• Easy ways to add contacts like signup forms, upload, and just type them in
• Insight into who opens the emails and clicks on links (services do this differently and the data doesn’t always tell the whole story — but it’s useful nonetheless)
• HTML templates to help you create a polished email message

I have been using Constant Contact for a few years and it has worked quite well for me.  I have no real complaints, but recently I ran into a few limitations that sent me off to check out other options.  The short story (’cause I’d like to spare you the long story) is that I am now using MailChimp.  Here are a few of the reasons:

1)  Here’s a big one — it’s FREE for a list of up to 2,000 and a total of up to 12,000 emails per month

2)  I can create multiple auto-responder streams.  In Constant Contact, if I wanted a person who requested one of my ebooks to get a series of emails afterward, I could do that.  But what if a new subscriber didn’t want the ebook, or requested something different that I wanted to correspond with a different auto-responder series?  In Constant Contact, I was S.O.L.  In MailChimp I can set up distinct lists and create (or not create) distinct auto-responder messages for each list.

3)  It has powerful list-segmenting tools too.  Want to re-send an email to just those who failed to open your prior message?  Easy.  Want your next email to only go to subscribers who joined within the last 30 days?  Easy.  Constant Contact: if you offer that feature, it wasn’t easy to find.

4)  Integrations.  MailChimp is a more open platform that can connect with a list of other programs.  This worked out great for integration with my CRM system.

So there you have it!  You can check them out at www.mailchimp.com.  If you need help, just give me a call.

Cheers!

What did we do?  We created a simple, but valuable, promotion that we plan to send out via email.  I signed up my client with Constant Contact so we can do it quickly, make it attractive looking, and monitor our results (how many people opened the email, how many clicked through to visit the web site, etc.).  Once that email goes out, the sales representative on my client’s team will have a reason to call — just to follow up on the promotion their customers should have all seen in their emails.

It may seem like such a simple concept — a little mundane, in fact, in this age of complex marketing programs.  All she will do is call each of the people who received the promotion via email to:

1. Make sure they noticed it (it’s easy to overlook emails these days isn’t it?)
2. Ask them to either open it up, or send them another copy if they can’t find it
3. Explain a few details and ask if they have any questions

Who knows where the conversation will go from there, but this little two-step plan accomplishes a few things:

1. It communicates that my client doesn’t just blast messages at their clients and prospects.  By simply following up, they are making it clear that the messages they send have useful information.  They wouldn’t be calling to confirm receipt if they didn’t feel so!
2. Increases the likelihood that future messages will be noticed.  It’s so easy to become numb to the emails you receive!  Once the receiver makes the stronger connection between the message and who the sender really is, future emails will get more attention.  Even when my client merely leaves a voice mail that is never returned, the exercise will be worth it.
3. Oh ya, it will increase immediate results.  If you’ve created a good offer in the first place, you’ll get more people to pay attention and take advantage if you follow up with a call.

I urge you to not overlook the simple things when designing your next “system” for increasing profits through more effective marketing and selling. 

More information about Constant Contact

As a business partner, I offer business owners who sign up through me (simply by using either link in this post) the same price as available by signing up directly.  I ALSO provide a free 2-hour email marketing strategy consultation.  If you’ve been kicking around the idea of email marketing, it may be time to take action!  Let me help you get started.