When you’re searching for a new email marketing system, the options can seem endless. Some platforms have been around forever (Constant Contact, MailChimp, and Aweber), while others are newer to the market (FloDesk and Convert Kit). Some platforms offer more robust customer relationship management (CRM) features, while others are more of a standalone service. 

Finding the right fit for you is often dependent on the size of your organization, your sending frequency, the size of your list, and your marketing goals. When it comes to small businesses, the three platforms we see utilized most widely are FloDesk, MailChimp, and Convert Kit. 

Today, we’ll be comparing and contrasting two of our favorites -- MailChimp and FloDesk -- to give you further insight into which platform might work best for your organization. 

Aesthetics/Design

(Winner: FloDesk)

FloDesk reigns when it comes to aesthetics – their minimal and millennial-friendly templates feature a clean and fresh design. Many of their prototype emails are image heavy with minimally designed supporting elements, making it easy to set up a visually appealing email. 

While MailChimp makes it possible to achieve a similar aesthetic, it can take a bit more elbow grease to get there. Their templates are fairly dated and gimmicky by comparison, meaning you’ll be investing more time to get your desired look. There’s more of a learning curve and some custom coding can be needed to achieve a branded aesthetic. 

Overall, we would name FloDesk the winner when it comes to aesthetics – their templates are more on trend, and the minimal look of their overall product is a slam dunk for busy business owners who don’t want to spend a lot of time wavering over what font to use.

Integrations 

(Winner: MailChimp)

When it comes to integrations, FloDesk relies on Zapier for the majority of their integrations. Zapier is a tool that lets you connect the apps you use every day to automate your work and be more productive. Through Zapier, you can connect Flodesk to more than 1500 apps and easy integrations in minutes. Be advised that the cost for Zapier can grow quickly – while they offer a free level of service, monthly plans can cost between $20-$600/month.

MailChimp includes over 200+ app integrations with every plan. You can integrate with major website builders (Squarespace, Wordpress, Shopify), payment software (Stripe) and a variety of scheduling and creativity tools. 

When it comes to comparing integrations, MailChimp is our winner here because integrations are built in and don’t require additional setup or cost. 

Functionality 

(Winner: MailChimp)

MailChimp’s features have grown over the past few years to include both more robust email features, as well as a wider array of CRM functions. MailChimp offers more detailed segmenting and tagging features, making it easier to target prospects based on their behavior. 

FloDesk offers email templates, an email builder, basic automation, forms, analytics, and workflows. However, there are some key features MailChimp offers that FloDesk doesn’t: 

• AB Testing

• Auto-responders

• Behavioral targeting

• CAN SPAM compliance 

• Customer survey

• Digital ads

• Drip campaign

• Dynamic content

• Image library 

• Landing pages

• Shoppable landing pages

• Transactional email 

MailChimp is the clear winner when it comes to overall functionality and capability. 

Ease of Use

(Winner: Draw) 

When it comes to ease of use, FloDesk takes the cake for its quick set up and easy to use interface. However, as we detailed above, MailChimp boasts substantially more robust features. So while it takes a little more time to get acquainted with the interface, it’s more a result of the complexity of the product than a lacking user interface.  

We would rule this category a draw, because when it comes to user interface, both products are well designed and easy to navigate. 

Collaboration

(Winner: MailChimp)

As an agency who helps clients establish and design their marketing emails, MailChimp offers collaboration flexibility that FloDesk doesn’t. MailChimp allows you to add multiple users to your account so you can track who is making changes and give different permission levels to different team members. FloDesk limits you to one login, which can create both security and workflow issues. 

Pricing

(Winner: FloDesk)

FloDesk Pricing

When it comes to which product is cheaper, there isn’t a clear-cut answer. Deciding which pricing structure is most advantageous for your business depends on the goals of your email marketing and how much you plan to grow your list. 

FloDesk starts you out with a 30-day free trial and from there you’re charged a flat rate price of $38/month. If you’re looking to grow your list exponentially or are a growing business, this transparent pricing is really appealing.  

