Whether you’re an established ecommerce store owner or a new online seller trying to get started, you should be aware of the benefits that email marketing can provide.
The process of selecting the best email marketing software for your business, on the other hand, may give you a headache. This is because there are numerous options accessible, which has resulted in a crowded market.
Your sales, marketing, and CRM (customer relationship management) operations are intertwined with email marketing. When you get this right, determining when and what type of emails to send to your cold, warm, and qualified prospects becomes a painless procedure that can have a significant impact on your online business.
Many software alternatives have their advantages and disadvantages, so a thorough and systematic study is essential to identify the greatest fit for you.
However, we’ve made it easy for you by compiling a list of the benefits and drawbacks of Constant Contact, one of the industry’s top companies.
Overview
Constant Contact is one of the world’s oldest email service providers. The company was founded in 1995, just four years after Tim Berners-Lee established the modern World Wide Web.
Because they were around throughout the early days of the internet, they have established themselves as a big player, with over 650,000 subscribers in 180 countries. Every day, all companies who use their service send 200 million emails.
Constant Contact is a strong rival to programs like MailChimp and Get Response because to the fact that technology is constantly evolving. Over the years, Constant Contact has continuously introduced additional services to the mix, such as surveys, social marketing, and even website building tools. Many other email industry leaders don’t offer the same level of variety.
Constant Contact used its event management platform. However, it was finally decommissioned. As a result, you’ll need to use the Eventbrite integration to get equivalent features today. The good news is that Eventbrite is only one of the numerous Constant Contact integrations available right now. Today’s business executives have access to over 400 apps and integrations.
Pricing
When looking at the pricing page, it’s easy to believe there are only two pricing options, one for $20 per month and the other for $45.
However, if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find that these two prices are only available if your account has up to 500 contacts.
For example, if you upgrade to the Email Plus service and add 500-2500 contacts, the monthly cost rises to $70.
Notably, you can use various services regardless of the Constant Contact bundle you choose for your email marketing. The email plan includes several useful tools for sending professional emails and expanding your contact network. However, if you want to take your marketing to the next level with automation, dynamic content, surveys, and more, Email plus is the superior option.
Constant Contact has launched its websites and online storefronts. These features aren’t simply add-ons; they come standard with Email Plus and your Email account at no extra charge. Each sale made through an online store is also subject to a 1.5 percent transaction fee. In addition, you can buy a custom domain or connect one you currently have if you want to use one on your website.
Both options provide unlimited Email, which is a significant benefit. The main difference is that the Email Plus package has ten users instead of one, and it has a larger file storage limit of 2GB instead of 1GB.
Prepay Pricing
Pay-in-advance is a service provided by Constant Contact that allows you to save money on your monthly charges. For example, if you pay for 6 months in advance, you will receive a 10% discount. If you pay for a year in advance, you will save 15%.
Free Trial Plan: You are given a 30-day free trial before signing up, and you can quit at any time without being charged.
You can add as many contacts as you want during the free trial. However, your contract will determine how many you have at the end of your free trial.
To start your free trial of Constant Contact, go here.
Nonprofits can also benefit from Constant Contact’s numerous discounts. For example, constant Contact offers a 20% discount on prepaid 6-month accounts or a 30% discount on 12-month prepay accounts. Unfortunately, there is currently no reduction if you pay on a month-to-month basis.
Features
The features listed below, including the bracket (Plus), are only available on the Email Plus package, which starts at $45 per month versus $20 per month on the Email package.
Thanks to the clever and intuitive email editor, people of all backgrounds can easily personalize and produce attractive emails that stand out on every device.
Contact Management: It’s quite convenient to import contacts from Excel, Outlook, or a CRM provider like Salesforce. You can also use tags to personalize your Contact, such as “Instagram Fan,” “Hot Lead,” or “Lost Customer.”
List-Building Tools: Constant Contact offers an easily integrated sign-up form that you can install on your website to help you expand your list. Alternatively, you can start gathering contact information from your fans through their Facebook app.
