Introduction

In today’s digital world, the importance of email marketing can’t be ignored. It’s one of the best channels for businesses to connect with their audience, nurture leads and drive conversions. As of 2024, email marketing still delivers an amazing return on investment (ROI), with some studies saying $42 for every $1 spent.

MailChimp has been a popular choice for email marketing for years but many businesses are now looking for alternatives that might suit their needs, budget or features. In this guide we’ll look at the top alternatives to MailChimp and how they can impact your email marketing conversion rate.

Why Email Marketing Still Matters

Before we get into the alternatives, let’s quickly look at why email marketing is still relevant in 2024:

1. Direct Communication: Email gets you straight to your audience’s inbox not social media, where algorithm changes can hide you.
2. Personalization: Modern email marketing tools allow for super personalized content, which means more engagement.
3. Cost Effective: Unlike many other marketing channels email marketing is relatively chea,p especially with the potential ROI.
4. Measurable: Email marketing gives you detailed analytics to refine your strategy.
5. Automation: Email marketing tools have automation features to save time and effort.
6. Segmentation: Advanced segmentation to send targeted messages.

Now, let’s explore some alternatives to MailChimp that could potentially boost your email marketing conversion rate.

Top MailChimp Alternatives

1. ManagePlus

ManagePlus has gained popularity as a user-friendly and affordable alternative to MailChimp, particularly suited for small to medium-sized businesses.

Key Features:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop email editor
• Advanced segmentation and personalization
• Automation workflows
• Robust analytics and reporting
• A/B testing capabilities

Pricing: ManagePlus offers a free plan for up to individual subscribers, with Business plans starting at $59/board/month or $99/board/month for business users and 1000 post-scheduling. Similarly, the Agency plan is $59/board/month or $69/board/month for managing multiple boards and 3000 post-scheduling.

User Experience: Many users praise ManagePlus for its ease of use and affordable pricing. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to create professional-looking emails quickly. Users particularly appreciate the advanced automation features, which allow for complex workflows without requiring technical expertise.

Unique Selling Point: ManagePlus’s Ecommerce AI stands out, offering product recommendations based on user behaviour, which can significantly boost conversion rates for online retailers.

2. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is another well-established player in the email marketing space, known for its robust features and excellent customer support. It’s particularly popular among small businesses and non-profits.

Key Features

• Wide variety of customizable templates
• Event management tools
• Social media integration
• Survey and poll creation
• E-commerce features
• Real-time tracking and reporting
• List-building tools
• Mobile app for on-the-go management

Pricing: Plans start at $20/month for up to 500 contacts. The Email Plus plan, which includes automation and more advanced features, starts at $45/month.

User Experience: Users appreciate Constant Contact’s intuitive interface and comprehensive feature set. The platform is known for its excellent customer support, including phone, chat, and email assistance, as well as a robust knowledge base and community forum. Some users find it pricier than other options, but many feel the cost is justified by the quality of service and features offered.

Unique Selling Point: Constant Contact’s event management tools set it apart, making it an excellent choice for businesses and organizations that frequently host events or webinars.

3. Sendinblue (now Brevo)

Sendinblue, recently rebranded as Brevo, offers a comprehensive marketing platform that goes beyond just email, making it a versatile choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

Key Features:

• Transactional email capabilities
• SMS marketing
• Chat functionality
• CRM features
• Marketing automation
• Landing page builder
• Facebook ads integration
• Advanced segmentation

Pricing: Brevo offers a free plan with up to 300 emails per day. Paid plans start at $25/month for up to 20,000 emails per month, with no contact limit.

User Experience: Users love the all-in-one nature of Brevo, especially the combination of email, SMS, and chat features. The platform is praised for its user-friendly interface and powerful automation capabilities. Some users note that the template design options could be more extensive, but overall, the platform is well-regarded for its versatility and value for money.

Unique Selling Point: Brevo’s combination of email, SMS, and chat in one platform makes it stand out, allowing businesses to create cohesive multi-channel marketing campaigns.

4. GetResponse

GetResponse has evolved from a simple email marketing tool to a comprehensive marketing platform, offering a wide range of features to support various marketing strategies.

Key Features:

• Advanced automation workflows
• Webinar hosting
• Landing page builder
• Conversion funnels
• E-commerce features
• Website Builder
• Paid ads creator
• Advanced analytics and reporting

Pricing: Plans start at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts. The Plus plan, which includes automation and webinars, starts at $49/month.

User Experience: Users appreciate GetResponse’s wide range of features, particularly the webinar functionality and conversion funnels. The platform is noted for its powerful automation capabilities, allowing for complex, multi-step marketing campaigns. Some users find the interface less intuitive than other options, with a steeper learning curve, but most agree that the breadth of features justifies the initial time investment.

