When I started my business I was using MailChimp.
You could get so much for free! But is MailChimp any good?
I have really mixed emotions about this. It’s not that MailChimp is bad. I just have trouble saying it is good.
I think that the team at MailChimp wondered the same thing as me:
What do you get any better than this in the paid version??
And over time (5.5years I’ve been in biz) I have seen MailChimp change their appearance and functions, the names of things (lists are now audiences) and most of all they’ve changed what you get for free and what you get on paid versions.
Let’s go a bit deeper.
I do not adore MailChimp but it is not bad. I just have a lot of trouble saying it is good 😌 🤣
I’m going to commit right now to: not going on and on about what you used to get for free. And if you have an account from before the major changes to the free pan you will find that you still have all of your lists and automations intact – so DON’T DELETE ANYTHING!! Just rename things and make the most of it.
Rather than rubbing it in about how much better it used to be I will contrast it with alternatives that are free services.
MailChimp is a free or paid email marketing service. If you’re not clear on what email marketing is or whether it is relevant for your business, I have a video about that here.
On the free version of MailChimp you get one audience (list of subscribers) and if you create an automation, you get one email in the workflow.
MailChimp is the big name in email marketing and it used by some big companies – but that doesn’t make it the best value or the best free service
Good things about MailChimp
MailChimp is great for beginners to email marketing. Mostly because they have been around for aaaages and so there are a lot of YouTube videos to help you and you probably have friends in biz who use it and could help you.
Having said that, any of the alternatives like MailerLite or SendInBlue are just as good for beginners and will actually grow with your business quite a bit before you have to pay.
Struggling a bit here, to find good things about MailChimp.
It is not BAD okay. It’s just not the best free version anymore.
And even if you pay, the first upgrade gives you 3 audiences, lifts the limit on automations and gives you MailChimp support, but you don’t have unlimited audiences and the support is pretty average in my opinion. If you’re going to pay – I don’t advise you to pay for MailChimp unless it feels way too overwhelming to shift platforms.
If you have maxed out your MailChimp, I suggest you begin a gradual transition to another platform:
leave your existing MailChimp set up alone,
maybe export your list + send newsletters from somewhere else
and gradually move over your automations
OR just have a Frankenstein set up with some here and some there.
What I don’t love about MailChimp
It’s just not intuitive to use!
People struggle to send a basic email that looks good!
I mean c’mon team!
MailChimp have tried to improve the user experience over the years, but it’s still just not easy to use. Most people struggle with font appearance, and formatting. Getting it looking branded and gorgeous.
It’s not that you CAN’T get it looking good, it’s just not straightforward.
Keep an eye out for a new video coming up about “How to create a gorgeous email in MailChimp”. This week or next week. Jump on the newsletter so you definitely hear about it.
Further to that: if you want a free email service that gives you more, SendInBlue and MailerLite are definitely better contenders. And if you want to pay, I highly recommend ActiveCampaign because their system offers more actions that save you time and do more spiffy things that MailChimp does even on the paid version. Plus – their support is instant and they will stick with you till your issue is resolved. Love those guys.
Do you have more questions about email marketing? There is not one blanket solution I will offer here, because everyone’s set up is so unique. So ask me anything below or make time for a free chat.
I also have a group mentoring program in development for MailChimp where I will teach you all my time saving and beautifying tips AND support you with your unique needs. Jumping on the newsletter is the best way to stay in the loop about that which will run later in the year.
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Do you just want to talk to me about your business and email marketing?
I’d love to chat. You can book a free chat and we can discuss your business, your email marketing or anything else you like!
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