This article explains how to import your existing Mailchimp email templates into the ZipLeads Design Editor. Once imported, you can edit them visually without working with code. You'll learn how the import process works, what you need to import, and how ZipLeads turns Mailchimp layouts into editable content blocks.
What is importing a Mailchimp email template?
Importing a Mailchimp email template brings your pre-designed Mailchimp layouts into the ZipLeads Design Editor. Instead of starting from scratch, you can reuse your existing Mailchimp designs and edit them visually with the drag-and-drop editor.
When you import a template, ZipLeads automatically recognises the structure of your Mailchimp design, such as headers, images and text blocks. It turns them into editable components. This makes it easy to customise content, adjust layouts and keep your branding consistent, all without writing or editing code.
Key benefits of importing Mailchimp email templates
Easy template reuse: Bring your existing Mailchimp email designs into ZipLeads without rebuilding them from scratch.
Visual, no-code editing: Change and personalise your emails using the drag-and-drop Design Editor. No coding required.
Consistent branding: Keep your brand's look and feel by reusing familiar layouts, fonts and colour schemes from your Mailchimp templates.
Faster campaign creation: Save time by turning pre-designed templates into editable ZipLeads versions, ready to customise and send.
How to import and customise Mailchimp email templates in the Design Editor
Go to the email templates section
Go to Marketing → Emails → Templates from the left navigation menu. This section lists all your existing email templates. You can also create new ones here in different ways.
Start a new import
Click the New button in the top right and select Import Email from the dropdown menu. This lets you bring in email templates from other providers, like Mailchimp.
Choose Mailchimp as the import source
In the Import Email Templates popup, open the Import from dropdown and choose Mailchimp. This tells ZipLeads to get ready to import the campaign layout from your Mailchimp account.
Add the Mailchimp campaign URL
Copy the campaign URL from your Mailchimp account and paste it into the URL field. ZipLeads uses this URL to fetch and recreate the structure of your Mailchimp campaign so you can edit it.
Enter a template name
In the Template Name field, give your imported template a clear name you'll recognise. This makes it easier to find and edit later in your list of templates.
Open in the Design Editor and create the template
Select Open in Design Editor, then click Create Template. Your Mailchimp template opens in the ZipLeads visual Design Editor, ready for drag-and-drop customisation and content updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if my Mailchimp template doesn't look right in the Design Editor after import?
If your imported template looks misaligned or is missing sections, it's usually because some Mailchimp-specific HTML isn't fully compatible with the Design Editor's block-based layout. If this happens, switch to the Code Editor to review the HTML and make manual changes. For best results, make sure your Mailchimp campaign uses standard HTML and inline CSS before importing.
Q: Can I import Mailchimp templates that use dynamic content, merge tags or conditional logic?
Mailchimp merge tags and dynamic content rules aren't automatically converted into ZipLeads equivalents during import. The structure will import, but you'll need to set up the dynamic logic again using Custom Values or Dynamic Fields once the template is in the Design Editor.
Q: Does the import tool store or access my Mailchimp account login?
No. The import only uses the public campaign URL you paste into ZipLeads. It doesn't need or store your Mailchimp login details or API keys. It simply reads the HTML layout at that URL to recreate your email design in the Design Editor.
Q: What's the difference between importing a Mailchimp "Campaign" and a "Template"?
You can import Mailchimp campaigns directly using their campaign URL. If you want to import a saved Mailchimp template, first create a campaign using that template in Mailchimp, then copy its campaign URL. Only campaigns have a shareable URL that the ZipLeads import tool can read.