Migration Pre-Flight Checklist

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Print this or keep it open beside the full migration guide. Every line maps to a guide step.

Export (guide Step 1)

• Subscribers CSV with name, signup date, and all tags/segments
• Unsubscribed / bounced / spam addresses separated from the active list
• Copies of past issues (or a plan to copy out the evergreen ones)
• CSV backups saved in two places

Clean (Step 2)

• Malformed addresses removed
• Duplicate rows removed
• Dead weight (12+ months unengaged, if re-confirming) removed
• Final row count written down: ____________

Rebuild before import (Step 3)

• Tags/segments recreated (or a simpler set chosen on purpose)
• Welcome sequence rebuilt in the new editor
• Signup forms and landing page live on the new platform

Import + re-confirm (Step 4)

• CSV imported — row count matches: yes / no
• Tags spot-checked on 5 random subscribers
• Re-confirm decision made: import-as-subscribed / send re-confirmation
• Re-confirmation email (if used) tells people where you moved and why

Repoint (Step 5)

• Website/embedded forms updated
• Social bios and link pages updated
• Referral/listing entries updated where you control them
• No live signup path still points at the old platform

Validate two weeks (Step 6)

• Two normal sends completed on the new platform
• Open rates roughly at pre-migration level (small re-confirm dip OK)
• Automations fired correctly (checked, not assumed)
• Old links to critical evergreen issues re-hosted

Close out (Step 7)

• Old subscription cancelled
• Paid-subscription billing migration handled separately (if applicable)
• Only one live copy of the list remains, where you chose

Choosing the destination platform? Run the numbers first: year-one cost calculator.