What is an Email Marketing Service?
An email marketing service is an online platform or installed software that enables you to design the email campaign of your dreams and send out bulk messages to your mailing list subscribers. It allows you to better communicate with your existing customers and reach out to new audiences all by creating an amazing email newsletter.
Email marketing is an essential component of a marketing strategy for any kind of business. It does not matter if you own a brick-and-mortar shop, or you sell your products via an e-commerce website. This marketing tool will allow you to better communicate with your customers, inform them about the launch of new products, attract them with customized offers, and much more. All this is done by creating an email campaign and sending out a carefully crafted email newsletter to your potential and existing customers and clients.
Recommended email marketing services
These are some of the most recommended email marketing services on the market:
Types of email marketing software
There are generally three types of email marketing software:
On-premise systems
They tend to be expensive because of licensing, complex setup, and maintenance needs.
SaaS systems
They are installed on the provider’s server. This makes them easy-to-install and update.
Cloud-hosted systems
These are the best option if you are looking for user-friendly platforms, flexible, and affordable services.
Benefits of email marketing
The advantages that come with a well-planned and targeted email marketing campaign are numerous. Below we outline some of the top benefits of email marketing software for an email campaign:
Cost-effectiveness
Most online platforms offer affordable monthly rates and even free plans for a limited number of subscribers.
Ease of use
The best such services include pre-designed templates for your perfect email newsletter and drag-and-drop interfaces.
More targeted marketing
The best email services offer the possibility to segment your list of subscribers. This way you can better target your campaigns and create an email campaign that will attract exactly who you are targeting.
Better understanding of customer behavior
The campaign tracking options allow you to better understand what makes your customers tick.
Boosting brand awareness and strengthening brand loyalty
Strengthening your brand means boosting its visibility and increasing its value. This is one of the goals you can achieve by sending out nicely crafted and well-conceived emails that are more than just another sales pitch. This is the magic of your email campaign.
How to choose the right email marketing service for your business
Trying to find the best email company for your business? Here are a few aspects to consider:
Check the various packages
Finding the right online marketing tools can seem like a difficult task. Luckily, the best email platforms offer an unlimited number of messages and progressive pricing packages. This means that your bills depend on the number of subscribers. So, if you are a small business with a few hundred mailing list subscribers, you will only have to pay a small monthly rate. Constant Contact offers great price points for small businesses. You can even find an email service that offers free plans for those who need only a limited number of features, like Benchmark. If you are unsure what your needs are, you can opt for a pay-as-you-go plan.
Account settings
Setting up your account usually takes just a few clicks. In most cases, all you need to do is to enter your email address and choose a monthly plan. If you are not sure which is the right email marketing software for you, it is advisable you request a free trial. Some email service platforms offer free trials to all new users. Just be aware that they usually ask for your credit card details. This means that once the free trial period is over, you will be billed for the following month unless you cancel in due time.
Support
Support availability is an important aspect to consider any time you purchase online marketing services, especially if you are a novice. Check if the email marketing software provider you plan to use offers 24/7 support via phone, chat, or email as well as comprehensive documentation. This is especially important when your marketing campaigns are time sensitive. You don’t want to end up not sending out your Black Friday newsletter just because of a technical glitch you weren’t able to fix.
Campaign settings
The best email software providers offer user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for anyone to set a campaign and build appealing newsletters. Worried about HTML and graphic design skills? If you want to build your newsletter in HTML, you can certainly do that. However, it is best to choose a platform offering a wide range of templates and stock images you could potentially use. Some of the best email software also offers tools that test your messages for spam. They will warn you if your text contains words that might trigger red flags from email providers. After all, you don’t want to see all your beautifully designed messages end up in your subscribers’ junk folders without an even remote chance of getting opened. The best email provider services will even block your address if they detect any spam suspicion.
Campaign tracking
Your email campaign is created. Your newsletter is designed and ready. You have even sent it to your list of subscribers. Now what? This is the moment when you are dying to know what your recipients think about it. Did they open it? How many read it through? Do they click on the links and visit your website? Have they watched the video you thoughtfully inserted? Finding the right tool for you means more than finding the best bulk email software. Pinpointe is one such email service that offers great insight and analytics, so you can track your email campaigns and see how they are performing.
Professional email marketing software offers you the tools to track results so that you can better understand customer behavior. This allows you to set customized messages, as well as to A/B test your messages so that you can constantly fine-tune your marketing campaigns. Let’s say, for instance, that you want to find out which is the best auto-responder for your high-rolling segment of customers. You can set different options, compare auto-responders, and make an informed decision. Sendinblue also features marketing automation, and its wealth of plugin capabilities make it easy to maximize your email campaign.
Conclusion
Picking one of the best online marketing services for your email campaigns is a cornerstone for any successful business, no matter the size or the industry. From beautifully designed newsletters to campaign tracking and auto-responder reviews, a professional bulk email software will offer you everything you need to move your marketing to the next level.