8 Best Email Marketing Software for Small Business (October 2023)

Featured image for an article rounding up the best email marketing tools for small businesses

In a world driven by online connectivity,  using the right tools is critical for business growth.

Even today, email marketing stands out as a key strategy for large corporations, delivering a whopping $36 ROI for every dollar spent

However, the true potential of email marketing is not limited to industry giants.

For small businesses, it can truly be a game-changer, opening doors to increased brand visibility and customer loyalty.

In this article, we’ll explore the top email marketing solutions tailored to small businesses and their needs.

Top email marketing software at a glance:

Tool NameProsConsPricing
MailvioSuperior Email Deliverability and Open Rates, Easy (Yet Advanced) Segmentation, Drag & Drop Editor and Pre-Designed Email Templates, Powerful Workflow Automation, Detailed Analytics and Reporting.Learning Curve, Integration ComplexityStarts at $39/month for up to 5,000 contacts
ConvertKitSubscriber Tagging, Deliverability, Integration EcosystemPricing Structure, Limited A/B testing, Limited design optionsStarts at $15/month for up to 300 subscribers
ActiveCampaignPowerful Automation, High Deliverability, A wealth of Integration optionsLearning Curve, Scaling Costs, Customer Support Response TimesPlans starting at $19 per user per month
AWeberReliable customer support, Excellent email deliverability, Makes it easy to set up double opt-inPricing can hinder small business growth, Interface complexity, Outdated standard email design templatesStarts at $14.99/month for up to 500 subscribers
OmnisendAesthetically pleasing pre-built email templates, Easy-to-set-up and effective triggered emails/automations, Feature-rich free planLimited email template editing options, Customer support response times for the free and standard plans, Initial Omnisend setup can be challengingPlans starting at $16 per month
GetResponseGood customer support, Intuitive and user-friendly interface, Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editorPricing can be high, especially for small businesses with limited budgets, Limited template options, Underwhelming email delivery ratesPlans starting at $14.49/month for 1,000 subscribers
MailchimpExcellent email editor and campaign creation feature, Great support via email, Free plan with unlimited email sendsNo annual plan that lowers the overall price, Mailchimp includes unsubscribed customers in your total customer count for billing, It can get pricey for businesses with big listsPlans starting at $6.50/month for 500 subscribers
MailerLiteFeatures-rich free plan, Good deliverability, Simple and easy-to-use interfaceLimited number of templates to choose from, Lacks advanced subscriber management tools and automation triggers, Limited integrations with other third-party applicationsPlans starting at $10/month for up to 500 subscribers
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What is Email Marketing Software for Small Business? 

Email marketing software for small businesses is a critical tool that optimizes outreach strategies. It simplifies the creation, delivery, and monitoring of email campaigns, thus improving customer interaction and responsiveness. 

The best email marketing platforms out there offer many valuable features such as:

  • customizable templates, 
  • list management tools, 
  • comprehensive analytics and reporting,
  • seamless integration with other tools and platforms you use,
  • email automation, etc.

These features, in turn, allow small businesses to:

  • establish stronger connections with their audience, 
  • enhance their online presence, and 
  • achieve business growth through targeted marketing campaigns.

How to Select the Best Email Marketing Software for Your Small Business? 

When picking an email marketing software for your business, make sure to do your due diligence. Here’s what we mean by that:

Examine Key Features: Look for things like deliverability rates, segmentation, split-testing features, etc. Compare each feature across different email marketing software options to find the best fit for your business.  

Compare Pricing Plans: Be sure to compare pricing plans to ensure they fall within your budget and provide affordable scalability.

Study User Reviews: Gauge user satisfaction by reviewing feedback from fellow small businesses.

Evaluate Functionality: Confirm seamless integration with your existing tools and platforms to optimize efficiency.

Test the Tool Yourself:  Many providers offer trial periods; take advantage of this to assess its usability and compatibility with your needs

Following this checklist to the letter will help you pick the best email marketing software for YOUR small business. 

8 Best Email Marketing Software in 2023

We’ve arrived at the business end of this article – the 8 best email marketing software picks for 2023. 

Each of these tools has the potential to breathe new life into your campaigns. Yet, amid this collection of impressive options, it’s important to note that subtle differences exist. 

Each tool has its own set of strengths, catering to diverse business needs – both big and small. 

As you navigate through this list, keep in mind that your specific requirements will determine which tool resonates the most with your objectives.

Let’s explore these standout solutions and uncover the one that best fits your needs and aspirations.

1. Mailvio 

Pricing:

Mailvio’s paid plans start at $39 / month ( $390/year) for unlimited email sends to up to 5,000 contacts. 

But it is their next paid plan on offer that is particularly attractive for small businesses. 

