Email marketing remains an integral part of every writer’s marketing strategy. It allows authors to connect with their audience, foster relationships, and promote their latest offerings in an intimate, personalized manner. However, to effectively leverage email marketing, you need a reliable and efficient email marketing service. An Email Marketing Services for every author, serving as a platform for connecting with their most dedicated fans.
Unlike social media followers, joining an email list represents a deeper level of commitment from fans. However, choosing the right Email Marketing Services can be overwhelming, as authors tend to stick with their initial choice.
To help authors make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of our top Email Marketing Services platforms specifically tailored for authors. The best part is that all the options on our list offer free versions, allowing authors to start building their lists without any financial commitment.
Before we delve into the details, let’s provide a brief overview of the email providers we will review in this guide:
Table of Contents
ConvertKit (Ideal for Creators):
ConvertKit positions itself as the ultimate email list provider for creators. It offers numerous features that optimize book marketing efforts and is even used by Booklinker for their Email Marketing Services.
Key Features of ConvertKit:
- Landing Pages & Email Signup Forms
- Seamless Integrations with platforms like Shopify and Teachable
- Automations
- Advanced Analytics
- Massive Training Library
- And much more!
With ConvertKit, authors can build customized landing pages to offer lead magnets, such as the first few chapters of a book or an author workshop course created on Teachable. Automations enable authors to send targeted emails to readers who claimed the freebie, providing a personalized experience.
ConvertKit also boasts a comprehensive training library and excellent customer service, including assistance with migrating from another email platform.
ConvertKit Pricing
Offers different plans based on the number of email subscribers. Their options include a “Free,” “Creator,” and “Creator Pro” plan.
Pricing for a hypothetical author with 5,000 contacts ranges from $66/month to $93/month, depending on the chosen plan. While ConvertKit offers robust features, it may be excessive for authors who simply want to send a monthly newsletter to their fans.
What We Like About ConvertKit:
- Complimentary version
- Empowering tools for innovators
- Extensive analytics capabilities
- Impeccable 99% deliverability rate
- Ready-made email templates
- Exceptional customer assistance
- Unparalleled segmentation and tagging abilities
What We Don’t Like About ConvertKit:
- The costliest option among the choices
- Can be daunting due to its abundance of features
Mailerlite (Ideal for Cost-Conscious Authors):
Mailerlite is another top email marketing platform that strikes a balance between functionality and cost savings.
Upon signing up with Mailerlite, they have a review process to ensure compliance with their Terms of Service. It is the only email platform we’ve encountered that follows this procedure, typically taking no more than a day for approval.
Key Features of Mailerlite:
- Landing Page & Website Builder
- Automation
- WYSIWYG Newsletter Builder
- Ability to sell digital products
Mailerlite shares many features with ConvertKit, with one notable difference being the use of a drag-and-drop WYSIWYG builder.
This feature enables easier customization compared to ConvertKit’s interface.
Mailerlite offers pricing
Options similar to ConvertKit, where the first 1,000 contacts on the Free Plan are free, but beyond that, users must select between the “Growing Business” or “Advanced” plans.
For example, an author with 5,000 fans and a growing business plan would pay $29 per month, which is more than 50% cheaper than ConvertKit.
What We Like About Mailerlite:
- Highly affordable and fair pricing
- A free version is available.
- Excellent deliverability
- User-friendly interface
- Pre-made email templates
What We Don’t Like About Mailerlite:
- Less extensive analytics compared to ConvertKit
- Customer support could be better.
- Review process required for approval
Substack (Ideal For Authors Who Just Want to Write)
On the other hand, Substack focuses on providing creators with the necessary tools to distribute content. It functions as a blogging platform with built-in email functionality, making it an ideal option for authors who prioritize writing and sending content to their list.
Key Features of Substack:
- Automatic blog setup with custom URLs
- Landing page generation
- Native podcasting
- Basic analytics on subscriber growth and engagement
Substack’s pricing
Structure is straightforward. The platform itself is always free, but if authors choose to monetize their content by implementing a paywall, Substack will deduct 10% of the payments processed.
However, most authors do not paywall their lists, so this may not be a significant factor.
What We Like About Substack:
- A free version is available.
- Great for non-tech-savvy users
- Easy to get started with
- User-friendly interface
- Simple integration with Stripe for payment processing
- Ability to add a custom URL
What We Don’t Like About Substack:
- Substack retains 10% of payments processed.
- Limited search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities
- Authors do not own their content.
- Limited email capture tools and customization options
Conclusion
Every writer needs an email marketing service that is not only functional but also tailored to their specific needs. ConvertKit, MailChimp, and AWeber are three top-tier options offering unique features to streamline your email marketing efforts and effectively engage with your readership. All the email marketing solutions mentioned in this guide can effectively help authors market their books and engage with their audience. The key to success lies in consistently sending valuable emails.
When selecting an Email Marketing Services provider, it’s crucial to consider the specific features you require. It’s perfectly acceptable to start with a platform and grow into it over time.
By now, you should have the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision about an Email Marketing Services platform. If you need assistance in choosing, feel free to leave a comment.
Additionally, stay tuned for a guide on author Email Marketing Services strategy if you need further guidance. Finally, if there are any options we may have overlooked, please inform us, and we’ll gladly consider them.