MailChimp’s pricing structure is fairly complicated and is based on the number of contacts and email sends you need each month. Things quickly get complicated, and if you’re regularly adding to your email list you may notice your monthly bill going up on each invoice. However, one big advantage of MailChimp’s pricing is that they offer a forever free plan for up to 2,000 contacts. If you’re a really small business who isn’t planning for aggressive growth, this free option may clock in much cheaper than FloDesk’s monthly pricing. 

MailChimp Pricing Sample

The Bottom Line

(Overall winner: MailChimp)

While FloDesk offers clean aesthetics and easy pricing, it’s clear you’ll sacrifice a lot in terms of features and functionality. For most businesses, we find that MailChimp is the way to go.

If you’re a new businesses who has a large list and only wants to send a few basic emails, FloDesk could be a good fit for a streamlined process and low monthly pricing. But if you’re looking to grow your email marketing efforts, or run an e-commerce business we would encourage you to stick to MailChimp.

While the monthly costs can ring in a little higher, the advanced functionality and more powerful features can help you build business and score sales in the long-run. 

Most importantly, if you’re still torn, we suggest doing a deep dive on features before making a final choice – setting up your email marketing automations is no small task and you don’t want to be put in the position of needing to switch platforms. 

Have a question about a specific feature or platform? Drop us a comment below and we’ll help you figure out the best fit for your business!  

---

HUE & TONE CREATIVE: EMAIL MARKETING IN GREENSBORO, NC

Whether you need help building out your annual email strategy, finding just the right words, or establishing a branded template, Hue & Tone is here to help. To establish or improve your email strategy, get in touch with our team at (336)365-8550.

The world of email marketing is remarkably noisy. According to research conducted by The Radicati Group, a Technology Market Research Firm, 235.6 billion emails are sent and received worldwide every single day, and that number is only set to increase. 

For you as a marketer, that means there’s an endless stream of emails - both business and personal - to compete with, making the appeal of your subject lines crucial to getting an open. 

If you’re struggling to see the click through rate your campaigns need to succeed, we’ve got a bank of ideas to help give them a boost. 

1. Short and snappy for the win

Short and snappy is usually the name of the game when it comes to digital communication, and email marketing is no exception. You’ll want to use as few words as possible, while still communicating a cohesive idea or call to action. You’ve only got a finite amount of time to capture people’s attention and if your subject line is too long it’ll truncate. If you’re struggling to know when to stop, aim to keep it within 50 characters.

2. Make it personal

Include personal information -- like the recipient’s name or location -- in the subject line makes it feel unique and tailored to the recipient. It’s important to only do this if you’re certain your data is accurate -- if you refer to ‘John’ as ‘Mark’ in your subject line, there’s only one place your email is going: the trash.

3. Use simple language

People don’t tend to read carefully when they’re scanning their inbox. So, don’t make it difficult for them to skim and easily  understand the subject line. Use simple language that’s easy to understand and gives a clear indication as to what’s inside.

4. Make it actionable

The reason you’re sending an email in the first place is because you have a desired end goal in mind, so incorporate that goal into your leading line. For example, if the email’s promoting a special offer, instead of saying ‘Boots are now 20% off’, you should say ‘Flash Sale: Get 20% off boots today!’ 

Use active and action-oriented language to encourage clicks and promote a sense of urgency. 

5. Create a sense of urgency

If people think something’s about to expire or run out, they’re much more likely to act sooner rather than later. Adding something as simple as ‘ends soon,’ ‘act now,’ or ‘hurry’ to your subject line can help communicate this message.

That being said, it’s important not to overuse this tactic. If you make every email sound like an emergency, it’ll quickly lose its novelty and recipients will stop taking action. 

6. Use numbers

Numbers can help spark intrigue and are great for promoting things like listicles, events, statistics, or blog posts. For example:

• 8 ways you can save money this summer

• Join our 2,000 happy clients

• 200 others are coming to our event – don’t miss out! 

 The use of numbers helps make your subject line stand out, set expectations, and get straight to the point.

7. Ask a question

Questions draw people in, stimulate interest, and get people curious about what you have to say. For example, if your email exists to promote an article on ‘7 common subject line mistakes’, you could send it with subject line questions like: 

• Are you making these subject line mistakes?

