MailChimp is one of the most popular marketing tools for SMEs. However, does that mean it’s the best?
Main Features
Here is a rundown of the most important features that make MailChimp so attractive.
Email Campaigns
You can choose from 4 basic types of campaigns in MailChimp for SMEs. Regular caters to a standard email blast. Plaint-text caters to the regular email message without any images or formatting. A/B testing campaigns are for maximum impact. Finally, Automated campaigns are for messages for specific events. These include auto-response emails.
Templates
Templates are a standard feature of most email marketing tools. With MailChimp, you get a number of templates that you can use to build your emails. The template can be selected based on several design elements. You can choose based on the task or the niche as well. The templates can be further customized after selection as well.
You can check the preview of the template in the editor and everything works very intuitively and smoothly. This is a pretty useful feature in MailChimp. While other email marketing tools may offer it, they may not be qualitatively similar.
A/B Testing
A/B testing is an essential part of targeted marketing of any sort. MailChimp’s A/B testing feature allows users to test out different templates and aesthetics. It also allows them to measure their effectiveness objectively with their target audience.
This allows for more effective A/B test email campaigns to be created and for effectiveness to increase overall. More effective email campaigns mean greater sales and greater audience engagement.
Advanced Segmentation
This is a clear advantage with MailChimp for SMEs. With advanced segmentation, small businesses can target their niche audience much more easily. Segments of lists can be created based subscribers’ interests and their activities.
If someone opens emails regularly yet buys very little, targeting practices can change. Similarly if someone opens emails rarely but buys very regularly, they will be segmented separately.
Drawbacks
MailChimp’s competitors seem to offer the same features, but at a reduced rate in comparison. Hence, for the smallest of businesses, MailChimp may not be the first choice.
Final Thoughts
MailChimp is a great tool for most English speakers. Its ease of use and range of features and free plans are pretty standard for most people. However, their subscription plans don’t stand up to other competing services.
The one thing that rescues MailChimp for SMEs is its collection of integration. They have 11 million active users and that cater to an active audience of 4 billion. That’s extremely impressive. The simple fact that they’re able to cater to so many people at once is admirable in itself.
If you’re a business that conducts a large volume of transactions or handles large orders frequently, MailChimp is for you. However, for the smallest of businesses, MailChimp may not be the best value for money option out there.
