So, you wanna grow your business, huh? Well, email marketing is still one of the best ways to do it. Seriously, it’s not old-school; it’s just smart. But with so many tools out there, picking the right one can feel like a real headache. Don’t worry, I’ve been there. I’ve dug through a bunch of them to find the best options that can actually help you connect with your customers and boost those sales. This article, “7 Email Marketing Tools to Grow Your Business,” breaks down some solid choices to get you started.
Key Takeaways
- Email marketing is a powerful way to grow your business and reach customers directly.
- Choosing the right tool depends on your specific business needs and budget.
- Many email marketing platforms offer features like automation, segmentation, and analytics.
- Consider how easily a tool integrates with other platforms you already use.
- Even if you’re just starting, there are great options available to help you build your email list and campaigns.
1. Constant Contact
I’ve spent a good amount of time checking out different email marketing tools, and I have to say, Constant Contact really stands out, especially for small businesses or anyone just getting started. When I first tried it, I was impressed by how straightforward it was to get an email campaign up and running. It felt like they designed it with beginners in mind, which is a huge plus.
I found that the platform’s error-checking feature was a lifesaver. It catches those little mistakes, like forgetting to replace placeholder text or broken links, before you send out an email. That kind of detail really helps avoid embarrassing blunders.
One thing I noticed is that while they have a lot of pre-designed templates, which are great for getting started, sometimes formatting can be a bit fiddly, especially if you’re trying to include a lot of images. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something to be aware of. Beyond the basics, Constant Contact also includes some pretty advanced features. I’m talking about things like list segmentation, which lets you send targeted emails to different groups of people, and email automation, so you can set up sequences that go out automatically. They also offer surveys and A/B testing for subject lines, which is super helpful for figuring out what works best for your audience. If you run an online store, their integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce are really useful. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking to grow their email list and connect with customers.
I also appreciate their customer support. It’s nice to know that if you run into a problem, you can get help through live chat or over the phone. They even offer seminars, which is a unique touch. While they’ve recently added some generative AI features, I found them to be pretty basic compared to what’s out there. Still, for the core email marketing needs, Constant Contact is a strong contender. If you’re looking for a tool that’s easy to use but still powerful enough to help your business, I’d definitely recommend giving Constant Contact a look.
2. Brevo
Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is a platform I’ve found to be pretty versatile. It’s not just about email marketing; it also handles SMS, chat, and even sales CRM. I like that it tries to be an all-in-one solution, which can be really handy if you’re trying to keep things simple and avoid juggling too many different tools. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a platform that goes beyond just sending emails.
What I like about Brevo
I appreciate that Brevo offers a free plan, which is a big plus when you’re just starting out or have a small list. It lets you send up to 300 emails per day, which is enough to get a feel for the platform without committing financially. The drag-and-drop email builder is also pretty intuitive. I’m not a designer, so having something that makes it easy to create good-looking emails is a huge help. Plus, their automation features are surprisingly robust for the price point. You can set up some pretty complex workflows, which saves a lot of time.
- Free plan available (up to 300 emails/day)
- User-friendly drag-and-drop email builder
- Advanced marketing automation capabilities
- Includes SMS, chat, and CRM features
What I don’t like about Brevo
While I generally like Brevo, there are a couple of things that I’m not crazy about. The daily sending limit on the free plan can be a bit restrictive if you have a sudden surge in subscribers or want to send out a big campaign. Also, their customer support, while helpful, can sometimes be a little slow to respond, especially if you’re on a lower-tier plan. I’ve also noticed that some of the more advanced reporting features are only available on higher-priced plans, which means you might need to upgrade sooner than you’d like if you want deeper insights.
I’ve learned that while a tool might seem perfect on paper, the real test comes when you start using it daily. Sometimes, the small annoyances can add up, making you reconsider if it’s truly the right fit for your specific needs. It’s all about finding that balance between features, cost, and ease of use.
Brevo Pricing Overview
Brevo’s pricing structure is pretty straightforward, based on the number of emails you send per month, not the number of contacts you have, which is a nice change from some other platforms. They have a free plan, and then several paid tiers. For example, the Starter plan gives you more emails and removes the daily sending limit. The Business plan adds more advanced features like A/B testing and multi-user access. They also offer custom enterprise plans for really large businesses.
| Plan | Monthly Email Volume | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 300 emails/day | Basic email marketing, SMS, Chat |
| Starter | 20,000 emails | No daily sending limit, Email support |
| Business | 20,000+ emails | Marketing automation, A/B testing, Phone support |
I’ve found that the Brevo pricing is competitive, especially when you consider all the different tools you get access to beyond just email. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution.
3. HubSpot
I’ve found HubSpot to be a really strong tool for email marketing, especially when you use it with their customer relationship management (CRM) platform. It’s not just an email service; it’s a full system for growing a business. When I used HubSpot, I liked how simple it was to make custom newsletters with their drag-and-drop builder. The email templates were clean and helped me quickly design professional emails without needing any special tech skills.
