What is Constant Contact?
With over 600,000 customers, Constant Contact is one of the largest providers of email marketing software in the world.
Constant Contact is a complete platform to launch a variety of marketing campaigns.
To understand the company's current multi-purpose solutions, a short history course is needed.
Founded in 1995 under the name of Roving Software, the company adopted the Constant Contact brand in 2004, following the success of its suite of DIY email tools and services for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
Over the next eight years, the company made key acquisitions. Constant Contact purchased NutshellMail, an email-based social media monitoring tool, in 2008. Three years later, she joined Bantam Live, a provider of contact management and CRM social.
The year 2012 was marked by two acquisitions of Constant Contact: CardStar, a mobile loyalty application, and SinglePlatform, a business listing startup.
In 2015, the Endurance International Group (EIG) bought Constant Contact for 1.1 billion dollars. Since joining the EIG Group, Constant Contact has become a sister brand of BigRock, Bluehost, BuyDomains, Domain.com, HostGator, iPage and SiteBuilder.com.
Who is Constant Contact for?
Constant Contact is an email marketing platform designed for a wide range of users, from novices to experienced marketing professionals, thanks to its intuitive interface and versatile features.
Ease of Use
- Beginner Users : With its user-friendly features, Constant Contact is ideal for those who are new to email marketing. The new features and tools are easy to understand and use.
- Intuitive design : The Constant Contact interface is designed for easy navigation, making access to reporting and contact management tools easy even for non-technical users.
Adaptability
- Versatility for various industries : Constant Contact adapts to a wide range of industries, offering customizable solutions to meet the specific needs of each sector.
- Expanded Features : Even with advanced features, the interface remains accessible, allowing users to take full advantage of all the software's capabilities.
Accessibility
- Investment for SMEs : Although not included in a free plan, Constant Contact is a smart investment for small and medium-sized businesses (or Non-Profit Organizations) with a dedicated marketing budget and wanting to develop their business.
- Pricing : The pricing plans reflect advanced features and extended support, making Constant Contact more suitable for businesses that are ready to invest in quality digital marketing tools.
Constant Contact is designed to be easily accessible to beginners while offering features that are advanced enough for experienced marketers. It is an ideal platform for SMEs that are ready to invest in email marketing and want a complete and easy to use solution.
Features
Constant Contact offers reporting and contact management, but there are no weak spots in this versatile email marketing solution.
1. Email creation
The art of creating engaging emails is becoming a reality with Constant Contact's intuitive tools.
- Easy Customization: Adapt emails to your brand by simply using your site's URL.
- Drag-and-drop editor: Create visually appealing emails with ease.
- Dynamic content: Display varied content to different contacts based on their demographics or behaviors.
The Constant Contact software simplifies the creation of personalized emails, although more advanced features could be added for even finer personalization.
2. Contact Management
Effective contact management is at the heart of any email marketing strategy, and Constant Contact understood that.
- Import and Integration: Add contacts manually or import them from other services.
- List Development: Integrated tools to help grow your email list.
The Constant Contact software offers robust tools for contact management, but could benefit from more advanced features for contact segmentation and analysis.
3. Segmentation
Segmentation at Constant Contact allows you to target your campaigns more precisely.
- Basic segmentation: Segment your contacts based on how they interact with your emails.
- Shopify integration: Use data from Shopify to target customers at various stages of their journey.
While Constant Contact software offers useful segmentation, adding more detailed criteria could improve campaign targeting.
4. Reporting
Constant Contact's detailed reports allow you to analyze and optimize your email campaigns.
- Benchmarking: Compare the performance of various campaigns.
- Campaign Details: Look at specific metrics for each email sent.
Constant Contact's reporting capabilities are robust, providing critical insights for optimizing campaigns.
5. Enrollment forms
Increase your subscriber list with personalized and effective signup forms.
- Variety of Forms: Options for creating pop-ups, embedded forms, and landing pages.
- Brand Customization: Adapt forms to reflect your visual identity.
