Ask any business owner what his or her biggest obstacle is when it comes to communicating with customers. The response will likely be connecting on various levels. That’s because we’ve become accustomed to using different tools for different tasks. Many businesses utilize an email marketing system that allows for social sharing, but not for running social promotions (like offering coupons for signups or actions). A separate system is used for collecting feedback, and yet another for handling local deals or events.
Enter: Constant Contact. While it’s not going to replace everything, it will streamline the tools we use to connect and convert.
Constant Contact integrates email marketing, events and registrations, social media campaigns, promotions and feedback surveys into one great tool. Unlike other email marketing and campaign software, Constant Contact includes robust features you’ll actually use, such as:
- Email newsletters
- Email cards & announcements
- Custom coded emails
- Promotions and sale events
- Event announcements
- Facebook Fan promotions
- Trackable coupons
- Donations
- Feedback & Reviews
- Surveys
- Polls
The service also includes image storage, which means your server only gets hit with visitors, not those loading images from within the emails, surveys or other campaigns.
Of course, if you only want to send email, that single option is available, too.
Real-time reporting insights let you quickly see what works and what doesn’t. Note that this reporting doesn’t replace the need for Google Analytics – especially that for tracking overall conversions – but it will give management what it needs to determine if the marketing team is headed in the right direction.
Premiere Sign-Up Tools for Subscribers
Constant Contact provides several means for your visitors and customers to sign up for offers and mailings.
- Sign-Up Button – This web-based button launches the signup form (hosted on Constant Contact’s servers).
- Third-Party Signup Form – Display signup fields on any web page. Constant Contact lets third-parties use the API, and several options are free.
- Facebook – Use the Constant Contact Facebook App to invite your fans to join the mailing list.
- Via Text Messaging – Create signage for your retail location or website that gives instructions to let people text a keyword to signup.
- QR Code – Users can scan a QR code to signup for your list.
There are additional options – some free – in the Constant Contact App Marketplace!
Competitive Pricing
Pricing starts at just $20/month for basic email marketing, and $45/month for a suite of products that goes beyond email and social. Constant Contact charges based on the number of email subscribers – not the total number of mailings sent – so you can send multiple mailings in a calendar month for the same price.
And, yes, I’m available. Many of my clients use my services to customize campaigns and design newsletters. I can also work with you to determine the best strategy for social promotions and prompting for customer feedback. Contact me today.