What makes HubSpot stand out is how well it works with the HubSpot CRM. You can make emails personal based on things like where a subscriber is, what kind of device they’re using, or how you’ve grouped your lists. With its automation features and A/B testing, it gives you everything you need to get people more involved.
HubSpot’s free plan is good for small businesses, but if you want to use all the advanced features, the cost can go up pretty fast. It’s a trade-off between getting a lot of power and paying for it.
HubSpot is a great choice for businesses that want an all-in-one solution for their marketing and sales efforts. It helps you keep track of customer interactions and automate a lot of your outreach. If you’re looking to stay updated on marketing trends, you might want to join our newsletter.
Here’s a quick look at some of its features:
- CRM integration
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Automation and drip campaigns
- A/B testing
- Detailed performance analytics
- Free tools for small businesses
<table><thead><tr><th>Plan</th><th>Price (Monthly)</th><th>Email Send Limit</th><th>Contacts</th><th>Key Features</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Starter Customer Platform</td><td>$20</td><td>5,000 (5x your contacts)</td><td>1,000</td><td>Access to service, content, and operation hubs</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing Hub Professional</td><td>$880</td><td>20,000 (10x your contacts)</td><td>2,000</td><td>All of the above + custom reporting, SMS, lead scoring app</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing Hub Enterprise</td><td>$3,300</td><td>200,000 (20x your contacts)</td><td>10,000</td><td>All of the above + custom events, AI social inbox insights, customer, and more</td></tr></tbody></table>
4. Omnisend
Omnisend is a tool I really like, especially if you’re running an e-commerce business. It’s built to handle email, SMS, and even web push notifications all in one spot. I found it pretty easy to use, which is a big plus when you’re trying to manage a lot of different marketing channels.
I’ve always believed that reaching customers where they are, whether it’s their inbox or their phone, is key to making sales. Omnisend helps me do that without needing a bunch of separate tools.
One thing that stood out to me about Omnisend is its free plan. A lot of platforms limit what you can do with their free versions, but Omnisend gives you access to some pretty powerful features right away. This includes pre-built automation workflows, which are super helpful for setting up things like welcome series or abandoned cart reminders. You also get subscriber segmentation, A/B testing, and performance reports, which are all things I rely on to see what’s working and what’s not.
I found that the pre-built automation workflows saved me a ton of time. They’re designed specifically for e-commerce, so they just make sense for what I need to do.
Here’s a quick look at some of the features I found most useful:
- Pre-built Automation Workflows: These are ready-to-go sequences for common e-commerce scenarios, like welcome emails or post-purchase follow-ups. They’re a huge time-saver.
- Subscriber Segmentation: This lets me group my customers based on their behavior or demographics. For example, I can send special offers to my most loyal customers or target people who haven’t bought anything in a while. It’s a great way to personalize my marketing.
- A/B Testing: I can test different subject lines, email content, or call-to-actions to see what gets the best response. This helps me optimize my campaigns over time.
- SMS and Web Push Notifications: Being able to send messages through these channels, in addition to email, means I can reach my customers in more ways. It’s a good way to make sure my messages get seen.
While the free plan is generous with features, it does have some limits on the number of subscribers and emails you can send. For a small business just starting out, it’s probably fine, but as you grow, you’ll likely need to upgrade. Still, for mindset growth in e-commerce marketing, it’s a solid choice to get started.
5. Drip
I’ve found Drip to be a really solid choice, especially if you’re running an e-commerce business, a blog, or just need some serious automation for your marketing. I’ve actually used it for a few of my own ventures, and it’s pretty good at segmenting your audience, personalizing messages, and figuring out where your sales are actually coming from. It’s a great tool for anyone who wants to really dig into their customer data and make their email marketing work harder.
What I Like About Drip
- Revenue Tracking: This is a big one for me. Drip lets me see exactly how much money each email campaign brings in. It’s super helpful for understanding my return on investment and making sure I’m putting my efforts in the right places.
- Automation Workflows: Building automated email sequences is pretty easy with their visual builder. Whether it’s a welcome series for new subscribers, emails for abandoned carts, or trying to re-engage old customers, the automation options are really flexible and powerful.
- Integrations: Drip plays nice with a lot of other platforms, like WooCommerce, Shopify, and WordPress. This means I can easily track what users are doing on my site, segment them based on their behavior, and then send them really targeted emails that actually lead to sales.
I think Drip’s ability to connect user behavior across different platforms and then use that information to create highly personalized campaigns is a game-changer. It helps me send the right message to the right person at the right time, which is what email marketing is all about.
What Could Be Better
- Cost: Drip isn’t the cheapest option out there. Their pricing starts at $39 a month, which might be a bit much for smaller businesses just starting out.
