Chimp Essentials
Review

Learn Mailchimp the right way and get the most out of your email marketing

Easy
  • Last updated 02/09/2025
by Paul Jarvis

What you'll learn ? Overview

Chimp Essentials is a video course created by Paul Jarvis, a veteran of the online tech world who's worked with corporate clients like Microsoft, Yahoo, Mercedes-Benz, Warner Music, and even Shaquille O'Neal. We discovered this course has educated over 13,564 paying students, which immediately caught our attention.

The course delivers over 45 bite-sized video lessons focused on Mailchimp fundamentals through to intermediate automations, integrations, and deliverability strategies. What sets it apart is its practical, no-fluff approach, teaching not just where to click, but why and when to use specific features.

We found the curriculum covers essential topics like list management, audience segmentation, campaign automation, A/B testing, and analytics interpretation. The teaching style is refreshingly direct, avoiding technical jargon while focusing on real-world applications that drive business results.

One interesting aspect we noticed: while the course was originally created in 2017, it focuses heavily on timeless email marketing strategy rather than just software mechanics. This means even if Mailchimp's interface has evolved (which it has), the core principles remain valuable.

The course doesn't attempt to cover advanced design techniques or enterprise-level campaigns. Instead, it zeroes in on helping non-technical users, freelancers, and small business owners gain full confidence in running their own email marketing campaigns effectively.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Perfect for freelancers, small business owners, bloggers, or anyone managing their own email marketing. Not suitable for enterprise teams or those seeking multi-platform email marketing expertise.

Instructor

Paul Jarvis

Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing Expert Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Paul Jarvis is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and digital marketing expert known for his unconventional approach to business growth. With over two decades of experience, he has become a prominent voice in advocating for intentional, sustainable business practices. Jarvis challenges the traditional notion of constant expansion, instead promoting the idea of 'company of one' - a business model focused on staying small and profitable.
Jarvis began his career as a web designer and developer, working with high-profile clients including Microsoft, Yahoo, and Mercedes-Benz. He transitioned into entrepreneurship, launching successful online courses and authoring multiple books. His most notable work, 'Company of One', published in 2019, has been translated into 16 languages and solidified his position as a thought leader in alternative business strategies.
• Bestselling author of 'Company of One', translated into 16 languages
• Creator of popular online courses including 'Creative Class' and 'Chimp Essentials'
• Developed 'Fathom Analytics', a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics
• Featured in Forbes, CNBC, Entrepreneur, and other major publications
• Co-host of the 'Invisible Office Hours' podcast
• Speaker at World Domination Summit 2018
• Guest on Tim Ferriss Show podcast
• Interviewed on Indie Hackers podcast
• Featured speaker at CreativeMornings Vancouver
• Presenter at MicroConf Growth 2019
Paul Jarvis cultivates a strong digital footprint, regularly sharing insights on entrepreneurship and digital marketing. He publishes a weekly newsletter, the 'Sunday Dispatches', and frequently contributes articles to his blog. His content often focuses on challenging conventional business wisdom and promoting sustainable growth strategies.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration7
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None. Perfect for complete beginners with zero Mailchimp or email marketing experience.


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access and modern web browser. Mobile viewing possible but not ideal for hands-on practice.


💸 Hidden Costs

You'll need a Mailchimp account. The free tier covers most course exercises, but advanced features (complex automations, larger lists) require paid plans starting at $9.99/month.


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Support details aren't specified on the official website. We recommend contacting them directly to understand what assistance is available.

Course content

  • Module 1: Audience - The what, why and how of connecting to the right people (Figuring out your audience, Signup forms, Importing lists, Creating segments)
  • Module 2: Campaigns - Creating and sending emails your audience actually wants (Types of campaigns, Using templates, Merge tags, A/B split testing, Scheduling)
  • Module 3: Automation - Learn how to use automation to your advantage (Understanding automation workflows, Setting up effective sequences)
  • Module 4: Reports - Understanding data to improve results (Interpreting analytics, Improving open and click rates)
  • Bonus Content: Groups vs. Segments, List-building ideas, Paid newsletters in Mailchimp, GDPR basics

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

We found overwhelmingly positive feedback from users, particularly freelancers and solo entrepreneurs who previously felt overwhelmed by Mailchimp's interface. Most praise centers on clarity and practical takeaways, though some advanced marketers find it too basic for their needs.

