If you’re a new business owner, you’ve probably heard about the importance of email marketing. But if you’re anything like me, getting a new tool like an email marketing platform set up can be daunting and time-consuming. 

I know it was something I struggled with when I first started my business. Are all email marketing platforms treated the same? Is Mailchimp my best option, or is it just the most talked about? What does my email platform really need to accomplish for me to see the return on investment (both my time and my money!)? 

Don’t worry—I’ve done the hard part for you. Keep reading for an in-depth review of Mailchimp, the ever-popular email service, and my personal favorite, Flodesk.  

P.S. I’ve used both of them, so this is an honest review. However, this post is sponsored by Flodesk and contains affiliate links, for which I may receive a small commission if you purchase using my link at no extra cost to you. I really appreciate it when you do! <3

Email Marketing for Beginners

Email marketing can be overwhelming because besides the “what do I write?” and “who do I send this to?” part, ideally, you’re also going to use an email platform. 

An email platform helps you collect emails from leads, deliver freebies, and organize your leads. It also makes it easier to comply with email marketing best practices. 

Why an Email Marketing Platform is Essential to Growing Your New Business?

Email marketing has one of the highest (if not the highest) returns on investment among digital marketing strategies, with an ROI of around $36 for every dollar spent. 

It is extremely cost-effective and gives you a place to reach your ideal clients directly. They’ve given you their information and agreed to you spending time in their inbox so they will be more likely to buy when they’re ready. 

You also don’t have to worry about algorithm changes or staying ahead of the competition by pounding out new content every single day. 

An email marketing platform will help you send professional-looking emails strategically. 

Who is Email Marketing For? 

Email marketing is effective in just about any field. Whether you sell directly to consumers or to other businesses, it can keep you in front of those potential clients, setting you apart from the competition. 

I have personally worked with health coaches, doulas, dietitians, and e-commerce stores that regularly benefit from having an email marketing strategy.  

Mailchimp vs. Flodesk for Beginners

So, how do you choose between the various email marketing platforms when they’re all claiming to do the same thing? 

The truth is not every email marketing platform is right for every business. Each is created with a specific user in mind. So, if you are not that user, that platform might not be right for you. 

Right now we are looking at you, a beginner, just getting started with email marketing. You may have a small email list and budget and you don’t want to spend a lot of time on getting a platform set up. 

So, let’s break down the pros and cons of Mailchimp and Flodesk to see which is better for you in your unique position. 

Mailchimp for Beginners: The Pros and Cons 

Mailchimp is the OG of email marketing platforms. It has been around since 2001, which is likely why we hear so much about it. 

Mailchimp Features: 

• Design emails unique to your brand
• Create customer journeys 
• Set up campaign automation 
• Send emails targeting specific audiences based on behaviors
• Embed signup forms on your website or link from your social media platforms 
• Create landing pages for new subscribers 
• Build out your website (Note: I don’t recommend using Mailchimp for this or any other email marketing platform, for that matter, if you’re serious about SEO and driving organic traffic to your website.) 

Mailchimp Pricing: 

There are four different package options for Mailchimp, including Free, Essentials (starting at $13/month), Standard (starting at $20/month), and Premium (starting at $350/month). Each package option gives you a different number of users and audiences. The price also increases with the number of subscribers you have. You can see a full breakdown here. 

Mailchimp Pros: 

Mailchimp is super customizable and has a lot of additional features like A/B testing, Send-time Optimization, Predictive Segmentation, and Multivariate Testing. This will help you make the most of the emails you send out. It is also great that there is a free version with no time limit. 

Mailchimp Cons: 

Unfortunately, the free version doesn’t provide automation or client journey features. So you don’t get to test out Mailchimp’s efficiency while in “free mode.” 

My Personal Experience with Mailchimp: 

I personally only used the free version of Mailchimp, and it was a little difficult for me to understand as I was getting it set up. I wasn’t 100% sure when emails were going out and to whom. I don’t think Mailchimp is to blame for that. It just wasn’t intuitive to me personally. I’m very visual. 

