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A Guide To Finding the Best Newsletter Software for You
How To Select the Ideal Newsletter Platform for Your Needs
Russell Cargill
September 14th, 2024
Table of Contents
Brace yourself… The best software for creating newsletters depends on what you need. The end!
That might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.
If I were to ask you- what’s the most important thing for you in a newsletter platform- What would your answer be?
Price, design capabilities, sending limits, or maybe something else like how easy it is to use?
If you can answer these questions, you’ll find the best software for you. That sounds simple enough, right?
Well, there’s more to it than that. Let’s break down what makes a great newsletter software and why certain options might fit you better.
Email newsletters are huge revenue drivers for businesses because they help them reach their audience, increase brand awareness, and, subsequently, drive revenue growth.
This is why the newsletter software a business decides to use is very important and will greatly affect its bottom line.
Here’s what to look for in a newsletter platform.
Ease of Use and Interface Design
Nobody wants to spend hours figuring out how to use complicated email software. You want something that's intuitive, user-friendly, and makes the whole process of creating and managing newsletters easy.
Spoiler alert, that's why people love beehiiv- My top pick for the best newsletter platform. The interface just got an update and is clean, well-organized, and just plain fun to use.
Choosing the Right Interface for Your Newsletter Needs
But it's not just about being user-friendly; the interface should also align with your workflow and team dynamics.
Are you a solo entrepreneur who prefers a straightforward, streamlined interface for quickly creating and sending newsletters?
Or do you have a team that needs a collaborative editing environment where multiple people can contribute to one newsletter? Not all platforms allow this and if you have a large team, that’s going to be a problem for you.
The right interface should complement your work style and make the process of designing, scheduling, and sending emails as seamless as possible.
Contact Management and Segmentation
A good newsletter software should let you segment your contact list based on various criteria, such as interests, demographics, or behavior. This way, you can deliver highly targeted and relevant content to each segment, increasing engagement and conversions.
Aside from segmentation, you also want a platform that allows you to manage contacts with custom fields and tags. That way when you import your contacts or gain a new subscriber you can easily organize and maintain your list of subscribers.
Automation and Scheduling
Check that the platform you're considering supports automation, and whether it's available on the free plan or requires a paid subscription. Automations play a huge role in a newsletters workflow, so having access to them is non-negotiable.
Prioritize how easy it will be to set these up when comparing platforms and look for any added features like drag-and-drop builders and ready-made templates.
An example of a template would be a simple welcome automation. Templates aren’t a deal breaker but they will save you some time.
Another non-negotiable is the ability to customize when you schedule your newsletters based on time zones and audience behavior so look for a platform that supports this.
Analytics and Reporting Tools
You’ll need detailed analytics and reporting on email performance, including open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and more.
The best software will present this data in an easy-to-understand format, complete with visualizations and insights that help you optimize your campaigns for better results.
The best newsletter software platforms will allow you to go deep into analytics with access to data like:
Subscriber engagement & list growth over time
Geographical open/click performance
Device/platform email consumption breakdowns
Revenue and lead gen metrics from campaigns
Heatmap click tracking on emails
Integrations with third party reporting tools
Top Features To Look for in Email Newsletter Software
List managing tools
Easy to read analytics and reporting tools
A/B testing multiple elements
Ability to integrate with other tools
Done for you mobile optimization
Customizable templates and branding
Support and resources documents
The Role of A/B Testing in Newsletter Optimization
Continued A/B testing takes some of the guesswork out of email marketing by identifying what works and what doesn’t.
Any decent newsletter software will offer some form of A/B testing, but what separates the good from the mediocre is what you can do with the A/B test.
The best newsletter tools will allow you to create multiple variants of emails quickly, split traffic between versions, and test everything from subject lines to content to send times.
I’m yet to see a wildly successful newsletter that doesn’t consistently run A/B tests on everything they possibly can.
Customization Capabilities
The best newsletter that people actually read typically will have some sort of branding. Take MilkRoad for example.
