In a world where competition for customer attention is fierce, an ecommerce email platform is a powerful way to stay ahead. Choosing the best email marketing software for a small business can be a game-changer. A good ecommerce email platform enhances your outreach efforts and helps you maintain a solid connection with your customers, ultimately boosting your bottom line.
What Is Email Marketing Software?
Email marketing software tools are designed to make it easier to create and send emails to your list. You can set up a single email or a campaign to send automatically to a lead as they enter your list. The software does all the work for you, so your emails are consistently scheduled and sent to the right audience at the right time. Best email marketing software for small business like ActiveCampaign help you get more leads and sales from your website, and you can track your visitors in real-time.
Personalized campaigns
Writing a compelling email is important to increase your open rates and conversions. Email marketing software allows you to create personalized emails based on your subscribers' actions on your website or purchase history. You can also segment your contacts into lists based on their actions and send them emails that are more relevant to them. By delivering personalized email content, you can increase engagement and conversion rates.
Brand identity
Your brand identity is the visual representation of your brand, including your logo, color palette, and fonts. As a business, you need to stay consistent across all channels to build trust with your customers. Email marketing software allows you to create branded emails that match your website and other marketing materials. This helps you build trust with your customers and stand out in their inbox.
Contact management
Another great benefit of email marketing software is that it simplifies contact management. As your list grows, keeping track of all the data about your leads becomes harder. Email marketing software allows you to store and manage all your contacts in one place. You can easily categorize your contacts, create lists for different campaigns, and view all your contacts' information in one place.
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
Email marketing software helps you track key performance indicators, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. By monitoring these metrics, you can determine which emails perform well and which don't. You can also use A/B testing to test different subject lines, content, and calls to action to see which ones perform the best. Tracking these KPIs can improve your email marketing efforts and increase your ROI.
What To Look For In Email Marketing Software As A Small Business
1. Convenience
Your email marketing tool should make your life easy. You shouldn’t be stuck with a clunky UI or a steep learning curve. Plus, it should have features for automating recurring tasks like scheduling emails.
2. Drag-and-drop Editor
The email marketing tool should have a powerful drag-and-drop editor that lets you design emails quickly without coding. It should also have readymade layouts and templates.
3. Automation Features
Your email marketing solution should automate tasks like scheduling campaigns, triggering emails based on activity, and lead nurturing. It should have a powerful automation builder.
4. Signup Forms
You should be able to create signup forms to start attracting new subscribers. Using another tool just for forms isn’t the best use of your time, as time will be wasted on integrating/migrating data.
5. Deliverability
Your email marketing tool should be able to deliver emails to your subscribers' inboxes. Always test different platforms for deliverability rates before picking one.
6. Support
Email marketing platforms should offer dedicated support via multiple mediums—chat, email, and even phone calls. Your marketing will depend on it, and every moment wasted trying to tackle a technical hiccup can lead to a wasted opportunity.
7. Security & Reliability
Most email marketing services have a robust security policy and should offer top-notch protection against hackers and data breaches. In the day and age of GDPR and stringent data policies, your email marketing service should protect you from unwanted penalties.
8. Integrations
Check for compatibility with other tools you use, like CRM systems, eCommerce platforms, and social media integrations. This can help to streamline workflows, maintain data consistency, and lead to more upsells and faster deals.
9. Segmentation Features
Robust segmentation capabilities are essential for targeting different industries, company sizes, or stages in the buying cycle
Mailsplash
Mailsplash is an AI-powered tool to create stunning email templates that convert. Design and create stunning/converting emails (campaigns, flows, all of it) in minutes. Send with any email service provider (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.). We enable freelancers, brands, and agencies to rapidly create personalized, converting email campaigns at lower cost than traditional marketing agencies, from email copywriting, to personalized branded email template design.
