Constant Contact vs. ConvertKit
No matter what type of website or blog you run, you likely already know how important it is to have a mailing list. By getting your site's visitors to join your mailing list, you stand a greater chance of converting them into customers. Once you've gathered a few email addresses, it's important to send regular, well-formatted emails to keep them in the loop.
Whether you're new to mailing lists or you're looking to upgrade, there are some great companies to help you with your email marketing. Two of the best are Constant Contact and ConvertKit. Both companies offer a variety of features so that you can both organize and take your email marketing game to the next level.
But which one is better? As with many of these, each of these companies can best fit the needs of different use cases. We've done the hard work and found out the best features – and the negatives – for each of these email marketing services. Read on to figure out which is best for you.
Overview of Constant Contact
Constant Contact has actually been around since 1995. The business started in an attic and was designed to help small enterprises run email marketing campaigns that could compete with much larger businesses.
The company has since expanded to offer help for several of your business needs. In addition to email marketing, Constant Contact also offers a website builder, online store setup, and help with social media marketing. With the addition of these new features, it seems that Constant Contact is dedicated to helping small business owners and website owners get their message in front of a broader audience.
Constant Contact is also centered around customer service. They offer plenty of options if you need help, including marketing advisors and technical support. They even provide services if you want a more hands-off experience, including personal advisors who'll do your marketing for you.
What Are Constant Contact's Best Features?
Constant Contact is a good option for website owners who are ready to get serious about their email list. It offers some powerful features to take your email game to the next level and help you make conversions. Its additional features are also helpful for increasing your web presence.
One Platform, Many Options
Constant Contact has recently added several new options for its users, including a web builder, eCommerce, and social media marketing. These features may work well for you if you like to have everything all on one platform. You can log in to one site and take care of your website, email, online store, and social media, all in one place.
While this feature may be just what you've been looking for, if you're more technically inclined, you may prefer to use separate platforms for each of these elements, as you'll get more customization. Even if you only need an email marketing platform, Constant Contact is one of the best in the business and is a viable option.
Drag and Drop Templates
One of the most important aspects of email marketing is creating professional-looking emails that are consistent with your other branding. Constant Contact makes it easy to create beautiful emails, even if you have no technical know-how. Their drag and drop templates let you design your emails just the way you want.
You can also customize everything so that your emails are always on-brand. It's easy to change colors, fonts, and logos so that you can stay consistent for your readers. If you're the type who likes to customize everything and doesn't like to work from templates, Constant Contact offers that option as well.
Email Automation
For the busy business owner, email automation is a must. Constant Contact lets you set up email automation to help save you valuable time. You can easily set up an email to welcome new subscribers – no need to keep an eye on your email to see who signs up.
You can create triggered email series so that once someone joins your list, they'll regularly receive an email series. This feature is perfect for creating a sales funnel. If you want to customize even more, Constant Contact has you covered. You can create email segmentation to target different groups on your list. You can also set up resends to people who don't open.
List Management
Keeping track of your email list can be a pain, but Constant Contact helps you manage it in one easy place. You can upload your list from just about anywhere, including Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce. If you gather email addresses in several different places, such as on your website and various social media, Constant Contact captures them all and stores them in one place.
Tracking Tools
Your email marketing campaign won't do you much good if you don't have any tracking tools to measure your success. Constant Contact has powerful tracking tools to help you throughout the entire email marketing process.
Tools like click segmentation can help you to segment your lists and increase chances of conversions. Email open rates let you see just how many people are actually opening your emails. A heat map tool even enables you to track which of your links get the most clicks.
Constant Contact makes it easy for you to keep up with your email marketing metrics and make adjustments accordingly. They even have an app that lets you check your data from your mobile phone.
Dynamic Sign-Up Forms
Convincing potential customers to give you their email is tough, but Constant Contact allows you to create dynamic sign-up forms to place on your site. Their form editor lets you customize forms that are both attractive and on-brand.
Overview of ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing software company aimed at creators like artists, bloggers, and musicians. Their motto is “the future belongs to creators,” and their goal is to help creators earn money online so that they can keep doing the things they love.
Unlike many email marketing software companies, ConvertKit seems to be aimed at the individual instead of small businesses and larger organizations. They offer features like customized emails, automations, landing pages, and eCommerce to help users get their word out. The company has even more features coming down the pipeline, such as recurring payment options, color palettes, and split paths in automations.
What Are ConvertKit's Best Features?
ConvertKit has some great features to help you create emails that stand out from the crowd and make money from those emails. They also have automation capabilities and offer features to help you grow your list.
Landing Pages
ConvertKit eliminates the need for a full website if you prefer something more straightforward. They offer a template editor that lets you create professional-looking landing pages. You can use these pages to help grow your email list.
Free Downloads
One of the best ways to grow your email list is by offering free downloads. ConvertKit allows you to add a PDF download to landing pages and sign-up forms so that your new list members will have easy access once they sign up.
Personalized Content
You can increase your chances of getting your email opened and read by customizing your subject lines and the body with personal information about your list members, such as their names or job titles. With ConvertKit, it's easy to set up and automate these personalizations, instead of spending time changing the information in each email you send.
Email Templates
ConvertKit has an intuitive drag-and-drop template editor to let you quickly create emails and spend more time focusing on content creation. You can also make your templates mobile responsive and save images for easy access.
You don't have to use HTML, but ConvertKit lets you use it if you want more customization options. You can also create several templates to use for different funnels.
Digital Products
If you create digital products for sale, ConvertKit lets you sell those products directly from your email or landing page. You can also create sales pages. You don't have to use other plugins or integrations, and your customers can make a purchase and get an instant download.
