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8 Pros and Cons of Mailchimp

Email marketing can be a complicated process, but thanks to MailChimp and similar programs, it doesn’t have to be. With a whole toolbox full tools available for use, it is possible to create an effective campaign in just minutes and then keep tweaking it so it’s always working to its peak potential. If you haven’t tried it yet, then here are some of the pros and cons of MailChimp to think about before you get started.

What Are the Pros of MailChimp?

1. You can import your own email templates.
MailChimp has a number of effective templates that are made available to users once they have an account. What sets it apart, however, is the fact that you can import your own templates as well. You’re also given permission to modify the existing templates if you prefer. The point-and-click editor lets you get the coding updated without any HTML/CSS knowledge.

2. You have multiple integration options with your current online presence.
MailChimp can integrate with a Facebook page. You can take advantage of the subscription form hosting that is available. You’re also given access to scheduling and testing features which can help to maximize your open rates. Add in the free and unlimited image hosting and your marketing efforts are going to look exactly how you envisioned them.

3. You have access to complete comparative metrics.
It’s a good thing to know how your email campaigns are performing. It’s even better to know how they’re performing in comparison to similar efforts through MailChimp. Not only can you track your own analytics, but you can also see how your metrics compare to other MailChimp users to see if you’re really getting the most out of all of your efforts.

4. You can remove the MailChimp logo if you prefer.
MailChimp is actually free up to 2,000 contacts, but they’ll include their logo under your campaign and subscription form. You can also upgrade your account if you prefer to have this logo removed from your outgoing mail. Considering you can import all of your contacts from virtually any spreadsheet file, this is one true advantage that is difficult to ignore.

What Are the Cons of MailChimp?

1. Having a membership-based site can be difficult.
The integration that MailChimp has with WordPress and Paypal is not always the best. This makes it difficult for users who are planning to have subscription or membership sites to accomplish their goals. You can also setup your autoresponders, but they’ll only work when someone on your email marketing list has subscribed from one of your web forms. It doesn’t work with your imported contacts.

2. MailChimp reserves the right to suspend or cancel your account.
Email marketing is already a difficult process in itself. Open rates can be sporadic and conversions are considered good if they’re in the 1-2% range. If you’re getting too many unsubscribe notifications or receiving spam complaints about your emails, MailChimp reserves the right to either suspend or cancel your account without prior notification. This means users must make sure to test every email before sending it out to limit any potential damage.

3. You pretty much have to create your own templates.
The templates which MailChimp provides are pretty basic. Sure -they’re ready made, but they aren’t really that attractive from a reader standpoint. This means you’ll have to either spend time and/or money to import your own forms or spend time changing the existing forms and that’s time away from actually growing your business.

4. The interface can feel a bit awkward and clunky to some users.
There is a definite learning curve to using MailChimp, especially if you’ve used other email marketing programs in the past. It can take a lot more time to design and organize a campaign so it is where you want it to be. If all you’re planning on doing is sending out the occasional newsletter or information update, then you might not notice this problem. For high volume use, however, this key point can be a massive time killer.

For many, the fact that MailChimp restricts users to sending out emails to only one list at a time is a dealbreaker. You can customize that list, but you can’t send to multiple subscriber lists at once. As for the other pros and cons of MailChimp, it all depends on what your personal experiences happen to be. If you’ve used email marketing platforms in the past, then there’s a good chance you are going to enjoy what MailChimp can provide you.

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