Best Marketing Automation for Small Businesses

In this article, we are going to discuss how the best marketing automation helps you promote your small business. We've all experienced those days when we've had back-to-back meetings from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and still have a list of other things to do. Isn't it amazing to be able to take a break and relax while your marketing is managed for you without feeling like it's coming from a foreign robot? Fortunately, there is a remedy. marketing automation software.

When done correctly, marketing automation takes care of the tasks that no one else has time for. It's like having a second employee without the need for a third. On autopilot, your marketing strategy is being carried out. - Doesn't it sound wonderful? Yes, it is!

You'll learn how to let marketing automation software handle the logistics so you can focus on what you love in our comprehensive guide to small business marketing automation software.

What Is Marketing Automation?

The process of employing software to automate marketing tasks is referred to as marketing automation.

Many companies and businesses automate marketing tasks like social media posting, email marketing, and even ad campaigns. Not only to improve efficiency but also to give customers a more personalized experience.

Marketing automation software is intended to assist you in prioritizing and completing your marketing duties in a more organized and effective manner.

But what does that imply for you?

Implementing a marketing automation system, unlike automating industrial processes, will not make your marketers' jobs obsolete; rather, it will make them more effective. It will save you time while maintaining the integrity of the information you're producing. It enables you to achieve your business objectives more quickly.

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What Exactly Is Marketing Automation Software, And How Does It Work?

Marketing automation software helps companies and businesses improve their digital marketing strategy by automating marketing tasks like email marketing, social media posting, and lead creation.

These tasks can be automated thanks to a workflow that you may develop and fully configure. A marketing automation workflow is a sequence in which the program does one activity after another.

When a new customer establishes an account on your website, a welcome email is delivered to them, and other steps are taken as a result.

What Is the Importance of Marketing Automation Software?

  • Improved message targeting

  • Increased client satisfaction

  • Obtaining higher-quality referrals

  • Obtaining more leads

  • Marketing efficiency and return on investment have improved.

  • Increased conversion

  • Efficiency in terms of costs

  • Ability to mix data from many sources

  • Increase the number of leads to your website

  • Increased profit

  • Sales cycles are shorter.

  • Time and resources have been freed up.

  • Not having to complete tedious things by hand

  • Get access to data, analytics, and information.

  • Increase your knowledge.

  • Concentrate on the strategy.

  • Obtain a deep, thorough picture of potential clients' behaviour.

  • Increase the size of your small business

  • Personalize and customize your messages and campaigns.

  • You'll never forget to follow up again.

  • Expand your marketing campaigns.

  • Leads should be prioritized, nurtured, scored, and segmented.

  • Increase the return on your marketing investment.

  • Increased profit and revenue

  • More rapid business expansion

In a small business, where may marketing automation software be used?

  • Content Creation for Social Media Marketing

  • Metrics and Analytics

  • Managing Activities for E-mail Marketing

  • Management of Document and Workflow.

What Are The Main Reasons Why Businesses Haven't Started With Marketing Automation Yet?

  • Expertise and know-how are lacking.

  • Inadequate human resources

  • A marketing automation plan is lacking.

  • insufficient financial resources

  • Insufficient client data, insufficient content, and a lack of commitment on the part of the company

  • Other technical challenges

  • Time is running out.

  • Issues with usability and the inability to use systems

  • The implementation of systems takes far too long due to a lack of suitable partners.

What are the Marketing Automation Software Benefits for Small Businesses?

  • Increased client satisfaction

  • Improved marketing

  • More effective lead management

  • Time, money, and resources are all saved.

In only six easy steps, you can get started with the best marketing automation software.

1)Choose the best marketing automation software for your needs.

There is a lot of marketing automation software available. How can you tell which one is best for you?

First, assess your requirements and financial budget. If you're a small or developing business with limited resources, an all-in-one CRM with a comprehensive marketing automation system built in can be a good fit.

These systems include all of the functionality found in more expensive systems but at a fraction of the price.

So, first and foremost, determine your criteria and budget before looking for a solution that meets them. Also, be certain that the software you select is simple and intuitive to use. Otherwise, Your solution's adoption will be low, and you won't be able to get the most out of it.

2) Integrate it with your customer relationship management system (CRM).

If you're going to employ marketing automation, you'll need a customer relationship management (CRM) system to store the data you'll be collecting about your customers and prospects regularly. This allows you to tailor your marketing efforts to a high degree of personalization.

But now comes the tough part: you must link the two systems so that data can be shared back and forth. Integration is required for this to happen. To accomplish so, you'll need to enlist the help of your IT department or hire outside IT specialists to guarantee that the integration is properly set up and functioning.

3) Import your contacts or e-mails

It's time to import contacts and their data once you've set up your marketing automation software and associated it with your CRM. If you don't have somebody to market to, you won't be able to sell your goods or service.