18 Best Email Marketing Software For Small Business
1. Mailsplash – All-in-one Email Solution
Mailsplash is an AI-powered tool designed to create visually stunning email templates that are proven to convert. The platform allows you to design, create, and send emails with any email service provider while enabling freelancers, brands, and agencies to create personalized, converting email campaigns quickly and at a lower cost than traditional marketing agencies.
2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo offers a good compromise between the expense it requires and the service that is simple to use and complete in the functions it offers. Brevo also has a well-developed CRM section and offers excellent automation, integration, and segmentation possibilities, representing a real competitive advantage over other platforms. The interface can be more complicated than other services like Mailchimp).
It is also an excellent tool for SMS marketing. There is a range of templates for creating your emails. Brevo allows you to create custom workflows that send emails automatically. You can even use your contact’s behavior on your website to trigger emails. For example, you could send an automated email if a customer adds an item to their cart but fails to check it.
Pros
Deliver time-sensitive information quickly
Advanced Automation included in freemium
Track all customer interactions on one platform
Cons
Support can be slow
Bad deliverability rate.
Limited freemium and lite plan.
Bad Drag and drop options.
Pricing
Brevo offers an entirely free account for up to 300 emails per day and receive unlimited contacts. If you do want to send more emails than that, paid plans start at $ 25/month.
3. ActiveCampaign
Small businesses and startups can opt for ActiveCampaign, an inexpensive Email Marketing platform that is easy to use and has several specific functions for SMEs. This platform has a CRM system to manage leads and automatically organize sales and marketing. Process automation is a point in favor of Active Campaign which presents ground-breaking, informative reports that tell users what is working in their email marketing efforts and what isn’t.
What makes ActiveCampaign a great email marketing service to look into is how it filters the customer experience acquisition process. The platform’s official website filters potential users by industry, product, and role. This allows the platform to completely customize your email marketing service needs depending on who you are and what you seek.
Pros
Built-in sales CRM stores customer data that can be used to market right back to them
Powerful, easy-to-set-up automation can run long-term campaigns from start to finish
Nearly 1,000 integrations with other apps and services gives new meaning to word “ominchannel”
Con
Reporting could use more financial metrics to measure the cost and effectiveness of advertising better
Pricing
ActiveCampaign's pricing starts at $29 and it unlocks advanced features like segmentation and flows.
4. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a comprehensive marketing automation platform for small and large businesses. It offers robust features that enable digital marketers to attract, nurture, and convert leads to returning customers. The cloud-based marketing solution uses AI-powered features to improve email content while streamlining customer engagement. Mailchimp has a robust integrations directory, allowing you to connect with apps like Wix, Stripe, Square, Shopify, Help Scout, Databox, etc.
Although Mailchimp is an advanced marketing tool, it is also a user-friendly platform that allows beginners and experienced marketers to deliver highly targeted and personalized campaigns. Like HubSpot, Mailchimp provides a comprehensive knowledge base to guide new users through all necessary processes. Mailchimp offers chat, email, and phone support. It also has an AI-powered chatbot that provides quick answers to regular queries. Dedicated and assisted onboarding support is only available on higher plans.
Pros
Mailchimp is an advanced marketing automation platform
It supports a one-month trial period and other affordable options for smaller businesses
It is beginner-friendly
It supports multivariate and A/B testing
Cons
Phone support is only available on higher plans
Email scheduling is not available on the free plan
The free plan includes Mailchimp branding
Pricing
Mailchimp offers a free plan that includes 1,000 monthly emails and 500 contacts. Prices start at $13 for 500 contacts for higher limits and more features.
5. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an emailing platform targeting online creatives like bloggers and YouTubers. Email marketing features include the ability to segment your list and personalize campaigns using tags and A/B testing for subject lines. You can grow your audience with customizable landing page templates and signup forms designed to increase conversions. And if you’re using downloadable content as an incentive, it’s easy to send materials automatically after someone fills out your form.
ConvertKit’s automation software provides a visual way to set up email drip campaigns powered by subscriber behavior. The workflow editor shows you what your sequences look like in action and makes altering the path subscribers take easy. And if you need help getting started, there are automation templates for use cases like webinars and product launches. All plans let you send unlimited emails and provide live chat and email support. For paid plans, pricing is based on how many subscribers you have.
