Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow your blog, connect with your audience, and monetize your content. According to a recent study, email marketing has an average return on investment (ROI) of $42 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most profitable digital marketing channels.
But how do you choose the best email marketing platform and strategy for your blog? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find the right fit for your needs and goals. In this article, we will help you answer this question by covering the following topics:
- The benefits of email marketing for bloggers
- The challenges of email marketing for bloggers
- The criteria for choosing the best email marketing platform for bloggers
- The top 5 email marketing platforms for bloggers in 2023
- The best email marketing strategy for bloggers in 2023
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of how to leverage email marketing to grow your blog and generate more revenue. Let’s get started!
The Benefits of Email Marketing for Bloggers
Email marketing is not only a powerful way to drive traffic to your blog, but also a great way to build trust and loyalty with your readers. Here are some of the benefits of email marketing for bloggers:
- You can communicate with your audience on a personal level. Unlike social media platforms, where you have to compete with other content and algorithms, email allows you to reach your subscribers directly in their inboxes. You can use email to share your stories, insights, tips, and offers in a more intimate and conversational way.
- You can increase your engagement and retention rates. Email marketing helps you keep your readers interested and engaged with your content. You can use email to send them updates, newsletters, surveys, polls, quizzes, contests, and more. You can also use email to remind them of your latest blog posts, podcasts, videos, or products. By providing value and staying in touch with your subscribers, you can increase their loyalty and retention rates.
- You can grow your audience and reach new markets. Email marketing helps you expand your reach and attract new readers to your blog. You can use email to encourage your subscribers to share your content with their friends, family, or colleagues. You can also use email to collaborate with other bloggers or influencers in your niche and cross-promote each other’s content. By growing your email list, you can increase your exposure and authority in your industry.
- You can monetize your blog and generate more revenue. Email marketing helps you turn your readers into customers. You can use email to promote your own products or services, such as ebooks, courses, coaching, consulting, etc. You can also use email to recommend affiliate products or services that are relevant and useful for your audience. By providing value and building trust with your subscribers, you can increase your conversions and sales.
The Challenges of Email Marketing for Bloggers
Email marketing is not without its challenges. As a blogger, you may face some of these common obstacles when it comes to email marketing:
- You may struggle to build your email list. One of the biggest challenges of email marketing is getting people to sign up for your email list. You need to offer something valuable and compelling to entice your visitors to subscribe. You also need to optimize your website and landing pages to make it easy and convenient for them to join your list.
- You may have low open and click rates. Another challenge of email marketing is getting your subscribers to open and click on your emails. You need to craft catchy and relevant subject lines and preheaders to capture their attention. You also need to segment your email list and personalize your emails to match their interests and preferences.
- You may have high unsubscribe and spam rates. A third challenge of email marketing is keeping your subscribers happy and satisfied with your emails. You need to avoid sending too many or too few emails, or sending irrelevant or low-quality content. You also need to respect your subscribers’ privacy and preferences, and provide them with easy ways to unsubscribe or manage their subscription settings.
- You may have technical or legal issues. A fourth challenge of email marketing is dealing with the technical or legal aspects of email marketing. You need to choose a reliable and secure email marketing platform that can handle your email delivery and performance. You also need to comply with the email marketing laws and regulations in your country and region, such as the CAN-SPAM Act, the GDPR, the CCPA, etc.
The Criteria for Choosing the Best Email Marketing Platform for Bloggers
As you can see, email marketing is not a simple task. You need a reliable and effective email marketing platform that can help you overcome these challenges and achieve your goals. But how do you choose the best email marketing platform for your blog? Here are some of the criteria you should consider when comparing different email marketing platforms:
Ease of Use
The first criterion you should look for is ease of use. You want an email marketing platform that is user-friendly and intuitive, so you can set up your account, create your campaigns, manage your list, and track your results without any hassle. You also want an email marketing platform that offers a variety of templates, designs, and tools to help you create professional and attractive emails.
