Choosing the Best Email Marketing Platform for Your Service-Based Business

Fired up about email marketing, but now what?

You’ve decided to dive into email marketing – fantastic! It’s a powerful tool to connect with your audience, build relationships and ultimately skyrocket your sales.

But let’s be honest, starting from scratch can feel overwhelming. And obviously, the first step is choosing the best email marketing platform.

Been there, done that

I can almost guarantee you’re feeling a surge of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of “Where do I even begin?”.  

Hell, maybe you’ve even braved the Facebook groups for advice, only to be met with a confusing cacophony of conflicting opinions.  (Don’t worry, I lurk in those groups too, and I’m surprised I missed your post!).

Everyone seems to have a different “best” platform, a different strategy, a different “magic bullet.”  The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Because email marketing success hinges on building relationships, the “best” email marketing platform depends on your unique business goals and target audience.

Your business is unique (just like you!)

Your business is different. The way you do things is different.  Even if you’re in the same industry as someone else, your approach is what makes you, you.

So it doesn’t matter what everyone else uses. What matters here is you and your business. Unlike other stiff, boring email marketers out there, I tailor my recommendations to your unique needs. 

Introducing Janet (and her email marketing woes)

Let me tell you about Janet (an alias).  Like countless other Kiwi business owners, she was drowning in a sea of “shoulds and must dos” 

Social media..daily content creation..constant networking..admin…client work…lead generation – the pressure to increase sales was on, and burnout was looming.

Owning a specialist consultancy and with a new course almost ready to launch, Janet knew she needed to leverage email marketing but wasn’t feeling 100% clear on how to:

👉 Where to begin

👉 How to use email to get people on her course

👉 How to create or put together newsletters when she was already short on time

Suddenly, inspiration struck! 

Janet stumbled (and by stumbled, I mean, I landed in her inbox with a timely new article) upon an article (written by a savvy email marketing expert. Me of course!) about the power of email marketing. 

This article shed light on how email could help her connect directly with her audience, nurture leads, and ultimately convert them into paying clients – all on her own terms.

From lightbulb to overload

The excitement quickly turned to confusion after she sought advice from a Facebook group. Janet was bombarded with a seemingly endless list of email marketing platforms: MailerLite, Mailchimp, Flodesk, Klaviyo, Constant Contact, and ActiveCampaign – the names blurred together.

Each platform promised the world, but Janet felt lost, confused and overwhelmed.  Which one was right for her?

Finding clarity with a Pick My Brain Session

That’s where I came in. We scheduled a “Pick My Brain” session, a focused 60-minute conversation designed to bring clarity to her specific needs and goals.

We talked about her goals, her website platform, the size of her email list (and how she planned to grow it because she had only collected a few names over the years from various places), the type of content she envisioned sending, and of course, her budget.

As we talked, I saw the frustration melt away, replaced by a sense of understanding.  

By the end of our session, Janet had a shortlist of email marketing platforms tailored to her unique situation.

More importantly, Janet felt empowered and confident in her ability to choose the right platform and start building her email list.

How to choose the best email marketing platform for your business

Even though MailerLite remains my top choice for most, I won’t force it upon you.

I have spoken with many who were pushed onto Mailchimp only to discover they hated the interface, finding it difficult to use. 

Others have switched from ActiveCampaign to MailerLite because ActiveCampaign was far too intense for what they wanted.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we take into consideration when choosing the best email marketing platform for your service-based business:

• Ease of use
• Automation features
• Integrations
• Email marketing budget

Now It’s Your Turn

Imagine yourself in Janet’s shoes. 

Wouldn’t it feel amazing to navigate the world of email marketing with a clear roadmap and a trusted sidekick by your side? 

Stop feeling lost in the sea of options!  

Schedule your Pick My Brain Session today.  

If you’re a creative or consultant selling kickass services ready to start with email marketing but feeling stuck, drop me a message to see if a Pick my Brain session would be a good fit for you.

We’ll explore the best email marketing platforms based on YOUR business needs, and you’ll walk away confident in choosing the perfect tool to nurture leads and skyrocket your sales.