Priced at only $59 / month (or $590/year), it includes unlimited email sends to up to 10, 000 contacts, leaving ample room for audience expansion.

Mailvio’s more robust plans for larger businesses will cost you:

  • $119/month ($1190/year) for unlimited email sends to up to 25,000 contacts, and 
  • $249/month ($2,490/year) for unlimited email sends to up to 50,000 contacts

Description:

Featuring a built-in SMTP, Mailvio is a versatile, all-in-one email marketing platform with a lot of integration options. 

It helps small businesses grow by automating marketing tasks, providing data-driven insights, improving deliverability, and more. 

The automation features offer small business owners a valuable resource. 

Automating routine tasks like email scheduling and follow-ups frees up valuable time that entrepreneurs can spend on high-impact activities such as refining their marketing strategies

Pros: 

  • Budget-Friendly Plans and Free Trial: Mailvio’s affordable paid plans, coupled with a 7-day free trial, offer a cost-effective way to explore its capabilities.
  • 24/7 Customer Support: With around-the-clock customer assistance, Mailvio ensures businesses have reliable support whenever they need it.
  • Mailvio Suite Upgrade: The recent Mailvio Suite upgrade, integrating four apps into one platform, underscores the company’s dedication to ongoing enhancements and innovation.

Cons: 

  • Learning Curve: Some users might find it takes time to fully grasp all the features and functionalities.
  • Integration Complexity: While it offers plenty of integrations, some users might find the process less straightforward.

Key Features:

Here are some of the key features that separate Mailvio from its competitors:

Superior Email Deliverability and Open Rates

Mailvio significantly improves email deliverability by using pre-warmed-up IPs. 

This clever approach ensures that your emails are more likely to land in your recipients’ inboxes. 

By starting your email journey with a properly warmed-up dedicated IP, you start with a solid sender score right from the gate. 

This score is vital because it determines whether your emails are classified as spam or not. 

With a favorable sender score, your emails sidestep spam filters, ensuring they reach your audience’s inbox. 

This strategy is instrumental in achieving higher open rates, making your email campaigns more successful.

Easy (Yet Advanced) Segmentation

Mailvio’s segmentation feature allows you to divide your contacts with ease. 

Think of having a small online store. 

You can group buyers into “Frequent Shoppers,” “New Subscribers,” or “Tech Enthusiasts.” 

This helps you send emails that match each group’s preferences. 

For instance, you could send discounts to regular shoppers, a welcome gift to new subscribers, and tech updates to enthusiasts. 

This tailored and hyper-personalized approach boosts interest and interaction, yielding 50% higher clickthroughs than untargeted campaigns.

Drag & Drop Editor and Pre-Designed Email Templates 

Small business owners often have limited time and resources.

Mailvio boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor. It also packs a variety of visually captivating pre-designed templates to choose from. 

This combination simplifies the process of crafting attractive emails from scratch, eliminating the need for intricate coding.

This ease of use saves time and minimizes the learning curve.

Powerful Workflow Automation 

Mailvio’s automation is a powerful asset for small businesses.

Its intuitive visual workflow builder allows you to automate various aspects of email marketing effortlessly. 

You can schedule emails, trigger them based on recipient behavior, and segment your audience for personalized content. 

This not only saves time but also ensures that your messages reach the right people at the right time. 

Detailed Analytics and Reporting 

Mailvio’s analytical prowess serves as a strategic advantage for small businesses. Think of it as a compass, guiding your email marketing efforts. 

With metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions at your fingertips, you can navigate your campaigns with precision.

For instance, if a campaign targeting a specific product category drives the highest conversions, you can allocate more resources in that direction.

In other words, Mailvio’s detailed reporting allows small businesses to objectively gauge their email marketing performance, empowering data-driven decisions.

How Small Businesses Can Use Mailvio to Grow and Prosper? 

Small businesses can seize the opportunity for growth and prosperity with Mailvio. 

This versatile platform simplifies the complexities of email marketing, reducing both costs and effort. 

Automation takes center stage, handling tasks like lead nurturing and customer engagement effectively.

Positive Mailvo testimonial from a satisficed user

Additionally, Mailvio’s detailed analytics provide crucial insights, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions for optimized strategies.

In essence, Mailvio equips small businesses with the right tools to:

  • expand their reach,
  • improve customer relationships, and 
  • achieve sustainable growth in a highly competitive business landscape.

ConvertKit

Pricing:

Convertkit has a free plan that allows users to create unlimited landing pages

and forms, as well as tagging and segmentation

On the downside, the free plan comes with many limitations, such as a lack of automation or third-party integrations.

Its paid plans start at $15/month for up to 300 subscribers and increase gradually as you grow your list. 

