Getting started with email marketing can be overwhelming. Choosing the right email marketing platform is vital since it will be the most important part of your email marketing efforts. Part 3 of my email marketing guide will focus on specifications for some of the more popular email marketing platforms. (If you missed Getting Started with Email Marketing Part 2 make sure to check it out, and don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you won't miss out on the rest of the series!)
Some Popular Email Marketing Platforms At a Glance
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is free for up to 2,000 subscribers. Otherwise, $10 to $240 per month, depending on number of contacts
Highlights:
- Split subject line testing to analyze which performs best
- Send time optimization
- Various third-party program integrations (such as Google Analytics)
- Social media integration
- Ability to create and send surveys
- Multi-user accounts for team members
- Automatically generated permalink pages
- Geolocation and other segmentation options for subscribers
- Customizable email templates
- Unlimited number of sends with all paid plans
- Mobile app so you can send on the go
- Autoresponders
Constant Contact
Constant Contact can cost anywhere from $15 to $150 for up to 25,000 contacts, depending upon number of contacts.
Highlights:
- Free 60 day trial
- Drag and drop editing for their 400 customizable email templates
- Social media integration
- Various third-party application integrations
- Ability to send trackable coupons
- Email personalization options
- Custom demographics
- Ability to create and send surveys
- Multi-user accounts for team members
- Automatic duplicate contact check
- Autoresponders
- Support via phone, email, chat, online FAQs, videos, and tutorials
Aweber
Aweber can cost anywhere from $19 to $149 a month for up to 25,000 subscribers.
Highlights:
- Free 30 day trial
- Complex personalization options
- 99%+ deliverability (likely the best in the industry)
- Various third-party application integrations
- Subscriber management and tracking
- Live support services
- Easy to use drag and drop interface for over 700 templates
- Email personalization options
- Subscriber Segmenting
- Autoresponders
- Signup form split-testing
- Unlimited image storage
Emma
Emma pricing is based on the number of subscribers and starts at $35 per month for 1,000 subscribers.
Highlights:
- Free 60 day trial
- Customizable mobile-optimized templates
- Google Analytics integration
- Social media integration
- Ability to create and send surveys
- Easy drag and drop design tools
- Unlimited image storage
- Delivery advice and consultation if needed
- Autoresponders
- Various list customization and segmentation options
I personally use MailChimp for my email marketing and for my clients as well. If you’d like to explore more options, just Google "email marketing services" and you will have plenty of choices.
If you have any specific questions or want to add to my guide with your own advice, leave a comment below!
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Getting Started with Email Marketing Part 2: Choosing an Email Marketing Platform
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Getting Started With Email Marketing Part 1
Like most marketing techniques, you will find mixed reviews about the effectiveness of Email Marketing. Just like social media, email marketing is only effective for your business when used properly. Email marketing is a great way to promote your website, to interact with your customers, to promote your blogs, to encourage attendees to come to events your sponsoring, etc. Yet, the majority of businesses are still not taking advantage of email marketing. So here is Part 1 of a guide to get you started: