GUIDE

Migrating Email Marketing from Mailchimp to Benchmark Email (Japan)

Moving to Benchmark Email to comply with Japan's 特定電子メール法 and Invoice System.

— Market: Japan— Audience: Solo founder

Why Benchmark (Japan)?

Japanese customer support
JPY billing + Invoice System compliance
Japanese brand templates
特定電子メール法 consent templates

Sequence (1–2 weeks)

Day 1 - Benchmark account + domain auth - Export subscribers from Mailchimp

Days 2–3 - Benchmark import (with consent data) - Replace site/app forms

Days 4–7 - Rewrite automations - Redesign Japanese templates - Test sends

Week 2 - Start real sends, cancel Mailchimp

Japan checklist

Opt-in records required
Unsubscribe link in body
Sender info (entity name, address, contact) mandatory
"広告" label in subject when required (特商法)

Cost impact

For 5,000 subscribers: Mailchimp $50/month vs Benchmark ¥3–5k/month. Savings modest — the move is mostly about local support and Invoice System compliance.

Pitfalls

Importing without consent dates: legal violation
Missing sender info: 特商法 violation
Literal automation port: redesign recommended

Featured in this guide

Benchmark Email

Benchmark Email is a well-known email marketing service among Japanese SMEs. Japanese support and local servers deliver high deliverability, while an intuitive UI makes it accessible even for email marketing beginners.

Marketing · JP · Freemium

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FAQ

Is Benchmark cheaper than HubSpot?

Yes. HubSpot Marketing Starter starts at $15/user. Benchmark is subscriber-based, better for small teams.

特定電子メール法 detailed requirements?

Sender info (entity, representative, address, contact) in body + unsubscribe link + opt-in record retention.

What if Mailchimp automation is complex?

Port only core triggers/actions to Benchmark. Handle the rest manually first, automate later.