Constant Contact, one of the oldest and most established email marketing platforms, has evolved significantly since its inception. With a wide array of features including email marketing, automation, SMS marketing, CRM, social media posting, and ad assistance, Constant Contact is a comprehensive solution for businesses.
In this in-depth review, we leverage our personal experience with the SaaS, alongside our expertise in email marketing solutions to provide valuable insights into Constant Contact’s offerings, strengths, weaknesses, and more. Discover if Constant Contact is the perfect fit for your needs as we delve into its capabilities and help you make an informed decision.
Constant Contact Overview
Constant Contact is a powerful email marketing platform that empowers businesses to engage effectively with their audience, drive conversions, and build strong customer relationships. With intuitive features, comprehensive contact management capabilities, automation tools, and robust analytics, Constant Contact has emerged as a preferred choice for businesses of all sizes. This review offers a detailed overview of Constant Contact, highlighting its key features, benefits, and advantages. Additionally, it explores any limitations or cons that users may encounter.
In addition, this review provides valuable information on pricing options, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on their budget and requirements. To offer further insights, alternative email marketing platforms are also presented, offering businesses additional options to consider. Lastly, frequently asked questions (FAQs) are addressed to answer common inquiries and provide clarity on important aspects of Constant Contact. By the end of this review, businesses will have a comprehensive understanding of Constant Contact’s capabilities, helping them determine if it aligns with their email marketing needs and objectives.
Pros
Ease Of Use
One of Constant Contact’s shining qualities is its user-friendly interface. Even beginners can easily navigate the platform and explore features like automation, social media posts, and ads. With helpful tips provided throughout the interface, getting started becomes a breeze.
Template Library:
Boasting over 200 email templates, Constant Contact offers a vast selection for various purposes, from promotions to surveys. Though some templates may be of lower quality, each template includes unique placeholders that inspire email copy. The ability to fully customize these templates, as well as the option to start from scratch, caters to diverse design needs.
Email Editor:
The email editor impresses with its speed, responsiveness, and drag-and-drop functionality. Users can easily insert various blocks, buttons, images, polls, data tables, and RSVPs for events. Numerous layouts and simple personalization options further enhance the email creation experience.
Segmentation:
Constant Contact makes importing and managing email lists a breeze. Audience segmentation is a standout feature, allowing users to filter contacts based on various criteria, such as list membership, contact activity, details, tags, or eCommerce activity. Pre-built audience segments also save time by automatically categorizing contacts based on engagement levels.
Analytics:
The main dashboard offers clear insights into performance metrics, contact growth, email open rates, and social media growth. In the Reporting tab, individual campaign metrics, such as open rates, click rates, bounces, unsubscribes, and spam reports, provide detailed campaign analysis. Heat maps and overview reports offer valuable insights into subscriber behavior.
Email Deliverability:
Constant Contact scores high in email deliverability, effectively reaching most major email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo. DKIM authentication and a strict spam policy ensure enhanced deliverability and prevent spam-related issues.
Integrations:
With an extensive catalog of nearly 5,500 integrations, Constant Contact impresses with its seamless connection to various apps and services. The abundance of social media integrations further enhances the platform’s versatility and flexibility.
Cons
Affordability:
While Constant Contact caters to small businesses, its affordability comes into question. The basic plan may suit smaller subscriber lists, but for more robust features, prepare for a steep price tag. Additional add-ons like SMS or “Inbox previews” can escalate costs beyond expectations. Our advice? Test the waters with the 60-day free trial before fully committing.
Automation:
We had high hopes for Constant Contact’s automation capabilities, but alas, it fell short. Pre-built templates for email and SMS automation were available, but customizing them to meet your specific needs proved challenging. The limited combination of actions and conditions and the somewhat restricted automation triggers left us wanting more. Moreover, cross-channel automation, like incorporating SMS, was not possible.
User Interface (UI):
Though the interface appeared clean and straightforward, we did experience some clunkiness and unresponsiveness during the free trial. Creating a new campaign proved problematic, and embedding videos was less than ideal. Recent reviews also indicate occasional bugs, particularly when attempting complex tasks, which can be frustrating for users.
Email Template Quality:
Constant Contact boasts an extensive email template library, but the quality of some templates raised concerns. Many appeared outdated and lacked the desired modern touch. While customization options are available, the overall design remained limited. Users expressed a preference for fewer options with higher template quality.
Design & Spam Testing:
A/B testing, a crucial aspect of email marketing, fell short with Constant Contact. Only subject line testing was possible, limiting your ability to optimize email copy, visuals, and CTAs for better click-through rates and conversions. Additionally, there’s no spam testing option. Though a “Check for Errors” feature helps find placeholders and missing links, a feature for instant email previews in top clients requires an additional $10/month, which may not be suitable for many users.