- No Free Plan: Unlike some other tools, Drip doesn’t have a permanent free plan. This means you have to commit to a paid plan pretty quickly if you want to keep using it.
- Email Templates: The email templates are pretty basic. I often find myself needing to put in extra design work to make them look exactly how I want them to. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does add a bit more time to the process.
Who Drip Is Best For
I’d say Drip is ideal for businesses that are serious about eCommerce automation and want to get really granular with their customer segmentation and personalization. If you’re looking to scale your email marketing and need advanced features to track revenue and automate complex workflows, Drip is definitely worth considering. It’s not for everyone, especially if you’re on a tight budget or just need something super simple, but for those who need its specific strengths, it’s a powerful tool.
6. MailerLite
MailerLite is a tool I’ve found to be pretty solid, especially if you’re just starting out or you’re a blogger. It’s got a good mix of features without being overly complicated. I mean, who needs a million buttons when you’re just trying to send out a newsletter, right?
What I like about MailerLite
I really appreciate how MailerLite balances simplicity with some pretty powerful features. It’s a great option for those who want to get their email marketing up and running without a huge learning curve.
- User-Friendly Interface: The drag-and-drop editor is super intuitive. I can whip up a decent-looking email in no time, even if I’m not a design guru.
- Automation Features: Even on the free plan, you get access to some automation. This is a big deal because it means I can set up welcome sequences or follow-ups without having to manually send each email. It saves a ton of time.
- Landing Pages and Websites: They offer more than just email. You can build landing pages and even simple websites, which is handy if you don’t have a full site yet or just need a quick page for a specific campaign.
- Affordable Pricing: Their pricing structure is pretty reasonable, especially as you grow. It’s not going to break the bank, which is always a plus for small businesses.
I’ve found that MailerLite is particularly good for those who want to focus on content and engagement rather than getting bogged down in overly complex technical details. It lets you get your message out there efficiently.
What could be better
While I generally like MailerLite, there are a couple of things that I think could be improved.
- Template Variety (Free Plan): On the free plan, the pre-made email templates are a bit limited. You can still create good-looking emails with their content blocks, but having more ready-to-use designs would be nice.
- Gmail Address Restriction: You can’t send emails from a Gmail address, which can be a minor inconvenience if that’s your primary business email. You’ll need a custom domain email for sending.
Pricing
MailerLite offers a free plan, which is fantastic for getting started. As your subscriber list grows, or if you need more advanced features, their paid plans are quite competitive. Here’s a quick look at their general pricing structure, though it’s always best to check their site for the most current details.
| Subscribers | Free Plan | Growing Business Plan | Advanced Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | Yes | Starts at $10/month | Starts at $20/month |
| 1,001-2,500 | No | Starts at $15/month | Starts at $30/month |
| 2,501-5,000 | No | Starts at $30/month | Starts at $50/month |
Note: These are approximate starting prices and can vary based on features and billing cycles.
Integrations
MailerLite plays well with a lot of other tools, which is super important for a smooth workflow. I’ve found their integrations to be pretty robust. For example, it integrates with Zapier, which means you can connect it to hundreds of other apps. This allows for things like automatically adding new subscribers from a Google Sheet or syncing with your e-commerce platform. It’s all about making your life easier and automating those repetitive tasks. You can find more about marketing archives on their site.
7. PushEngage
PushEngage is a tool I’ve found really useful, but it’s a bit different from the others on this list. It focuses on web push notifications, not email. I know, I know, the article is about email marketing, but hear me out. Web push notifications are a great way to get messages directly to your audience, even when they aren’t on your site. It’s a direct line to your subscribers, bypassing crowded inboxes. I think of it as another arrow in my marketing quiver.
I’ve learned that diversifying how I reach my audience is key. Relying on just one channel, like email, can be risky. Web push notifications give me a backup, or even a primary, way to communicate important updates or promotions. It’s about being where your audience is, and sometimes, that’s not in their email.
Here’s why I like PushEngage:
- Direct Engagement: Messages pop up right on the user’s screen, which is hard to miss. It’s a very immediate form of communication.
- High Opt-in Rates: I’ve noticed people are often more willing to opt-in for push notifications than to give out their email address. It feels less intrusive to them.
- Segmentation Options: Just like with email, I can segment my audience based on their behavior or interests. This means I can send really targeted messages.
- Automation Capabilities: I can set up automated campaigns, like sending a welcome notification to new subscribers or a reminder about an abandoned cart. It saves me a lot of time.
While it’s not email, it complements my email efforts really well. For example, I might send a quick push notification about a flash sale, then follow up with a more detailed email. It’s all about creating a cohesive communication strategy. If you’re looking to expand beyond just email, I’d definitely recommend checking out PushEngage’s features. It’s a solid tool for reaching your audience in a different, but effective, way.