Automated Sales Funnel
ConvertKit allows you to make an automated sales funnel so that you can convert your list members into customers. The whole process is automated, so you can create your sales funnel, and when new members sign up for your mailing list, they will receive messages in the funnel at customized times.
Comparisons Between Constant Contact and ConvertKit
Constant Contact and ConvertKit offer similar pricing structures, but ConvertKit does offer a dedicated free option, while Constant Contact doesn't. Both increase in price as you get more subscribers.
Much of your choice will come down to your personal needs, as opposed to whether one of the platforms is better per se. Constant Contact is aimed at small business owners who may have several revenue streams, while ConvertKit is made for creators. Their platform is designed for the individual and works well for those who don't want a website.
Constant Contact is better for those who do want a full website and want lots of customization options. Their platform may be a better option for businesses that are growing.
Constant Contact Pros and Cons
Pros
- You can easily maintain your email list, website, eCommerce, and social media all in one site.
- The interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for the technically challenged.
- Excellent event integration features.
- Extensive library of templates to help you make professional-looking emails.
Cons
- For the price, Constant Contact doesn't offer as many email marketing features as some of its competitors.
- It can get quite expensive as your contact list grows.
- It provides lots of templates but not a lot of customization options without HTML knowledge.
ConvertKit Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ideal for creators who don't want the hassle of running a full website.
- The free version is a commitment-free way to try out the service before buying.
- You can segment your list to send out targeted campaigns.
Cons
- It doesn't offer as many analytics features as some of its competitors.
- There are few email templates, so you don't have a lot of options. Most are text-based.
- Other platforms offer more options for around the same price.
Payment Options
Both Constant Contact and ConvertKit offer two payment plans to suit your needs.
Constant Contact Payment Plans
Constant Contact offers two payment plans: Email, which currently starts at $20 per month, and Email Plus, which starts at $45 per month. These prices are based on 500 contacts or less, and the costs increase as you add more contacts.
With the Email plan, you get unlimited sends, branded and customizable templates, access to tracking, automatic resend to non-openers, subject line A/B testing, and eCommerce marketing. You'll also get access to marketing tools like a logo maker, contact list import and management, landing pages, social media tools, and event management.
With this plan, you get a website with hosting, analytics, blog, SSL, and more. You can set up an eCommerce store with unlimited products and transactions. You'll be required to pay a 1.5% transaction fee. If you need help, you can call or chat with their support team.
Email Plus
The email Plus plan offers the same features as the Email plan and then some. You'll get features like customizable pop-up forms, automated welcome email series, and automated behavioral series. The Plus plan also allows for more interaction with your list members, such as surveys, polls, and RSVP forms. You can even personalize your emails for each member.
ConvertKit Payment Plans
ConvertKit offers two payment plans: Creator and Creator Pro. Creator currently starts at $29 for up to 1,000 subscribers, with the price increasing as you gain more subscribers. Creator Pro currently starts at $59 per month, and the cost increases as you gain subscribers. Both plans offer two months free if you pay annually.
Creator
With the Creator plan, you'll get unlimited landing pages and unlimited traffic. You'll have the option to customize your domain name. You can send email broadcasts, automate your funnels and email sequences. You'll also get access to premium support and two different courses to help you get started.
Creator Pro
With Creator Pro, you'll get everything in the Creator plan and custom Facebook audiences, and more analytics features. You'll also receive access to priority support in case you need help.
Free Options
Both services do offer free trials so that you can get a feel for their paid services. ConvertKit is the only service with an actual free option.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact doesn't currently offer any free options other than a free trial membership.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit offers a free version of its service that lets you manage up to 1,000 subscribers. You'll get unlimited landing pages, forms, and traffic, with a customizable domain. You can send email blasts and tag subscribers, but you can't create automated funnels and email sequences. You will be able to complete the two courses under the free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still are torn between which service may better suit your needs, let's take a look at some frequently asked questions that may further help you decide.
Should I Use an Email Marketing Service?
If your business has an online presence, you should have an email list. You should also regularly email your list. Managing an email list is so much easier with an email marketing platform instead of using a regular email service.
Even free or cheap platforms will give you options to help you manage your list and create professional-looking emails. Platforms also offer some level of automation so that you can send emails on a schedule without having to manually send an email each time someone joins your list.
Why Should I Use a Paid Email Marketing Service?
Paid email marketing services can be helpful at almost any stage of your business's growth but become particularly useful once your list expands beyond 1,000 or so members. Paid platforms allow for advanced options like sales funnels, list segmentation, and analytics, all features that can help you increase conversions.
While you may be reluctant to spend the money each month, most business owners find that once their list is big enough, the added features make more conversions, and the paid service more than pays for itself.
Is Email Marketing Worth It?
Almost every online entrepreneur and digital marketing expert will tell you that email is still one of the best ways to get new customers. You can get visitors to your website, but what are the chances they'll come back? However, people check their email daily. If you're in their inbox, you're maintaining a connection.
Conclusion
Both Constant Contact and ConvertKit offer email marketing software that will help you to grow your list and stay connected with your current list members. These platforms make it easy to create great-looking emails, although Constant Contact does offer more options for customization. Both services also allow for automation and sales funnels, but ConvertKit is your best bet if you want to segment and target your list to increase conversions.
Overall, both platforms offer powerful solutions, and your ultimate decision will likely be based on your specific use case. It's essential to consider your needs as you think over these options and make your choice. By creating automated email sequences, you can get more conversions while reducing the amount of time you spend on email.
