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Use OSDownloads for Marketing Automation in Joomla

Written by Steve Burge Steve Burge
Published: 04 March 2016 04 March 2016
Use OSDownloads for Autoresponders in Joomla

If you use Joomla for marketing automation, we have a new OSDownloads feature that you'll love.

OSDownloads now integrates with MailChimp Groups. This means you can send targeted emails to people who download a particular file.

For example, if someone downloads OSDownloads, we can send them a series of follow-up emails about that extension.

Let' s see how this new feature works.

Step #1. Set up groups in MailChimp

  • Login to your MailChimp account.
  • Click Lists and choose the list you want to use.
  • Click Manage Subscribers > Groups.
MailChimp groups inside a list
  • If you don't have groups already, you can create them here. I've created a group for all free Joomlashack extensions:
A MailChimp list with several groups

Step #2. Install OSDownloads Pro

  • You will need a copy of OSDownloads Pro.
  • Install OSDownloads Pro.
  • Go to Components > OSDownloads Pro > Options.
The Options button inside OSDownloads
  • Click the "MailChimp" tab.
  • Set "Connect to Mailchimp" to Yes.
  • Enter your Mailchimp API Key. You can find that key inside MailChimp.com by going to Account > Extras > API keys.
Enter your MailChimp API Key in Joomla
  • Save the Options screen.
  • You will now be able to choose from your MailChimp Lists.
  • Choose your list and your groups will appear.

On this screen, you can choose the global settings for OSDownloads' integration with MailChimp.

MailChimp groups in the OSDownloads admin

Step #3. Connect files to MailChimp groups

In addition to the global setting, you can also connect MailChimp to different categories and files.

  • Go to OSDownloads > Files.
  • Open a file.
  • Click the "Requirements to Download" tab.
  • Set "Require Email" to "Yes".
Requirements to Download inside OSDownloads files
  • Click the "Advanced" tab.
  • You can now choose which group people will be added to when they download this file.
Choosing MailChimp groups for an OSDownloads file

Step #4. Set up MailChimp marketing automation

Now you are ready to create your autoresponders. Go back to MailChimp.com and you can use their "Automation" feature to set up your emails.

  • Go to Automation > Create Automation Workflow.
  • You can now send choose "Joins List Group" to create your workflow.
Setting up Marketing Automation in MailChimp

What's next for OSDownloads and MailChimp automation?

We're going to add custom fields so that you can collect specific information from people when they download a file.

This will make OSDownloads an even more useful marketing automation tool for Joomla.