• How successful are your emails?

• Do you know where your subject lines are going wrong?
   

8. Dare to be different

If you don’t want to get lost in a sea of sameness, don’t fall into the trap of being the same. Be bold with your subject lines and don’t be afraid of injecting a bit of humor, sarcasm, or strangeness into them. 

---

Hue & Tone Creative: Email Marketing for the Triad

These eight tips are just the tip of the iceberg! We’ll get email marketing off your to do list and give you the hands on help you need for a successful conversion rate. Let’s chat about it: 336-365-8559 or hannah@hueandtonecreative.com.

Earlier this month, Twitter rolled out a new font. Unfortunately, not everyone was a fan…

Twitter’s switch from Helvetica Neue, to Segue left users complaining that the slender new font was hard to read and caused way too much eye-strain.

Like Twitter, most businesses are bound to make mistakes when it comes to using the right fonts and sizes. Instead of fumbling through and learning from trial and error, do yourself a favor by learning a few of the best font-size secrets. 

Websites

Whether you’re designing an online shop, portfolio, or blog, it’s crucial that your fonts look clean, appealing, and easy to read.

For best readability, we recommend that you keep your headers and buttons between 30-32 pts and sub headers between 18-26 pts. Body text usually looks best when it’s between 12-16 pts. 

Looking to compare email marketing platforms? Here’s a rundown on a few of our favorites.

MailChimp

Email marketing isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, email is 40 times more successful at bringing in leads than Twitter or Facebook.

One of our personal email marketing tools, MailChimp, recommends that you keep your body text between 14-16 pts. 16 is best for short emails between 2-3 sentences, while 14 pts us better for more lengthy emails.

Mobile

According to MailChimp, it’s best to stick to the “one eyeball, one thumb, and arm’s length” rule when it comes to font sizes. Basically, your viewers should be able to see and scroll through the entire email with ease and clarity. 

With this guide in mind, your body fonts should be between 12-16 pts and your links, CTA, and buttons should be between 34-36 pts.

One last note…

When it comes to selecting fonts, the most important thing is to pick an easily readable font. When in doubt, go back to basics. If you stick to a plain serif or sans serif and use these size guidelines, you'll be on your way to finding the perfect typography for your next web project! 

---

Web & Blog Design in Greensboro, NC

Not seeing much traffic or engagement on your website? It’s probably time for an upgrade! From landing pages to business blogs, Hue & Tone Creative can help you create a site that matches your style and helps reel in leads. 

Whether you’re starting a new business, turning over a new leaf, or just looking to streamline your current venture, you’re facing about a million (rough estimate) challenges at all times. But the good news is that for almost every problem you face there’s an app that’s here to make your life easier. And, to make things even easier, we’ve gone ahead and cut out the research process by compiling this list of essential business apps.

If you’re looking to streamline your marketing, finance, or internal communication efforts we’ve got an app for you!

Financial Tools

Keeping up with your finances can be one of the least fun parts about owning your business -- and, if you’re not careful, it can be one of the most time consuming.

MileIQ: Need to track your miles for tax purposes? The MilelQ app logs all of your drives and allows you to easily swipe left or right to categorize drives as work or personal.

Float: This cash flow forecasting app allows you to better predict the financial future of your company.

Quickbooks: Chances are, you’ve heard of Quickbooks. It’s accounting software specifically built for small business -- it’s essential for tracking your income, sending invoices, and managing your expenses.

Square: One of the easiest ways to accept chip + magstripe cards, Square is an app that pairs with a (free) card reader. It’s one of the easiest ways to accept POS payment!

PayPal: Send, accept, and request money with this online payment system. It connects with your bank account, and your information is secure and protected.
 

Marketing Tools

Now that we have your finances in place, we need to get you some new customers. These marketing tools will help you communicate effectively through every medium.

Hootsuite: Struggling to manage all of your social sites efficiently? Hootsuite allows you to manage all of your accounts one one screen. You can also schedule out your social media posts for multiple platforms at once, and track the results.

