If you’re just starting out in the email marketing world, you’ve probably come across Mailchimp.
But, what is Mailchimp?
Well, it’s an email marketing platform that helps businesses and marketers manage email lists, design emails, automate campaigns, and analyse results to make adjustments as needed.
That’s your answer, you can go now.
Just kidding! Here’s everything you need to know about Mailchimp!
What is Mailchimp: A brief history
Mailchimp has been around since 2001, so it’s safe to say that the team knows a thing or two about email marketing.
The company started as a side project for its co-founders and has since grown into one of the most popular email marketing platforms in the world.
Today, it’s used by millions of people and businesses of all sizes to connect with their audience and grow their business.
What is Mailchimp and how does it work?
Simply put, Mailchimp is a one-stop shop for all your email marketing needs. It allows you to manage your email list, design emails, automate campaigns, and keep track of different metrics, all from one dashboard. Plus, it’s super easy to use, even for those who have never sent an email campaign before.
Getting started with Mailchimp is easy. All you need to do is sign up for a free account, import your email list (if you have one!), and start designing your first campaign. The platform will guide you through the process and provide you with everything you need to get started. And if you need help, there’s a wealth of resources available, including tutorials, support articles, and a large community of users.
What is Mailchimp: Features and benefits
As mentioned, MailChimp offers a plethora of tools that you can use. We’ll go over the main ones here:
Email designer and templates
Have you ever spent hours trying to design an email campaign that looks professional, but just can’t seem to get it right?
Well, Mailchimp has you covered with its flawless email editor and customisable templates!
Customisable templates
Mailchimp’s email designer allows you to create custom templates that reflect your brand. You can choose from a variety of pre-made templates or start from scratch and create something completely unique.
Drag and drop email designer
Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop email designer makes it easy to create and customise your emails. Just use one of the aforementioned templates to kick-start your journey, then add images, text, buttons, and more with just a few clicks. And if you need help, there are tutorials and support articles available to guide you.
List management and segmentation
Keeping your email list organised and making sure your messages are reaching the right people is key to the success of any email campaign. The good news is that Mailchimp makes it easy to do that thanks to these features:
Import and organise contacts
Organising your contacts and email list is a crucial aspect of running successful email campaigns. With Mailchimp, you can easily import your contacts from a variety of sources, such as a CSV file or an existing email service. Once imported, you can organise your contacts into lists, which you can segment later on for targeted campaigns. More on that in a bit.
Email segmentation
One of the key benefits of Mailchimp is its ability to segment your email list based on various criteria. This means you can send targeted campaigns to specific groups of people, rather than sending the same email to your entire list. For example, you can segment your list based on demographics, purchase history, interests, and more.
Automated email campaigns
Mailchimp allows you to automate your campaigns to your heart’s content. Here are some emails that you can easily automate using Mailchimp so that you don’t have to deal with them on your own:
Welcome emails
One of the first things you should do when someone subscribes to your list is to welcome them.
With Mailchimp, you can set up automated welcome emails that introduce your brand and thank your subscribers for signing up. This is a great way to make a positive first impression and start building a relationship with your subscribers.
Abandoned cart emails
If someone adds items to their shopping cart on your e-commerce store but doesn’t complete the purchase, you can send them an abandoned cart email. With Mailchimp, you can set up automated abandoned cart emails that remind shoppers of the items in their cart and encourage them to complete their purchase.
Post-purchase follow-up emails
After someone makes a purchase from your e-commerce store, you can send them a follow-up email. You can use such emails to thank customers for their purchases, provide tracking information, and offer related products or services.
Win-back campaigns
If you have subscribers who haven’t engaged with your email campaigns in a while, you can send them a win-back campaign. With Mailchimp, you can set up automated win-back campaigns that re-engage inactive subscribers and encourage them to keep interacting with your brand.
All of those are steps in the customer journey of your contacts, which we covered in this guide.
Reporting and analytics
When it comes to online advertising, analysing results is key. After all, you must understand what’s working and what isn’t to know what to change to get the best results. And Mailchimp makes it effortless to do so!
With Mailchimp, you can see how your email campaigns are performing in real-time with the Audience Reporting Dashboard. This dashboard provides an overview of key metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, and more. You can also view detailed reports for each campaign to see how specific segments of your list are engaging with your emails.
To understand which metrics you should track when running an email marketing campaign, check these guides we published some time ago:
Furthermore, you can set up automated reports and dashboards that provide ongoing insights into your email campaigns. For example, you can set up a monthly report that shows your average open rate and click-through rate, or you can set up a dashboard that displays key metrics for all of your campaigns.
Integrations with other tools
Mailchimp understands the importance of seamless integration with other tools to help you run your business more efficiently. That’s why they offer a variety of integrations that can help you connect your e-commerce platform, CRM, and social media channels.
E-commerce integrations
Mailchimp has built-in integrations with popular e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. This allows you to automatically sync customer data and sales information, making it easier to segment your list and send targeted campaigns.
For example, if you own an online store selling handmade soap, you can use Mailchimp to send targeted campaigns to customers who have purchased soap from your store in the past. That can help you build brand loyalty and drive repeat purchases.
With the integration, you can easily access that customer’s information and create a tailored email campaign just for them.
