The one thing I did not ever do for Crunchy Carpets was creating a newsletter or subscription service. My reasoning behind this was that I didn’t have enough content to share. I have always felt that a subscriber deserves a bit more than just a rehash that was on my site, and I was not up to pushing myself for more content. This was all on me. I have struggled with the direction and evolution of the blog. However, for those growing their blog into a robust and content heavy platform, a newsletter or email subscription is crucial. Platforms like Mailchimp and MyEmma are great for bloggers as well as anyone else getting started on their email list building.
My digital marketing experience has taken me down the inbound marketing funnel and the importance of email marketing today. Whether you are selling a product, service or distributing news and content, finding an email provider that not only fits your budget but your analytical, reporting and design needs are crucial. Shop around. Do the demo’s and really think about what your goals are for your email/newsletter marketing.
The Importance of Landing Pages
Having a great blog or website is fine and good. But a well-designed website guides your readers to explore and if you are selling something, to click and buy something. Email marketing is a great way to chose your goal and target exactly what you want your readers to accomplish when visiting your site.
And, as the team at MyEmma state so clearly, that’s where landing pages come into the picture.
Landing pages allow you to create a page that markets and directs your user to complete one main goal. Whether your user accesses this page through a PPC campaign or they stumble upon it organically, they will find themselves on a page that answers their specific questions regarding your brand, product, or service.
There is a lot of landing page software out there, MyEmma has created a list with good and bad for each. Hopefully, this will help you find the right one for your needs and budget.
1. Unbounce
Unbounce is known for building landing pages that convert. Not only do they provide top-notch templates for landing pages on the fly, but they also offer the option to customize your own design from scratch.
It allows you to have total control over the creative aspect of your landing pages. They want to facilitate your vision by providing the tools necessary to bring them to life. They also offer great features for those who are juggling multiple landing pages at once.
While building pages on this site is easy to do, the advanced features they offer are best for those who know what they’re doing. As a result, my recommendation is that you should first have experience with landing pages before committing to Unbounce.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Great integration with other marketing apps
- Use templates or customize your own
- Great for those with multiple landing pages
CONS
- Only provides A/B testing reports
- Can be too advanced for beginners
2. Instapage
Although they may not include all of the bells and whistles that Unbounce has to offer, Instapage sure does live up to its name. They provide the tools and ease of use that allow you to build exceptional landing pages in no time flat.
With hundreds of templates available, Instapage streamlines the design process for you. It is important, however, to choose the right package to cater to your goals. The more expensive your membership, the more you get. With that said, while Instapage does provide a basic plan, you should recognize that you won’t receive all the features they have to offer.
No matter how experienced you are, Instapage is your solution if you’re looking for an option that is fast and easy.
PROS
- Fast to set up
- Different packages available
- A wide variety of templates
CONS
- Less support the cheaper your membership is
- Pricing
3. GetResponse
So you’re not tech savvy–that’s okay. When it comes to GetResponse, you don’t have to be. Design your landing pages with their simple drag and drop option and pick and choose your images from their Shutterstock collection.
GetResponse also recognizes the mobile shift that our digital world is facing. They have made designing your landing pages easy for not only the desktop but for mobile devices as well.
Now, their analytic reporting may not be the best, and their customer support looks to have some shotty reviews. That is something to really consider when choosing your landing page builder.
But, don’t let reviews be your decision-maker when some of the benefits GetResponse provides could significantly outweigh their downfalls.
If you’re looking for a landing page builder that has everything you need with a simple click, GetResponse would be a great resource for you. Don’t worry about coding or finding images that are legally yours to use. GetResponse has that covered.
PROS
- Mobile-friendly
- Drag-and-drop feature
- Shutterstock picture collection
CONS
- Lack of robust analytics
4. LeadPages
If you’re looking for landing page templates that are professional, LeadPages has the inventory that you’re looking for. They offer over 150 different templates that have a sleek design.
While you can’t beat the templates they have to offer, it should be noted that you are not able to customize them.
They also take the extra step and provide articles that will inform you on how to make your landing pages successful. Informing you on the newest trends regarding your landing page performance is LeadPages’ way of showing you they truly care about your success.
PROS
- Large inventory of templates
- Professional look and appeal
- Additional resources for success
CONS
- Limited reporting and analytics
- Not able to customize templates
5. Lander
Have you ever created a landing page before?
If your answer is no, Lander may be the builder to help you get started.
We’ve covered a bunch of builders that have ease of use and X number of templates available to choose from.
Lander has all of that too, but what they have above the rest is a bountiful amount of support to help you along this new journey. They provide video tutorials, blogs, and even live chats to help you build the landing pages you’ve been dreaming of.
But it’s important to point out that they don’t integrate with all other marketing apps out there. This could limit you depending on who you are already working with today.
If you’re just starting out and don’t know where to begin, Lander is going to be one of the best landing page builders for you.
PROS
- Additional resources for landing page information
- Large inventory of templates
- A/B testing
- Drag-and-drop feature
CONS
- Limited integration
- Technical support is only offered at the highest tier
6. Kickoff Labs
For those of you that want to take advantage of the data and analytics that landing page builders have to offer, Kickoff Labs has the features you’re looking for.
They offer many features including automatic optimization that caters to you’re A/B testing results, and access to lead demographics. These resources allow you to access the information and data you need to boost your landing page efforts all while maintaining the creative design everyone wants to achieve.
However, they don’t offer customizable template options, so you may be limited in what you can create. They also offer many memberships, and the cheaper they are, the less you have to work with.
PROS
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Easy-to-use templates
- Easily integrate with your email marketing plan
CONS
- Not customizable
- Limited access for cheaper memberships
7. Ucraft
Ucraft offers a number of templates to choose from as well, but there’s something a bit different with this landing page builder. If you struggle to find something in their free templates, you may decide to upgrade and browse through the premium selection.
But what happens when you don’t find one there that you like?
Ucraft gives you the option to connect with them and let them know you’re not finding what’s right for you. There’s a chance that the Ucraft team will have the designers create a new template just for you.
Talk about special treatment.
On top of that, they have pages with great performance and a website that is easy to learn.
However, Ucraft doesn’t have the most options for integration. But if you plan to use Ucraft, be sure to research which marketing apps they do integrate with for added preparation.
PROS
- Designers could create templates specifically for you
- A wide range of templates
- Exceptional performance
- Easy to use
CONS
- Lacks integration features
Email marketing can be a fantastic way to grow readership and attract new customers. A well-crafted landing page that focuses your brand and messaging can boost your site’s readership and increase your sales if that is your goal.
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