Using an automated email marketing program is one of the most efficient and cost effective ways to stay in touch with the prospects and clients of your business. Remember the ‘old’ days when you had to copy all your contacts in your email address book if you wanted to send out a mass message? As time went by in the early days of the internet, those types of mass mailings started to be flagged as SPAM, and your message never made it to your destination.

And what if you wanted to quickly get different messages out to different categories of customers or prospects? What if a prospect/client wanted to be added to your list at 3am?

Constant Contact and Aweber are two of the most popular email marketing programs being used these days and handle these issues. But, which one should you choose for your email marketing strategy? It depends…

If you only conduct your business online with a website that will allow your prospects and clients to sign up for your email newsletter, it might be better to use Aweber. The reason is because Aweber uses a feature called Double Opt-In. Double Opt-In sends a confirmation email to the address that was entered on the submit form. At the same time they submit their info, your prospect/client is notified they will get the email confirmation. If the recipient does not OPEN the email and CLICK the conirmation link, they won’t be added to the list. Why does this matter? It confirms that the prospect/client really wants to be on the list. It also prevents someone from entering an incorrect email address (intentionally or unintentionally).

If you have a local store front where most of your customers do business at your location, Constant Contact could be a better choice. This is because you will collect your clients’ names and email addresses on a pad or slip of paper. Then, you, a member of your staff, or your hired email marketing specialist will input these names and addresses into your Constant Contact online database. Since Constant Contact does not utilize the Double Opt-In, your clients are automatically added to your list, provided they spelled their email address correctly.

If you used Aweber in this scenario, it could be hours or days before the client gets the confirmation email and not know what is about or that they have to click a link. Thus, they ignore it, and they never get added to your list.

Regardless of which program you choose, you goals are: GROW your list, contact the members of your list REGULARLY, develop a RELATIONSHIP, and always have a CALL TO ACTION.

Conclusion:
If your business is run primarily online, go with Aweber.

If your business is run without a website, go with Constant Contact.

If your you conduct your business at a physical location and have a website, Constant Contact is your best choice.

What has been your experience with email marketing? Send us your questions or comments below.