Depending on the platform, you can customize your newsletter at various levels. Some allow you to change basic design elements, while others support full custom CSS and HTML editing, allowing you to fine-tune just about every aspect of your newsletter.
If you want to captivate your audience with your design, it’s likely that at some point, you’ll need to mess around with your CSS or HTML. Make sure the newsletter software you go for supports the level of design you desire.
At the end of the day, the goal of email newsletters isn't just pushing info into inboxes. It's an opportunity to engage and nurture subscribers along their journey with your brand.
That's where personalization comes into play. Adding subscriber names and other basic details is just the tip of the iceberg. Next-level personalization incorporates real-time data about each recipient's behaviors, purchase history, content interests, and more.
When it comes to choosing an email newsletter service, one of the biggest decisions you'll face is whether to go with a free or paid option.
The allure of "free" is hard to resist, especially for small businesses or startups working with limited budgets.
But the thing is, while free newsletter services may seem like a tempting choice at first, most (not all) often come with significant trade-offs that could end up costing you more in the long run.
Let's break it down.
Cost Considerations for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, every penny counts, and the idea of paying for yet another software subscription or service can be daunting.
But here's where it's crucial to look beyond the upfront costs and consider the long-term implications.
As your subscriber list grows, so do the limitations. Many free plans cap the number of subscribers you can have, or they limit essential features like automation, A/B testing, and advanced analytics.
A good question to ask yourself is, what is the opportunity cost?
Evaluating the True Cost of Newsletter Platforms
When evaluating the true cost of newsletter platforms, it's important to look at more than just the monthly or annual fee. You'll also want to consider the potential opportunity costs of using a limited or restrictive platform.
For example, let's say a free newsletter service doesn't offer A/B testing capabilities. Without the ability to optimize your campaigns effectively, you could be leaving significant revenue on the table due to lower open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.
On the other hand, a paid newsletter service may seem more expensive upfront, but it could ultimately save you money (and headaches) by providing more advanced features and better deliverability rates, leading to higher engagement and ROI.
Free vs. Paid: Understanding the Trade-offs
To help you make an informed decision, let's take a look at some of the typical trade-offs between free and paid newsletter services:
Feature | Free Services | Paid Services |
Subscriber Limits | Often capped at a few thousand subscribers | Higher limits or unlimited subscribers |
Email Send Limits | Strict limits on the number of emails you can send per month | Higher or unlimited email sends |
Automation & Scheduling | Limited or no automation capabilities | Advanced automation and scheduling features |
A/B Testing | Basic or no A/B testing | Robust A/B testing capabilities |
Analytics & Reporting | Basic analytics, limited insights | Advanced analytics, detailed reporting |
Customization & Branding | Limited design customization | More customization options, code editing |
Integrations | Fewer integration options | More integrations with other tools |
Support & Resources | Limited support, basic resources | Priority support, extensive resources |
As you can see, while free newsletter services can be a decent starting point for very small lists or basic needs, paid services often provide more advanced features and scalability.
Advanced Features Exclusive to Paid Newsletter Services
To really drive home the value of paid newsletter services, let's take a closer look at some of the advanced features you're likely to find:
Powerful automation capabilities that allow you to create complex workflows
Ability to segment your audience based on various criteria and deliver highly targeted content at the right time
Better A/B testing options
Comprehensive analytics and reporting
Deeper customization, including the ability to edit HTML/CSS code
Integration with a wider range of tools and platforms, such as E-commerce solutions
Access to priority support channels, extensive knowledge bases, and more comprehensive trainings
Why Trust Me? Russell, the founder of the InboxConnect marketing agency, has over five years of deep expertise in email marketing. Under his leadership, the agency has become known for innovative strategies with notable successes, including campaigns for renowned clients like Payoneer.
The Best Software To Create Newsletters for Different Needs
Software for Beginners/Non-Technical Users
beehiiv: If you’re a beginner wanting to create an email newsletter, then it’s hard not to recommend beehiiv as the best option for getting started.
