Email marketing emerges as an indispensable tool for eCommerce businesses where every click can lead to a purchase, and every purchase can build a relationship.
Think of it as the bridge connecting businesses to customers, fostering a dialogue that goes beyond the transaction. It’s not just about selling but creating value, sharing stories, and building loyalty.
This is possible through eCommerce email marketing software that enables you to send smart, targeted communication to the right people at the right time with the right message.
With an 8% average email conversion rate for the eCommerce industry, it has revolutionized how online businesses engage with their audience.
These tools transform email marketing from a shot in the dark to a precise, impactful strategy by leveraging advanced analytics, segmentation, and automation.
So, whether you’re a budding online store or a seasoned digital marketplace, understanding and utilizing eCommerce email marketing software is key to unlocking unprecedented growth and deepening customer relationships. Let’s dive into how this powerful ally can elevate your digital presence and sales.
In this blog post, we have five powerful eCommerce email marketing software to help you connect with your customers and close more sales.
Key takeaways:
– Email marketing software can significantly enhance customer engagement and sales for eCommerce businesses.
– Choosing the right platform depends on your business size, integration needs, and specific marketing goals.
– Automation, personalization, and analytics are key features to look for.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Understanding eCommerce Email Marketing Software
With the help of email marketing software, every email sounds like a personal conversation with the recipient.
It’s not just about notifications or transactions — but understanding and nurturing. Email marketing acts like a compass, guiding customers back to your shore. But how exactly does it make such a significant impact on customer retention and sales?
First off, email marketing is the digital equivalent of a friendly, familiar face popping into your inbox. It’s personal, direct, and incredibly effective at keeping the conversation going between purchases.
Through thoughtful, personalized follow-up emails, you’re not just saying “thank you” but inviting them into a narrative that extends beyond the transaction.
You’re offering them a seat at the table, asking for feedback, and giving them a sneak peek into future products or exclusive deals.
This ongoing dialogue fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty, making customers more likely to return. Studies consistently show that retaining an existing customer is significantly more cost-effective than acquiring a new one, and email marketing is a key player in making that retention a reality.
But there’s more to it than just feel-good messages.
Email marketing is a powerhouse when it comes to boosting sales. By leveraging data analytics, eCommerce businesses can segment their audience, tailoring messages to fit different customer groups’ precise needs and preferences.
This means that instead of a generic blast, your emails can highlight products that a particular segment is likelier to purchase, announce sales that resonate with their purchase history, or provide personalized recommendations.
The result? Higher open rates, better engagement, and, ultimately, increased sales. Email marketing also excels in re-engaging dormant customers, reminding them of what they’ve been missing, and offering them an incentive to return.
Email marketing is more than just a tool for eCommerce businesses; it’s the lifeblood of customer engagement and sales growth. By leveraging its potential, businesses can create meaningful connections with their customers, turning casual browsers into loyal patrons and occasional purchasers into brand advocates.
5 Top eCommerce Email Marketing Software Overview by Use Case
Let’s take a look at five of the best eCommerce email marketing tools,
1. EngageBay
EngageBay is a comprehensive CRM and marketing automation platform designed to empower eCommerce businesses with robust email marketing capabilities.
With EngageBay, users can seamlessly integrate email marketing into their sales and customer management processes, creating personalized campaigns that drive engagement and conversions. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly design make it easy for businesses to create, launch, and monitor email marketing campaigns.
Besides, EngageBay offers flexible pricing plans tailored to the needs and budget of eCommerce businesses, making advanced email marketing capabilities accessible to all business sizes.
Here’s a video testimonial from one of their users.
Key features of EngageBay
- Email Campaigns: Create and send personalized email campaigns tailored to specific customer segments.
- Automation: Set up automated email workflows to nurture leads, recover abandoned carts, and follow up with customers post-purchase.
- Segmentation: Segment your email list based on customer behavior, demographics, purchase history, and various other filters for targeted communication.
- Analytics: Track and analyze email performance metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, to optimize campaign effectiveness.
- Integration: Integrate with popular eCommerce platforms and other business tools to streamline data flow and enhance efficiency.
Pricing
EngageBay does not offer standalone email marketing plans; it provides a comprehensive, all-in-one automation platform. Within this platform, users can access various features, including email marketing, CRM, and marketing automation tools. EngageBay offers four subscription plans:
- Free (for up to 14 users)
- Basic: $14.99 per user per month
- Growth: $64.99 per user per month
- Pro: $119.99 per user per month
Read also: Winning in a Competitive World — eCommerce Marketing 101
2. HubSpot
HubSpot is a comprehensive inbound marketing and sales platform that offers robust email marketing capabilities tailored for eCommerce businesses.
Offering a wide array of features, HubSpot enables seamless integration with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce, streamlining data management and customer engagement. With its intuitive interface and customizable email templates, businesses can create visually appealing campaigns that resonate with their audience.