Pros
ConvertKit is known for its clean and simple design, making it easy for beginners to navigate and create professional-looking emails.
ConvertKit offers advanced automation capabilities, allowing users to create complex workflows and trigger emails based on subscriber actions.
ConvertKit prioritizes email deliverability, ensuring that your messages reach your subscribers' inboxes.
Cons
Compared to other email marketing platforms, ConvertKit offers fewer customization options for email templates and landing pages.
As your subscriber list grows, ConvertKit's pricing can become more expensive compared to other providers.
Pricing
The free plan lets you have up to 300 subscribers. After that, prices start at $15 per month for 300 contacts and more advanced features.
6. MailerLite
MailerLite is another email marketing service covering beginner needs. You can create any kind of email campaign with their drag-and-drop editor. You can also grow your email list with signup forms, create dedicated landing pages, and even a whole website with their website builder. Transactional emails can be sent through a third party, MailerSend.
MailerLite also offers email automation and personalization based on user behavior. Abandoned cart emails are available for Shopify and WooCommerce stores. Contact management and segmentation are also covered. A/B testing and smart delivery by time zone features let you optimize campaign results. On top of that, MailerLite has reports and analytics for you to track your performance.
Pros
Generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
Intuitive drag-and-drop email editor and landing page builder
Excellent email deliverability and affordable paid plans
Cons
Limited email sending on the free plan (12,000 per month)
Lacks advanced features like AI-powered automation and reporting
Customer support quality can be inconsistent at times
Pricing
The free plan allows you to send 12,000 emails per month to 1,000 contacts. Paid plans start at $10 per month for 500 subscribers.
7. Klaviyo
Klaviyo mainly caters to online shops. It provides SMS and advanced email functionality for marketers looking to increase revenue. Their editor is easy to use and there are ready-made responsive templates available. You can personalize emails with product recommendations and dynamic blocks.
Klaviyo tracks website interactions and events that you can use for emails, automations and segmentation. All customer data goes into individual profiles, a CRM, where you can dive deeper into understanding buyers. Klaviyo also offers advanced reporting capabilities. In addition to a metrics dashboard, it provides customized benchmarks for your business.
Pros
Klaviyo's ability to leverage customer data enables highly personalized email campaigns.
Klaviyo's automated workflows and triggered emails save time and ensure timely customer communication.
Klaviyo provides comprehensive analytics to track campaign performance and drive data-driven decisions.
Cons
Klaviyo may have a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners, due to its extensive features.
Klaviyo can be relatively more expensive compared to some other email marketing solutions
Pricing
The free plan includes 500 emails per month for 250 contacts. Paid plan prices start at $20 per month for 500 contacts.
8. AWeber — Best for bloggers
AWeber’s email marketing platform has some handy tools for beginners. On top of a drag-and-drop editor and extensive library of email templates, the platform offers an AI-powered design assistant. This tool uses your website and social media accounts to automatically build on-brand templates for your business’ email newsletters.
Scalable Customer Engagement
AWeber makes it simple to connect with individual customers at scale using tags that you can add manually or automatically. For example, you can tag subscribers based on signup information or when they open an email or click a link. Email automation features let you run your campaigns on autopilot, including drip campaigns for welcoming subscribers or launching a new product. To save you time, the campaign marketplace offers pre-made workflows with email templates for each campaign stage.
Efficient Campaign Management
Elsewhere, there’s a drag-and-drop landing page builder that comes with ready-to-use templates and a gallery of stock images to quickly create attractive pages. All templates include signup forms and you can automatically tag subscribers from each form to better manage your lists.
Pros
AWeber is known for its ease of use and friendly user interface.
AWeber offers a wide range of email templates for newsletters, blog broadcasts, and landing pages.
AWeber provides reliable customer support through various channels, including live chat and phone assistance.
