Choosing the right autoresponder is a crucial decision for marketers, and AWeber, iContact, and GetResponse are among the top contenders in the market. Each comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks, making it essential to understand their features before making a decision.
In this article, we’ll explore into various aspects, including costs, deliverability, and the ability to add outside leads, to help you make an informed choice.
1. Costs:
Cost is a significant factor for small to medium-sized marketers. While the pricing structures of AWeber, iContact, and GetResponse are generally similar, AWeber tends to be slightly more expensive, albeit by a few dollars per month.
All three services tier their costs based on the number of subscribers. It’s important to note that AWeber counts unsubscribed leads as subscribers, which may impact your overall costs.
2. Deliverability:
AWeber is renowned for having the strongest reputation in the industry for deliverability. High deliverability ensures that your emails have the best chance of reaching your subscribers’ inboxes.
However, iContact and GetResponse also boast experienced email management teams that maintain constant communication with ISPs to optimize email delivery.
The downside of AWeber’s stringent policies to prevent spam is that it may limit certain marketing activities. Marketers should weigh the advantages of high deliverability against the potential restrictions.
3. Adding Outside Leads:
A crucial consideration is the ability to add outside leads to your email lists. AWeber and GetResponse both have limitations in this regard, not allowing the addition of outside leads, even if they’ve previously double-opted into a list. This restriction can be problematic for those migrating from an existing database or collecting leads at in-person events.
iContact, on the other hand, provides more flexibility by allowing the import of outside leads. This feature can be beneficial for marketers who need to manage diverse lead sources.
4. Who Not to Use:
It’s advisable to avoid using your shopping cart’s email system for list management, as these systems may have limitations in terms of deliverability. For example, 1ShoppingCart has a less favorable reputation for deliverability.
Self-hosted shopping carts like Zen Cart may pose challenges, as emails are sent from your server, potentially carrying the risk of being associated with past spam activities. A dedicated email management system, such as AWeber, iContact, or GetResponse, is recommended for optimal deliverability.
MailChimp, despite its attractive “first 500 subscribers free” offer, may not be suitable for all marketers due to its mandatory double-opt-in policy. The potential loss of up to 60% of your list to double-opt-in may outweigh the benefits, making it less favorable for some marketing strategies.
Conclusion
Choosing between AWeber, iContact, and GetResponse requires a careful evaluation of your specific needs and preferences. Consider the costs, deliverability, and flexibility in adding outside leads before making a decision.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the right choice depends on your unique requirements and goals.
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