For instance, its Creator plan will cost you $29 per month to cater to up to 1,000  subscribers and $49 for up to 3,000 subscribers. The cost rises to $199/month for up to 25,000 subscribers. 

To unlock all the features, including advanced reporting, you would need to get the Creator Pro plan

This plan will set you back $59/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and $79/month

for up to 3,000 subscribers. To cater to 10,000 subscribers will cost you $167/month. 

Description:

ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed primarily for creators, bloggers, and small businesses. 

It provides tools and features to help users build, manage, and engage with their email subscribers effectively. 

One of ConvertKit’s standout features is its ability to create landing pages and customizable sign-up forms. 

These tools empower small businesses looking to expand to capture email addresses and build their subscriber lists effectively.

ConvertKit also allows users to:

  • create and send customized email campaigns, 
  • segment their email lists based on subscriber behavior, 
  • automate email sequences, and 
  • access detailed analytics to track the performance of their email marketing efforts.

Pros:

  • Subscriber Tagging: ConvertKit offers powerful subscriber tagging capabilities. This allows users to segment their audience effectively for more targeted email campaigns.
  • Deliverability: ConvertKit places a strong emphasis on email deliverability to ensure that your emails reach your subscribers’ inboxes.
  • Integration Ecosystem: It integrates seamlessly with various third-party tools and platforms, expanding its functionality for your business needs.

Cons:

Pricing Structure: ConvertKit offers a free plan for beginners. However, its paid plans can become costly as your subscriber list grows. 

Limited A/B testing: ConvertKit’s A/B testing capabilities are somewhat limited compared to some competitors. 

Limited design options:  ConvertKit offers just a handful of text-based email templates. 

How Small Businesses Can Use ConvertKit to Grow and Prosper? 

Small businesses can harness ConvertKit’s capabilities to foster growth and success. 

The platform allows for personalized email campaigns, efficient audience segmentation, and automated sequences, optimizing engagement. 

ConvertKit’s focus on email deliverability ensures your messages reach the right inboxes, enhancing customer interaction. 

Its wide-ranging integration options empower businesses to expand their toolset. 

However, the pricing structure may pose challenges as the subscriber list grows. 

Despite limited A/B testing and design choices, ConvertKit equips small businesses with essential tools to drive growth and prosperity in the competitive market.

ActiveCampaign

Pricing:

ActiveCapmpaign offers two separate plans – Marketing and Sales. Additionally, you can bundle the two plans together at a discount price. 

For email and marketing automation, there are four plans available, including:

  • Lite ($29 per month for one user) 
  • Plus ($49per month for up to 3 users) 
  • Professional ($149 per month for up to 5 users) 
  • Enterprise  – contact sales for pricing details (up to 10 users)

For sales, ActiveCampaigns has three pricing tiers on offer, including: 

  • Plus ( $19 per user per month)
  • Professional ($49 per user per month)
  • Enterprise (contact sales team)

Likewise, the marketing automation + sales CRM bundle is on offer in three different plans, including:

  • Plus ( $93 per month, starting with 5 users and 1,000 contacts)
  • Professional ($38 per month, starting with 10 users and 2,500 contacts)
  • Enterprise (starts with 15 Users and with 2,500 Contacts). You’d need to contact the company’s sales team for pricing details in this tier. 

ActiveCampaign do offer a 14-day free trial.

Description: 

ActiveCampaign is a decent choice for small businesses, providing a complete marketing automation platform. 

It simplifies email marketing with customizable templates and offers advanced features such as marketing automation, lead scoring, and dynamic content. 

The integrated CRM system helps users manage customer relationships. Small businesses can also use SMS marketing and insightful analytics to boost their marketing strategies. 

Pros: 

  • Powerful Automation: ActiveCampaign offers an extensive library of 130+ triggers and actions.
  • High Deliverability: The platform provides a suite of list-warming and spam-testing features. This ensures that emails reach inboxes and avoid spam folders.
  • A wealth of Integration options: With over 900 integrations available, ActiveCampaign seamlessly connects with various third-party tools and applications. 

Cons:

  • Learning Curve: While powerful, ActiveCampaign may have a learning curve, particularly for beginners new to marketing automation. 
  • Scaling Costs: Small businesses that expand their subscriber lists may encounter increasing costs associated with ActiveCampaign’s pricing structure.
  • Customer Support Response Times: Some users have reported delays in customer support response times.

How Small Businesses Can Use ActiveCampaign to Grow? 

ActiveCampaign, with its full-suite marketing automation platform, is an excellent choice for small businesses looking to grow.

It simplifies email marketing through customizable templates and advanced features like automation, lead scoring, and dynamic content. 

The integrated CRM system enhances customer relationship management. Small businesses can further strengthen their marketing strategies with SMS marketing and insightful analytics.