As a trusted industry leader, HubSpot empowers businesses to create personalized, targeted email campaigns that drive engagement and conversion.
Key features of HubSpot
- Automation workflows: Create complex email workflows triggered by specific actions or events, such as abandoned carts or new subscriber sign-ups.
- Dynamic content: Creation of dynamic email content that adapts based on recipient data, ensuring each email is personalized and resonates with the individual recipient.
- A/B testing: Experiment with different elements of their email campaigns, from subject lines to CTAs, to determine which variations drive the highest engagement and conversions.
- AI for content (beta phase): Harness the power of AI content writing features in email marketing to swiftly generate personalized messaging or skillfully refine existing copy with simple prompts or slash and highlight commands.
- Drag-and-drop editor: Utilize HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor or pre-designed templates for effortless customization and creation of visually stunning email campaigns.
Pricing
HubSpot offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan with basic features and paid plans starting from $45 per month for email marketing. Pricing varies based on the features and capabilities required, with additional charges for advanced features such as automation and customization.
Read also: 9 Best Email Marketing Software for eCommerce
3. Omnisend
Omnisend is a leading eCommerce email marketing software designed to cater specifically to the needs of online retailers. You can easily create shoppable emails that allow you to add products to the email.
The best part is that you don’t need to code or go through the process of tedious editing. Omnisend’s robust email marketing features make it easy to nurture customer relationships and grow your business.
Besides, with its focus on efficiency, personalization, and results, Omnisend remains a top choice for eCommerce businesses looking to elevate their email marketing efforts.
Key features of Omnisend
- Drag-and-drop editor: Create visually appealing emails that resonate with their audience without the need for coding or using customizable templates to increase engagement.
- Automation workflows: Send timely, relevant messages based on customer behavior, increasing the likelihood of purchase.
- Analytics tools: Gain valuable insights into campaign performance, allowing businesses to continuously optimize their email marketing strategies for maximum ROI.
- Multichannel campaigns: Extend your reach beyond email and seamlessly integrate SMS, push notifications, Facebook Messenger, and more into your marketing strategy to engage customers across their preferred channels.
- Dynamic content: Create personalized experiences with dynamic content blocks that adapt to each recipient’s preferences and deliver targeted product recommendations, tailored offers, and relevant content to drive engagement and sales.
Pricing
Omnisend offers a range of pricing plans to suit businesses of all sizes, starting from a free plan with basic features and scaling up to premium plans with advanced functionality. Pricing is based on the number of contacts in your email list and additional features required, with options for monthly or annual billing. Custom enterprise solutions are also available for larger businesses with specific needs.
Read also: 25 Top eCommerce Marketing Tools Sure to Boost Sales in 2024
4. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign stands out in the world of eCommerce email marketing software by offering an all-encompassing automation platform that goes beyond email to include CRM and sales automation. This approach is tailored to help online businesses foster more effective customer engagement.
It’s particularly celebrated for its sophisticated automation workflows, detailed customer insights, and the ability to create a more personalized shopping experience. ActiveCampaign is suited for eCommerce businesses looking to leverage advanced marketing strategies to nurture leads, boost customer loyalty, and increase sales through personalized engagement
Key features of ActiveCampaign
- Complex automation workflows: Create complex, multi-step workflows that trigger personalized emails based on specific customer actions, such as visiting a product page, abandoning a cart, or completing a purchase.
- Integrated CRM: A built-in CRM system that seamlessly integrates with its email marketing services and provides a comprehensive view of customer interactions, making it easier to track the customer journey, manage leads, and automate sales processes.
- Site and event tracking: Tack users’ actions on your website that can be used to trigger automation workflows, segment contacts, and personalize email content.
- Advanced segmentation: Segment your contacts based on demographics, behavior, and interaction with your emails and website, and send highly personalized and relevant emails.
- Predictive sending: Predict the optimal sending times for each contact, increasing the likelihood that your emails will be opened.
Pricing
ActiveCampaign’s pricing is structured to accommodate businesses of various sizes, with plans that scale based on the number of contacts and the level of features required.
- Lite: Starts at $39 per month
- Plus: Starts at $70 per month
- Professional: Starts at $187 per month
- Enterprise: Starts at $323 per month
Read also: 9 Sales Email Automation Tools That Don’t Cost a Bomb [+Pricing]
5. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a leading email marketing and automation platform specifically designed for the eCommerce sector. It enables online businesses to deliver more personalized shopping experiences through targeted email campaigns and sophisticated automation.
Klaviyo stands out for its deep integration capabilities with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce, allowing for seamless synchronization of customer data.
This rich data integration facilitates highly personalized, timely, and effective email marketing strategies that drive customer engagement and revenue growth.