Cons
AWeber charges for hosting unsubscribed contacts on your account, which can increase costs.
AWeber's automation capabilities are considered basic compared to some competitors, lacking advanced marketing automation features.
Some users find AWeber's interface and design to be somewhat dated compared to newer email marketing tools
Pricing
The free plan includes 3,000 emails for up to 500 subscribers. After that, prices start at $14.99 per month for the pro version.
9. Mailmodo
Mailmodo is a tool you can use in your business to create and send interactive emails that let users take action instantly right inside their emails. For example, you can fill out forms, book meetings on Calendly, complete checkout, etc., right from the email received from a company without opening another page or tab.
More people are inclined to start and complete a process when provided with a call to action button they can click rather than the regular static emails. You can provide a web browser experience and curate better marketing strategies within an email. The typical customers of Mailmodo are Freelancers, small businesses, large enterprises, and mid-size businesses.
Pros
Better customer engagement with the in-male interaction API.
There is no code, drag and drop editor to create AMP email templates that automatically generate an HTML fallback.
Customizable templates library of over 100 templates according to different use-cases.
Affordable pricing that doesn’t depend on the number of contacts, so you don’t break your bank while scaling.
Cons
Lacks advanced AMP features like carousels and accordions and cannot include landing pages in their emails.
Abandoned cart or product recommendation widgets can complete checkout steps, but payment requires a redirect to a landing page.
Mailmodo Pricing
Mailmodo pricing is based on the number of emails sent monthly.
10. Hubspot
HubSpot is a popular cloud-based CRM system that offers robust features to help businesses optimize their operations, enhance customer communications, and improve conversions. The email marketing hub supports well-built capabilities for attracting and nurturing leads, as well as building profitable relationships to drive sales.
Integrations
HubSpot supports integrations with Databox, Eventbrite, Typeform, Hotjar, Webflow, NeverBounce, Intercom, Unbounce, etc. HubSpot is a relatively advanced marketing software with complex processes and capabilities. It provides a robust knowledge center with quick-answer documents, community discussions, forums, courses, and user guides. This enables users to find answers and solutions to their queries.
There are multiple customization options that enable businesses to create unique templates that match their branding. HubSpot also supports chat, email, and phone support. These provisions eliminate the complexities around HubSpot’s marketing system.
Pricing
HubSpot also has a flexible pricing structure for organizations of varying sizes. Small businesses can take advantage of the plans for individual and small teams. The starter plan starts at $15 per month. It supports monthly and annual billing options. Like EngageBay, it supports a free version and a 14-day free trial plan.
Pros
It provides access to an academy with robust educational resources
It is an all-in-one CRM system for all things marketing, sales, and support
It has a comprehensive app marketplace and supports integrations with several their-party applications
It is a scalable system for growing businesses
Cons
The pricing gets expensive too quickly
A/B testing is not supported on lower packages
You may need to pay for technical support
11. GetReponse
GetResponse is a multifunctional email marketing platform that offers email marketing, website builder, and webinar creation features on a single platform. It is useful for small businesses looking to solve different marketing problems (e.g., cart abandonment campaigns) from a single platform instead of getting multiple subscriptions.
It offers an easy way to make and send promotional, educational, and personalized email campaigns. You can create beautiful newsletters, autoresponders, and automated sequences. You can also set up live and on-demand webinars, create cart abandonment campaigns, and use marketing automation for lead gen, inbound marketing, lead nurturing, and more.
Pros
Prompt support and intuitive documentation
Detailed analytics dashboard
List segmentation and categorization features
Cons
Outdated UI
Simple and outdated email template designs
Pricing plans can get costly as you scale operations
GetResponse Pricing
GetResponse has a budget-friendly pricing for those who don’t need much:
Starts at $16 per month for up to 1000 subscribers (only email marketing features);
The free 30-days plan is also available for up to 500 subscribers (limited use).