Despite a learning curve, mastering ActiveCampaign can lead to effective marketing strategies. 

However, scaling may increase costs, and users may experience delays in customer support. 

Small businesses can harness its features to engage customers, automate tasks, and drive growth in a competitive market.

AWeber

Pricing:

AWeber offers three paid plans, as well as a free plan. Note that the pricing details below apply for users with up to 500 subscribers (except for the Unlimited plan). The prices go up as your subscriber count exceeds 500 contacts. 

Free plan: The free plan comes with basic functionalities and email support. It does not include features like custom segments and advanced analytics.

Lite: This plan costs 14.99/month per month. It allows for unlimited email sends to one email list. You also get 3 email automations, 3 user seats, as well as 24/7 support.

Plus: Starting at $29.99 per month, this plan allows for unlimited email sends to an unlimited number of lists (with up to 500 subscribers). It also includes unlimited automations and landing pages, advanced subscriber and message insights, and priority 24/7 support.

Unlimited: This plan is ideal for large businesses with over 100, 000 subscribers. It allows for unlimited email sends to an unlimited number of lists with an unlimited number of subscribers. It also includes personalized account management, sales tracking, and advanced landing page features.

Note: Depending on the plan, you can save from 16% to up to 33% if you pay on an annual basis. 

Description:

AWeber offers versatile email marketing capabilities. You can easily build mailing lists and create attractive newsletters for your subscribers. 

Renowned for its great deliverability rates, the platform offers a range of autoresponder features that streamline email automation. Additionally, it offers comprehensive analytics that help track campaign performance. 

AWeber’s paid plans also provide essential tools for effective email marketing campaigns, such as detailed reporting, split testing, and list segmentation.

Pros: 

  • Reliable customer support.
  • Excellent email deliverability.
  • Makes it easy to set up double opt-in to ensure you have a high-quality mailing list.

Cons: 

  • Pricing can hinder small business growth.
  • Interface complexity. 
  • Outdated standard email design templates.

How Small Businesses Can Use Aweber to Grow? 

Known for its excellent email deliverability, AWeber offers versatile email marketing capabilities for small businesses. 

You can efficiently build mailing lists, create engaging newsletters, and set up autoresponders for seamless automation. 

The platform’s comprehensive analytics assist in tracking campaign performance.

AWeber also provides reliable customer support and essential tools like detailed reporting, split testing, and list segmentation.

It also offers double opt-in features, which is great for small businesses looking to develop a clean and responsive email list.

Omnisend

Pricing: 

Omnisend offers several pricing plans because businesses have varying needs at each stage. 

These plans, which vary depending on the number of subscribers you have, include Free, Standard, and Pro options. 

Each of these three tiers provides much of the same set of features, including:

  • Professional-looking email templates
  • Unlimited segmentation
  • Pre-built automations & workflows
  • A/B testing
  • Popups & signup forms
  • 24/7 email & live chat support
  • Sales & performance reports

The difference lies in how many emails and SMS you can send, and to how many people.

Note that the free plan caters to up to 250 subscribers. The lowest-paid package, on the other hand, caters to up to 500 subscribers. 

Small businesses typically have smaller email lists. Because of that, but also to simplify pricing comparisons with other tools on this list, we’ll focus on the price for email sends to up to 500 contacts.

Free plan: The free plan is a decent option for startup businesses and includes:

  • 500 emails per month
  • Up to 60 SMS
  • Up to 500 web push

Standard plan: This plan is designed for growing and medium-sized businesses. It  will cost you $16 per month and includes:

  • 6,000 emails per month
  • Up to 60 SMS
  • Unlimited web push

Unlike the free plan, it also includes a customer success manager from $400.

Pro plan: Omnisend markets this plan as “best for high-volume senders aimed at adding extra power with SMS”. 

This plan costs & 59 per month and includes everything in the standard plan plus:

  • Unlimited email sends
  • Up to 3,933 SMS per month 
  • Advanced reporting
  • 24/7 priority support

Description: 

Omnisend is an all-in-one marketing tool designed to streamline your customer engagement journey. 

It offers features like automated marketing, subscriber list management, and engaging email templates.

With seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms, it simplifies omnichannel marketing by enabling communication through email, SMS, and push notifications. 

Omnisend’s eye-catching forms and personalized email campaigns help capture and retain customers, thus enhancing your marketing efforts.

Pros:

  • Aesthetically pleasing (but limited) pre-built email templates
  • Easy-to-set-up and effective triggered emails/automations
  • Feature-rich free plan 

Cons: 

  • Limited email template editing options 
  • Customer support response times for the free and standard plans
  • Initial Omnisend setup can be challenging, particularly for first-time email marketers.