Just take a look at some of the features you get on the Launch/free plan below.
Start with a reputable, user-friendly platform to minimize the learning curve.
Leverage pre-built templates and design tools to create professional-looking newsletters without coding.
Focus on growing your email list organically through lead magnets, opt-in forms, and content marketing.
Experiment with different content formats, subject lines, and send times to find what resonates best with your audience.
Software for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Once again, I have to say beehiiv takes the cake here. It empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators to monetize their newsletter with an integrated ad network to premium subscriptions. It also offers a unique "Boost Network" facilitating passive income generation through newsletter recommendations.
Other notable platforms worth looking into are:
Best Practices for Small Businesses:
Prioritize automation and segmentation features to deliver personalized, relevant content
Integrate your newsletter software with your Customer Relationship Management, E-commerce platform, or other business tools
Leverage advanced analytics and reporting to track campaign performance
Software for Large Enterprises and Marketing Teams
HubSpot: As part of HubSpot's comprehensive marketing platform, the Marketing Hub offers good email marketing capabilities, including advanced segmentation, A/B testing, and seamless integration with other HubSpot tools like CRM and analytics.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Powered by Salesforce's renowned CRM, Marketing Cloud is a comprehensive solution for large enterprises. It offers email marketing, marketing automation, and data management all under one roof.
GoHighLevel: Designed for agencies, businesses, and marketing teams, GoHighLevel provides a wide suite of tools for email marketing, automation, and lead management. Its powerful segmentation and personalization features make it a top choice for enterprise-level campaigns.
Crafting Eye-Catching Emails With the Best Newsletter Templates
Look for templates that ditch the one-size-fits-all approach in favor of true personalization, interactivity, and data-driven optimization.
Don’t be put off by a platform because you have to create your own templates from scratch.
Keep an eye out for:
Modular, block-based designs for easy content building and rearranging
Dynamic personalization capabilities beyond just name fields
Intelligent mobile optimization that goes beyond basic responsive design
Interactive element support (polls, videos, animations, etc.)
Simple integration of custom code snippets for advanced customization
Smart layout shifting to highlight key sections based on user data
AI-assisted design recommendations for maximum engagement
Detailed analytics on template performance (heat maps, click tracking, etc.)
The Importance of Mobile Optimization
All software will offer some sort of standard mobile optimization. Make sure the platform you choose has most of the following features:
Responsive layout testing across all major devices/browsers
Dynamic image/content loading based on screen size
Customizable tap targets and touch gesture support
Automatic font resizing and line-height adjustments
Option to build lightweight "mobile-only" versions
Trends in Mobile-Responsive Newsletter Design
Include some single-column layouts with vertically stacked content to make your emails super easy to read and scroll through on smaller screens.
Other trends you should follow are:
Use Large, thumb-friendly calls-to-action and menu icons
Leave enough whitespace and line beaks for readable text
Incorporate collapsible sections to cut clutter on smaller screens
Use engaging media like videos, GIFs, sliders optimized for mobile
Optimizing Templates for Maximum Engagement
Use smart content blocks that populate based on subscriber data.Smart content blocks allow you to personalize the content of your emails to individual subscribers automatically.
This personalization can be based on various factors such as:
Subscriber Demographics: Age, gender, location, etc.
Behavioral Data: Past purchases, browsing history, email open and click rates.
Preferences: Stated interests, preferences gathered from surveys, etc.
Engagement History: Level of engagement with previous emails or website content.
Some good examples of smart content blocks you would have seen are product recommendations, personalized greetings, localized content specific to your area, and behavior-based offers.
Other things you can do with your templates to get maximum engagement are:
Automate A/B tests across multiple template variants
Test different send times based on user engagement patterns
Integrate different templates with separate automation workflows
Engaging Subscribers With Interactive Newsletter Elements
Here are some things you can include in your templates to engage with your audience directly:
Embedded surveys, polls, quizzes, and forms
Shoppable product carousels and galleries
Animated count-down timers and progress bars
Interactive charts, graphs, maps, and data visualizations
Integrating your newsletter with the rest of your marketing efforts from day one.
