Thinking about getting into the automated newsletter game but don’t know where to start? Then your first task should be to decide which email newsletter platforms are best for your surf brand.
Now, admittedly, this can be a daunting task.
There are lots of email newsletter platforms on the market, and each one has its own set of pros and cons. But fear not, loyal reader. Instead of having to trawl the internet and test a variety of different platforms, you can check out the following article.
In it, I compare popular email newsletter platforms such as Mailchimp, Moosend, HubSpot, Constant Contact, Sendinblue and Campaign Monitor. So read on if you want to begin sending epic newsletters – The Surfing Copywriter has you covered! But first…
What is an email newsletter platform?
Before we compare the strengths and weaknesses of different email newsletter platforms, it’s important to understand exactly what an email newsletter platform is. In its simplest form, an email newsletter platform is a tool that allows you to send newsletters to a list of subscribers.
Most platforms will give you the ability to design your newsletters using templates or HTML, and will also track things like open rates and click-through rates. Some platforms will also let you automate your email newsletters so that you can send them out on a schedule without having to do it manually. However, you’ll still need to write the content yourself (if you’re struggling with this, check out these tips for crafting captivating newsletter content).
Consequently, these platforms are massive timesavers – especially for surf brand owners who are juggling a lot of different tasks at the same time.
Why should I be using one?
If the fact that you save time having to manually send out tens, hundreds or even thousands of newsletters isn’t enough of an incentive, using an email newsletter platform also has a few other benefits.
Firstly, most platforms will give you the ability to segment your list of subscribers – which means that you can send different newsletters to different groups of people depending on their interests.
For example, if you’re a surf brand owner who sells men’s, women’s or unisex clothing, you could segment your list so that subscribers only receive newsletters with content that’s relevant to their gender identity. This is opposed to sending the same newsletter to everyone on your list, which can be quite off-putting for some people.
Additionally, using an email newsletter platform can also help you to build a relationship with your subscribers. If you’re regularly sending them quality content that they’re interested in, they’ll start to see you as a trusted source of information – which could lead to them eventually becoming paying customers.
Finally, and this ties in with the time-saving element, email newsletter platforms remove a lot of the stress of having to send out newsletters manually. And if there’s one thing that we all need less of in life, it’s unnecessary stress.
The 9 best email newsletter platforms
1. Mailchimp
- Free up to 2,000 subscribers
- Starter package begins at €12 p/m
The first in line when it comes to dope email newsletter platforms has to be Mailchimp. I use it, lots of my clients use it and you probably do too. Why? Because it does what it’s meant to do and it’s easy to use.
From a design perspective, their templates are on point and will make your newsletters look super sharp. Plus, their visual email builder makes it easy to customise your templates or create one from scratch. And if you’re into creating stunning email marketing campaigns, their creative assistant is a helpful tool that resizes your newsletter so it looks great on any device.
Their content studio is another great email marketing feature that lets you create a personal library with all of your visuals. So if you’re someone who likes to have everything organised and in one place, this platform is definitely for you.
Alternatively, if you already use Mailchimp and are struggling to improve your open rates, check out this article on how to get better Mailchimp open rate results.
2. HubSpot
- Starter package begins at €41 p/m
If Mailchimp is the king of email newsletter platforms then HubSpot is the queen. As a marketing tool, HubSpot is almost unrivalled.
You can use it to create beautiful newsletters, manage your contacts, automate your marketing and so much more. And the most epic part? If you sign up for the email marketing tool, you also get access to a suite of free products, including a CRM, a form builder, live chat, ad management and more.
Oh… and the drag-and-drop newsletter builder is pretty nifty too – especially if you’re not that skilled in design – as it allows you to create newsletters that look professional without any prior graphic design experience.
3. Campaign Monitor
- Limited free plan
- Starter package begins at €9 p/m
Another excellent option is Campaign Monitor. It’s a great platform for brands and businesses that want to focus on delivering beautiful newsletters.
The software is easy to use and has a great interface. You can also find a variety of email templates, as well as an email editor, to help you get started with creating your newsletter. Additionally, the service offers newsletter automation features that allow you to create drip campaign emails.
However, its best feature is its ability to increase your open rate by delivering newsletters based on your contact list’s time zones. Consequently, this can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run, and it’s more convenient for the end-user too.
4. Moosend
- Free 30-day trial
- Starter package begins at $9 US p/m
Moosend, while not as well-known amongst smaller brands, is definitely up there with the best of ’em. It’s a great all-rounder that’s easy to use and comes with a variety of features, including automation, segmentation, personalisation and more.
The software also has a user-friendly interface and a drag-and-drop editor, which makes it perfect for those who want to create a professional-looking email newsletter without any design experience. Additionally, its responsive email templates and customisation options make Moosend a fantastic tool for anyone who wants to create a converting newsletter.
In addition, you not only get insightful metric tools to track your email success but also lead generation capabilities to help increase your newsletter subscribers. And if that wasn’t enough, the AI-powered subject line tester will help improve the open rates for each of your newsletters.
5. Constant Contact
- Free 60-day trial
- Tiered pricing begins at $9.99 p/m
This email newsletter platform sports a clean and modern interface that makes it easy to navigate.
Using its very simplistic email builder you can quickly create beautiful newsletters without having to be a design expert. However, the variety of templates is somewhat limited. The saving grace here is that if you want a branded email, you can design it using the software’s branded email builder.
In saying that, while Constant Contact boasts powerful features like autoresponders and list segmentation, its inflexibility may not make it the best choice for email automation beginners. Fortunately, for more advanced users, it not only lets you track your engagement rate, showing how many people have opened it, clicked on links and unsubscribed; but it also has an event invitation feature to help online conference and webinar organisers.
6. Sendinblue
- Free plan (only 300 emails per day but unlimited contacts)
- Starter package begins at €19 p/m
Sendinblue’s simplistic drag-and-drop email builder and HTML email templates let you to effortlessly create newsletters that are both visually appealing and informative. The software’s display conditions make it straightforward to customise your newsletter content so that each subscriber receives information that is relevant to them.
What’s more, when it comes to types of email, there are many options like newsletters, autoresponders, transactional emails and SMS. You can also find responsive email templates here too, so if you want to create behavioural data-based email campaigns to improve your open rates and click-through rates, this is the perfect platform for you.
Overall, Sendinblue is a wonderful newsletter platform that lets you generate, automate and deliver personalised emails to subscribers’ inboxes.
Conclusion
I hope that you found this article helpful in choosing the right email newsletter platform for your surf brand. All of the platforms listed here are excellent choices, so it really comes down to your experience and budget. Personally, I prefer Mailchimp due to its ease of use and comprehensive features, but ultimately it’s up to you.
As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information about how to grow your surf brand through targeted emails and newsletters.
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