How Small Businesses Can Use Omnisend to Grow?

Omnisend is a valuable tool for small businesses. It makes marketing easier across the entire customer journey.

With Omnisend, you can expand your email list using engaging forms and eye-catching email templates.

Plus, you can easily boost conversions with automated workflows. Moreover, it easily integrates with popular e-commerce platforms.

Omnisend’s multi-channel approach reaches customers effectively through email, SMS, and push notifications. 

Integration with Google and Facebook for retargeting ads also enhances the customer experience. 

In conclusion, Omnisend is a decent choice for growth-focused small businesses.

 GetResponse

Pricing: 

Like most of the tools featured on this list, GetResponse offers a range of plans tailored to businesses of all sizes. 

Another similarity with most of the tools on this list is the incremental price increase as your subscriber list grows.

But let’s take a closer look at GetResponse’s paid plans:

Dubbed “Email Marketing” GetResponse’s basic pricing plan starts at $14,49 for 1,000 subscribers. Once you hit 2,500 subscribers, the price will go up to about $24.46. Catering to 5,000 contacts will cost you roughly $43.40. 

This plan is designed for startups and small businesses. Like all of the company’s paid plans, it includes unlimited emails and autoresponders, as well as 

key list-building tools and AI-powered email marketing.  

Marketing Automation” is the second paid plan on offer from GetResponse. The costs of using this plan (depending on the number of subscribers) are as follows:

  • $48.80 for 1,000 contacts
  • $62.50 for 2,500 contacts 
  • $74.15 for 5,000 contacts 

In terms of features, it packs everything that “Email Marketing” has, plus the following:

  • Marketing automation
  • Sales funnels
  • Webinars
  • Event-based workflows
  • Contact scoring
  • Advanced segmentation

GetRespose’s third paid plan, called “Ecommerce Marketing”, will set you back about:

$96 for 1,000 contacts

$117 for 2,500 contacts

$135 for 5,000 contacts 

This plan includes all the features that “Marketing Automation” has, as well as:

  • E-commerce integrations
  • Promo codes
  • Web push notifications
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Quick transactional emails
  • Product recommendations

The company’s most robust plan is dubbed ”GetResponse MAX” The prices for this plan start at $1,063. Because this plan is created with larger businesses in mind, we will not get into details about it. 

That said, this plan includes everything that all standard plans pack, as well as:

  • Dedicated infrastructure
  • Dedicated, priority support
  • SMS marketing
  • Transactional emails
  • Personalized onboarding
  • AI recommendations

GetResponse also provides a free plan with limited features for up to 500 subscribers.

Note that at the time of writing this article – October 2023 – GetResponse table a limited offer with substantial discounts. 

Namely, choosing a 12-month plan or a 24-month plan will cut the price for AI-generated campaigns by 30% and 40%, respectively. 

Description: 

GetResponse is a versatile email marketing platform used by businesses of all sizes.. 

It offers intuitive tools for audience growth, engagement, and conversion. Beyond email marketing, GetResponse provides automation, list expansion, webinars, and live chats. 

These features allow users to boost personal branding, sales, and community-building.

It also includes AI-powered content creation, user-friendly design tools, templates, and solid if unspectacular deliverability.

With this tool, users can easily create websites, unlimited landing pages, pop-ups, and signup forms. 

Pros:

  • Good customer support
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface 
  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor 

Cons:

  • GetResponse’s pricing can be high, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Limited template options
  • Underwhelming email delivery rates 

How Small Businesses Can Use GetResponse to Scale?

Small businesses can thrive with GetResponse as their email marketing companion. 

This user-friendly platform simplifies list management, email creation, and automation, making it perfect for beginners. 

Beyond emails, GetResponse offers tools for building websites and hosting webinars, which helps small businesses establish a robust online presence. 

It also provides detailed analytics that enables users to make data-driven decisions. 

All in all, it is a good tool for small businesses seeking an easy-to-use email marketing solution that fosters growth and engagement.

Intuit Mailchimp 

Pricing:

Mailchimp offers three paid plans as well as a free plan.

The free plan allows users to send 1,000 emails to up to 500 subscribers. Mailchimp will pause sending if you exceed the contact or email send limit. 

The free plan also includes a limited number of pre-built email templates, as well as limited reporting. 

Mailchimp’s monthly paid plans are priced based on the number of contacts you have. Additionally, each of these plans comes with a monthly email-sending limit.

At the time of writing this article, Mailchimp has a limited-time offer that can save you 50% for 12 months.

Essentials – the company’s entry-level paid plan – now starts at $6.50 per month for 12 months. With it, you get 5,000 monthly email sends to up to 500 subscribers. 