Constant Contact's tools for creating signup forms are practical and varied, although the introduction of more customization options could make them even more effective.
6. Integrations
Expand the capabilities of your email marketing with the numerous integrations offered by Constant Contact.
- Rich MarketPlace: Access a wide range of applications and integrations to extend functionality.
- Zapier integration: Easily connect with over 2,000 other applications for greater automation.
The variety of integrations available at Constant Contact is a major asset, allowing for great flexibility and better synchronization with other digital marketing tools.
Pricing
So how much does Constant Contact cost?
The company has a flexible pricing structure. Like many of the best email marketing platforms, Constant Contact charges based on the number of contacts. Have a look at it.
Cost per maximum number of contacts:
E-Mail:
- 500: $20/month
- 2,500: $45/month
- 5,000: $65/month
- 10,000: $95/month
Email Plus
- 500: $45/month
- 2,500: $70/month
- 5,000: $95/month
- 10,000: $125/month
If your contact storage needs exceed 10,000, you automatically benefit from the Email Plus plan.
Besides the two Constant Contact platform plans above, there's also a subscription that's designed for customers who don't need email marketing support.
Called the Website Builder plan, it includes all the features of Constant Contact, except those in the Email Marketing section, for $10 per month.
Alternatives to Constant Contact
1. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is an email marketing and automation platform, recognized for its ease of use and flexibility, suitable for small and medium-sized businesses as well as freelancers.
Features
- Marketing Automation: Create personalized email campaigns based on subscribers' behavior.
- Campaign Design: Drag-and-drop tools to create visually appealing emails.
- Analysis and Reporting: Monitoring campaign performance with detailed reports
Pricing
- Free: Up to 2,000 contacts and 10,000 shipments per month, with a daily cap of 2,000.
- Essentials: Starting at $9.99/month for 50,000 contacts and more features.
- Standard: Starting at $14.99/month for advanced automation tools.
Mailchimp is ideal for those who are new to email marketing, offering easy to use tools and a good introduction to digital marketing strategies.
SEE MORE: Try Mailchimp for free now
2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo, formerly Sendinblue, is an all-in-one digital marketing platform similar to HubSpot that offers email marketing, automation, SMS marketing, and live chat services.
Features
- Multi-channel marketing: Combine email, SMS, and live chat in your marketing campaigns.
- Marketing Automation: Create custom scenarios to automate your campaigns.
- Advanced segmentation: Target your messages based on customer behavior and data.
Pricing
- Free: 300 emails/day with an unlimited number of contacts.
- Lite: Starting at $25/month for 40,000 emails with no daily limit.
- Premium: Starting at $65/month for advanced marketing features.
Brevo is a comprehensive, easy-to-use option for businesses looking to integrate various aspects of digital marketing into a single platform.
SEE MORE: Try Brevo for free now
3. GetResponse
GetResponse is an email marketing platform offering tools for automation, creating landing pages, and managing webinars.
Features
- Email Marketing: Create and send engaging email campaigns.
- Landing Pages: Easy landing page design to increase conversions.
- Webinars: Host webinars to engage your audience.
Pricing
- Basic: Starting at $15/month for basic email marketing features.
- Plus: Starting at $49/month for automation and contact tools.
- Professional: Starting at $99/month for advanced features and webinars.
GetResponse is suitable for those looking for an integrated email marketing solution with additional features for online engagement.
SEE MORE: Try GetResponse for free now
Customer Support
Constant Contact customer support is designed to offer comprehensive and effective help to its users, ensuring an optimal user experience and timely resolution of issues.
Fast and Effective Support
Constant Contact focuses on responsive and competent support to meet the diverse needs of its users.
- Support Available: Access customer support through a variety of channels, including phone, social, email, and live chat.
- Fast Response Time: Get your questions answered quickly, reducing wait times and improving efficiency.
Constant Contact customer support is well equipped to offer quick and accurate responses, which is essential for maintaining smooth use of the platform.
Online Resources and Training
An abundance of online resources and training options are available to enable users to maximize the use of the platform.
