From social media to email newsletters, in the last few years, most companies have turned to online marketing techniques to promote their businesses. While social media has garnered most of the attention, email marketing is still the preferred advertising tool for most companies, and sources say it’s here to stay. A 2015 Marketing Report, which surveyed over 5,000 marketers, stated that 73% of them believe email marketing is core to their business. The report also showed that 60% of marketers claim email is a critical enabler of products and services, versus 42% of marketers in 2014.
See 10 Best Practices for Email Marketing
We know smart business owners are looking for email marketing solutions that are low-cost, but come with attractive templates and effective reporting capabilities. Below is OSO’s review of the top 5 email marketing providers.
Mail Chimp
Features: Customizable email templates, unlimited free storage of images. Click, open engagement reports.
Cost: There is a free version for up to 2,000 email subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. The paid service starts at $10 per month for unlimited emails up to 500 subscribers, and increases $5 per month for every 500 subscribers added. All paid plans have unlimited email sending capabilities throughout the month.
Support: No phone support for free accounts, only live email and chat support.
Constant Contact
Features: Customizable email templates. Free storage of images up to 5 files. Click, open engagement reports.
Cost: There is a 60-day free trial, followed by packages starting at $15 per month for up to 500 contacts. It increases to as much as $75 per month for up to 10,000 contacts.
Support: Phone, chat, and email support offered Monday through Friday during business hours. Email support on weekends.
Email Arts
Features: Instead of pre-made templates, formats are uniquely designed for each business. Capability for large volume blasts. Used by well-known businesses like Heart MD Institute and Einstein Bros Bagel.
Cost: Based on service level and number of contracts, but relatively lower than its competitors.
Support: Dedicated support staff by phone or email.
Vertical Response
Features: Customizable email templates. Return on Investment (ROI) reporting. List segmentation and management tools.
Cost: There is a free version for up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $17.60 per month
Support: Phone support offered Monday through Friday during business hours. Weekend support is through email and chat only.
iContact
Features: Customizable email templates. Message coder for users who like to work with html code. Google analytics integration (Premier level only)
Cost: Pricing starts at $10 per month for 250 users. There is an upgrade option to get a personal advisor, but pricing is unclear.
Support: Online support. No weekend customer support.
There are many good choices for email marketing providers, each offering unique qualities. However, here at OSO, we offer the most personalized experience through our email marketing solution Email Arts. We are happy to help you with your next email campaign. Contact Us.
If you live in the Fairfield County and Greater New York area, come meet us in person:
Optimum Systems Online
36 Mill Plain Rd, Suite 302,
Danbury, CT
Phone: (203) 942-2883
