1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Those of you just starting out with email marketing 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,250 may be tempted to jump right in with a tool you're already familiar with. 3 00:00:07,250 --> 00:00:11,150 Perhaps you want to send out a welcome message or information on your new app 4 00:00:11,150 --> 00:00:15,380 using Gmail, Outlook, or some other web mail platform. 5 00:00:15,380 --> 00:00:18,950 While it's possible to send out messages related to your business 6 00:00:18,950 --> 00:00:23,440 through these systems, there are many great email management tools available, 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,770 some paid, some free, that provide features you will discover 8 00:00:27,770 --> 00:00:29,470 you can't live without. 9 00:00:29,470 --> 00:00:32,330 Email management systems provide the ability 10 00:00:32,330 --> 00:00:35,830 to design HTML and plain text messages. 11 00:00:35,830 --> 00:00:39,600 Users should be given a choice about what kind to subscribe to 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,190 as some have strong preferences. 13 00:00:42,190 --> 00:00:46,460 Many email platforms also have design templates you can use to get started. 14 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:50,180 In most cases, however, you'll want to design your own template 15 00:00:50,180 --> 00:00:52,410 and use it every time. 16 00:00:52,410 --> 00:00:57,350 Email systems also provide basic statistics about the messages you send. 17 00:00:57,350 --> 00:01:01,270 You can see how many people opened the message, how many emails bounced back, 18 00:01:01,270 --> 00:01:04,180 and how many unsubscribed. 19 00:01:04,180 --> 00:01:07,240 List management tools allow you to store addresses 20 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,110 and create segments for targeted emails 21 00:01:10,110 --> 00:01:15,250 as well as give you tools to create an email opt-in form for your website. 22 00:01:15,250 --> 00:01:18,680 And finally, some provide campaign management tools 23 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,780 that track the success of a group of messages over time 24 00:01:21,780 --> 00:01:26,410 as well as conversion rates based on the links you included in each one. 25 00:01:26,410 --> 00:01:31,480 So, what are some email platforms you should consider? 26 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:36,220 Most offer a number of different plans based on how much you want to manage 27 00:01:36,220 --> 00:01:41,110 and do on their platform, but MailChimp offers a free plan 28 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:44,080 that allows you to manage up to 2,000 subscribers 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,300 and up to 12,000 emails per month. 30 00:01:47,300 --> 00:01:50,700 While it imposes a few limitations on what you can do 31 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:56,940 it's free, and it offers a lot of flexibility for businesses just starting out. 32 00:01:56,940 --> 00:02:01,080 Limited time free trials are also available on platforms like 33 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:08,050 MailerLite, Emma, iContact, Constant Contact, and AWeber. 34 00:02:08,050 --> 00:02:12,140 Each one offers many of the same options with some differences, 35 00:02:12,140 --> 00:02:15,290 including the variety of design templates, 36 00:02:15,290 --> 00:02:21,060 access to social tools, newsletter integration, and mobile-friendly designs. 37 00:02:21,060 --> 00:02:23,360 Whatever option you go with, do some research 38 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,250 and figure out which options mean the most for your business. 39 00:02:27,250 --> 00:02:31,440 Keep in mind that free tools will only take you so far. 40 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,930 If you're starting out or are a small business with a limited number of subscribers 41 00:02:35,930 --> 00:02:38,840 perhaps a free tool is all you need. 42 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,880 But consider the future. 43 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,840 Do you always want to be small or have a limited number of people 44 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,210 signed up to receive your updates? 45 00:02:47,210 --> 00:02:51,440 It's important to keep an eye on how these free tools perform, 46 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,780 especially as you grow. 47 00:02:53,780 --> 00:02:59,160 Consider a paid solution if and when you want to move things to the next level.