MailChimp, Constant Contact, 1Shopping Cart, oh my. Which to choose? Which to use? And most importantly why?
Before passing Go and collecting your first sign up or creating an opt-in box it’s best to ask some questions and know the features of each option. Not all email list services are created equal and will meet all needs. For example, if affiliate links are intended to be shared with the readers of your list, MailChimp isn’t for you. MailChimp doesn’t permit the usage of affiliate links in their broadcast messages. In this case, Aweber or Constant Contact is a better choice.
If selling products is the main goal with a sprinkling of email blasts or a newsletter thrown in, 1ShoppingCart, aka 1SC, (or one of the 1SC affiliate partner sites) is a better choice than Aweber. Aweber is strictly an email marketing and auto-responder service.
If you’re starting out in building a list instead of heading over to MailChimp because it’s free (up to 500 subscribers) consider where you intend this list to grow and morph into. Moving a list later on when it’s grown is guaranteed to lose some subscribers. It’s better to pay now and grow into the service confidently.
I know you may have some stellar news and sharing going on with your list but when you move, it’s a fact, you do lose subscribers. You will lose subscribers. Some miss the opt-in message for the new list while others decide they just aren’t interested in following your messages any longer and never sign up for the new service.
While it’s disappointing, it’s actually a good time to sort of weed out your list. Those that remain are warm leads that are invested in keeping up with your company news and offers. Nuture these names. Treat them like the gold they are.
If having a CRM, appointment tracking, email marketing, newsletters, and a shopping cart all under one hood is your top goal then take a look at what InfusionSoft has the offer. It’s the Rolls Royce of services because so many of these needs are found in this single online system. The pricing is reflective of having many systems in one place so be aware when comparing prices. Remember that you if you priced every system out separately plus the time it takes to maintain all systems separately it probably makes sense to have everything in one place, if this is your end goal.
Like many things, you get what you pay for. The lowest price may be stripped down in features or limiting in growth potential. Think ahead. When clients ask for suggestions about who to use. Ask enough questions to understand their needs and business goals. Get familiar enough with what’s available to recommend a couple options to give your clients well-rounded choices. Explain how looking ahead to the growth in their business is best when selecting who gets their business.
Avoid steering clients to your favorite list service simply because you like working in [__fill in the blank__]. Your favorite may not best meet a client’s needs. Most list services operate internally in very similar ways. I’ll guess that you can quickly get up to speed learning a new one, if necessary.