Key features of Klaviyo
- Deep eCommerce integrations: Seamless integration with top eCommerce platforms for real-time syncing of customer behaviors and data, enhancing tailored email campaign effectiveness.
- Powerful segmentation: Segmentation beyond demographics, enabling users to target their audience with precision based on purchase history, website activity, and engagement levels for more relevant and effective messaging.
- Advanced automation: Nurture leads and boost sales with minimal effort, offering everything from trigger-based emails to complex behavior-driven automation flows.
- Dynamic content and personalization: Dynamic content for ultra-personalized emails, tailoring everything from subject lines to product recommendations using deep customer data integration for truly individualized communication.
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting: Get deep insights into email campaign performance, enabling businesses to track key metrics and refine strategies for improved outcomes.
Pricing
Klaviyo operates on a tiered pricing model that scales with the size of your email list or the number of contacts you have. The platform offers a free tier with basic features for a limited number of contacts, making it accessible for small businesses or those just starting out.
For 501-1,000 contacts:
- Email: starts at $30 per month
- Email and SMS: starts at $45 per month
Read also: Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Which Tool Is Right For You?
Implementing eCommerce Email Marketing Software
The right email marketing software can help you maximize the impact of an email marketing campaign. And with the right practices, you can enhance your capacity to connect, engage, and convert your audience efficiently and effectively. Let’s understand this in detail.
Choosing the right software for your business
With a plethora of options out there, each boasting an array of dazzling features, choosing the right email marketing software might seem daunting at first. Several pivotal factors come into play while making a decision.
Here, we will focus on three critical factors: business size, marketing goals, and preferred integrations. This way, you can make a choice that not only meets your current needs but also supports your future ambitions.
Business size and needs
Your business’s size plays a pivotal role in determining the right software. For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), simplicity, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness are key.
You should look for software that offers straightforward functionality without the bells and whistles that larger businesses might require. This doesn’t mean settling for less! Find a solution that provides the essentials — like customizable templates and basic segmentation — without overwhelming you and your team with complexity.
On the other side, larger businesses with more sophisticated needs will require software with advanced features. Think of detailed segmentation, comprehensive automation workflows, and extensive analytics capabilities.
At the same time, don’t forget about scalability. As your business grows, your email marketing software should effortlessly grow with you, handling an increasing volume of emails and contacts without a hitch.
Marketing goals
Understanding your marketing goals can guide your choice of software. Are you looking to boost customer retention, increase direct sales, or enhance customer engagement through personalized content?
Each goal will dictate the features you need most from your software. To break this down,
For customer retention, look for software with advanced segmentation and personalization features, enabling you to send tailored messages that resonate with your audience.
To drive sales, opt for a platform that excels in creating eye-catching promotional emails and integrates seamlessly with your eCommerce platform for smooth transactional emails.
For engagement, choose software that offers interactive email content features, A/B testing tools, and detailed analytics to measure and refine your strategy.
Preferred integrations
The best email marketing software will seamlessly integrate with the other tools in your digital toolbox. Whether it’s your CRM, eCommerce platform, or analytics tools, seamless integration ensures easy flow of data sharing and functionality across systems.
This harmony enables a unified view of your customer, streamlined workflows, and ultimately, more personalized and effective marketing campaigns. Look for software that boasts easy integration with your existing tech stack or offers APIs for custom integrations.
Customer support
Good customer support can be invaluable, especially when you’re looking to solve technical issues quickly or need guidance on best practices.
When you’re on a tight schedule to launch an email campaign, time is of the essence. Excellent customer support provides immediate assistance, ensuring that technical issues or usability questions are resolved quickly.
This can be through various channels such as live chat, phone support, or a comprehensive knowledge base. The goal is to minimize downtime and keep your marketing efforts on track.
When evaluating customer support options, consider —
Availability: 24/7 support might be crucial if you operate in multiple time zones.
Accessibility: Multiple channels for support (email, chat, phone) ensure you can get help in the way that suits you best.
Resources: A rich library of resources (FAQs, articles, video tutorials) can empower you to find answers quickly and learn at your own pace.
Community: Access to a community of users can provide additional insights, tips, and real-world advice.
Cost
When considering the cost of eCommerce email marketing software, it’s crucial to weigh the pricing structure against your budget and the anticipated return on investment (ROI). Some platforms offer flexible pay-as-you-go pricing models (like Mailchimp), ideal for businesses with fluctuating email volumes.
Others may charge based on the number of contacts or emails sent (like EngageBay, HubSpot, etc.), which can be more cost-effective for businesses with steady email activity. Ultimately, choose a pricing plan that aligns with your budget constraints while maximizing the value you receive in return.