Pricing and Plans
The second criterion you should look for is pricing and plans. You want an email marketing platform that offers affordable and flexible pricing options that suit your budget and needs. You also want an email marketing platform that offers a free trial or a money-back guarantee, so you can test its features and performance before committing to a long-term contract.
Features and Functionality
The third criterion you should look for is features and functionality. You want an email marketing platform that offers a wide range of features and functionality that can help you grow your blog and monetize your content. Some of the features and functionality you should look for are:
- List building tools: such as opt-in forms, pop-ups, landing pages, etc.
- List management tools: such as segmentation, tagging, automation, etc.
- Email creation tools: such as drag-and-drop editor, HTML editor, image editor, etc.
- Email delivery tools: such as scheduling, testing, spam checking, etc.
- Email performance tools: such as analytics, reports, feedback, etc.
- Integration tools: such as WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, etc.
Deliverability and Support
The fourth criterion you should look for is deliverability and support. You want an email marketing platform that has a high deliverability rate, meaning that it can ensure that your emails reach your subscribers’ inbox without being blocked or filtered by spam filters. You also want an email marketing platform that offers excellent customer support, meaning that it can provide you with fast and helpful answers to your questions or issues.
The Top 5 Email Marketing Platforms for Bloggers in 2023
Based on these criteria, we have selected the top 5 email marketing platforms for bloggers in 2023. These are:
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most popular and widely used email marketing platforms in the world. It has over 12 million users who send over 1 billion emails every day. Mailchimp is known for its ease of use, affordability, and versatility.
Some of the pros of Mailchimp are:
- It offers a free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month
- It has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to create beautiful emails in minutes
- It has a large collection of templates, designs, and images that you can customize to fit your brand
- It has powerful list building and management tools that let you segment your audience based on various criteria
- It has advanced analytics and reporting tools that let you measure your email performance and optimize your campaigns
- It integrates with over 200 apps and services that you can use to enhance your email marketing
Some of the cons of Mailchimp are:
- It has limited automation features that may not be enough for complex or sophisticated campaigns
- It has strict policies and rules that
- It has strict policies and rules that may limit your email content or frequency
- It has higher prices and fewer features as your list grows beyond the free plan
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is a powerful and flexible email marketing platform that is designed for creators, such as bloggers, podcasters, authors, etc. It has over 300,000 users who send over 500 million emails every month. ConvertKit is known for its automation, personalization, and integration features.
Some of the pros of ConvertKit are:
- It offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and unlimited emails
- It has a sleek and modern interface that allows you to create engaging emails with ease
- It has a unique tagging system that lets you segment your audience based on their behavior, interests, or preferences
- It has robust automation features that let you create custom workflows and sequences for your campaigns
- It has detailed analytics and reporting tools that let you track your email performance and optimize your conversions
- It integrates with over 80 apps and services that you can use to enhance your email marketing
Some of the cons of ConvertKit are:
- It has limited templates and designs that may not suit your brand or style
- It has higher prices and fewer features than some of its competitors
- It has a learning curve that may take some time to master
AWeber
AWeber is one of the oldest and most trusted email marketing platforms in the industry. It has over 1 million users who send over 100 billion emails every year. AWeber is known for its reliability, deliverability, and customer service.
Some of the pros of AWeber are:
- It offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails per month
- It has a classic and familiar interface that allows you to create professional emails with ease
- It has a large library of templates, designs, and images that you can customize to fit your brand
- It has reliable list building and management tools that let you segment your audience based on various criteria
- It has high deliverability rates that ensure that your emails reach your subscribers’ inbox
- It offers excellent customer support via phone, chat, or email
Some of the cons of AWeber are:
- It has outdated and clunky features that may not be enough for modern or advanced campaigns
- It has higher prices and fewer features than some of its competitors
- It has limited integration options that may not work with your preferred apps or services
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a comprehensive and versatile email marketing platform that is suitable for small businesses, nonprofits, or organizations. It has over 600,000 users who send over 200 billion emails every year. Constant Contact is known for its features, functionality, and support.
