Are you looking for a way to nurture your leads and convert them into paying customers? Wouldn’t it be great if you could delight your existing customers and turn them into loyal brand promoters? Do you want to directly communicate with your customers and get to understand them better?
If your answer to any of the above questions is a thunderous “yes,” it’s time you create a powerful email marketing strategy.
If you’re a marketer or entrepreneur, you’re likely already aware of the amazing benefits of email marketing. To begin with, it generates $42 in revenue for every dollar marketers spend. That’s a whopping 4200% ROI, which is higher than the ROI of other digital marketing channels.
Also, email is a great channel to personally connect with both potential and existing customers. All the awesome content you create can reach its right audience through the judicious use of email marketing.
However, successfully implementing email marketing campaigns isn’t just about sending a bunch of newsletters. It requires a well-defined strategy and involves various important steps. One of the most crucial aspects of executing an email marketing campaign is to select the right email marketing service.
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Email Marketing Services: A Closer Look
Email marketing is a great way of boosting audience engagement, driving conversions, and building customer trust. However, the fate of your email marketing campaigns ultimately depends on the email marketing service you’re using. A good email marketing service offers a diverse array of useful features that let you successfully implement your campaigns.
For instance, you can segment your mailing list according to various parameters. This, in turn, means you can send personalized emails to address the needs and pain-points of each segment. Likewise, you can create a drip campaign that automatically triggers the right email based on a recipient’s response.
Most industry-standard email marketing solutions also let you design awesome-looking emails in a few simple steps. Likewise, you can integrate your email marketing software with other marketing channels you might be using, such as Facebook advertising. It is, however, essential to choose the right email marketing platform that fits the needs of your business.
How to Select the Right Email Marketing Service
The overwhelming variety of email marketing services available on the internet will leave you spoilt for choice. While most services offer similar features, it’s important to choose one that’s the right fit for your needs.
To begin with, you should create a list of essential features that you need in your email marketing software. Next, evaluate your marketing spend and allocate a realistic budget. The final step is to check various email marketing services available on the internet and analyze their pros and cons.
Here are a few things you should consider before making the final selection:
- Customizable templates – Does the software offer plenty of pre-designed email templates that can be easily customized?
- Email builder – Does the software include an easy to use drag and drop email builder?
- Segmentation – How easy is it to divide your mailing list into various segments and send personalized campaigns to each segment?
- Integration – Is the software compatible with e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and Magento? Will it easily integrate with the CRM solution you’re using?
- Automation – Does the software let you schedule various trigger-based automated email campaigns? How easy will it be to automatically scale your email marketing campaigns as your business grows?
- Reporting – Does the software provide detailed and easily understandable reports to help you monitor the performance of your campaigns?
- Onboarding – Does the software involve a steep learning curve? Does it provide any useful resources, such as video tutorials, user guides, etc.?
- Support – What are the available customer support channels? Does the software provide an extensive knowledge base?
- Pricing – How do the pricing plans scale up as your mailing list grows? Is it going to be affordable in the long run?
It’s now time for us to take a look at the top email marketing services available in the market that you could use for your e-commerce business.
Best Email Marketing Services for E-commerce Businesses
If you’re running an e-commerce business, you likely already know the importance of effective email marketing. From cart abandonment reminders to customer feedback forms – you send emails at every step of routine business operations. That’s why it’s particularly essential to select an email marketing service that suits your preferences and requirements.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best email marketing services for today’s e-commerce businesses:
1. Mailchimp
When you think of email marketing software, Mailchimp is likely the first name that’ll come to your mind. It’s an easy-to-use and affordable email marketing service that’s suitable for new and growing e-commerce businesses.
It offers various user-friendly features, such as:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop email builder
- In-built CRM
- Easy segmentation and personalization
- E-commerce integration
- Insightful reporting and analytics
- Facebook ads integration
- A/B testing
The only slight drawback is that Mailchimp pricing plans become quite expensive as your mailing list grows.
Pricing – Free for the first 2,000 subscribers; paid plans start from $10 per month onward and depend on the size of your mailing lists; a pay-as-you-go pricing model is also available for low-volume clients.
2. MailerLite
Your search for the ultimate value-for-money email marketing software ends with MailerLite. Whether you want to create a stunning landing page for your email campaign or conduct customer surveys, MailerLite has the right solution.
Some of its prominent features include:
- Simple drag-and-drop email builder
- Pre-built email templates
- WordPress integration
- Extensive e-commerce integration
- CRM integration
- A/B testing
- RSS integration
The best part is that these features are available across all pricing plans. However, MailerLite lacks the advanced reporting features offered by other services.
Pricing – Free for the first 1,000 subscribers; paid plans start from $10 per month onward; all paid plans include a 14-day free trial.
3. Omnisend
Do you want to implement an omnichannel marketing campaign using emails, push notifications, social media, and SMS? Then Omnisend is just what you need. The best part is that the software lets you create high-converting landing pages and pop-up boxes to build your mailing list.
It offers an impressive range of powerful features, including:
- Powerful automation
- Pre-designed templates
- E-commerce integration
- Omnichannel marketing
- List segmentation
- Robust reporting
However, Omnisend can be slightly complex for beginners. Also, it’s fairly expensive compared to other email marketing services.