12. Drip
Drip is great for e-commerce shops, in part because their intelligent e-commerce automation is high-level but also intuitive for new users to navigate. Their basic plan is only $49/month for 2,500 users with unlimited email sends and 24/7 support. Some of their larger customers include LiveNation and Trivago.
13. BenchmarkONE
BenchmarkONE was specifically designed with small businesses in mind. The overall email marketing suite includes an intuitive drag and drop builder, professionally pre-designed email templates, and with a CRM included in one platform, they offer the ability to build your email list like a boss with responsive forms and automations.
BenchmarkONE's Core pricing is $79/month (although you can choose a smaller Lite package at $39/month). The Core package gives you five users, 500 contacts (although you can get more with an increased price), and 2,500 email sends.
14. ActiveTrail
ActiveTrail is a versatile email marketing platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers an intuitive user interface and a wide array of advanced features to streamline email campaign management. It stands out for its robust automation capabilities, allowing marketers to set up sophisticated, triggered campaigns with ease. The platform's automation and segmentation capabilities allow for highly personalized and timely communication with audiences, increasing engagement and conversion rates.
ActiveTrail's integration with a vast array of third-party applications enhances its utility, enabling a seamless flow of data across different marketing tools. With competitive pricing and exceptional customer support, ActiveTrail presents a cost-effective solution for businesses aiming to maximize their email marketing efforts with efficiency and ease.
15. Omnisend
Omnisend is an all-in-one email marketing & SMS tool. It helps to automate your marketing across the entire customer journey—reaching the right audience with the right message at the right time. With extra features relevant to eCommerce marketing campaigns, advanced automation, and marketing workflows, Omnisend is an all-around eCommerce and email tool.
16. Retainful
Retainful is a useful ecommerce email marketing platform with all the necessary features without being overly complicated or confusing.
Retainful helps businesses build customized automation with a built-in, ready-to-customize customer journey builder and an easy-to-use email editor to increase customer engagement. Campaigns can be set up without any coding knowledge. The interface is easy to use and intuitive and includes resources for any questions during the process.
17. Moosend
Moosend is an affordable email marketing service for small businesses. It comes with a suite of powerful marketing automation features, email list building tools, landing pages, and more. You can quickly create an email newsletter and customize the email design to match your brand within minutes by either choosing from their dozens of pre-made email templates or by creating a completely custom template.
The nice part about Moosend is that they offer marketing automation features to all plans. You can use their automation workflow designer to create a personalized subscriber journey for your newsletter subscribers. Moosend offers detailed email analytics that show you important metrics such as email opens, clicks, bounces, product views, purchases, custom event tracking, and even predicted demographic data.
18. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is one of the best conversion optimization software platforms on the market. It allows you to convert website visitors into email subscribers and customers easily. It comes with easy-to-integrate lightbox popups, slide-in modules, welcome mats, coupon wheels, and more. OptinMonster works with all popular email marketing services and quickly increases your email list's subscribers.
It is packed with many features that help you automatically target users and show them personalized campaigns. For example, you can show targeted messages for different pages on your site. You can also show campaigns based on user activity and geographic location.
What Is The Best Email Software For Small Business?
1. Assess Your Specific Needs
When comparing email marketing service providers, it’s important to bear in mind your specific needs. This might be advanced automation and segmentation capabilities, a rich choice of email templates you can easily edit to fit your brand, or additional tools for multichannel campaigns.
2. Compare Plans and Pricing
Each solution will offer different plans and pricing structures. So it’s worth doing some digging to work out how much each platform costs for the features you need and the number of contacts you plan to send campaigns to.
3. Long-term Viability
The best email marketing service for your business will not only help you grow in the short term but it should also remain a viable solution as your needs develop.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use Mailsplash’s All-in-one AI Email Solution For Your Email Marketing
Getting Started: Uploading Brands and Products
Before you can generate an email, you’ll need to upload a brand and product.
Navigate to the “Brands” tab and select “Add a Brand”. Once you’ve defined the brand’s name, logo(s), font(s), and color(s), you can upload your product(s).
