The Complete Guide to Email Service Providers

The Evolution of Email Service Providers in 2024

2024 seems to be a major year for email service providers (ESPs).

In 2023, we saw a lot of them launching exciting product updates, with beehiiv being the first one to launch AI-first tools on its platform, but can we expect even more innovation in 2024? 

The Rise of AI-Enhanced Email Solutions

beehiiv shared in their state of email newsletters report that they believe that AI tools such as beehiiv AI will play an even bigger role in the newsletter space going forward.

I anticipate additional advantages for newsletter operators through the integration of AI, including:

• Automating different tasks.

• Increasing personalization.

• Better scheduling options.

Top Free Email Service Providers for Personal Use

If you’re skeptical about using an ESP, you might be asking yourself, “Are there free email service providers?”

Yes, there are.

Which leads us to the next question— “What is the best email service provider?”

It all depends on your needs.

But if you’re just starting out or you’re a solo writer/founder, beehiiv is the best place to start.

Its free plan gives you access to all the important features you need to get started and keep building.

Evaluating Security Features

While building up your list is important, you don’t want to lose all of your subscribers from a hacking attack.

That’s why you should consider the following when choosing an ESP:

Two-factor authentication (2FA) 

This adds a layer of security by adding a second verification method. It might take a little longer to sign up, but it’s worth it.

Regular security-related updates

Hackers are always probing for weaknesses, so you want to use an ESP that frequently shares product updates that will protect you against new security threats.

The ESP’s track record and reputation

You don’t want to use an ESP that has been hacked a lot. You want to use a tool that has a stellar track record when it comes to the security of its users.

User Experience and Interface Design

In 2024, email inboxes are suffering from the sea of sameness syndrome (a term coined by Peep Laja of CXL).

Every email newsletter looks and feels the same.

ESPs can take some of the blame due to their lack of investment in user experience (UX) and interface design (UI).

You don’t want your newsletter to look the same as everybody else’s.

You want to put your own spin on it.

That’s why it’s so important to take into consideration UX and UI when choosing your ESP.

You want to use a provider that offers:

• Intuitive functionalities - so you can easily find all the information and tools you need.

• Personalization - giving you a chance to create your own themes, templates, and designs.

• Visual appeal - so your newsletter stands out from the crowd.

By taking advantage of beehiiv’s UX, UI, and growth tools, Jack Raines, a solo writer, grew his list size to over 17x.

Best Paid Email Service Providers for Professionals

While most solo and freshly minted founders are looking for the most affordable ESP and great user experience, professional operators want something more out of their ESPs.

A few features that appeal to seasoned newsletter operators are:

• Custom domains

• Branding

• Better analytics

Let’s discuss these.

Custom Domain and Branding Options

A newsletter with its own custom domain and stand-alone branding speaks of professionalism.

It shows that the operator or operators are not mere hobbyists but are taking the publication seriously. 

A custom domain also reinforces your brand’s name and helps you stand out.

But a custom domain is more about “branding.”

With a custom domain and a name that’s consistent across your site and social media, you can start focusing on getting more traffic from search and social.

It helps you build authority long-term on both platforms.

Advanced Analytics and Tracking Tools

A paid ESP should offer you world-class analytics tools that help you clearly see your most important data.

What data, you might ask?

Here are the key data points you should check with your ESP:

• Email open rates - show how many people open your emails.

• Click-through rates (CTRs) - how many people click the links in your emails.

• Unsubscribe rates - how many people unsubscribe from your emails.

• Bounce rates - how many of the emails fail to arrive. 

• Link tracking - which links have the highest performance in your emails.

• Customer segments - see which segments and which traffic sources give you the highest open rates and CTRs.

• Device segmentation - on what type of device your emails are opened.

Few tools offer more analytics and tracking tools with an excellent UI than beehiiv.

Just look at them:

Innovative Features to Look for in 2024's Email Providers

The most innovative features to look for when choosing an ESP would be:

1. AI tools

AI will only get better, so I expect more ESPs to offer even better AI tools that help you write, design, and edit your newsletter with minimal input.

I also expect to see more AI personalization and recommendations so you can tailor your content even better to your audience.

But AI won’t only help with producing the newsletter.

It will help you schedule your emails at the best types so you can get the highest engagement possible.

Why Trust Me: Tanyo runs an email marketing agency focused on the finance industry. He helps his clients get higher engagement and more sales from their email lists. Tanyo also writes a newsletter on beehiiv called One Story Friday.

2. Native monetization 

ESPs that offer native monetization opportunities will get an even bigger market share.

That’s because ESPs that offer advanced analytics, UI and UX-friendly tools, and ways to monetize your newsletter are the dream partners for any newsletter operator.

In 2024, I expect to see even more ESPs offering monetization opportunities.

3. Growth tools

Growing your email list can be challenging, especially when you’re just starting out and don’t have a big audience.

Getting an ESP that enables you to cross-recommend with other newsletters as well as sponsor them is a must if you want to grow quickly.

Business-Centric Email Service Providers for Team Collaboration

In most cases, more than one person is involved with a company’s email list.

That’s why finding an ESP that offers you different functionalities that help you collaborate with your team is essential.

That’s especially true once you start scaling your email business.

beehiiv offers a ton of functionalities that help you collaborate with your team.

You can invite your writers/editors, all using the same tools, so you can write, edit, and send emails together.

Guide to Migrating Between Email Service Providers

If you’re looking for a new ESP, migrating can seem intimidating.

After all, you’ve fought tool and nail for every subscriber, and you don’t want to lose them during the migration process.

Luckily for you, with beehiiv, migrating is super easy.

“Yeah, but I need to migrate 10-100k subscribers.”

Resume Worded, an email list with over a million subscribers, migrated to beehiiv without any problems.

If we can handle them, we can handle your list.

Step-by-Step Migration Checklists

A successful migration is one that doesn’t disrupt your business while keeping all of your data secure.

Here’s what you need to do to prepare for the migration:

• See the size of your list and how many emails you plan to migrate.

• Based on that, choose the best migration method for you.

• Create a backup of your existing email data, so you don’t lose anything.

• Do a small migration test to see if everything works correctly.

• If everything works fine, begin the migration.

Once completed, you need to:

• Test all the ESP’s functionality, including sending and receiving emails, to ensure you will have a smooth transition.

• Update your email contact, so you don’t miss any email communication.

• Cancel the subscription for the previous ESP and deactivate your account.

Customer Support and Troubleshooting Resources

When migrating to a new platform, you need to have complete access to their library and customer support so everything runs smoothly.

Make sure you find a provider that offers:

• Highly-responsive customer support during the migration process.

• Different support channels, so you can find all the info you need.

• An extensive knowledge database that can help you find all the answers you need.

• Excellent tracking, so you can follow the entire migration process.

Getting Started with Email Service Providers

beehiiv is by far the easiest (and most user-friendly) ESP you can find on the market.

But don’t take my word for it, sign up for beehiiv today, completely for free, and see what they can do for you and your business.