Read also: 19 eCommerce Best Practices to Win Customer Confidence in 2024
Best Practices for eCommerce Email Marketing
Implementing the best practices in your email marketing strategy can significantly enhance your engagement rates, customer retention, and ROI. Here are some to consider:
Personalization
Personalization can transform generic emails into tailored experiences that resonate with recipients. If you leverage personalization effectively, you can achieve six times higher transaction rates than generic ones.
Here’s how you can do it.
Segmentation: Divide your email list into smaller, more targeted segments based on factors like demographics, behavioral activity, purchase history, and engagement level. This allows you to send highly relevant content to each group, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.
Learn how to segment your audience using EngageBay
Dynamic content: Incorporate dynamic content elements into your emails to personalize the message for each recipient. This could include dynamically inserting the recipient’s name, recommending products based on their past purchases or browsing history, or showcasing content tailored to their interests.
Behavioral triggers: Set up automated email workflows triggered by specific actions or events, such as abandoned carts, recent purchases, or website visits. These automated emails can deliver timely, relevant messages to recipients based on their interactions with your brand.
Automation
Automation streamlines your email marketing efforts, allowing you to deliver the right message to the right person at the right time without manual intervention. Here are some key automation strategies:
Welcome series: Set up a series of automated welcome emails to greet new subscribers and introduce them to your brand, products, and services. Use this opportunity to nurture the relationship and encourage engagement.
Abandoned cart recovery: Send out automated email reminders to customers who have abandoned their carts to complete their purchases. Include compelling messaging and incentives encouraging them to return and finalize their transaction.
Post-purchase follow-up: Send automated follow-up emails to customers after they make a purchase. Thank them for their order, provide order confirmation details, and invite them to leave feedback or reviews. This helps strengthen the customer relationship and encourages repeat purchases.
Read also: 8 Best Email Marketing Software For Small Businesses
Tracking and analysis
Tracking and analyzing key metrics are essential for understanding the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns and identifying areas for improvement. Here are some key performance indicators (KPIs):
Open rates: Measure the percentage of recipients who open your emails. Low open rates may indicate issues with subject lines, sender reputation, or email content.
Click-through rates (CTR): Track the percentage of recipients who click on links or calls-to-action within your emails. A high CTR indicates that your content is engaging and compelling.
Conversion rates: Monitor the percentage of recipients who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or downloading a resource. Conversion rates provide insight into the effectiveness of your email campaigns in driving desired outcomes.
Subscriber engagement: Analyze metrics like email forwards, shares, and social media interactions to gauge the level of engagement and interest generated by your email content.
A/B testing
A/B testing, also known as split testing, allows you to compare two versions of an email to determine which performs better. Here’s how you can leverage A/B testing to optimize your email campaigns:
Subject lines: Test different subject lines to see which ones generate higher open rates. Experiment with variations in length, tone, personalization, and urgency to identify what resonates best with your audience.
Email content: Test different elements of your email content, such as headlines, body copy, images, and calls-to-action. Pay attention to clarity, relevance, and visual appeal to determine which version drives higher engagement and conversion rates.
Timing and frequency: Experiment with the timing and frequency of your emails to find the optimal send times and cadence for your audience. Test different days of the week, times of day, and intervals between sends to maximize open and click-through rates.
Read also: eCommerce Emails — 50+ Basic and Advanced Segmentation Strategies
Wrap Up
eCommerce email marketing software is a potent tool for online businesses, facilitating personalized, automated, and data-driven customer communication. Businesses can cultivate stronger relationships, drive engagement, and boost sales by embracing key features such as segmentation, automation, and analytics.
I encourage businesses to explore the listed platforms, considering scalability, integration capabilities, and ease of use. By aligning software features with specific business needs and objectives, businesses can unlock the full potential of email marketing and foster lasting relationships with their customers.
The journey to eCommerce success begins with selecting the right tools – embark on this journey with confidence and purpose.
EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support software for small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs. You get email marketing, marketing automation, landing pages and email templates, and more.
Sign up for free with EngageBay or book a demo with our experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the key features of eCommerce email marketing software?
Some key features to look for in an eCommerce email marketing software include segmentation capabilities, workflow automation, customizable email templates, integration with other platforms, robust analytics and reporting functionalities, and support for personalization techniques such as dynamic content and behavioral triggers.
2. How do I choose the right email marketing platform for my eCommerce business?
When selecting an email marketing platform for your eCommerce business, consider your business size and needs, marketing goals, preferred integrations, ease of use, cost, and customer support.
Look for a platform that aligns with your objectives and offers the features and functionalities necessary to effectively execute your email marketing strategy.
3. What is A/B testing, and how can it improve my email marketing campaigns?
A/B testing, or split testing, involves comparing two versions of an email (A and B) to determine which performs better regarding key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
By testing different elements such as subject lines, email content, calls-to-action, timing, and frequency, A/B testing allows you to identify what resonates best with your audience and optimize your email marketing campaigns accordingly.
