Email marketing is an old industry favorite for marketing teams across the globe. The concept behind email marketing is simple: capture someone’s attention with a compelling subject line and build upon that with a quality body copy to earn a purchase or lead.
There are many email marketing platforms available to business owners, from the free offerings from Microsoft and Google to more sophisticated products such as HubSpot and Marketo. In every instance, a business’ success with email marketing hinges on the following formula:
- Attracting and engaging an audience that is more likely to buy from you.
- Measuring the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and making adjustments as necessary.
- Continuing to develop and promote new products and services that are viable in today’s market.
What is more, email marketing is a popular choice among startups and SMBs due to its low overhead compared to other marketing methods. There is no setup cost and very little ongoing expense beyond capturing and sending out emails.
GetResponse
GetResponse is a “hybrid” email marketing platform that marries the simplicity of a standard email marketing tool with the sophistication of marketing software. The result is a cost-effective and feature-rich option for marketing teams looking for an easy-to-use solution.
MailChimp
MailChimp is a web-based email marketing platform comparable to GetResponse. The two platforms are very similar, offering businesses the same basic features with the addition of some customization. MailChimp’s strength is in its robust audience and its ease of use.
Features
Here is a breakdown of the key features that each of the above-mentioned companies provides:
- Free: Both GetResponse and MailChimp are free for individuals and small businesses. There is no cost beyond a standard email account.
- Basic: Both GetResponse and MailChimp offer the standard set of features found in a typical email marketing platform. In addition to capturing and sending out emails, you can perform A/B testing, track opens and clicks, and design email campaigns.
- Enterprise: For those seeking the robust features available in marketing software tools like Marketo and HubSpot, GetResponse and MailChimp are your best bet with the introduction of the business edition.
- Partner: For those seeking to work with a reputable marketer, GetResponse offers a “Partner” program that connects you with a network of over 120 marketers and digital marketers who are willing to work with you.
- Features Available In All Versions
- Segmentation: You can easily segment your audience by gender, age group, and location using the built-in segmentation tools in GetResponse and MailChimp. Plus, you can sort your list by the above-mentioned metrics and view them in a stacked bar graph to get a visual representation of your audience’s demographics.
- Automation: Both platforms provide automated email marketing features that allow you to set up email campaigns and then manage them from a dashboard. For example, you can send out a series of follow-up emails based on a user’s interaction with your product or service or you can schedule when these emails should be delivered.
- Reporting: Both companies offer robust reporting features that allow you to track success of your email marketing campaigns. You can generate any report—including open, click, and conversion rates—for any segment of your email audience. This level of detail gives you the power to make informed decisions about your marketing strategies based on hard facts rather than assumptions.
Drawbacks
As mentioned above, both GetResponse and MailChimp offer a robust set of features for individuals and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use solution. However, they both have their weaknesses. For example, while GetResponse allows you to send personalized emails to your audience, personalized emails are only available to users who use Google Apps. With MailChimp, you can only send generic emails that arrive looking like they were sent from a brand-new account. In addition, the email templates that are included with both companies leave a lot to be desired. Finally, the two companies’ pricing plans are pretty close to each other, so if you are seeking for a cost-effective solution, you might want to consider another option.
Competition
Now, let’s compare the competitive landscape of GetResponse and MailChimp:
- Price: Price is a major factor in every purchase decision, especially when competing with free platforms. At $15/month for the basic plan with discounts for larger teams and $5/month for students and startups, GetResponse is definitely one of the less expensive solutions. In addition, there is a free version that can be accessed by anyone. So, if you are looking for a no-cost option, you should definitely check out GetResponse.
- Audience: While both companies have a broad audience, Marketo and HubSpot are also geared toward larger enterprises. If your company is looking for a solution with a specific audience, you might want to consider a paid tool instead.
- Support: Though GetResponse offers a robust FAQ section and a knowledge base with articles and videos, these resources are only available to users via email. You will have to log in to access them. In contrast, MailChimp provides live chat support via Skype, email, and phone. However, even with live chat, these resources are only available to users who register for a support account. So, if you need instant access to answers regarding your email marketing strategy, you might want to avoid MailChimp.
- Version: Because both companies are constantly evolving and adding new features, you will have to stay on top of the trends to ensure that your needs are met. While both companies have a stable version that does not change frequently, there is always the fear of relying too much on a product that you no longer can update without risking total loss of data.
Concluding Thoughts
After going over the details of GetResponse and MailChimp, it is clear that both have their merits. If your business model fits within the realms of possibility for which these solutions were designed, then you should definitely consider either option. It all depends on your specific needs and whether you want an easy-to-use solution or a powerful tool for more advanced users.