The procedure of importing contacts and their data will differ depending on the marketing automation program you use. However, you must do so before you begin utilizing your new machine. You should be able to import data from other systems, as well as CSV files and other formats. So, before you buy a marketing automation system, ask about the contact import process. Also, make certain that you will have access to guidance throughout the process, as it is critical to do this stage properly.

4)Create email templates.

You can begin marketing to leads and prospects after you have contacts in your system.

Starting with a few marketing emails is a great way to get started. You'll need an email template to send a marketing email. Many systems come with pre-installed email templates that you may start using right away. You should also be able to personalize your email templates by adding your logo, color scheme, and other elements.

If your system has a drag-and-drop email builder, anyone with no particular technical skills should be able to create an email in no time. Begin by sending out an email blast to your customers and prospects informing them of new or future product launches. Alternatively, you might utilize your first email send to send out an email newsletter.

5) Start your first campaign or send your first email.

Now that the hard work of getting everything up is done, it's time to relax and enjoy yourself! You'll be ready to perform some actual marketing after you have your contacts loaded and ready to go, as well as your email templates set up.

Sending an email, as previously stated, is a simple method to get your feet wet. You can also create a series of emails as part of an email campaign. Setting up an email drip campaign is simple with an intuitive drag and drop workflow builder, such as Agile CRM. An email drip campaign will send a series of emails to a group of contacts you've targeted using the software.

Expert advice: Avoid sending the same email to everyone on your list. Different contact segments will respond to different topics. Rather than sending a generic, one-size-fits-all email, try sending targeted personalized emails.

6) Keep track of your progress.

Great! Your marketing automation program is up and running, and you've already sent your first email. Congratulations! But what's next?

Marketers gain a lot of insight into the results of their efforts when they use marketing automation tools. Consistent measurement allows you to identify which approaches are effective and which are not. You can use the knowledge you gather to make data-driven decisions about your next steps. Measuring is simple when you have the correct software. In most systems, robust email stats are accessible. The open and click-through rates of your emails will be revealed via email metrics. If those numbers don't satisfy you, consider A/B testing to identify better subject lines and body copy to increase your open and click-through rates. Bounces, unsubscribes, spam complaints, and other analytics are all available with powerful email tracking.

Expert advice: All these marketing automation software is very important if you want to keep up with your competitors. If you don’t have any of them it will be hard to promote your business.



Best Marketing Automation to Boost your Small Business

These are the best marketing automation software over the years:


1) Systeme.io

Systeme.io is an easy, effective, and free all-in-one platform with an easy-to-use user interface for all of your business-building needs.

Let's take a look at the benefits of switching to systeme.io

Features

Systeme.io has a long-range of useful tools that will help you succeed at every type of marketing automation activity you can think of!

It's the ideal, most cost-effective all-in-one marketing tool.

Here's a rundown of all of the important features:

  • Create a sales funnel — Use our library of proven templates to set up and automate your all-in-one sales funnels in just a few clicks (or start from scratch!). Integrate your email list, payments, and other data sources.

  • 2. Website builder – Set up your landing pages in 10 minutes with our simple user interface and drag-and-drop editor!

  • Email marketing and contact management – Send limitless emails, set up automatic email sequences, and tag your customers to send personalized content that converts.

  • Access to your affiliate program - Build an army of affiliates to advertise your product while you sleep!

  • Create, customize, and sell online courses and membership sites — Set it up without any technical experience so your company can earn and your expertise can be monetized.

  • Marketing automation – Easily automate your lead management, email sequences, sales funnels, website, and online courses using marketing automation software. You'll also get valuable marketing statistics to track your progress.

Because we know that time is money, all of the elements of an all-in-one marketing solution like systeme.io come built-in and ready for you to utilize.

Systeme.io is a Swiss army knife for entrepreneurs, and it belongs in everyone's back pocket, including yours.

Pricing

Systeme.io free plan :

Choose systeme.io as your all-in-one marketing solution, and you can get started for free without providing any credit card information!

We understand how critical it is for you to try a new platform tool before making a cash commitment.

As a result, we provide you with a completely free plan that you can use for as long as you wish.

On our free plan, you'll get the following:

  • 2,000 contacts maximum

  • 3 different types of sales funnels

  • There are ten steps in the funnel.

  • one blog with an infinite number of posts

  • There is just one membership site with an unlimited number of subscribers.

  • 1 rule of automation

  • 1 method of operation

  • 1 email campaign, 1 tag

  • 1 upsell with a single click

  • 1 order has been increased.

  • 1 custom domain A/B test

Systeme.io paid plans :

There are three paid plans available on Systeme.io:

  • 5,000 contacts, 10 sales funnels, 5 workflows, 10 email campaigns, and 3 custom domains are included in the startup plan ($27/month).