Pricing – Free plan offers 15,000 emails per month; paid plans start at $16 per month; all plans include a free trial.
4. AWeber
AWeber is known for its excellent deliverability rates and powerful audience segmentation features. Also, it lets you utilize dynamic content tags for sending high-converting personalized emails.
Additional features include:
- Advanced automation, tagging, and personalization
- AI-powered email template builder
- Pre-built email template library
- Landing page builder
- WooCommerce, Shopify, and PayPal integration
- Powerful analytics
The only slight catch is that AWeber’s pricing plans become expensive as your mailing list grows. Also, the interface looks relatively outdated compared to other email marketing software.
Pricing – Free for up to 500 subscribers (limited to 3,000 emails per month); paid plans start at $16.15 per month.
5. ActiveCampaign
Are you looking for an email marketing service that combines the best of email marketing, CRM, and marketing automation? Your search ends with ActiveCampaign. With features, such as lead scoring and dynamic content, it’s one of the most powerful email marketing software for modern e-commerce businesses.
ActiveCampaign offers a broad spectrum of sophisticated features, such as:
- Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce integration
- Advanced list segmentation
- Powerful automation workflows
- CRM integration
- Facebook ads integration
- Excellent reporting
- Free migrations
- Seamless onboarding
However, unlike other email marketing services, ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer a free plan. Also, the abundance of advanced features isn’t particularly suitable for beginners.
Pricing – Paid plans start at $9 per month (and depend on the size of your mailing list); all plans include a 14-day free trial.
6. Campaign Monitor
Featuring a plethora of pre-built templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, Campaign Monitor is ideal for designing visually stunning email campaigns.
Key features include:
- Advanced personalization and automation with the visual journey designer
- Excellent email templates
- E-commerce and CRM integration
- Transactional emails
- Comprehensive reporting
However, its scope of list segmentation is quite limited when compared to other email marketing services.
Pricing – Paid plans start at $9 per month (depending on the size of your mailing list); pay-as-you-go plans are also available for low-volume users.
7. Sendinblue
Sendinblue is your go-to email marketing software for implementing transactional emails with dynamic content. You can even use it to implement SMS campaigns and add a nifty chatbox to your website.
Here are some of its distinguishing features:
- Professionally designed templates
- Outstanding deliverability
- Easy segmentation and personalization
- CRM integration
- SMS marketing
- Landing page and sing-up form builder
- Facebook ads integration
The only drawback is that the free plan includes just 300 emails per day.
Pricing – Free (for up to 300 emails per day); paid plans start from $25 per month onward.
8. ConvertKit
If you’re a content creator who wants to try your hand at selling digital products, ConvertKit is the right email marketing service for you. Apart from standard features, such as visual automation and robust segmentation, it lets you easily promote and sell your digital products. The best part is that you don’t even have to create a website to showcase your products.
Other notable features of ConvertKit include:
- User-friendly interface
- Easy WordPress integration
- Landing page and opt-in form builder
- Tag-based list segmentation
- Excellent deliverability
- Proactive customer support
- Sophisticated reporting
- Hassle-free migration
However, the pricing is on the higher side and can be fairly expensive for beginners.
Pricing – Free for up to 1,000 subscribers; paid plans start at $29 per month with a 30-day free trial.
9. Constant Contact
Are you looking for a reliable email marketing service that’s affordable and user-friendly? Wouldn’t it be great if you also set up advanced automation workflows and create high-converting drip campaigns using the software? Constant Contact is just what you need.
It offers a wide array of sophisticated features, such as:
- Easy e-commerce and CRM integration
- Excellent onboarding
- Multi-channel customer support
- Customizable and responsive email templates
- Real-time monitoring
- Smart automation
However, it’s worth mentioning that pricing for Constant Contact can quickly escalate as your mailing list grows. Also, it doesn’t offer a free plan, unlike other email marketing services.
Pricing – Starts at $20 per month with a 30-day free trial.
10. GetResponse
GetResponse is known for its outstanding automation features. You can use it to build and implement high-converting marketing funnels. It’s the all-in-one marketing platform you need to generate, nurture, and convert leads.
GetResponse boasts numerous state-of-the-art features, including:
- Landing page and form builder
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Sales funnel automation
- Easy integration with CRM software
- Powerful segmentation
- Insightful reporting
However, unlike other email marketing services, GetResponse doesn’t offer a free plan for new users. Also, the interface could use a minor makeover.
Pricing – Starts at $10 per month with a 30-day free trial; actual pricing depends on the size of your mailing list.
Conclusion
You can’t run a thriving e-commerce business without building and implementing a powerful email marketing campaign. It can be instrumental in helping you attract, retain, and delight your customers. Also, it offers a great way to directly communicate with your potential customers and nurture qualified leads.
It is, however, crucial to select an email marketing software that fits the unique needs of your business. List your preferred features and budget before you start your search for the right email marketing service.
Carefully analyze the available options based on various parameters, such as reliability, pricing, customer support, and scalability. Also, evaluate the key features, including segmentation, automation, and reporting, before making the final selection.
Have you used any of the above email marketing services? Share your experience in the comments section below.