The price goes up as your email list grows and are as follows:

  • $13.25 for 15,000 monthly email sends to up to 1,500 contacts
  • $19.75 for 25,000 monthly email sends to up to 2,500 contacts
  • $34.50 for 50,000 monthly email sends to up to 5,000 contacts

In terms of features, Essentials includes: 

  • 3 seats
  • 3 audiences
  • 300+ integrations
  • Access to forms and landing pages
  • Limited reporting and analytics
  • 1 personalized onboarding session
  • A/B testing
  • Email Scheduling
  • Up to four automated customer journey points 

The next plan on offer is the so-called “Standard” plan. Pricing starts at $10 per month for 12 months and allows for 6,000 email sends to up to 500 contacts. Once you outgrow this limit, you’ll pay:

  • $22.50  for 18,000 monthly email sends to up to 1,500 contacts
  • $30 for 30,000 monthly email sends to up to 2,500 contacts
  • $50 for 60,000 monthly email sends to up to 5,000 contacts, and so on.

This plan covers everything that Essentials has to offer, and you also get 5 seats and 5 audiences. On top of that, you also get access to:

  • Mailchimp’s full reporting and analytics features
  • Pre-built email templates
  • Forms and landing Pages
  • A/B testing
  • Email Scheduling
  • Up to 200 journey points
  • Predictive & advanced segmentation 
  • Send time optimization
  • Content optimizer, and more. 

Mailchimp’s Premium plan is built primarily for larger businesses with large email lists. As such, we won’t get into too much detail. 

Needless to say,  it includes everything that the Standard plan has to offer, as well as:

  • dedicated onboarding
  • email sends to unlimited contacts
  • priority support, and more.

Pricing starts at $175 per month for up to 10,000 contacts for a 12-year period. Sending emails to 15,000 contacts will cost you $232.50. 

To cater to 20,000 subscribers will set you back $267.50, and so on.  

Description: 

Mailchimp is a versatile marketing automation platform for creating, sending, and analyzing email and ad campaigns. 

It packs a wide range of CRM tools including behavioral targeting, automation, and more.

With Mailchimp, you can track the performance of your campaigns, including open rates, CTRs, and more. 

You can also use it to manage subscribers and un-subscribers. The software also allows users to customize templates or choose from pre-made ones. 

Mailchimp also Integrates with various services to streamline your workflow and boost revenue. 

With Mailchimp, you can sync your online store for targeted campaigns and order notifications. Users can access support via a knowledge base and email/live chat.

Pros:

  • Excellent email editor and campaign creation feature
  • Great support via email
  • Free plan with decent features

Cons: 

  • No annual plan that lowers the overall price
  • Mailchimp includes unsubscribed customers in your total customer count for billing.
  • It can get pricey for businesses with big lists

How Small Businesses Can Use Mailchimp to Grow?

Mailchimp offers a versatile platform for small businesses to create, send, and analyze marketing campaigns with ease. 

It provides access to a range of CRM tools, including behavioral targeting and automation. 

With Mailchimp, you can rack campaign performance and efficiently manage subscribers. You can also customize email templates or choose from pre-made designs. 

Furthermore, you can also benefit from seamless integration with various services to enhance workflow and increase revenue. 

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Mailchimp’s pricing may hurt small businesses as they grow their list. 

MailerLite

Pricing:

Like many other tools on this list, MailerLite offers a free plan and three paid plans to choose from. 

The free plan allows users to send 12,000 emails per month to up to 1,000 subscribers.

Key features for MailerLite’s free plan – which also boasts 24/7 email & chat support for the first 30 days – include:

  • Drag & drop editor
  • Email automation builder
  • Websites
  • 10 landing pages
  • Signup forms & pop-ups

As mentioned above, MailerLite offers three paid plans, which you can pay monthly or yearly (for a 10% price reduction).

Tailored to small businesses, the “Growing Business”  includes unlimited monthly emails, 3 user seats, as well as 24/7 email support.

This plan costs $10 per month ($108.00 if billed yearly) for sending unlimited emails to up to 500 subscribers. The prices rise in parallel to your mailing list:

  • 15 / month ($162 if billed yearly) for up to 1,000 contacts
  • $25 / month ($270 if billed yearly) for up to 2,500 contacts
  • $39 / month ($421.20 if billed yearly) for up to 5,000 contacts
  • $73 / month ($788.40 if billed yearly) for up to 10,000 contacts, and so on.

In terms of features, this plan features everything included in the free plan, plus:

  • Unlimited templates
  • Auto resend campaign
  • Unsubscribe page builder
  • Dynamic emails
  • Unlimited websites & blogs

Dubbed “Advanced” MailerLite’s next paid plan boasts unlimited monthly emails, an unlimited number of users, as well as 24/7 live chat & email support.