Tracking and reporting — with easy-to-understand reports, you can keep track of your sends, opens, click-throughs, and more. You may also compare different campaigns, view click maps, and compare desktop and mobile results.
Customizable Templates — pick from over 100 mobile-responsive email templates. If you’re a small business, you can also use their free stock photographs instead of paying for a monthly subscription with a stock photo supplier.
Image Library: In addition to obtaining free photos, Bigstock also offers cheap image purchases. You may also connect with your social network accounts to upload directly from Facebook and Instagram.
Marketing Calendar: To guarantee you don’t miss any crucial holidays, you may use an online and printable marketing calendar.
Email Scheduling: You can schedule your emails in the future, and Constant Contact will provide you with feedback based on your most effective sending times as well as industry best practices.
Take your emails with you on the road with the mobile app. You may see reports and schedule emails directly from the app.
Email marketing automation: Constant Contact’s email marketing automation allows businesses to intelligently engage with customers. New subscriber welcome emails, triggered email series, contact segmentation, and the opportunity to resend emails to people who don’t open them the first time are all available. You can also gain access to Constant Contact’s extensive list-building tools.
Features of Email Plus:
Email Automation (Plus) allows you to send emails to your customers regularly. Ideal for sending out emails to commemorate birthdays and anniversaries.
Event Marketing (Plus) – arrange and manage guests for upcoming pop-ups, events, and fundraisers and send out invitations.
Organizing a charity event? Use Online Donations (Plus). Customers’ donations may be tracked in the same way open and click-through rates can be tracked.
Choose from seven different survey questions, ranging from sliding scales to multiple-choice, in Surveys & Polls (Plus). You can also embed polls on your Facebook page or your website.
Coupons (Plus) — Use mobile-responsive coupons to boost sales. Get real-time statistics on who has used and shared your coupons. You may also check who is interested but hasn’t bought yet.
A/B Testing of Subject Lines (Plus) – test two subject lines with a sample of your clients to discover which one has the highest open rate. The winning subject line can then be sent to the remainder of your mailing list.
Other Noteworthy Features
Managing Bounces – if a soft email bounces, it is placed on hold for 15 days before they attempt to resend. Constant Contact also has a section called “suggested for removal” that can assist you in cleaning up your contact list as you go.
Languages: You can choose from a list of ten different languages. These are largely European languages.
Social media marketing: Constant Contact now offers a wide selection of social media marketing tools to strengthen your digital presence. Businesses can use a full social media inbox, social posting options, and statistics. The reporting information allows you to readily assess how social campaigns function, make modifications, and reply to comments and direct messages.
Full Facebook and Instagram ad integration are also available. You may develop social advertisements to drive visitors to your website, raise brand awareness, and increase sales. Remember to fine-tune your adverts as you go, using granular insights and stats.
Tracking tools: Constant Contact’s real-time tracking tools mean that companies can see exactly who is clicking on their content in real-time. You can develop more effective campaigns if you know who interacts with and shares your emails. There’s also the possibility to segment contacts and create more advanced, targeted lists based on how each person engages with the information.
Getting Started Guide: Constant Contact ensures that you can leap into email marketing with the right focus. In addition, constant Contact can assist you if you’re seeking to establish a successful business. The company provides a free internet marketing overview handbook. This tutorial includes everything from how to help people find you on the internet to how to set yourself up for success. There are also tips on making online marketing work best for you.
Website builder: If you’re stuck struggling to develop an online presence for your brand, then Constant Contact can help. One of the most recent additions to the Constant Contact ecosystem is the AI-powered website builder. You can create a professional-looking, mobile-friendly website with this tool in just a few minutes.
The software is completely free to use, including high-resolution graphics, templates, and more. If you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge, Constant Contact’s website builder could save you a lot of time and work. In addition, the drag-and-drop feature makes life a lot easier.