CRM integrations
Mailchimp also integrates with popular CRM tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM. Such integration allows you to streamline your customer relationship management by seamlessly combining customer data, sales information, and email campaigns in one place. That way, you can spend less time juggling different tools and more time building relationships with your customers.
For example, if you’re a consultant and you use Salesforce to manage your clients, you can use Mailchimp’s integration with Salesforce to access your client data and send targeted campaigns directly to your clients. This can help you build stronger relationships with your clients and increase the chances of closing more deals.
Social media integrations
Mailchimp also integrates with popular social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This integration allows you to easily post your email campaigns on social media, reaching an even larger audience. And, with the ability to track the success of your social media campaigns, you can see how well your content is performing and make informed decisions about your marketing strategy.
For example, let’s say you’re a freelance writer and you just sent out a newsletter promoting your latest blog post. With Mailchimp’s integration with platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, you can automatically share a link to your blog post on your social media accounts, increasing the visibility of your content and reaching new audiences.
What is Mailchimp: Pros and cons
Pros
- Convenient and easy-to-use email designer
- Audience list management and segmentation
- Plenty of automation options thanks to the customer journey feature
- Vast integrations with third-party tools
- A/B testing
- Streamlined reporting options
Cons
- The email builder could use some extra customisation options for advanced users
- Currently, there’s no way to merge multiple contact lists together within an email campaign
- Affiliate marketing links aren’t allowed
So, why should you choose Mailchimp?
While there are certainly a lot of email marketing software options out there, Mailchimp has some features and benefits that make it stand out from the rest of the pack.
First of all, as mentioned, Mailchimp is known for its ease of use. Even if you’re not a tech whiz, The platform’s user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it easy to create and send beautiful emails and automate campaigns that get the job done.
But it’s not just about ease of use. Mailchimp also offers a plethora of integrations with other platforms and tools, so you can streamline your workflow and automate your marketing efforts. From social media platforms to e-commerce tools, Mailchimp’s integrations make it easy to connect with your audience wherever they are.
Plus, Mailchimp is constantly evolving and adding new features to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s the latest email marketing trends or cutting-edge technology, the email marketing giant is always looking for ways to help you grow your business and succeed online.
So, while there are certainly other email marketing software options out there, Mailchimp’s combination of ease of use, integrations, and innovation make it a standout choice for businesses of all sizes, which is why it’s our email marketing platform of choice here at Rockstar Marketing.
Who can benefit from Mailchimp?
Mailchimp can be of great help to a plethora of users. Here are some of the possible uses for this tool:
Entrepreneurs and startups
Starting a new business can be both exciting and overwhelming, but with Mailchimp, entrepreneurs can easily send newsletters, product updates, and promotional offers to their subscribers. Plus, with the free plan, it won’t break the bank!
Local businesses and shops
For local shops, keeping customers in the loop about sales and events is crucial for success. Mailchimp allows these businesses to send newsletters, flyers, and event reminders straight to their customers’ inboxes.
Freelance copywriters and designers
Freelancers can benefit greatly from using Mailchimp to keep in touch with clients, showcase their work, and promote their services.
Consultants and coaches
Coaches and consultants can use Mailchimp to send out a monthly newsletter with helpful tips and articles, keeping their clients engaged and informed.
Volunteer organisations
Volunteer organisations can use Mailchimp to send out updates on their cause, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
Online retailers
E-commerce stores can use Mailchimp to send product updates, sales promotions, and abandoned cart reminders to their customers.
How to make the most of Mailchimp
Here are some tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of Mailchimp:
Craft an engaging subject line
Your subject line is the first thing that your subscribers will see, so it’s important to make it interesting and eye-catching (remember, first impressions matter!).
You can try using humour, creating a sense of urgency, or asking a question. For example, “What do you get when you mix Monday mornings with coffee? A jolt of inspiration from our latest newsletter!”
For more tips on how to create the perfect email subject line, check our guide.
Segment your list for targeted campaigns
By dividing your email list into smaller groups based on interests, behaviours, or demographics, you can send more targeted and relevant campaigns.
For example, you can create a segment for customers who have recently purchased a product, and send them an email with upsell opportunities or a personalised “thank you” note.
Create visual content that stands out
Using eye-catching graphics, images, and videos can help make your emails more visually appealing and memorable. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Clean and maintain your contact list(s)
Keeping your email list up-to-date is key to maintaining high deliverability rates and avoiding spam traps. Make sure to regularly remove inactive subscribers and update contact information.
Remember to personalise your emails
Personalisation is slowly becoming the standard in email marketing. In fact, according to Experian, personalised emails generate six times higher transaction rates. That’s quite an improvement, isn’t it?
Personalising emails with the recipient’s name or other details can increase engagement and make your campaigns feel more like a conversation. Try using Mailchimp’s dynamic content feature to automatically insert relevant content based on the subscriber’s segment.
Leave email marketing to our experts
If you’re looking for a reliable and user-friendly email marketing platform, Mailchimp is definitely worth considering. That said, there’s more to email marketing than choosing the right tool. Worry not, though, as we can help with this endeavour. Just book a discovery call with us today, and one of our experts will show you how we can take your business to the next level with email marketing!
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