Last week I wrote about another email marketing platform. If you read my ActiveCampaign review, you know that I absolutely love the software. But, it’s not the only one I can vouch for. So, if you are still shopping for marketing automation tools, check out this ConvertKit review.
‘The email marketing platform for creators’ presents a visual, drag and drop editor and robust automation tools on a simple interface. Here you’ll discover whether or not it’s right for your needs.
ConvertKit Platform Summary
Before you dive into the nitty-gritty of the platform, it is helpful to learn who it’s right for. So, up front, let’s note that ConvertKit isn’t designed for advanced users. So, if you’re an expert marketing professional who is annoyed by barriers in your email campaigns, you’ll need to check out all of the available features to make sure it will work for your needs.
On the other hand, if you’re a small business, educator, or a professional blogger, the available features will likely be plenty. In fact, if you can’t execute a certain task on its own inside the platform, you can probably integrate with another tool to streamline your efforts.
The platform is similar to ActiveCampaign and Drip, being an email marketing platform with visual automation, split testing capabilities, and providing the general opportunity to help with growing your business. And, there are features that make it stand out.
For example, with ConvertKit, you can edit emails and sequences in a single window, a feature not available with ActiveCampaign (which I use a lot). While this may not seem like a significant detail, moving back and forth between tabs while editing emails and workflows is incredibly time-consuming.
With that said, while it may not have all the features available with more high-level platforms, ConvertKit makes it easier for users to visualize their work. If you still think this platform might be for you, keep reading.
ConvertKit Pricing Tiers
While some email marketing platforms have up to 30 varying pricing tiers for all needs, ConvertKit is uncomplicated; they have just four pricing options based on the size of your email list.
- 0 – 1,000 Subscribers – $25 (yearly) or $29 (monthly) per month
- 1,000 – 3,000 Subscribers – $41 (yearly) or $49 (monthly) per month
- 3,000 – 5,000 Subscribers – $66 (yearly) or $79 (monthly) per month
- >5,000 Subscribers – *Cost varies based on list size
For a list larger than 5,000 subscribers, you can calculate your estimated platform costs from ConvertKit’s pricing page.
With each pricing tier, you will have full access to every platform feature. And, when your contact list is larger than 5,000 subscribers, you can leverage the free concierge migration service to streamline the transfer of your existing list to the new platform. So, here’s what you’ll get.
Here’s What to Expect When You Sign Up
Onboarding with ConvertKit is super intuitive. The platform asks if you’re just getting started or if you’re migrating an existing list. From there, your dashboard is customized for your needs.
Upon signup, new users are greeted with step-by-step getting started features. You’ll be guided through the following processes:
- Building landing pages
- Adding and tagging subscribers
- Creating sequences
- Designing Visual Automations
- Completing account information
- Sending broadcasts
- Adding billing info
It won’t take long to learn to use the platform, which is another reason why it’s an excellent system for beginners.
ConvertKit Email Marketing Software Features
Now, it’s time to find out exactly what you can do inside the ConvertKit dashboard.
Forms & Landing Pages
You’ll need lead magnets to build and grow your subscriber list. This is why the platform starts users off on the right foot by teaching them how to build landing pages.
You will be given about 20 landing page templates to choose from.
These templates are available for multiple lead magnet uses:
- eBooks
- Events
- Newsletters
- Podcasts
- Profiles
- Videos
- Waitlists
- Webinars
In addition, you can create inline, modal, and slide-in forms. ConvertKit has 12 form templates to choose from.
When designing, you can use your own images or pull images directly from Unsplash with the built-in stock image integration.
The design interface is super easy to use.
Email Creation
Next, you will need to create your emails. ConvertKit does NOT offer pretty email templates like some of the other platforms. Your emails will be sent in plain text.
Still, you can add personalization based on subscriber information and tags.
Unlike when using the form and landing page templates, you must upload your own images for use in the body of your emails.
Sequences
Creating email marketing sequences inside the platform is not only easy but also convenient. As mentioned previously, my favorite platform feature is the ability to view sequences and emails from the same screen when editing.
As you can see, sequences are viewed on the left side of the screen and can be moved up and down while editing the subject lines and messages themselves.
This feature, in my opinion, makes ConvertKit one of the most user-friendly marketing platforms available.
Broadcasts
Broadcast emails are sent out to multiple users or your entire list at one time to make an announcement. You don’t need the sequencing features to send a broadcast. Other than the removal of the left sidebar, your editing field is the same for broadcast emails — no templates, a simple formatting interface, and the ability to upload your own images.
Automations
ConvertKit’s automations allow you to send emails that power your audience and business. The automations dashboard is not what you would call “robust,” but it provides content outlines for you to execute six different types of email marketing campaigns and the ability to create your own.
Automations are triggered when a user joins a form, is added to a tag, makes a purchase, or is added to a custom field. You maintain control over who gets added.
1. Evergreen Newsletters
Evergreen newsletter outlines are pretty simple. They include a newsletter form, newsletter confirmation email, a landing page, and an evergreen newsletter email.
Using this automation, you can generate new subscribers and send them your monthly newsletter.
2. Evergreen Product Pitches
ConvertKit’s Evergreen Product Pitch automations are a little more complicated than the Evergreen Newsletters and include several tags and email templates.
- Course Launch Tag
- Warmup Sequence (X3)
- Launch Sequence (X7)
- 2 Days
- Downsell
- “Bought My Thing” Tag
- Content for Buyers (Thank you, etc.)