Praised points

  • No-fluff instruction that gets straight to the point without unnecessary theory
  • Strategic focus that teaches the "why" behind email marketing, not just button clicking
  • Quick implementation, users report getting campaigns running within days

Criticisms

  • Mailchimp-only focus, no coverage of alternative platforms or broader email strategy
  • Interface changes since 2017 mean some screenshots don't match current Mailchimp UI
  • Limited depth for advanced segmentation or complex automation scenarios

Testimonials

"Finally got my Mailchimp account organized, Chimp Essentials was worth every penny." - Forte Labs review

"Paul makes email marketing feel painless and even kind of fun." - Reddit user

"This is the course I wish I took before wasting hours Googling Mailchimp tips." - Course alumni

"The only resource that made sense for a non-techie like me." - Verified purchaser

"Could use some Mailchimp updates, but the automation section was a lifesaver." - Email Drips comment

Social insights

Reddit users consistently describe it as "the best quick-start for Mailchimp I found." We noticed Twitter mentions highlighting how it "helped me finally get automations running." On Quora, Paul Jarvis is routinely referenced as a trustworthy tech educator. The main concern across platforms? The age of the content relative to Mailchimp's frequent updates.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The promise to teach "Mailchimp the right way" is subjective but supported by over 13,564 paying students and consistently positive feedback. The focus on strategy over mechanics delivers lasting value.

Price History

Originally priced around $199, the course maintains consistent pricing without frequent sales or discounts (contrary to some claims we investigated).

Upsell Practices

Refreshingly absent. No aggressive backend offers or constant upgrade pitches detected.

Student Success

Forte Labs published a detailed positive review. Multiple users report successfully launching campaigns within days. However, recent success stories are harder to find, likely due to the course's age.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Hosted on chimpessentials.com. While functional, the platform lacks modern features like progress tracking or note-taking tools that we've seen in newer courses.

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access to streaming videos. Downloads aren't clearly available, which could be inconvenient for offline learning.

Mobile Compatibility

Videos play on mobile devices, but we found the experience better on desktop, especially when following along in Mailchimp.

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection sufficient. No special software needed beyond a web browser and Mailchimp account.

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We found no major complaints about undelivered value or scam practices. The primary issue users mention is outdated interface screenshots, which is expected for a course created in 2017.

😬

Refund policy issues

Here's a concern: the refund policy isn't clearly stated on the official website. We recommend contacting support directly before purchasing if this matters to you.

😬

Marketing practices

The marketing is refreshingly straightforward. No inflated income claims, no fake urgency tactics. Paul Jarvis was famously against aggressive marketing, and this philosophy shows.

😬

Community feedback

The absence of an active community or direct creator support is notable. While not a "red flag" per se, it's a significant downgrade from what early students received.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $199 (Mid Ticket pricing), Chimp Essentials delivers solid value if you specifically need Mailchimp training. The strategic principles taught are worth the price alone, even if some interface elements have changed since 2017.

Conclusion

We found Chimp Essentials to be a legitimate, well-structured course that delivers on its core promise: teaching Mailchimp effectively. Paul Jarvis's expertise (with clients like Microsoft and Warner Music) shines through in the strategic approach. Yes, the interface screenshots are dated, and no, you won't get personal support from Paul anymore. But for someone who wants to master Mailchimp quickly without wading through scattered YouTube tutorials or dense documentation, this course provides a clear, proven path. The lack of recent updates and missing refund policy transparency prevent a higher score, but it remains a solid choice for its target audience. Just go in with eyes open about what you're buying: excellent strategic content wrapped in slightly dated packaging.

FAQs about this course

Paul Jarvis created the course but is no longer actively involved in support or updates. His original content remains the foundation of the program.

Since the course was created in 2017, some interface elements have changed. However, the core functionality and strategic principles remain the same.

The refund policy isn't clearly stated on the website. We recommend contacting support directly before purchasing to clarify their policy.

Mailchimp's free tier is sufficient for most course exercises, though some advanced features require a paid plan starting at $9.99/month.

With 45+ bite-sized videos, most students complete it in about a week dedicating 1-5 hours, though you can work at your own pace.

Currently, there's no active student community mentioned. Support options aren't specified on the website.

Ideal for beginners and small business owners who want practical Mailchimp skills, not for those seeking advanced multi-platform email marketing strategies.

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Chimp Essentials screenshot
Chimp Essentials Review
$ 199
Total score: 8,0/10 ⭐
  • Duration7
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2017
  • Format Self-Paced or Workshop
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

Our Rating System

Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.

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Chimp Essentials Review