Some of the pros of Constant Contact are:
- It offers a free trial for 60 days with no credit card required
- It has a user-friendly and intuitive interface that allows you to create stunning emails in minutes
- It has a wide range of templates, designs, and images that you can customize to fit your brand
- It has powerful list building and management tools that let you segment your audience based on various criteria
- It has advanced features and functionality that let you create surveys, polls, coupons, events, donations, etc.
- It offers excellent customer support via phone, chat, or email
Some of the cons of Constant Contact are:
- It has no free plan and its paid plans start from $20 per month for up to 500 subscribers
- It has lower deliverability rates than some of its competitors
- It has strict policies and rules that may limit your email content or frequency
Sendinblue
Sendinblue is a fast-growing and innovative email marketing platform that is ideal for startups, entrepreneurs, or freelancers. It has over 80,000 users who send over 100 million emails every day. Sendinblue is known for its pricing, features, and functionality.
Some of the pros of Sendinblue are:
- It offers a free plan for up to 300 emails per day and unlimited contacts
- It has a modern and elegant interface that allows you to create beautiful emails with ease
- It has a smart and dynamic segmentation system that lets you segment your audience based on their behavior, interests, or preferences
- It has robust automation features that let you create custom workflows and scenarios for your campaigns
- It has detailed analytics and reporting tools that let you measure your email performance and optimize your campaigns
- It integrates with over 50 apps and services that you can use to enhance your email marketing
Some of the cons of Sendinblue are:
- It has limited templates and designs that may not suit your brand or style
- It has lower deliverability rates than some of its competitors
- It has a learning curve that may take some time to master
The Best Email Marketing Strategy for Bloggers in 2023
Choosing the best email marketing platform for your blog is only the first step. You also need to have a clear and effective email marketing strategy that can help you achieve your goals. Here are some of the best practices and tips for creating a successful email marketing strategy for your blog in 2023:
Define Your Goals and Audience
The first step of your email marketing strategy is to define your goals and audience. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with your email marketing and who you want to reach with your emails. Some of the common goals of email marketing for bloggers are:
- Increase traffic to your blog
- Increase engagement and retention rates
- Increase conversions and sales
- Increase brand awareness and authority
Some of the common ways to define your audience are:
- Create buyer personas that represent your ideal subscribers
- Conduct surveys or interviews to understand their needs, challenges, and preferences
- Analyze your website and social media data to identify their demographics, behavior, and interests
Build Your Email List
The second step of your email marketing strategy is to build your email list. You need to have a large and engaged email list that can help you reach more people and generate more revenue. Some of the best ways to build your email list are:
- Offer a lead magnet that provides value and solves a problem for your visitors
- Create an opt-in form that is visible, attractive, and compelling
- Use a pop-up or a landing page that captures your visitors’ attention and interest
- Use social media, guest posting, or collaborations to drive traffic to your opt-in form or landing page
- Use incentives, contests, or referrals to encourage your subscribers to share your content with their network
Segment Your Email List
The third step of your email marketing strategy is to segment your email list. You need to have a segmented email list that can help you deliver relevant and personalized content to your subscribers. Some of the benefits of segmenting your email list are:
- You can increase your open and click rates by sending targeted and tailored emails
- You can increase your conversions and sales by sending offers and promotions that match their needs and preferences
- You can increase your loyalty and retention rates by sending content that builds trust and rapport
Some of the common ways to segment your email list are:
- Based on demographics, such as age, gender, location, etc.
- Based on behavior, such as website activity, email engagement, purchase history, etc.
- Based on interests, such as topics, categories, niches, etc.
- Based on preferences, such as frequency, format, style, etc.