Online-store: It’s not just basic websites that Constant Contact supports for modern users but also flexible stores. If you’re seeking a simple and engaging way to sell things online, Constant Contact has a free solution for you. Whether you’re running a little business or a larger corporation, the handy 24-hour eCommerce shop is available to share with customers all over the world. Physical and digital products can be sold in Constant Contact stores. Thanks to the robust eCommerce platform, customers will have a great experience on any device.
User-Friendliness
When email marketing specialists like Constant Contact start to add more capabilities to their platforms, they can run into issues like complexity or confusing back-end environments. However, this does not appear to be the case when using Constant Contact to create email marketing campaigns. With its free website and eCommerce builder tools, this email marketing system makes going online and engaging with customers a breeze.
Creating a campaign is as simple as going to your dashboard and selecting Email, event, survey, or automation. Remember that the drag-and-drop editor will assist you in making your campaigns seem fantastic as well. In addition, you can use your email marketing tool to search for keywords or dates to revisit or reproduce a campaign.
Start with a template for your email marketing campaign, then move to the drag-and-drop editor to tweak your layout options. Text can be changed, and Google fonts can be used. You can also include PDF and blog article teasers in your emails.
Once you’ve created a newsletter or campaign, you can utilize automation and scheduling tools to determine when it will be delivered to your customers. Competing platforms such as SendinBlue and Get Response use similar capabilities.
One of the other significant features that make Constant Contact so user-friendly is its extensive connectivity possibilities, including Eventbrite and Shopify. Thanks to Eventbrite’s integration, subscribers may comment to polls, RSVP, download new coupons and even make donations directly from their email address. You can also include items and buy links in emails and emails that follow up on abandoned shopping carts. For Direct-to-Consumer e-sellers and retailers, this is a big benefit.
Customer Support
We all need a little extra help now and then, which is why finding an email marketing solution that comes with expert support is so crucial. There are a few different ways to get help from Constant Contact. Both packages include live assistance for chat and phone calls. Aside from that, there’s also:
Step-by-step guides, how-to articles, and tutorials are all available in the Knowledge Base.
Seminars and training — online webinars and tutorials, as well as local events (mostly the US)
Community: There is a forum where you can engage with other Constant Contact members and provide input on new ideas.
Although phone assistance isn’t strictly available 24 hours a day, you still get a lot of help. Monday through Thursday, the company is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition, you can reach us between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you can’t locate somebody to address your questions regarding Constant Contact through traditional means, you may always try Twitter.
Integrations & Apps
Constant Contact has 270 apps and integrations to choose from, ranging from the obvious to the obscure.
It also works in tandem with Google Analytics, allowing you to track the effectiveness of your ads once people arrive on your site.
Many major CRM systems, such as Salesforce, are also integrated with Constant Contact. As a result, you may access your CRM to review reports and organise follow-up initiatives.
Here are some of Constant Contact’s most popular app and integration options:
- Facebook’s official “join my mailing list” tool allows you to collect contacts from your Facebook business page.
- Eventbrite: This software combines the power of event marketing with the power of email marketing, allowing you to interact with your audience and promote incredible experiences. You can add events to any email template, send follow-up emails, track registrations, and more in one location.
- Salesforce: Constant Contact and Salesforce can be linked directly. The more data you have on your audience, the easier it will be to generate personalized messaging.
- MINDBODY: With time-saving capabilities like online booking, automatic task management, client interaction tools, payments, staff scheduling, detailed reporting, and point-of-sale tools, businesses can streamline day-to-day work.
- QuickBooks: Use financial data from the QuickBooks app to engage clients, partners, and prospects in real-time.
- eCommerce integration with 3DCart: Sync your eCommerce store with your Constant Contact account in real-time. Instantly engage your clients, prospects, and partners.
- Shopify: SyncApps allows you to sync vital client data between Constant Contact and your Shopify eCommerce system automatically.