MailChimp: MailChimp is a cheap and easy email marketing platform that allows you to communicate with your customers. You can integrate the sign-up on your website to effortlessly collect email addresses, create branded templates, and send easily-trackable campaigns. If you want to learn more, check out our series on the benefits and basics of using MailChimp (here and here).

Canva: While we’re always in favor of bringing in a pro, we understand that sometimes you just need a quick fix. Canva is an easy app that allows you to create graphics for your business. There’s free templates for social media graphics, flyers, and more.

Hubspot: Hubspot’s a powerful inbound marketing software that helps you create powerful marketing materials, gather information, and convert leads into sales. It includes all the tools you need to market your business -- but may feel a little overwhelming for beginners.

Buzzsumo: Find out what your consumers really want! Buzzsumo helps you research your target audience so that you can ensure you’re spending time on the right content for your business.

Organization Tools

Organizing a team is no small task -- but luckily some of the best tools out there are meant to help you effectively manage your crew. Don’t count these tools out even if your business team only consists of just you! Project management apps can help you keep client work or new business initiatives intuitively organized.

17hats: Perfect for all the solopreneurs out there, 17hats cuts out the need for multiple apps. It simplifies everything and lets you keep track of your clients, projects, to do lists, calendar, workflow, templates and everything else all in one place.

Asana: If you’ve got a big team, Asana is the app for you. You can easily manage and assign tasks to different projects and teams. It cuts down on the need for unnecessary meetings and allows you to manage all of your to-do’s in one place.

Basecamp: A great alternative to Asana, Basecamp allows you to manage projects with a team. While Asana is our personal preference, the best thing to do is test out both apps for free and see what you prefer.

Evernote: A giant digital notebook, Evernote allows you to stay organized. You can store everything from big ideas to random musings in different digital notebooks. Add in images, audio, scanned documents, and files to keep everything organized. You can even forward emails to the different notebooks to keep everything in one place.

Wunderlist: Have a long to-do list? Wunderlist is a task management tool with a simple interface. It syncs to all of your devices so that you can easily check things off throughout the day.

Pocket: Ever spend hours looking for a link and wished you’d saved it? Pocket can help. Save everything and anything you come across on the web so that you can view it later.

IFTTT: An acronym for “If This Then That” this is a free web app that lets user automate web-based tasks. A little confused about what that means? That’s because it does almost anything!

Productivity Tools

It’s hard to stay on task when you’re feeling overwhelmed. These tools will help you keep your day-to-day routine on track!

30/30: A super simple task manager, this app guides you to work for 30 minutes/break for 30 minutes. It’s as simple as that!

FocusZen: Carefully engineered audio teaches your mind to block out all distractions and allow for maximum focus. The app also has timers for 10, 25, or 60 minutes of peace.

Spark: Emails can be a pain, especially unnecessary ones. This app collects and categorizes all of your emails so that they’re easy to process.

Slack: Slack is a cloud based messaging tool that promises to make you less busy by streamlining team communication.

RescueTime: RescueTime runs in the background to help you understand where your time goes from day-to-day. You can block distracting websites, set alerts for when you spend a certain amount of time on a task, and log highlights about what you accomplished.

Toggl: A ridiculously simple time tracker, Toggl lets you track your time per task so that you can recognize and improve it.

Misc

Google Apps: One of our personal obsessions, Google Apps are a powerful tool. You can create documents that are easily shareable, store files, comment on shared documents, and sooooooo much more. You can edit a document live with your team -- and it all syncs to your Drive. And -- purchasing an additional 100GB of extra space to store all your files starts at only $1.99 a month!

Skype: Have a remote client? Meet virtually with Skype and have a face-to-face conversation via your laptop or mobile device.

LastPass: Keep all of your passwords in one place with this password management app.

SignNow: A safe and effective way to get e-signatures in seconds from any device (for a very reasonable cost).

BidSketch: Use this tool to easily mix and match fees, projects, and conditions to create professional client proposals.

SurveyMonkey: Conduct free surveys and analyze the results with SurveyMonkey. With over 15 question types, you can easily gather information.

Don't be afraid to test out these different apps and see what works best for you -- finding just one tool that you love can make a big difference in your day-to-day efficiency! 

Tell us: which of these tools are you most eager to try?