Create Engaging Content
The fourth step of your email marketing strategy is to create engaging content. You need to have engaging content that can help you connect with your subscribers and persuade them to take action. Some of the best practices for creating engaging content are:
- Write catchy and relevant subject lines and preheaders that capture their attention
- Write clear and concise body text that delivers value and solves a problem
- Write compelling and urgent calls to action that motivate them to click
- Use images, videos, or gifs that enhance your message and appeal to their emotions
- Use personalization, storytelling, or humor that make your emails more human and relatable
Test and Optimize Your Emails
The fifth step of your email marketing strategy is to test and optimize your emails. You need to test and optimize your emails regularly to ensure that they are performing well and achieving your goals. Some of the best ways to test and optimize your emails are:
- Use A/B testing or split testing to compare different versions of your emails and see which one performs better
- Use analytics or reports to measure your email performance and see what works and what doesn’t
- Use feedback or surveys to get direct input from your subscribers and see what they like or dislike
- Use best practices or benchmarks to improve your email deliverability, open rates, click rates, conversion rates, etc.
Conclusion: Best Email Marketing for Bloggers
Email marketing is one of the best ways to grow your blog, connect with your audience, and monetize your content. However, you need to choose the right email marketing platform and strategy for your blog. In this article, we have covered the following topics:
- The benefits of email marketing for bloggers
- The challenges of email marketing for bloggers
- The criteria for choosing the best email marketing platform for bloggers
- The top 5 email marketing platforms for bloggers in 2023
- The best email marketing strategy for bloggers in 2023
We hope this article has helped you find the best email marketing platform and strategy for your blog. Now it’s time for you to take action and start using email marketing to grow your blog.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about email marketing for bloggers:
How often should I send emails to my subscribers?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on your goals, audience, and content. However, a general rule of thumb is to send emails at least once a week, but not more than once a day. You should also test different frequencies and see what works best for your subscribers.
How can I avoid spam filters and increase my deliverability rates?
There are several factors that affect your email deliverability, such as your sender reputation, your email content, your email list quality, and your email service provider. Some of the best practices to avoid spam filters and increase your deliverability rates are:
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- Use a reputable and reliable email service provider that has high deliverability rates and follows the email marketing laws and regulations
- Use a verified and professional sender name and email address that matches your brand and domain
- Use a clear and honest subject line and preheader that reflects your email content and does not use misleading or spammy words
- Use a clean and responsive email design that is easy to read and navigate on any device or screen size
- Use a clear and visible unsubscribe link or button that allows your subscribers to opt out of your emails easily
- Use a double opt-in process that requires your subscribers to confirm their subscription before receiving your emails
- Use a permission-based email list that consists of subscribers who have voluntarily signed up for your emails and are interested in your content
- Use segmentation and personalization to send relevant and targeted emails to your subscribers based on their behavior, interests, or preferences
- Use analytics and reports to monitor your email performance and identify any issues or problems with your deliverability
How can I measure the success of my email marketing campaigns?
There are several metrics that you can use to measure the success of your email marketing campaigns, such as:
- Open rate: the percentage of subscribers who opened your email
- Click rate: the percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link in your email
- Conversion rate: the percentage of subscribers who completed a desired action after clicking on a link in your email, such as visiting your blog, buying your product, etc.
- Bounce rate: the percentage of emails that were not delivered to your subscribers’ inbox due to technical or other reasons
- Unsubscribe rate: the percentage of subscribers who opted out of your email list
- Spam rate: the percentage of subscribers who marked your email as spam or junk
You can use these metrics to evaluate your email performance and optimize your campaigns accordingly. You can also use other metrics, such as revenue, ROI, engagement, retention, etc., depending on your goals.
What are some of the best resources or tools for learning more about email marketing for bloggers?
There are many resources or tools that you can use to learn more about email marketing for bloggers, such as:
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- Blogs: such as HubSpot, Neil Patel, Copyblogger, etc.
- Podcasts: such as The Smart Passive Income Podcast, The Email Marketing Show, The Blogging Millionaire, etc.
- Courses: such as Email Marketing for Bloggers by Udemy, Email Marketing Essentials by Skillshare, Email Marketing Masterclass by Coursera, etc.
- Books: such as Email Marketing Demystified by Matthew Paulson, Everybody Writes by Ann Handley, Email Persuasion by Ian Brodie, etc.
- Tools: such as CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, etc.
