It is difficult to achieve your maximum potential as a brand and business today without email marketing. Whether you are just a brick-and-mortar business, a completely digital business, or a combination of both, email marketing is an effective way to continually communicate with interested parties. You can turn prospects into customers and keep your best customers coming back to you.
Two of the top email marketing platform to use in order to obtain these benefits are AWeber and MailChimp. Here are the key points to consider on each platform to determine which one could be right for you.
Design: AWeber vs MailChimp
AWeber is a drag-and-drop email marketing solution that is mobile responsive. Just choose the content you wish to use, drag it into the template, and you’re ready to send it out to your subscribers. You get to have the flexibility of over 700 templates from which to choose, but no modification to the coding is allowed without paying for that access.
MailChimp also has drag-and-drop features for easy use. It also offers mobile responsiveness and could be considered to be optimized for smartphone or tablet use. You can rearrange text and image placement on the standard templates with relative ease. There is also a built-in photo editor that can help you make minor modifications without the need to use editing software. Multiple collaborators can have input and test the emails before they are sent out to the entire list.
Pricing: AWeber vs MailChimp
AWeber offers plans that begin at $19 per month and includes all of the features that the email marketing platform is able to offer. This basic plan offers access for up to 500 subscribers with full automation and access to hundreds of different templates that can be used. Sign-up forms, integrations, and image hosting is also included. An upgraded plan offers up to 2,500 subscribers for $29 per month. The best deal is the $69 per month plan, which offers up to 10,000 subscribers.
A 30-day free trial on your preferred plan is available through AWeber. Template modification has an additional price.
MailChimp is one of the most affordable email marketing solutions that is on the market today. For freelancers and individual marketers, there is a free plan that allows for up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails to be sent per month. Paid plans begin at $10 per month for up to 500 subscribers and unlimited emails. An additional 500 subscribers can be added to the monthly plan for an additional $5 per month for each block.
MailChimp also offers a professional add-on package for an improved performance and enterprise-level features for $199 per month. The add-on can be added to any paid plan.
Automation: AWeber vs MailChimp
Both email marketing platforms offer an effective automation feature that allows for fast responses to visitor enquiries. The autoresponders on both platforms are easy to use and allow users to schedule the time and the day that an email should be delivered. New signups can also receive an automated series of emails.
The automation features also allow for analytics and metrics tracking on both platforms, allowing users to easily track the performance of every campaign. You can then take this information to segment customers based on behavioral targeting, allowing for a personalized email experience.
MailChimp allows you to import data from a CRM you may be using, with integration from Salesforce and other top platforms becoming available to your email marketing. This allows you to further customize the content, an option which AWeber does not allow.
Data Collection and Tracking: AWeber vs MailChimp
Both email marketing platforms also provide extensive data collection and tracking capabilities. This includes tracking sales, data on clicks or opens, and other specific data points you may need to use for your metrics. This data is then formatted into graphs that are easy to read so you know how to respond to the information to adjust future campaigns.
You can view your unsubscribes, identify which emails have caused a bounce, and receive advice on whether to continue trying that specific address.
Where AWeber allows for solid sales tracking, MailChim allows for competitive performance comparisons. You can track how your campaign is performing in comparison to your competitors, letting you see where certain adjustments may need to be made.
Customer Support: AWeber vs MailChimp
If you’re not sure about what the data your email marketing campaign has collected, then AWeber offers you a number of support options where you can ask questions. Support is during normal business hours, but is available by email, phone, or live chat. This allows you to be able to find an almost immediate solution to a problem that you’re having, assuming it isn’t happening in the middle of the night.
MailChimp’s primary source of customer support is an online knowledge base that offers content and training that helps you be able to maximize your campaign. You’re asked to read the troubleshooting articles before accessing other forms of support. Live chat is available on a somewhat limited basis. Otherwise your best option for help is to email the generic customer service email address.
Deliverability: AWeber vs MailChimp
Both AWeber and MailChimp have delivery rates that are above 90% on a consistent basis. AWeber promises a deliverability rate of 99%.
MailChimp discusses how senders can affect deliverability rates and essentially tells their consumers that service providers who promise a specific percentage don’t really understand how the industry works. Although they state that they will provide charts that show specific deliverability histories for high-volume clients, there is no actual data provided on MailChimp’s deliverability page.
Both platforms are active industry members that maintain whitelisted status when the ISP is still maintaining them. Each platform is also on feedback loops for today’s major email providers, including Outlook, Comcast, AOL, and Yahoo.
This means that if a subscriber marks an email that you’ve sent them as spam or junk mail, even if they were the ones to subscribe to your content, then the provider will immediately unsubscribe that person from your list.
Which Platform Is Right for You?
AWeber is a good solution for individual marketers who are maintaining larger subscriber lists, SMBs, and larger brands that are wanting to establish a new email marketing campaign.
MailChimp is a good solution for SMBs that want a plan that will scale upwards with them as they keep growing. It is also a good entry-level solution for individual marketers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.
Compare your needs to each solution that is provided by these email marketing platforms and you’ll find the best option that is right for you. What is your opinion of the AWeber vs MailChimp debate?
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