- Knowledge Base: Explore a vast collection of articles, guides, and FAQs for effective self-help.
- Webinars and Tutorials: Access educational webinars and video tutorials for a thorough understanding of Constant Contact's features.
Online resources and training options enrich the Constant Contact user experience, providing tools for learning and skills development.
Community Support
Constant Contact's community support promotes the exchange of ideas and solutions between users.
- Community Forums: Join discussions with other users to share tips, tricks, and support.
- Feedback and Suggestions: Constant Contact encourages feedback and suggestions for the continuous improvement of its services.
The community aspect of Constant Contact customer support adds a valuable dimension, offering a platform for collaborative learning and sharing expertise.
Commitment to Customer Satisfaction
Constant Contact's commitment to customer satisfaction is demonstrated through its dedicated support and comprehensive resources.
- Customer Orientation: A strong commitment to problem solving and continuous improvement of the user experience.
- Adaptation to User Needs: A user-centered approach to respond appropriately to their specific requests.
Constant Contact customer support demonstrates a clear commitment to the satisfaction of its users, which is essential to ensure a positive and productive experience with the platform.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Constant Contact
Step 1: Register and Create an Account
Start your email marketing journey by establishing your presence on Constant Contact.
- Access the Site: Visit the Constant Contact site and click on “Sign Up” or “Free Trial.”
- Account Information: Enter your personal details to create an account.
- Account Activation: Confirm your registration via the link sent to your email address.
With your account activated, you are ready to dive into the world of email marketing.
Next Step : Set up your account to meet your specific needs.
Step 2: Initial Setup
Personalize your account for a tailored email marketing experience.
- Login: Log in to your Constant Contact account.
- Account Settings: Complete the initial steps to set up your preferences.
- Customization: Adjust settings such as time zone and language.
Your account is now personalized, putting you in an ideal position to launch your campaigns.
Next Step : Organize and manage your contacts for targeted marketing.
Step 3: Importing and Managing Contacts
Managing your contacts is crucial for the success of your email marketing campaigns.
- Access Contacts: Navigate to the “Contacts” section.
- Import: Add contacts manually or import them in bulk.
- Segmentation: Create lists for better organization and accurate targeting.
With your contacts well organized, you are ready to launch targeted and effective campaigns.
Next Step : Create engaging and personalized email campaigns.
Step 4: Create an Email Campaign
Start creating emails that will captivate your audience.
- Initiate a Campaign: Select “Campaigns” then “Create.”
- Choose a Design: Go for a template or start with a blank canvas.
- Personalize: Use the editor to add content and personalize your email.
Your email is ready to be sent, marking a big step forward in your communication strategy.
Next Step : Send your campaign and monitor its impact.
Step 5: Send and Track the Campaign
Maximize the impact of your campaigns by sending them at the right time and tracking their performance.
- Email Sending: Choose to send your email immediately or schedule it.
- Analyze Performance: Use reporting tools to assess the effectiveness of your campaign.
You now have the skills to not only send impactful campaigns, but also to analyze and adjust your strategies based on feedback.
FAQs
Does Constant Contact offer a free version?
Constant Contact does not have a free plan. It offers two paid pricing plans, the costs of which depend on the number of contacts in your list.
Is Constant Contact a CRM?
Constant Contact is email marketing software, but it includes some of the advanced contact management features found in many CRMs.
Final Verdict
Constant Contact is ideal for businesses that want a simple, intuitive email marketing tool that simply works.
If you want to benefit from the latest automation and advanced features, it's best to look for an alternative.
Let's look at the top reasons to try Constant Contact:
- The templates are beautifully designed and professional looking.
- Entry-level plans are suitable for small businesses with only 500 subscribers. It is possible to increase the number of contacts up to 50,000.
- The free trial lasts for 60 days and all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The features are numerous and go beyond what most competitors offer. Constant Contact offers a set of well-integrated tools that are not too difficult to learn.
Constant Contact is different from other email marketing service providers. Its core email marketing offering is great, but it's the extra features that make it stand out.