Signup Forms & Landing Pages:
Creating forms to collect leads and subscribers is manageable, but advanced customization options are lacking. Form templates and more control over CTA buttons and spacing could enhance form uniqueness. The landing page builder is competent, but only having five templates limits variety. Plus, landing pages don’t appear under your website’s domain, potentially impacting conversion rates. Nevertheless, retargeting options and analytics tracking features offer some consolation.
Customer Support:
Constant Contact’s customer support offers multiple channels, including live chat and phone support. Live chat was efficient, but phone and chat support are not always available. Email support could be slow to respond. On the bright side, their knowledge base is extensive and provides helpful assistance during challenging moments.
Pricing
The pricing of Constant Contact is generally reasonable, but it may be considered slightly aggressive due to some incomplete or unfinished features. The pricing structure is based on the number of contacts a user has, with discounts available for nonprofits. While there is no free plan, Constant Contact does offer a 14-day or 60-day free trial period.
Constant Contact offers three different plans for digital marketing and email:
1. Lite: Starting at $12/month for 0-500 contacts, this plan includes basic email marketing with customizable templates, automated welcome email sequences, social media marketing, and event management. However, it only allows for one user, making teamwork impossible. This plan is suitable for beginners or businesses with minimal requirements.
2. Standard: Starting at $35/month for 0-500 contacts, the Standard plan offers subject line A/B testing, email archive, email scheduling, pre-built automation templates, resend to non-openers, social media ads integration, and contact segmentation. This plan is ideal for improving email marketing campaigns and utilizing marketing automation, especially for smaller contact lists. However, costs increase significantly for larger lists, making alternative options worth considering.
3. Premium: Starting at $80/month for up to 500 contacts, the Premium plan includes custom automation, dynamic email content, SEO, advanced ads with a dedicated manager, richer reporting, and email engagement heat maps. While the starting price is higher, this plan caters to businesses seeking a comprehensive platform for their entire digital marketing needs.
SMS Marketing functionality can be added to any plan, starting at $10/month for 0-500 messages. This includes a dedicated phone number, and a message editor with live previews, but note that the SMS marketing add-on is only available for US customers.
Alternatives To Constant Contact
- Mailchimp: Known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, Mailchimp offers customizable templates, advanced automation, and detailed analytics, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
- AWeber: AWeber provides a range of email marketing tools, including customizable sign-up forms, autoresponders, and segmentation options. It also offers a vast library of educational resources and responsive customer support.
- GetResponse: With a focus on automation and marketing funnels, GetResponse offers a comprehensive suite of tools for email marketing, landing pages, webinars, and CRM integration, making it an all-in-one marketing solution.
- Sendinblue: Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, Sendinblue offers intuitive email design, automation workflows, SMS marketing, and transactional email capabilities, along with robust audience segmentation.
- Campaign Monitor: Campaign Monitor provides easy-to-use email marketing features, including a drag-and-drop email builder, automation workflows, personalization options, and in-depth reporting, making it a solid choice for businesses seeking simplicity and effectiveness in their campaigns.
Conclusion
Constant Contact excels in delivering an easy-to-use platform packed with a plethora of core features designed for optimal efficiency. Throughout our rigorous review of Constant Contact, we were met with a positive user experience, and the interface demonstrated impressive responsiveness. Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, some advanced functionalities may be lacking or absent entirely from the system.
Undoubtedly, Constant Contact proves to be an excellent choice for users seeking an occasional email marketing solution or those content utilizing the platform’s fundamental capabilities. However, as your email list grows or your requirements become more sophisticated, you may find more cost-effective alternatives that better cater to your needs.
Nonetheless, for small businesses, Constant Contact remains a compelling option, as the company proudly promotes itself. Its remarkable deliverability rates, extensive integration options, and the recent addition of a website builder attest to its position as a top contender in the fiercely competitive realms of email marketing and automation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Constant Contact suitable for small businesses?
Yes, Constant Contact is suitable for small businesses. It offers a range of features and pricing plans that cater to the needs of businesses of all sizes, including small businesses.
2. Can I try Constant Contact before purchasing?
Yes, Constant Contact offers a free trial period. You can sign up for a 14-day or 60-day free trial to test the platform and its features before making a purchase decision.
3. Does Constant Contact provide mobile-responsive email templates?
Yes, Constant Contact provides mobile-responsive email templates. These templates are designed to ensure that your emails look great and are fully functional on mobile devices.
4. What support options does Constant Contact offer?
Constant Contact offers various support options, including live chat, phone support, and email support. They also have an extensive knowledge base, webinars, and educational resources to help users get the most out of the platform.
5. Can I integrate Constant Contact with my e-commerce platform?
Yes, Constant Contact offers integration capabilities with popular e-commerce platforms. You can sync your Constant Contact account with your e-commerce platform to streamline your marketing efforts and improve customer communication.