Unique Selling Point: GetResponse’s webinar hosting feature is a standout, allowing businesses to integrate webinars seamlessly into their email marketing strategies.

5. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is known for its powerful automation capabilities and CRM integration, making it a popular choice for businesses looking for advanced marketing automation.

Key Features:

• Advanced marketing automation
• Built-in CRM
• Machine learning capabilities
• Site tracking
• Predictive sending
• Split testing
• Detailed reporting and analytics
• Sales automation

Pricing: Plans start at $29/month for up to 1,000 contacts. The Plus plan, which includes CRM with sales automation, starts at $49/month.

User Experience: Users praise ActiveCampaign’s robust automation features and the depth of its CRM integration. The platform is particularly popular among businesses that require sophisticated, data-driven marketing campaigns. While some find the learning curve steeper than other platforms, most users agree that the power and flexibility of ActiveCampaign justify the initial complexity.

Unique Selling Point: ActiveCampaign’s machine learning capabilities, including predictive sending and content recommendations, set it apart in the realm of AI-driven email marketing.

Comparing Email Marketing Conversion Rates

While the email marketing conversion rate can vary significantly based on industry, content, and audience, here’s a general comparison of average conversion rates reported by users of these platforms:

1. ManagePlus: 5.5%
2. Constant Contact: 2.8%
3. Brevo: 3.2%
4. GetResponse: 4.1%
5. ActiveCampaign: 4.7%

It’s important to note that these figures are averages and your results may vary. The key to improving your email marketing conversion rate lies in the platform you choose and how effectively you use it.

Strategies to Improve Email Marketing Conversion Rates

Regardless of the platform you choose, here are some strategies to boost your email marketing performance:

1. Personalization: Use your chosen platform’s segmentation and personalization features to tailor content to individual subscribers.
2. A/B Testing: Regularly test different elements of your emails, including subject lines, content, and call-to-action buttons.
3. Mobile Optimization: Ensure your emails are optimized for mobile devices, as many emails are now opened on smartphones.
4. Compelling Subject Lines: Craft subject lines that grab attention and accurately reflect the email content.
5. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Make your CTA prominent and ensure it clearly communicates the desired action.
6. Timing: Use the analytics provided by your email marketing platform to determine the best times to send emails to your audience.
7. Quality Content: Focus on providing value to your subscribers with each email you send.
8. List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers and maintain high engagement rates.

Choosing the Right Alternative for Your Business

When selecting an alternative to MailChimp, consider the following factors:

1. Budget: How much are you willing to spend on email marketing?
2. List Size: How many subscribers do you have, and how quickly is your list growing?
3. Required Features: Do you need advanced automation, e-commerce integration, or other specific features?
4. Ease of Use: How tech-savvy is your team? Do you need a platform with a gentle learning curve?
5. Scalability: Will the platform grow with your business?
6. Integration: Does the platform integrate with your other marketing tools and CRM?
7. Support: What level of customer support do you require?
8. Compliance: Does the platform help you comply with email marketing regulations like GDPR and CAN-SPAM?

The Future of Email Marketing

As we look ahead, several trends are shaping the future of email marketing:

1. AI and Machine Learning: Expect to see more platforms incorporating AI for predictive analytics, content optimization, and send-time optimization.
2. Interactive Emails: Interactive elements within emails, such as polls, quizzes, and clickable hotspots, are becoming more common.
3. Increased Personalization: Email marketing will become even more personalized and targeted as data collection and analysis capabilities improve.
4. Privacy and Data Protection: With an increasing focus on data privacy, email marketing platforms must offer more robust features to help businesses stay compliant with regulations.
5. Integration with Other Channels: Email marketing will become more tightly integrated with other marketing channels, allowing for seamless omnichannel experiences.

Conclusion

While MailChimp remains a solid choice for many businesses, exploring alternatives can potentially lead to improved results and a better fit for your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for more advanced features, better pricing, or improved user experience, there’s likely a MailChimp alternative that’s right for you.

Remember, the key to email marketing success lies not just in the tool you use, but in how you use it. Focus on creating valuable, personalized content for your audience, continually test and refine your strategies, and leverage the unique features of your chosen platform to maximize your email marketing conversion rate.

By understanding the importance of email marketing and choosing a tool like ManagePlus to support your efforts, you can create email campaigns that resonate with your audience, drive engagement, and ultimately boost your bottom line. As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve, email marketing remains a cornerstone of effective customer communication and business growth.