  • 10k contacts, 50 funnels, 20 workflows, 100 email campaigns, 10 custom domains, and 10 evergreen webinars ($47/month)

  • Enterprise package ($97/month) — Includes up to 15k contacts, free business migration, and a one-on-one starter coaching session, as well as unlimited access to all of our tools.

You'll get all the tools you need to start your internet business if you join up for any of our plans (even the free one).

You may also join our helpful Facebook group and communicate with other like-minded entrepreneurs who are creating businesses in the same way you are.

So, what exactly are you waiting for?

Not only will having an all-in-one platform save you time and money, but it will also improve the marketing efforts and profitability of your company.

Make sure the all-in-one marketing tool you choose has all of the capabilities you require to grow your internet business.

You are entitled to the advantages of switching to an all-in-one platform, and systeme.io is the all-in-one solution you've been seeking for.

Pros and cons

Pros:

· Great customer services.

· Free trial as long as you want.

· Easy and straight forward to utilize.

Cons:

· Some restricted features during free trials.

· You will need to buy an online course to understand how it works.


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2) Getresponse

GetResponse should be on your radar if you're still seeking an automation tool for your small business. Simon Grabowski, the CEO of GetResponse, launched the company as an email marketing platform. Customers in more than 183 countries are now served by the company.

Features

GetResponse offers autoresponders, conversion funnels, landing pages, webinars, and email marketing as well as other services. We'll concentrate on their marketing automation features for the sake of this article.

  • Email Sequence Automations:GetResponse's email sequence automation can help you increase traffic and conversion rates. Your marketing staff will also save a significant amount of time.

  • Lead Generation: With GetResponse's lead scoring, sift through leads to differentiate the qualified prospects from the uninterested ones.

  • Customized workflow templates: If your small firm has a distinct workflow, utilize the customized workflow templates to visualize and share it with the rest of the organization.

  • Suggested product automation: GetResponse's recommended items functionality helps you acquire and retain customers by automating product recommendations. This is entirely automated to help your small business run more smoothly.

  • Tracking visitors and customers: Keep track of your clients, as well as your website visits and leads. You'll learn a lot about your audience whether you employ a marketing automation strategy or send an automated sequence of emails to gauge interest.

  • Email personalization: GetResponse can personalise your emails for greater nurturing and engagement in addition to email automation. Personalization is made easier with features like tags and assignments.

Pricing

Let's look at the GetResponse cost. They have four plans to choose from, each with three pay periods. If you pay your bills every year, you can save 18%. You can save 30% on your overall costs by charging on a 24-month basis.

  • The Basic plan is $15 per month for 1,000 contacts. E-commerce, Facebook ads, lead funnels, a single monthly sales funnel, automation templates, landing sites, autoresponders, and email marketing are all examples of this.

  • The Plus plan is GetResponse's most popular. This plan costs $49 per month for 1,000 contacts. You also get five monthly webinar funnels, five sales funnels, contact tagging and scoring, webinars for 100 attendees, and five automation builder processes in addition to the previous capabilities.

  • The Professional plan, which costs $99 a month for 1,000 contacts, is a step up. On-demand webinars, unlimited webinar funnels, unlimited sales funnels, 300-person webinars, premium webinars, and automation builders are all included.

  • The Enterprise package is the most expensive, with unique pricing for lists of over 100,000 persons. Email campaign consulting, 500-person webinars, single sign-on, deliverability consulting, your dedicated IP address, an account manager, and transactional emails are among the services you get.

Pro and cons

The advantages and disadvantages of using GetResponse as your marketing automation solution are listed below.

Pros:

  • You can try any price plan for free for 30 days to see which one is the greatest fit for your small business's needs.

  • With a GetResponse membership, you're not only paying for marketing automation but also a variety of other services.

  • GetResponse's annual or 24-month billing options allow you to save money, which is particularly beneficial for small enterprises.

Cons:

  • If your list increases to 5,000 contacts, GetResponse's monthly subscription pricing may become a little more expensive for small enterprises.


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Another good option to consider is ActiveCampaign. Jason VandeBoom launched ActiveCampaign in 2003. Small and mid-sized organizations will benefit from their cloud software services.

Features

ActiveCampaign allows your marketing team to automate their daily chores in a variety of ways. Here's a rundown of everything they have to offer:

  • single-view Automation: See all of your marketer's automation tasks in one place. This allows you and other marketers to make quick changes to the system without disrupting the productivity of others.

  • Segmentation of Audience: ActiveCampaign, allows you to segment your small business audience to better understand them. For further personalization and a higher engagement rate, your marketing team can customize the communications that go out to each category.

  • Easy automation: Using ActiveCampaign's automation services is as simple as clicking a few buttons. To choose what becomes automated, they, too, use a drag-and-drop process builder.


Pricing

ActiveCampaign offers four pricing levels, although the costs vary depending on the number of contacts you have.

