If you don't have an email marketing plan as a pillar in the digital motion of your Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, it's a safe assumption your competitors do.
Whether your company is product-led or you have a robust inbound/outbound sales team, email marketing plays a significant role in the MOFU (middle-of-funnel) for nurturing prospects that are aware of your product/service and are considering you as a supplier.
If you intend to convert more leads into conversions this year, consider optimizing your email outreach.
But how do you build, manage, and maintain an effective email marketing plan? With an email marketing platform or EMP. This article will outline the best email marketing platforms for SMBs.
In this article, we'll explore what I believe are the 6 best email marketing platforms on the market. I chose these 6 because they are easy to use and track results, don't require a lot of technical knowledge, and are the most affordable.
Why Use an Email Marketing Platform?
Unlike sending emails manually, an email marketing platform gives you tools to create and send personalized messages that look professional and reflect your brand’s voice.
With these platforms, you can reach customers with the right message at the right time through automated campaigns, boosting engagement without added effort.
Plus, email marketing is a cost-effective way to promote products, announce sales, and share updates, helping you build customer loyalty and grow your business sustainably.
Key benefits of using an email marketing platform:
- Automation: Schedule and send messages based on customer behavior or key dates, like birthdays or product launches.
- Personalization: Tailor emails with customers’ names, interests, or past purchases, creating a more personal experience.
- Analytics: Track open rates, click-throughs, and other data to understand what resonates with your audience.
- Audience Segmentation: Easily create specific lists to target different customer groups with relevant content.
- Professional Design: Use templates that look polished and appealing without needing advanced design skills.
With these tools, email marketing platforms give small businesses a powerful way to engage customers, improve sales, and measure results, all with minimal time and effort.
1. Mailchimp
(Free plan available)
Mailchimp is a popular and user-friendly email marketing platform that offers a wide range of features and integrations. It's suitable for businesses of all sizes including solopreneurs and small shop owners.
There are billions of emails sent every year with Mailchimp, so they have the unique ability to give you personalized recommendations on what emails work well, and what doesn't based on real data from their millions of users.
They provide 24/7 support via email and live-chat, plus have 4 plans available with varying features and limitations.
When making a decision between email marketing platforms, it's important to consider your specific needs. You might also want to compare Mailchimp vs. HubSpot to determine which one aligns better with your goals and requirements.
Mailchimp Key Features
- customizable templates
- advanced segmentation
- automation workflows
- robust analytics and reporting
- integrations with numerous tools and platforms
- Use Zapier to integrate with POWR Form Builder
2. Constant Contact
(Free trial available)
Constant Contact is another well-known email marketing platform that offers easy-to-use templates, customizable sign-up forms, and advanced automation and segmentation tools.
They are unique in the way they separate their plan options based on how experienced you are. From 'Just Starting Out' to 'Up and Running' to 'Advanced Marketer'. It also offers a range of integrations with other tools and platforms, including with POWR Form Builder, as well as robust analytics and reporting. Plans start from $9.99/month.
Constant Contact Key Features
- Award-winning 24/7 support and live chat
- Social sharing
- 100s of pre-built email templates
- Marketing automation
- SMS marketing
3. Campaign Monitor
(Free trial available)
Campaign Monitor is a powerful email marketing platform that's designed for businesses and agencies. It offers advanced design and testing tools, as well as robust analytics and integration options.
They give you everything you need to run beautifully-designed, professional email marketing campaigns to grow your business, as well as an extensive resource library at your disposal.
Campaign Monitor Key Features
- customizable templates
- A/B testing
- automation workflows
- integrations with other tools and platforms
- Use Zapier to integrate with POWR Form Builder
- advanced segmentation and targeting
4. AWeber
(Free plan available)
AWeber is a reliable and easy-to-use email marketing platform that's suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers a range of templates and design tools, as well as advanced automation and segmentation options. As they say, "Make emails that practically write themselves."
AWeber also goes well beyond email marketing with a multitude of other uses. For example, don't have a domain yet? No problem! You can buy a domain and completely set it up without ever leaving their site.
Additionally, exploring AWeber alternatives might provide additional features or cost efficiencies that better align with your business goals.
AWeber Key Features
- customizable sign-up forms
- email automation
- integrations with other tools and platforms
- Use Zapier to integrate with POWR Form Builder
- robust analytics and reporting
5. GetResponse
(Free forever plan)
GetResponse is a comprehensive email marketing platform that offers a range of features and integrations, including landing pages, webinars, and marketing automation. It's suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers a free trial.
They offer personalized tools based on your unique needs. See solutions based on what you need to do such as Get Your Business Online or Engage With Customers. Or you can choose based on who you are like Entrepreneur, Online Marketer, Marketing Manager, or Large Company.
GetResponse Key Features
- customizable templates
- A/B testing
- automation workflows
- integrations with other tools and platforms
- Use Zapier to integrate with POWR Form Builder
- advanced segmentation and targeting
6. EmailLabs
EmailLabs is a cloud-based SMTP service that allows small and medium-sized businesses to send and track emails effectively. Their platform enhances dependability and trustworthiness by supporting high deliverability with top-notch email security measures including DKIM, DMARC, and SPF.
Millions of emails are processed annually by EmailLabs, which enables them to offer meaningful insights based on substantial data. With round-the-clock customer service and four different programs, EmailLabs meets various corporate requirements.
The best email marketing provider should be chosen based on your unique business needs. You may determine which provider is best for you by contrasting EmailLabs with rivals like SendGrid.
EmailLabs Key Features
- Real-time analytics
- Advanced email verification
- Dynamic SMTP routing
- Comprehensive API for integration
- Support for multiple programming languages
- Optional dedicated IP
Final Thoughts
Email marketing is a powerful tool for businesses and organizations looking to reach and engage their audience. Whether you're cold-emailing or nurturing existing leads, email marketing is a digital marketing channel worth your time.
With the right email marketing platform, you can create and send professional, targeted emails to your subscribers, track the effectiveness of your campaigns, and grow your business.
Author Bio
Mick Essex is the Growth Marketing Manager at POWR. His career spans two decades, primarily in the healthcare industry, with stints in broadcast television advertising and copy editing.
Mick attended the College of Journalism at the University of Louisiana - Monroe. He and his family currently call Lafayette, Louisiana home. Follow him on LinkedIn.
