Item: Mailchimp
Rating: 8
Author: Marc Duke

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use [Mailchimp] to send email updates to a networking group of some 400 people primarily in the UK. All of them have provided me with [their] emails so I have permission to send it. I will send out a message every quarter or so but will sometimes use it more often if needed. It solves the problem of sending out key information in long-form compared to using Twitter or Slack. Being able to post a web version and use the URL link to the content is very useful. I also find that the updates on open rates and unsubscribe [are] very useful too.

Pros and Cons

Templates
Managing lists
Scheduling
Previewing of content

Formatting
Use of video
Use of more graphics

Return on Investment

It has enabled me to manage the number of active users in my group
I am able to see how many people read content
I am able to see who has clicked on links in the newsletter

Alternatives Considered

Constant Contact and Bananatag

I have not used Constant Contact for some time but it was more complicated to organize the lists. Banantag was pretty easy to use in terms of blocks but it was not as good in terms of formatting and using previous templates, additionally, the previewing features [were] not as good as Mailchimp especially on mobile. But it was handy in terms of creating an HTML version that could then be used. But Mailchimp is easier to use for the purpose of creating and sending [an] email.

Usability

The real Achilles heel with Mailchimp is the formatting and editing if I was able to have a user experience in terms of editing as I do on Microsoft Word that would be amazing and save a huge amount of time and at times frustration. I also think there is more that could be done in terms of the use of [emojis] and other graphics as soon as you try and import graphics it can get a little tricky.

All-in-One Marketing Platform

I have not used the all-in-one platform and [wasn't] aware of it all. The name Mailchimp is synonymous with email (hence Mail) and I prefer not to go [do] an all-in-one route and prefer to follow a best-of-breed approach. It might be more work in terms of integration but all platforms normally fall short in the areas they add. For Mailchimp, its great for email marketing and that for me is where it stops.

Lessons for Success

Great successes is high open rates for content (over 30%) and being able to track subscribers on mobile as well as on desktop. The ability to share content quickly on social platforms using the URL for each email has been excellent. In terms of lessons learned, you need to be prepared to invest a lot of time in [setup] before you hit the send button!!

Likelihood to Recommend

It is very well suited for sending emails to customers, I would not use it for running surveys I would choose Survey Monkey. It is very useful to track open rates and click through to a [website.] It is not great in creating short-form content or [creating] a video. It is also a little tricky to set a template up [and] introduce graphics but once you are set up it is very easy to use. The biggest [drawback] is [formatting] fonts, [which] is really fiddly.

Critical Ecommerce Features

Campaign templates
Email marketing
Reporting

I have not really used it for eCommerce per se but I can see how it can easily form part of an eCommerce strategy especially in terms of landing pages and getting sign-ups as part of an eCommerce campaign. I have also noticed the introduction of QR codes in terms of functionality which is interesting.

Mailchimp Audience Management

I have not used this at all, the only form of segmentation I have done has been in terms of splitting the lists I have and sending some emails to some and not to others this is pretty easy to do and the idea of staggering mailouts is also very handy but I have not used this functionality as I have not [to] need to but it looks useful.

Mailchimp my email marketing tool of choice

Software Version

Overall Satisfaction with Mailchimp