This sequence will walk readers through a nurturing and sales experience that you can fully-customize to meet the needs of your audience.
Above is an example of what a new Evergreen Product Pitch automation looks like from inside the platform dashboard.
3. Webinar Promotions
The Webinar Promotions automation is created just for email marketers promoting an upcoming or ongoing webinar and includes forms, tags, emails, calendars, and updates.
When a certain date occurs, an email will notify your subscribers that it’s time for them to check out the webinar they signed up for.
Near the end of the sequence, you will ask those who attended the webinar to make a purchase. Then, finally, you can send targeted content to say thank you.
4. Product Launches
The Product Launch automation from ConvertKit is designed to send users from your course to upsell one of your products or services.
It includes forms, tags, email templates, dates, and an if/then rule where your list is automatically segmented based on reader behavior.
You can use the if/then sequences to make sure your messages are relevant (you don’t want to broadcast sales pages to email recipients who haven’t shown interest in your products or services).
While these rules will usually get the job done, some platforms offer more advanced options like moving readers who click on a button on a certain page of your website to a new sequence.
5. Customer Follow-Ups
When customers don’t make a purchase, it doesn’t mean they’re not interested in your brand. It just means they’re not ready to make a purchase yet. In many cases, they just need more nurturing.
So, ConvertKit offers the Customer Follow-Ups automation. Simply put, you use this automation to send a quick email to email recipients who didn’t make a purchase after being sent a sales email.
This automation is powered by a tag. By default, this tag is set to “Didn’t purchase” and is designed to work in alignment with sales sequences wherein you’ve used the tag.
By default, four follow up emails are recommended. Keep in mind that each automation is customizable to meet your needs.
6. Content Personalization Based on Survey Results
You can use the Content Personalization automation to invite readers to your mailing list with a simple survey question, then send tailored content based on the answers received. This is especially useful when growing your email list.
The survey answers are organized with tags, leading subscribers to receive only relevant communications from you.
Subscribers
The platform makes it easy to manage subscribers. You can either upload contacts manually, upload your existing list, or migrate from another platform.
If you want to move your list from MailChimp, Drip, InfusionSoft, AWeber, ActiveCampaign, or Mailer Lite, the process will be streamlined for you.
However, if you’re currently using a more obscure platform, you will need to download your subscriber list from the old platform and upload it as a CSV to ConvertKit; this will take a little longer on your end.
Once you have your contacts uploaded, you can organize them with two tools.
- Tags help you organize subscribers. Think of them as your own personal hashtags. When you open one tag, all users with that tag will appear.
- Segments let you group subscribers together for your broadcasts.
The tags feature is fun, useful and not available on all email platforms.
Reporting
Your ConvertKit dashboard home screen will provide you with lifetime reporting on crucial data:
- Subscribers
- Open Rates
- Click Rates
- Email Sent
In addition, you will be able to see all of your new subscribers who signed up on that day.
You can also view individual broadcast statistics.
Image Source: ConvertKit
And, you’ll be able to access information about who has unsubscribed after receiving individual broadcasts. The reports leave you with an idea what’s working, what’s not working, and how you can continually improve your email marketing efforts.
Affiliate Program
ConvertKit offers a very supportive affiliate program. They offer 30% commission. So on a $99/mo plan, you would earn about $30 (per month) for each person you refer. They have some good promotion ideas, straight forward terms and an affiliate manager to help you get things up and running.
Who Are the 70+ Integration Partners?
Choosing the right email marketing software can sometimes depend on other tools you’re currently using (payment processing, live chat, etc.). ConvertKit currently has over 70 integration partners. So, chances are, you can probably streamline integration with the software you already use.
Here are the available software integration categories:
- eCommerce
- Lead Capture
- Webinar Services
- Affiliate Management
- Membership & Courses
- Surveys & Quizzes
- Website Platforms
- Scheduling
- Giveaways
- CRM
- Facebook Ads
- List Tracking & Analytics
- Zapier (Create Your Own Zaps to Integrate with Other Tools)
- Email Verification
So, as I’ve said, even where the platform might fall short, you can probably find an easy integration to open the door for new tasks.
Featured ConvertKit Integrations
There are too many ConvertKit integrations to explain all of them in one platform review. But, to get an idea of what’s possible, let’s take a look at the top three contenders:
1. CrowdCast
The CrowdCast integration allows you to send live videos and webinars to your subscribers. You can then tag users based on whether or not they viewed/ attended. With ConvertKit, you can use the tags created to keep your communications relevant.
2. Easy Webinar
Integrate ConvertKit with Easy Webinar to send those added to your webinars to your desired subscriber list. With this integration, you keep your accounts connected and communications relevant.
3. Teachable
Do you build and sell digital courses on the Teachable platform? Use the ConvertKit integration to trigger the automation of your choosing when someone purchases your course.
You don’t want to follow up with someone who didn’t watch your educational video and talk about what they would have learned. Instead, you can send readers something that might be more relevant to their wants. Stay relevant by connecting the accounts you already use to your email dashboard.
Final Thoughts
In summary, ConvertKit isn’t the right email marketing platform for everyone, but it is outstandingly user-friendly. So, is it worth the expense? My verdict is ‘yes!’ — If your email marketing needs are not advanced, and you can make this platform work for you, the ease of using it will make it worthwhile. What are your experiences with the platform? Start your free trial today and let me know if you agree with my assessment.
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