iContact vs. TINT

I would only recommend it if someone was a small business. I think they are the best suited for companies who will send out a coupon or offer here and there. The most recent updates made it more complicated to use for more complicated processes. It is easy to train someone on the program, and so quick to learn. But I would also only stick to the simpler things. I also think the colorful templates are great, and show great creativity. But again, it is hard to justify recommending the program when it isn't WYSIWYG.

Incentivized

[Tint should] Improve response times in between initial quotes and questions to same-day support as promised. Overall, for our limited needs for a social media at hosted conference, it suited our needs, but would not have paid extra for customer support - you will be on your own for this one. Customer support was factored into cost, which is why it is difficult to recommend TINT.

• Contact management. iContact is really great for entering all your contact. You are able to put them onto different lists, and let them choose which lists they would like to be a part of as well. There are many data fields provided to fill in information.
• Emailing. We use the email feature at least once a month. They are always improving and adding new features, which is very helpful in presenting content in a new and exciting way to our readers. There are many options with remade templates and themes, or you can add your own.
• Insights. It is really helpful being able to have the data to see what is working and what isn't. It is nice to be able to go back and see how things went in the past compared to now. Opens, clicks, shares, etc.

Incentivized

• The social media wall became an instant hit at our conference.
• The social media wall customization was excellent in terms of branding and customizations.

• We also would like to send transactional messages which don't require an opt-out, this is a challenge with iContact. (May be a feature with pro?)
• The regular version of iContact doesn't support event management or logic flows for automated messaging.
• Custom form fields have limited field type options (can't build a drop-down).

Incentivized

• Customer service: it took 10 business days to get initial questions answered from our sales contact, Matt. After we purchased the mid-grade package that came with prioritized email responses, it took 4 hours to respond to an emergency issue. We were never informed that our LinkedIn accounts would not be compatible with the Tint platform, which is significant is this is one of your main sources for content generation. After being able to jump on to a call with Alex and Customer Success in the middle of a crazy busy conference, we were promised a follow-up call to see what could be done about billing. 2 emails later and no response. I just received responses to some tickets 30+ days after event ended. Do not pay for the mid-grade package. Your emails will not be prioritized. Be sure to double check that all social media platforms you intend to use are functioning with platform before purchasing.
• The auto scroll feature is a bit abrupt in transitions and would advise smoother visual when sliding between social media posts.
• Better improvement on duplicate posts and pictures - many still made it through filter and generated repetitive content.

iContact has been a quick and easy way to send any announcements and news directly to email and social media subscribers. Its tracking and reporting capabilities turn a simple email into a marketing campaign that can be used as a tool to efficiently gauge reader response and customer satisfaction, and ultimately to reach potential customers. The consistency and excellent customer service is what makes this program a pleasant experience.

I rate iContact as an easy to use program due to its user friendly dashboard and user interface. Most companies of small to medium size do not have a dedicated marketer, therefore it is someone multitasking who may or may not have this kind of experience. iContact makes it relatively simple and can actually expand one's knowledge in the area of business promotion.

Incentivized

iContact is regularly up and running. Only once has it been unavailable for maintenance, which is to be expected and even desired for optimal performance when needed.

They have always been responsive to any issues or concerns that have arisen with our account. Our customer account manager participates in our monthly county-wide communicators meetings via telephone to ensure that we are getting the most from the service. He also analyzes our lists to help us weed out inactive contacts.

Incentivized

The templates are difficult to customize, and they don't render well in email platforms

i wouldn't be using it if i wasn't satisfied. time is money

I didn't have a say in the decision because I wasn't with the company at the time. I listed HubSpot here because I know we used it in conjunction with iContact for email automation, but HubSpot Email was only recently built-out to the point where it is today. Now, iContact and HubSpot are no longer integrated.

I chose Tint because of the ability to customize and better brand for social media wall engagement. And for promised customer support, which ultimately Tint lacks. I'm a nice guy and I also believe in holding companies accountable to the high standards that are promised.

iContact stays the same with the number of users added or taken away. It certainly remains reliable despite increased usage, and so, can be considered scaleable in that aspect.

• We have a template for webinars that we send every month. We just edit it and send. This couldn't be easier (once you know where to find it).
• We like the breakdown of statistics in the dashboard. They're easy to read.
• iContact isn't a comprehensive solution, so it is only one of a few products we use for marketing.

Incentivized

• Increased social media engagement at event
• Increased online engagement for event
• Increased brand awareness