Email marketing is a form of digital marketing that can be highly effective at growing a business, brand, or blog – but it can also be a bit of a pain to set up and maintain. That’s probably because there are so many different types of email marketing software and platforms that it can be hard to know where to start and what features you need in order to be effective. Luckily for you, we’ve been through all the headache of finding, testing, and using the best email marketing platform for our businesses. That’s why we’ve collated all the vital information you need into this beginner’s guide, which will help you easily choose the right email marketing solution for your needs.
The Definitive Guide to Choosing an Email Marketing Platform
Do you want to create and send out marketing emails to grow your business? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to teach you everything you need to know about choosing the right email marketing platform below.
The Biggest Decision: Cloud or On-Premise Installation?
When you’re picking a new email marketing platform, you’re going to have to decide whether you want to go for a cloud-based solution or an on-premise solution. Let’s take a quick look at the differences between the two.
With a cloud-based solution, your data is stored and processed remotely, which can make your life much easier. The beauty of a cloud-based solution is that you don’t have to think about server maintenance or hardware and software upgrades. Your supplier (a third party company) takes care of all that for you.
An on-premise solution, on the other hand, allows you to run and maintain the email marketing software directly on your own hardware. This means you get to enjoy all the benefits of a self-managed solution without the added headache of cloud computing. It also means you’re responsible for upgrading and maintaining your own hardware, as well as all the software that runs on it. So if anything goes wrong with your system, you have to be able to fix it yourself or outsource the repair.
Features We Look For In An Effective Email Marketing Solution
Now that you know the difference between a cloud-based email marketing solution and an on-premise installation, let’s take a look at some of the essential features we look for.
1. Scalability
One of the major barriers to entry for startups and small businesses is getting sufficient server capacity. If you’re looking for a platform that can scale quickly and easily with little to no downtime, then look for a software solution with a shared hosting option. This type of hosting allows you to get started with a simple plan that will serve you well for your first few hundred or thousand emails. Once you’ve established yourself and gotten the word out that you’re available, you can then move to a dedicated hosting plan, which will provide you with the scalability and reliability needed to continue growing your business.
2. Support
When you’re deciding between an on-premise or cloud-based email marketing solution, one of the first things you’ll want to consider is customer support. You want to make sure that when you have a problem, you can get it solved quickly and easily. So you’ll want to look for a provider that is known for providing top-notch technical support in a fast and friendly manner. You don’t want to be scrambling for help with basic questions that could be easily answered by taking a quick glance at the FAQ or Documentation section of their website.
An even better option would be to look for a provider that offers live chat support via email or phone. Having friendly, available support agents is much easier for potential customers that are struggling to figure out how to use your product or service and want to get some help. It builds a more reliable image to have people willing to help out with questions and help them succeed using your product or service. In today’s world, where everyone is connected remotely through social media, live chat support really sets you apart.
3. Features
If you’re looking for a simple to use, cost-effective solution that doesn’t require a lot of customization, then go with Email Plus. With this solution, you get a free domain and you can start building your email list immediately. The basic plan allows you to send 20 emails per day with a limit of 500 subscribers. In addition, you can also choose between a free trial or paid subscription for email marketing software.
However, if you’re looking for something more complex and advanced, then try out MailChimp. With this solution, you get a free domain and you can start building your email list immediately. The power of MailChimp is in its ability to engage users via clever automated emails or personalized, one-to-one interactions via their webmail.
The best part about MailChimp is that it brings all the power of a traditional postal mail campaign but with the flexibility of digital marketing. This is a top contender for the best email marketing solution.
4. Security
You’d be surprised how many companies think about security last, if at all. That is a shame, because without a doubt, security is one of the most important aspects of an effective email marketing solution. You need to make sure that your customers’ personal information is safe and secure at all times. That means you’ll want to look for a trusted provider with top-notch security technologies in place to protect your data. Some of the best email marketing platforms have an additional layer of protection, like two-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of safety for your customers. In case something were to happen to their password, they’d have to use another authentication factor (something they know or have) to log in to their account.
Where Can I Buy the Best Email Marketing Solution?
If you’re looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution that offers all the features you need, then try out HubSpot. With this solution, you get a free domain and you can start building your email list immediately. The best part is that you can try it out for free for 14 days before you have to make a decision. If you decide it’s not for you, you can downgrade to one of their shared hosting plans at a relatively affordable price. Just keep in mind, shared hosting is the most basic option and will not provide the scalability or reliability needed for a growing business.
Final Takeaway
Choosing a new email marketing platform can be a daunting task, which is why we’ve gone through the trouble of narrowing it down to these essential features. If you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective solution that doesn’t require a lot of technical know-how, then go with Email Plus. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more complex solution that offers all the features you need and can scale with you as you grow your business, then try out MailChimp. And if you’re still deciding which one to go for, then try out HubSpot, which boasts of having all the right features with an affordable price that can’t be beat.