What is Email Marketing? Which are the best tools for it?

If you haven’t heard of email marketing as yet, you might as well call yourself “cave-man” thought even a cave-men may have their own email IDs!

Email marketing is the act of sending emailers to a select group of people with the intention of informing them of product launches, schemes, re-launches, important information etc. That apart, it can as effectively be used to get consumer feedback on products and/ or services and areas where there is scope for improvement(s). The very act of sending such emails can either be done within an organization or outsources to agencies which use the best email marketing tools and are specialists in digital marketing services. Most such agencies, besides using emailer tools also have onboard graphic designers and content writers who put together, bring out brilliant product/ service communication designs which communicate the right message the right way!

As for e-mail marketing, the basic requirement is to have relevant email IDs which one can generate in two ways, namely:

• Organic. People coming to websites can be requested to give their email ID so as to send future email marketing messages. The same can be done on social media sites besides using real-life forms and stationing people at vantage places to ask potential clients to fill in their details including email IDs.

Organic marketing has its advantages in terms of authentic client/ potential client details and the chance of developing a direct one-to-one with the clients. The disadvantage of organic email marketing is that it is slow to grow as it takes time to make the list

• • Inorganic. In addition to one’s own list, one can quickly ramp-up one’s email marketing campaigns by subscribing to and using rightfully available tools and lists which include:

• # 1 MailChimp

Ben Chestnut, it’s idea originator started MailChimp as far back as 2001 and has till date been the most successful of its kind email service- especially its “Forever Free” plan under which you can send as many as 12000 (yes, 12000!, a substantial number!) to 2000 subscribers for free! This precisely is the reason MailChimp is miles ahead of the competition and it seems it shall stay that way! Yes, this plan does have its downsides but tell me which plan for free is entirely for free?? And if you have bigger numbers to send to + want more features, you pay (see site for the same on https://mailchimp.com/). Their plans do confound people, given their sheer numbers. Best, call them OR send them an email!

• # 2 SendinBlue (https://www.sendinblue.com)

If you are a small business and want to send limited emails every day and want limited automation features, this could do your work perfectly! Its been in the market for close to 5 years now and has always focussed on building the business of those businesses which are serious about growth but don’t plan on spending big money on marketing communications. It’s a downside is that it lets you send ONLY 300 emails every day- paid or free with the difference being in the kind of automation on offer. The central theme of SendinBlue is that they price your plans on the number of emails you would send in a month! Check out their plans on their website. Match with your needs. And you are ready for business!

• # 3 AWeber (https://www.aweber.com/)

The oldest ESP on this list, AWeber came about in the year 1998 (yes 2 decades back!) and is very, very well known in the domain of those who want to grow without spending hard-earned money entirely on marketing communications. Yes, their usual users are small businessmen, bloggers, and would-be entrepreneurs- from every part of the world. Its best part is the ease of use with easy interfaces which have a whole load of features besides a very upbeat customer-service team. One needs to buy their plans to get a month of free usage which is lists of up to 500 subscribers. Its USP is that one can create awesome emailers using their 6000+ pics and templates through the quality of quite a few is anything but upmarket and a lot is desired.

• # 4 SendPulse (https://sendpulse.com/features)

This is one ESP you touch base with where you want to get into an email campaign- and do it through a single agency which even in their free offerings, give you premium and unique features that others ask you to pay for. You could be a beginner or a professional, but what you would still get is quality at affordable prices. Bulk emails, bulk SMS or web-push notifications, you get them all here under one plan! Their features include services like autoresponders, subscriptions forms, and email analytics! Imagine a free plan which gives you the chance to send up to 15000 (yes, fifteen thousand messages!) to 2500 subscribers every month! Check their plans which include both post and prepaid services! As for their USP, it’s their set-up which is easy and with an absolutely delightful interface. Being new, their customer support to is good and responsive. Their only drawback as of now is that they are new and their base is likewise not as heavy as the others. But with the plans and services they have, it’s only a question of time before businesses, bit and small shall line up before their doors!

Folks, for now, the above are the best email marketing tools for your dream email campaigns. With time, we shall surely update this list! Till then, use them. And GROW!