I never ended up using the paid version because I wasn’t ready to invest in something that I was already struggling with. 

That said, I may have liked it more if I had paid for it, but I also didn’t want to become reliant on it as my list grew and then have to pay hundreds of dollars per month. 

Flodesk for Beginners: The Pros and Cons 

Flodesk has not been around as long as Mailchimp, but it was officially launched in 2019. It was designed by a very small team with zero outside funding. So the fact that we can even compare the two companies in the same blog post is pretty amazing. They’ve really taken off in recent years. And just came up with some new features. 

Flodesk Features: 

• Forms: 

Flodesk’s forms have always been beautiful and super easy to customize with your branding. They’re also easy to embed on your website or to share via links. Recently, they’ve added some new special features to their form options, including: 

• Link in bio forms to help you convert social media follows into email subscribers seamlessly 
• Video forms to introduce yourself, give a sneak peek to a webinar or showcase a product. 
• Spinner forms to offer discounts or limited-time offers 
• Countdown forms to create urgency or countdown to a product launch 

• Link actions: 

You can now use links within your emails to allow subscribers to unsubscribe from a specific campaign and send tailored content based on their interests. 

• Analytics: 

At a glance, you’ll be able to see what’s working, what’s not, and what you can improve. See who your most engaged subscribers are, which forms are bringing in the most subscribers, and what email types are performing the best. 

• Checkout: 

Gone are the days of needing to invest in a website or compete with other online stores on Etsy. If you sell physical or digital products and are just getting started, you can create sales pages and sell directly from Flodesk. 

Again, I only recommend this if you’re in the beginning stages of your business and if you only sell products. If you are a service-based business or offer coaching, it is still best long-term to create an SEO website for visibility and credibility. 

Flodesk Pricing:

Flodesk has a flat monthly price (can also be paid annually) that never increases as your email list grows. You can pay a little more for the checkout feature. Get the most up-to-date Flodesk pricing here. 

You also get 30 days to try all the features on Flodesk for free. So you can set it up and find out if it’s for you before committing to a monthly fee. 

The free option of Flodesk also allows you to use forms and collect subscribers so you don’t need to use the paid version until you start actually sending out the emails. 

Flodesk Pros:

Absolutely stunning email and form templates that are really easy to customize to your brand. Fees never increase as your subscribers increase. Very intuitive to set up and find my way around in. 

Flodesk Cons: 

Flodesk’s analytics are not as in-depth and in the past (before the updated features mentioned in this post) customizing the client journey was a little more limited. 

For bigger brands looking for really detailed insights, another email platform may be a better option. 

I think the biggest issue for me with Flodesk at this point is the lack of A/B testing, which is essential in marketing. However, because Flodesk is still relatively new and they are always making so many updates and launching new features, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is eventually available. 

My Personal Experience with Flodesk:

I first used Flodesk when I was writing emails for a client, and I immediately fell in love with it. She had also just started using it after switching from another, more confusing platform. 

I couldn’t believe how easy it was to use, so I eventually started using the paid version for myself. 

Something I really love is that because there is a monthly option I can use it during busy sales months and then go back to the free option and continue collecting emails and planning my next launch without having to worry about getting the most out of it each month. 

Of course, if you have the budget, I recommend paying annually so you can save a little money in the long run and stay consistent with your newsletters. 

Which Email Platform is Easier to Use? Mailchimp or Flodesk

For my very visual and literal brain, Flodesk is much easier to use, especially if you’re a beginner. I highly recommend it to new and small businesses and encourage you to check out all the features they have available. 

Flodesk for Beginners

If you’d like to give Flodesk a go, sign up using this link or code BAMFLODESK to save 50% off your first year. Oh, and of course, the first 30 days are 100% free. 

You can also check out these other posts about email marketing to learn! 

The Top Email Marketing Platforms of 2024

How to Write a Great Marketing Email: Drop the Formalities

4 Common Email Marketing Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Avoid Them)

The “WHY” of Email Marketing

How to Create a Freebie to Grow Your Email List