It costs $20 / month ($216 if billed yearly) for sending unlimited emails to up to 500 subscribers. Sending emails to 1,000, 2.5000, 5,000, and 10,000 contacts, respectively, will cost you:

  • $30 / month ($324 if billed yearly)
  • $40 / month ($432 if billed yearly)
  • $50/ month ($540 if billed yearly)
  • $99/ month ($1,188 if billed yearly), and so on. 

MailerLite’s last paid offering, “Let’s Talk”, is designed for large businesses managing over 100,000 contacts. Just as the name implies, pricing for this plan is flexible. You’d need to Reach out to MailerLite’s sales team to tailor a package that suits your unique requirements.

With this plan, you get unlimited monthly emails, unlimited users, and 24/7 live chat & email support.

In terms of features, it includes everything from Advanced, as well as:

  • Dedicated IP & deliverability consultation
  • Dedicated success manager
  • Account audit, and performance improvements
  • Onboarding consultation and training

Description: 

MailerLite stands out as an email marketing tool suitable for users of all levels, including small businesses. 

It offers practical features such as a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, a landing page builder, and automation tools, making it effortless to create personalized campaigns.

Mailerlite also makes it easy to connect with your audience through pop-ups, surveys, and templates. 

With Mailerlite, you can manage your subscribers, perform A/B testing, and use segmentation for targeted outreach.

Their support extends beyond the tool itself, with educational content and 24/7 customer assistance. 

Pros: 

  • Features-rich free plan
  • Good deliverability 
  • Simple and easy-to-use interface 

Cons:

  • Limited number of templates to choose from 
  • Lacks advanced subscriber management tools and automation triggers 
  • Limited integrations with other third-party applications

How Small Businesses Can Use MailerLite to Scale?

Small businesses can leverage MailerLite to expand their reach without breaking the bank. 

Despite a modest budget, MailerLite offers an array of powerful tools like automation workflows, contact tagging, and a user-friendly landing page editor. 

This means even sophisticated campaigns are within reach. 

You can effortlessly create personalized emails with their drag-and-drop editor and utilize pop-ups and surveys to connect with your audience with ease. 

Plus, they provide educational content and 24/7 customer assistance. 

Just be sure to note its limitations: a limited template variety, fewer integration options, and advanced automation triggers. 

Is Email Marketing Good for Small Businesses 

With over 4 billion email users worldwide, the reason for using email marketing is clear. 

It offers an unparalleled reach to a diverse and extensive audience, making it a highly effective and accessible communication channel for businesses of all sizes, including small businesses. 

On top of that, as many as 59% of sales professionals cite email as “their biggest source of ROI

But unparalleled reach and stellar ROI are not the only reasons why small businesses can thrive powered by email marketing. 

The ability to create personalized content that resonates with your audience is another big reason why you should include email in your marketing arsenal. As a matter of fact, personalized subject lines for sales emails can boost your transaction rates by up to six times.

Furthermore, email marketing offers prime opportunities for upselling and cross-selling, boosting your revenue. 

Add the increase in brand recognition and the boost in website traffic it brings to your table, and it becomes abundantly clear that email marketing is an indispensable tool for small businesses aiming to drive substantial growth.

How to Do Email Marketing for Small Businesses 

Now that you know the benefits of using email marketing for small businesses, it’s time to dive into the how-to. 

Let’s walk you through essential steps and strategies to implement email marketing and drive growth effectively.

Build a Quality Email List

Building a quality email list is the cornerstone of successful email marketing for small businesses. Start by enticing website visitors with compelling signup forms or pop-ups. 

Offer valuable incentives, such as discounts or exclusive content, to encourage subscriptions. Ensure transparency about the type and frequency of emails subscribers will receive. 

Make sure to regularly clean your list using list cleaning services to remove inactive or invalid addresses to maintain a high deliverability rate. 

Remember, a quality list sets the stage for effective, personalized communication with your audience, driving engagement and conversions.

Segment Your Audience

Segmenting your audience is another crucial step in small business email marketing. You can do so by dividing your subscribers into groups based on shared characteristics or behaviors. This enables you to send more relevant and personalized content. 

For instance, you can create segments for new customers, loyal patrons, or those who abandoned their carts. 

Tailoring your messages to each group’s interests or needs enhances engagement and conversion rates. 

Make sure to use data like browsing behavior or purchase history to develop your segmentation strategy. 

Effective audience segmentation ensures your emails resonate with recipients. This, in turn, fosters stronger customer relationships and better results.

Personalize Content

Personalizing email content is vital for small business marketing success. It means tailoring your messages to individual subscribers based on their preferences, behaviors, and demographics. 

Start with a friendly greeting using the recipient’s name. Use data like past purchases or browsing history to recommend products or content relevant to each subscriber. Consider sending birthday greetings or personalized offers. 

