Preguntas frecuentes
What is the best free email marketing tool for a small business?
Mailchimp offers the most generous free plan with up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends, making it ideal for businesses just starting out. Brevo's free plan allows unlimited contacts and 300 sends per day, which is excellent for businesses with large lists but infrequent sending needs. Mailerlite's free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers with solid automation features included. The best choice depends on your list size and sending frequency needs.
How much should a small business budget for email marketing tools?
Most small businesses can get excellent results for between $15 and $50 per month for lists under 5,000 subscribers. This covers professional features like automation, segmentation, and decent template libraries. As your list grows, expect to pay $50-150 per month at the 10,000-subscriber level. Email marketing typically returns $36-40 for every $1 spent, making even paid plans extremely cost-effective compared to paid advertising.
How do I get my first 1,000 email subscribers as a small business?
Start with an offer your customers already want: a discount, a free resource, or access to exclusive deals. Add a sign-up form to every page of your website and make it visible without being intrusive. Ask in-person customers if they would like to join your email list. Run a simple social media campaign promoting your newsletter. Email everyone in your existing contact database with a personalized message inviting them to subscribe. Reaching 1,000 subscribers usually takes 3-6 months of consistent effort.
What email campaigns should every small business run?
A welcome sequence introducing your business to new subscribers is non-negotiable and should be automated. Regular promotional emails tied to seasons, holidays, and sales events drive repeat purchases. A monthly or bi-weekly newsletter with useful content builds trust over time. Win-back campaigns for inactive customers recover lost revenue. Anniversary or birthday emails add a personal touch that larger competitors rarely bother with. Start with a welcome sequence and one promotional campaign per month, then build from there.
How do I write email subject lines that get opened?
The best small business subject lines are specific, benefit-focused, and create mild curiosity or urgency. "Your weekend deal: 25% off everything" beats "Check out our sale." Keep subject lines under 50 characters for mobile readability. A/B test two subject lines on each send to learn what your audience responds to. Avoid spam trigger words like "FREE!!!" or excessive punctuation. Personal, conversational subject lines often outperform corporate-sounding ones for small businesses.
Should a small business use a newsletter or promotional emails, or both?
Both serve different purposes and work well together. Promotional emails drive direct revenue through offers and incentives, while newsletters build a relationship and trust over time. Many successful small businesses send a newsletter once or twice a month and supplement with promotional emails for specific sales or events. The newsletter keeps you top of mind on a personal level; the promotional emails drive action. Starting with just promotional emails is fine, then adding a newsletter as your confidence grows.