For several years marketing experts have predicted the demise of email marketing, and many insist social media, text messaging and instant messaging will make email obsolete.
However those claims keep proving premature. Last year businesses considered email marketing the most effective digital marketing channel for customer retention in the U.S. Beyond keeping customers loyal to a brand or business, email is 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined when it comes to acquiring new customers, according to McKinsey & Company.
If you are looking for more bang for your buck, sources cite as much as a 4,300 percent return on investment for businesses using email marketing. There’s no denying email is a powerful way to reach potential customers and connect with existing ones. However, some business owners may be hesitant to dive into the world of email marketing simply because they fear the time commitment, or they just don’t know where to start.
If you aren’t yet using email to market your business or are struggling to find the time to manage it, consider these popular services:
MailChimp
Access built-in templates and editor features to customize campaigns to meet your needs. Choose from design options such as multi-user accounts and commenting features that encourage collaboration with your entire team. Create subscriber profiles that allow you to see customers’ website activity and engagement, and send automated emails based on their behavior and preferences. MailChimp offers advanced reporting options, integration with hundreds of third-party apps and services, and more. For businesses sending up to 12,000 emails a month, the service is free. For $10 a month you can send unlimited emails.
Constant Contact
Use built-in templates and a simple editor interface to customize campaigns. Import ../../css/Contact offers real-time reporting that simplifies your planning efforts. _u_Try it free for 60 days_rkntdt2cyjzghj7op604w4.css; plans start at $20 a month thereafter.
iContact
Choose from hundreds of fully customizable in-box tested templates and create emails in minutes. Even if you don’t have HTML or design experience, you can use the drag-and-drop message creation tool to change colors and add your own images, logo or text. The service allows you to create “Do Not Contact” and unsubscribe lists, survey customers and integrate social media. Plans start at $10 per month for up to 250 subscribers or $8.59 per month if you sign an annual contract. Learn the basics of the software with a free trial.
GetResponse
The new drag-and-drop editor allows you to customize messages, and with email marketing automation, you can send follow-up cycles, customized offers, birthday messages, one-on-one communications and more. Analyze, test and optimize your messages with A/B testing options, integrate Google Analytics, and import contacts from several different services and mail clients with a single click. Sign up for the free full-featured 30-day trial. Packages start at $15 per month for up to 1000 subscribers.
Campaigner
This service offers a simple interface with a variety of mobile-friendly templates. Use workflows to easily send targeted automated emails based on time, date, event or action. Campaigner offers superior reporting options, the powerful API integrates seamlessly into your existing data systems, and you gain access to 24/7 phone support. Plans start at $19.95 per month, and you can sign up for a free trial.
Benchmark
Track and evaluate email campaigns with real-time, easy-to-follow metrics. Import, organize and segment contact lists, and set up auto-responders to schedule and sequence automatically delivered emails. Integrate popular apps, engage users with integrated social media channels and signup forms, and create surveys and polls. Pricing starts at $9.95 for up to 600 emails per month. Sign up for the free trial.
Email marketing remains the most effective and budget-friendly way to promote your business. These email marketing service providers make creating, transmitting, tracking and analyzing emails a simple process that increases your efficiency and productivity, while promoting your business.