At 500 contacts, the prices are as follows:

· The Lite plan costs $9 per month.

· The Plus plan $49 per month.

· The Professional Plan $129 per month.

· The Enterprise plan $229 per month.

At 5,000 contacts, the prices increase as follows:

· $69 for the Lite plan.

· $135 for the Plus plan.

· $199 for the Professional plan.

· $359 for the Enterprise plan.

At 25,000 contacts, the prices increase as follows:

· Lite plan is now $179 per month.

· Plus plan $319 per month.

· Professional plan $479 per month.

· The Enterprise plan would have custom pricing if you were interested.


Pro and cons

Check out these advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether ActiveCampaign is right for your small business marketing automation needs.

Pros:

  • ActiveCampaign offers a wide range of marketing automation services.

  • With your monthly membership, you'd also pay for services like machine learning and messaging, CRM, sales, and email marketing.

  • The Lite plan includes some marketing automation services, allowing your small business to save money.

Cons:

  • As you add more contacts to your ActiveCampaign marketing automation package, the price rises, so prepare to pay more as your small business expands.


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SendX is a user-friendly and cost-effective marketing automation tactic that was designed specifically to meet the needs of small business owners. SendX, founded in 2016 by Varun Jain, Agnibha Nath, and Mayank Agarwal, sends limitless emails at no extra charge and has a very simple pricing system.

Features

If you choose SendX, the following list of features will make you satisfied that you made the correct decision.

· Email templates: SendX includes over 50 free email templates. Plus, with 1500+ layouts, SendX offers one of the largest email template collections on the web.

· Send limitless emails per day: SendX allows you to send an unlimited number of emails each day. Unlike a few other ESPs, SendX does not limit the number of emails you can send each day.

· User-Friendly Email Editor: Email editor is a simple draft-and-drop email editor that requires no HTML coding knowledge.


Pricing

SendX's price is straightforward, and you are simply charged depending on the number of subscribers you have. It starts at $ 7.49 a month (billed annually) and increases in price based on the size of your subscriber list.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

· SendX's 14-day free trial gives you full access to all of the product's capabilities, allowing you to make an informed purchase choice. You'll know precisely what to anticipate.

Cons

· SendX does not have any complex workflows. So, if you're searching for a very complicated workflow function like some of the more expensive products, you generally shouldn't go with SendX.


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Freshworks is a software solution that uses an AI-powered platform to provide small businesses with powerful marketing automation solutions. It has features that are designed to assist marketing teams widen their audience reach, attract more prospects, locate quality leads, and increase sales. Freshworks CRM Marketing Cloud may assist you in improving your marketing performance. You may learn more about your consumers' activity by using its reporting dashboard and analytics tools. Consider Freshworks CRM Customer-for-Life Cloud if you require a platform that can help your marketing and sales teams operate better together.

Features


· Management of contacts and accounts

· Marketing and sales activities

· Customization of CRM

· Campaigns for email marketing

· Deliverability of marketing emails

· Builder of marketing journeys

· Management of the sales pipeline

· Data management Sales sequences

Pricing


Free plan:

Includes

· Contact & Account Management

· Contact Lifecycle Stages

· Built-in Chat, Email, & Phone

· 24x5 Support

· Mobile App

Growth Plan:

$15

Includes

Everything in Free, plus

· Visual Sales Pipeline

· AI-powered Predictive Contact Scoring

· Sales Sequences

· Up to 2,000 Bot Sessions/Month

· WhatsApp Business

Pro:

$39

Includes

Everything in Growth, plus

· Multiple Sales Pipelines

· Time-based Workflows

· AI-powered Deal Insights & Next Best Action

· Up to 3,000 Bot Sessions/month

· Sales Teams & Territory Management

Enterprise:

$69

Includes

Everything in Pro, plus

· Custom Modules

· AI-based Forecasting Insights

· Audit Logs

· Up to 5,000 Bot Sessions/Month

· Dedicated Account Manager

Pros and Cons

Pros

· Pricing options for various corporate budgets are available, and the company is always adding new features to improve its product.

· Multiple languages are used to reach a global audience.

· Simple to implement

· Automated business interactions aid in the business of the sales process.

Cons

· Offline data access is not available in Freshworks.

· Small enterprises may find that lower-cost plans lack sufficient functionality.



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Expert advice: All these marketing automation software is very important if you want to keep up with your competitors. If you don’t have any of them it will be hard to promote your business.


Conclusion

Marketing automation is recommended to promote rather than replace your current marketing activities.

It enables you to match your processes to our marketing objectives by giving all of the necessary information and tracking activity. This helps in determining people's preferences and qualifying leads.

Marketing automation has several advantages, including freeing up time and resources, providing in-depth customer intelligence, and increasing your marketing's return on investment.