid +retriggering welcome flows. +- Three freebie forms rebuilt as raw HTML embeds on their respective +Gutenberg landing pages. +- Site-wide popup form recreated in New MailerLite. +- Official MailerLite WordPress plugin reconfigured with the New account +API key (the "Classic API" field label was misleading legacy wording — same +plugin works for both platforms). +- All Classic-side PBS forms and automations deleted to prevent any stale +embed or cached page from feeding subscribers into the wrong account. + +## Key Learnings + +- **Account topology was the biggest source of confusion.** Classic was a +shared team account (Jenny + Travis via company email). The migration +created a New account that was also shared. Logging in via different emails +kept showing the same data, which initially looked like duplicate accounts +but was actually one account with multiple users. +- **Migration brings ghost subscribers.** The Classic to New migration tool +pulled 496 pre-2023 inactive subscribers into the New account alongside any +active ones. These had to be cleaned out before importing the active PBS +list, otherwise the free tier would have been blown immediately. +- **Subscriber engagement stats do not migrate.** Per-subscriber open/click +history, signup dates, and group-level performance stats are lost in any +CSV-based import. For a small list this is acceptable; baseline group stats +were noted before the move. +- **The MailerLite WordPress plugin only injects the universal loader +script.** It does not manage popup forms, triggers, or display rules — +those live entirely inside the MailerLite account. This explained why the +popup couldn't be "turned on" from the plugin UI. +- **The universal loader script lives in the page head as plugin output.** +Identifying its source took a view-source hunt. Comments and XPath helped +narrow it down to plugin-injected output rather than WPCode, theme files, +or Astra customizer. +- **Form embed approach is now consistent.** All PBS forms (three freebies ++ popup) use raw HTML embeds rather than plugin shortcodes. This decouples +form delivery from the plugin and would make a future plugin removal +painless. + +## Decisions + +- **Keep the MailerLite plugin for now.** It auto-updates the universal +loader script if MailerLite changes infrastructure. Deactivation is a +future option since all forms are raw HTML embeds and don't depend on +plugin shortcodes. +- **Writer-side audience stays in Classic.** No action taken on the writer +subscribers or PPWC2024 group. Future split decision deferred. +- **Verification approach:** monitor subscriber counts in both Classic and +New for a week. Classic should stay flat (no leak from stale embeds), New +should grow as new signups come in. + +## Future Work + +- **Custom Sunnie-based popup system.** Replace the MailerLite-controlled +popup with a self-hosted modal driven by a 3D animated Sunnie character. +Form submission stays MailerLite (raw HTML embed), but trigger logic, +frequency capping, and visual presentation move into WPCode under PBS +control. Architectural goal: control the experience locally rather than +depending on remote configuration that can't be grepped. +- **3D Sunnie pipeline experiment.** 2D render exists; image-to-3D model +conversion to be explored on local hardware, followed by Blender rigging +and animation. Treated as brand investment rather than feature work — +Sunnie as a recurring on-site presence beyond just the popup. + + +...sent from Jenny & Travis \ No newline at end of file