By addressing subscribers’ unique needs and interests, you foster a deeper connection and increase the chances of engagement and conversions. 

Personalization in digital marketing makes recipients feel valued and understood, ultimately driving better results for your small business.

Craft Compelling Subject Lines

The importance of crafting compelling email subject lines cannot be overstated. These brief phrases must grab the recipient’s attention, spark curiosity, and encourage them to open the email. 

Keep subject lines concise, ideally under 50 characters, and avoid spammy language or excessive punctuation. 

As mentioned above, you should also use personalization when appropriate, such as mentioning the recipient’s name or referencing their interests. 

Also, be sure to incorporate action-oriented words or questions to pique interest. 

A/B testing subject lines can help determine what resonates best with your audience. 

A well-crafted subject line can significantly boost your email open rates, improving the overall effectiveness of your campaigns.

Optimize for Mobile Viewing  

Optimizing your emails for mobile viewing is imperative in today’s digital landscape. Did you know that roughly 85% of users access their emails on mobile devices?  This is why your content must be easy to read and interact with on smaller screens. 

To ensure a smooth user experience, you need to choose mobile-responsive email templates that adapt to various screen sizes. 

You also need to make sure to use a single-column layout and legible fonts to improve readability. On top of that, you must see that images and buttons are appropriately sized for touchscreens. 

Don’t forget to test your emails across different mobile devices and email clients and address any potential glitches. 

Neglecting mobile optimization can lead to frustrated recipients and reduced engagement.

Provide Engaging (and Relevant) Content

Engaging and relevant content is the heart of effective email marketing. Tailor your content to your audience’s needs and preferences. 

Use concise and compelling language to grab their attention. Incorporate visuals, like images and videos, to make your emails visually appealing. 

Offer valuable information, promotions, or exclusive offers to keep subscribers interested. 

Also, make sure to regularly review and update your content strategy to ensure it remains fresh and engaging. 

When subscribers find your emails valuable, they’re more likely to stay engaged and take desired actions.

Test and Optimize

Start by conducting A/B tests on different elements of your emails, such as subject lines, visuals, or call-to-action buttons. 

Analyze the results to determine what works best for your audience. Keep an eye on open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to gauge performance. 

Use these insights to refine your email marketing strategy over time. 

Continuous testing and optimization ensure that you’re delivering content that resonates with your audience and maximizes your campaign’s impact.

Monitor Metrics 

Monitoring email marketing metrics is vital to assess the success of your campaigns. 

Keep a close eye on metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. 

These numbers provide insights into your email’s performance and audience engagement. 

Analyze which emails resonate most with your subscribers and why. 

Reviewing these metrics on a regular basis will allow you to adjust your strategies, content, and timing to optimize future campaigns. 

Consistent Sending

Consistent sending is essential for maintaining a strong email marketing presence. It means establishing a regular schedule for your email campaigns, whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. 

Consistency helps keep your brand in your subscribers’ minds and sets expectations for when they’ll hear from you.

It also prevents your emails from becoming buried or forgotten in crowded inboxes. By sending emails at predictable intervals, you build trust and credibility with your audience. 

Staying consistent in your email marketing efforts is a smart strategy for small businesses looking to nurture customer relationships and drive growth.

Respect Unsubscribers

When someone decides to opt out of your emails, it’s important to honor their choice promptly. 

Ensure your unsubscribe process is straightforward and easy, with a clear opt-out link in every email. 

This not only complies with email marketing regulations but also helps maintain your sender reputation. 

By respecting unsubscribers, you demonstrate professionalism and build trust, which can benefit your small business in the long run. 

It’s about fostering a positive image and ensuring that those who leave your list leave with a good impression.

Why Mailvio Is the Best Email Marketing Software for Small Businesses 

Mailvio stands out as the best email marketing software for small businesses due to its versatile, all-in-one platform and extensive integration options. 

This robust tool empowers small businesses by streamlining marketing tasks, offering data-driven insights, and enhancing email deliverability.

One of its core strengths lies in automation. 

Small business owners can automate routine tasks like email scheduling and follow-ups, allowing them to focus on fine-tuning their marketing strategies.

Mailvio also excels in superior email deliverability and open rates, ensuring your messages reach the right audience. 

Its advanced segmentation and powerful workflow automation make targeting specific customer groups effortless, resulting in more personalized and effective campaigns.

The detailed analytics and reporting provided by Mailvio empower small businesses with valuable insights to optimize their email marketing efforts. 

And all of this comes at an unmatched affordability, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes.

In summary, Mailvio’s comprehensive features, coupled with its unparalleled affordability make it the top choice for small businesses looking to thrive in the realm of email marketing.

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