Seamless Integration With Other Tools
The greatest newsletter tool on earth won't reach its full potential if it can't easily sync data and workflows with the rest of your “marketing efforts.”
The ability to establish two-way data flows with CRMs like Salesforce, funnel tools like Clickfunnels, social platforms, and more has changed the game.
Trigger timely automated emails based on profile updates and behaviors across tools
Precisely personalize newsletter content blocks based on cross-channel interests
More effectively map email touchpoints to pipeline metrics like leads, opportunities, and revenue
Supercharge retargeting ad campaigns based on email engagement signals
Lookalike model high-value subscribers across channels based on unified data
And so on. To find out if the tool software you're eyeing supports this, you’ll need to research its individual APIs and real-world use cases for data sharing.
You can do this with a quick Google search of the tool's name followed by API Documentation or Integration.
Email newsletters shouldn't be stand-alone marketing tools, and neither should your social media. They should work together, like Batman and Robin.
With your newsletter obviously being Batman!
One clever way to cross-promote your social media from your newsletters is to embed your social feeds directly into email templates.
User-generated posts make for very effective social proof.
The possibilities go on and on. Just remember, the more you can eliminate channel silos and create a cohesive, integrated content ecosystem, the more you'll be able to maximize engagement (and ROI) across the entire customer journey.
Why beehiiv Stands Out as a Newsletter Platform
Here's why users prefer beehiiv:
Intuitive Design: beehiiv's interface is designed with user experience in mind. Its simplicity and ease of use make it accessible to both seasoned marketers and beginners alike.
Feature-rich Environment: From customizable templates to advanced analytics, beehiiv offers a wide range of features to meet the diverse needs of its users. Whether you're looking to design eye-catching newsletters or track engagement metrics, beehiiv has you covered.
Seamless Integration: Integration with other tools and platforms is seamless with beehiiv. This allows users to streamline their workflow and maximize efficiency.
Dedicated Support: beehiiv provides top-notch customer support to assist users with any questions or issues they may encounter. Our support team is committed to helping users succeed.
How To Get Started With beehiiv
Getting started with beehiiv is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps to launch your newsletter today:
Sign Up: Create a free account on our website and choose a pricing plan that suits your needs.
Customize Your Newsletter: Use our intuitive editing tools to design a newsletter that reflects your brand and engages your audience.
Add Content: Populate your newsletter with compelling content, whether it's articles, images, videos, or promotions.
Grow Your Audience: Promote your newsletter on social media, your website, and other channels to attract subscribers.
Track Performance: Monitor key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber growth to measure the success of your newsletter.
Iterate and Improve: Use analytics insights to refine your strategy and optimize your newsletters for maximum impact.
User Testimonials and Success Stories
Check out what beehiiv’s users have to say below.
Unique Features of beehiiv
Most other platforms are still stuck in an old-school, e-blast way of thinking. Maybe they've added on basic membership capabilities as an afterthought.
But baking rich community tools directly into the platform? That's pretty unique.
Also, I can say with confidence no one rolls out updates as quickly and as often as beehiiv does. No one!
Here are a few of the unique features everybody loves about beehiiv:
Free hosted website
Unlimited email sends
API Access
Free Custom Domains
Up to Three Publications For Free
Referral Program
Community Access
Let’s Wrap This Up
I’ve covered a ton in this article, and hopefully, you have a better understanding of which platform is right for you and your current situation.
At the end of the day, the right platform for you is one that allows you to create the best email newsletters possible.
For me, it’s beehiiv. It’s the best newsletter platform that sets you up for massive growth from day one.
They tick a lot of the boxes required to create, manage, and grow a thriving newsletter.
If you’d like to see how beehiiv can enhance your newsletter, sign up for a free trial today.
Start your journey with beehiiv and unlock the potential for newsletter.
Happy mailing!
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