You can do so by simply pasting in the product link, which will auto-populate the product description, name, and images, as seen below. Now you’re ready to design and write stunning emails with Mailsplash.
Design & Write Emails with Mailsplash: A Guide
Generate with AI
Not sure where to start? From your dashboard, click “Generate with AI” to get to ideating. Simply select the brand(s) and product(s) you’ve uploaded and describe the email you’re looking for (e.g. an email campaign promoting new pants on sale for 25% off). You can even define the design style you’re looking for!
If you’re feeling like a pro, click “Advanced Setup” to get more detailed access to other parameters such as your target audience, the type of email, and so on. Once you’re happy, click generate and watch the magic happen! In 30 seconds or less, you’ll have a email custom-tailored to your input.
Start from Template
Already know what kind of email you’re looking to create? You can then click “Start from Template” and browse through our gallery of templates, curated for the most common use cases. We currently support 21 templates for 7 different categories, but will be continuing to update this based on your feedback! Once you select an email type, you’ll be prompted to select a brand and product and be taken straight to the builder.
Sending Emails: Integrate with Any ESP
When exporting your email generation, you’ll be able to integrate with Klaviyo by inputting your API key. It’s as simple as that. We’re working on adding support for other major ESPs!
Now you should be well-equipped to save time and money on your email marketing.
Still confused? Have feedback? Let us know by sending us an email.
Tips For Starting Email Marketing For Your Small Business
1. Building Your Email List
Building an email list is the cornerstone of any successful email marketing campaign. To do this, you can collect email addresses from customers at the point of sale, or through a signup form on your website. Offering incentives, such as discounts or freebies in exchange for email addresses can help grow your list. It is essential to obtain explicit consent from subscribers before adding them to your list to ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR.
2. Creating Engaging Content
Creating engaging content is crucial for keeping subscribers interested in your emails. Develop content that includes product updates, promotions, newsletters, and other relevant information. Make sure your emails are visually appealing, easy to read, and mobile-friendly. Personalizing emails using subscribers' names or other relevant information can help improve engagement.
3. Segmenting Your Audience
Segmenting your email list can help increase the relevance of your emails. You can segment your list based on subscribers' demographics, interests, past purchases, or other criteria. By sending targeted emails to each segment, you can improve open rates and conversions. Experimenting with different types of emails like promotional, newsletters, or transactional campaigns can help you better understand what resonates with your audience.
4. Using Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines
Crafting attention-grabbing subject lines is essential for improving your email open rates. Write subject lines that are informative, relevant, and compelling. Testing different subject line variations can help you identify what resonates best with your audience.
5. Automating Your Campaigns
Automating your email campaigns can help save time and improve efficiency. Set up automated campaigns for welcome messages, abandoned carts, browse abandonment, and other scenarios. Automate triggered emails to verify customer actions like signups or purchases. Utilizing email marketing tools to track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates can help you optimize your campaigns for better results.
Create Fully-Built Stunning Email Templates That Convert With Mailsplash
Mailsplash is an innovative AI-powered tool that allows users to create visually stunning email templates designed to convert. This platform enables individuals and businesses to easily design and create email campaigns and flows in minutes. The best part about Mailsplash is that it is compatible with various email service providers like Mailchimp and Klaviyo, making it highly versatile and user-friendly.
With Mailsplash, freelancers, brands, and agencies can quickly create personalized and converting email campaigns at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional marketing agencies. From email copywriting to personalized branded email template design, Mailsplash offers an all-in-one email marketing solution that is both affordable and effective.
Hi! I'm Dan Kwon, a growth hacker and digital innovator who first gained social proof by hitting a million social media followers at 17. I founded an AI writing tool startup, propelling it to $1M ARR and over a million users in just 3 months, leading to a successful exit. My specialty lies in creating viral brand identities and understanding Gen Z’s digital marketing landscape. I'm always ready to share practical, real-world insights in digital marketing.