- WooCommerce: WooCommerce is built on WordPress and is completely open-source, which means you may change anything you want. Through Zapier, Constant Contact can connect to this feature.
- Hootsuite: HootSuite allows you to use the social web to develop marketing campaigns, grow your audience, and disseminate tailored messaging across many media. To get started, enable the app in the Hootsuite app directory.
Who Should Consider Constant Contact? Pros and Cons
Constant Contact is a fantastic marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Although many firms believe Constant Contact to be a better fit for small businesses than huge corporations, it does offer some scalability.
Constant Contact will make it easier for you to establish a professional image online if you don’t have a lot of time or money to spend on email marketing. There are a variety of themes to pick from and unsubscribe choices to help you make the most of your email list and other useful features.
The free version is a good alternative for small businesses, but if you’re serious about email marketing, you might want to consider upgrading to the Email plus plan. Constant Contact may be limiting customization and personalized aspects for today’s more innovative businesses.
If you’re looking for a low-cost email marketing solution with extensive functionality, Constant Contact is likely to be the best option. You can manage your constant contact email campaigns from anywhere with a mobile app for both Apple and Android. Furthermore, those with a limited budget will benefit from the constant contact pricing structure.
Constant Contact’s email builder is quite user-friendly, and it lets you do a lot more than send emails. If you’re on the Email plus plan, you can help with event invitations, registrations, and ticket administration, for example.
Pros
- Constant Contact has one of the highest deliverability rates in its industry. They excel in delivering to all major email providers, including Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo Email. There is a wide variety of emails available, including classic newsletters, autoresponders, events, surveys, and promotions.
- Ease of use – it’s pretty simple, and there aren’t many alternatives to choose from, so it’s extremely simple to figure out.
- Pricing – as compared to their competition, they have relatively low prices.
- Templates — with so many email templates and pictures at your disposal, creating a campaign from the start is a breeze.
Cons
- Automation – There are only a few automation options available. There are some obvious choices, such as birthday/anniversary reminders, but that’s where it ends. This isn’t the program for you if you’re seeking an all-in-one marketing automation solution that also doubles as a CRM system.
- Email Design – even though you have access to a wealth of email templates and photos, their design can be limiting. This implies you won’t have much flexibility when changing your email campaigns or sign-up forms.
Is ConstantContact Suitable for Me?
Yes
This is ideal for small businesses that don’t have the resources to create HTML email templates and want an out-of-the-box solution.
The basic plan, which includes up to 500 contacts for $20, is a wonderful place to start. The system’s ease of use and the terrific choices for growing your email list are excellent beginning points.
If you don’t want to spend all of your credit card money on an email marketing platform, Constant Contact will appeal to you. This product could be an excellent alternative to Hubspot and MailChimp, with a free plan trial to try different integrations with other major products.
No
Constant Contact may not be the best option if you require something more advanced for your email marketing efforts. In addition, constant Contact may not be appropriate for large companies that have gone to the point of marketing automation.
If you are concerned about your branding, the offered templates may disappoint you because they are not highly adaptable. Even if you get different aspects like landing pages to assist you in attracting new consumers, Constant Contact struggles to provide the greatest features in the industry for the more premium plan. If you want advanced list management, statistics, and a variety of customization possibilities, you might want to look into an alternate software solution.
Conclusion
Constant Contact is very aware that they are a small company solution, and they capitalize on it to great effect. Constant Contact appeals to many users thanks to drag-and-drop editing, simple contact list uploads, and other user-friendly features. In addition, this tool may help you take your lead management approach to the next level by collecting clients from LinkedIn, Facebook, and other online sources.
Constant Contact’s advantages include ease of use, price, excellent integrations, and a high deliverability rate that ensures your emails are seen and read.
You may start building your list as soon as your membership uses the website and Facebook sign-up forms. Furthermore, we appreciate that Constant Contact includes data on engagement and open rates.
Other companies may offer more sophisticated marketing automation, but Constant Contact knows what they’re doing and does it effectively.
