Constant Contact: Complete email marketing and CRM solution

What is Constant Contact?

Constant Contact is an email marketing software that combines email creation, automation, segmentation, contact management, and performance analysis. The platform is built around a promise: to make digital marketing accessible to small businesses through an intuitive interface and strong support.

In 2015, the Endurance International Group (EIG) acquired Constant Contact for $1.1 billion. Since joining EIG, Constant Contact has become a sister brand to BigRock, Bluehost, BuyDomains, Domain.com, HostGator, iPage, and SiteBuilder.com.

Who is Constant Contact for?

Constant Contact is mainly aimed at:

• Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking for an easy-to-use solution
• Non-profit organizations
• Entrepreneurs needing an all-in-one tool
• Marketing/communication managers wanting to automate without complexity
• Solo entrepreneurs who want to manage newsletters + SMS + events in one place

Features of Constant Contact

Constant Contact offers reporting and contact management features, but this versatile email marketing solution has no weaknesses.

1. Email Creation

The art of creating engaging emails becomes a reality with Constant Contact's intuitive tools.

• Easy Personalization: Tailor emails to your brand using just your website URL.
• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Create visually appealing emails with ease.
• Dynamic Content: Display varied content to different contacts based on their demographics or behaviors.

Constant Contact software simplifies the creation of personalized emails, although more advanced features could be added for even finer customization.

2. Contact Management

Effective contact management is at the heart of any email marketing strategy, and Constant Contact understands this well.

• Import and Integration: Add contacts manually or import them from other services.
• List Building: Built-in tools to help grow your email list.

Constant Contact software offers robust tools for contact management, but could benefit from more advanced features for contact segmentation and analysis.

3. Segmentation

Segmentation in Constant Contact allows for more precise targeting of your campaigns.

• Basic Segmentation: Segment your contacts based on their interaction with your emails.
• Shopify Integration: Use Shopify data to target customers at different stages of their journey.

While Constant Contact software offers useful segmentation, adding more detailed criteria could enhance campaign targeting.

4. Reporting

Constant Contact's detailed reports allow you to analyze and optimize your email campaigns.

• Comparative Analysis: Compare the performance of various campaigns.
• Campaign Details: Examine specific metrics for each email send.

Constant Contact's reporting capabilities are strong, providing essential insights for campaign optimization.

5. Sign-Up Forms

Grow your subscriber list with customized and effective sign-up forms.

• Variety of Forms: Options to create pop-ups, embedded forms, and landing pages.
• Brand Customization: Tailor forms to reflect your visual identity.

Constant Contact's tools for creating sign-up forms are practical and varied, though introducing more customization options could make them even more effective.

6. Integrations

Expand your email marketing capabilities with the numerous integrations offered by Constant Contact.

• Rich Marketplace: Access a wide range of apps and integrations to extend functionalities.
• Zapier Integration: Easily connect with over 2,000 other apps for enhanced automation.

The variety of integrations available with Constant Contact is a major asset, allowing great flexibility and better synchronization with other digital marketing tools.

7. Major Marketing Functions 💡

Pricing, Subscriptions, and Free Trial

Constant Contact offers several plans based on contact volume, with a free trial (no commitment) to test the platform.​

Main Plans 💳

• Lite: starting at about $12/month for 500 contacts, basic email features, limited sends.​
• Standard: starting at $35/month for 500 contacts, adds advanced automation, segmentation, A/B testing, and dynamic content.​
• Premium: starting at $80/month, with more advanced analytics, AI recommendations, SMS included, and priority support.​

The price increases with the size of your list, and each plan includes a certain number of sends (e.g., 10 to 24 times the list size per month depending on the level).​

Pricing Overview 💰

*Indicative prices, which may vary depending on the number of contacts and location.

Contact Management, CRM, and Lead Generation

Constant Contact is not a complex CRM, but it offers a contact management system sufficient for most small businesses.​

Management and Segmentation Tools 🧩

• Import contacts from files, sign-up forms, e-commerce, or integrations (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce, external CRMs).​
• Create separate subscription lists (customers, prospects, members, donors) to tailor messages.​
• Segmentation by behavior (clicks, purchases, engagement), location, or custom tags.​

Lead Generation & Landing Pages 🌱

• Create custom landing pages for emails to capture sign-ups or leads from social networks and paid campaigns.​
• Embed sign-up forms on websites, blogs, or social networks for email list building.​
• Customizable call-to-action buttons in emails to maximize conversions (sign-up, purchase, donation).​

Integrations, Social Media, and Multichannel

Constant Contact includes social media integration features and connects to other applications.​

• Schedule and publish Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn posts directly from the campaign management dashboard.​
• E-commerce and CRM integrations to synchronize customers, buyers, and email subscribers.​
• Use multichannel marketing: emails, SMS, social media, and sometimes paid ads in one ecosystem.​

Customer Support

Constant Contact's customer support is designed to provide comprehensive and effective assistance to its users, ensuring an optimal user experience and quick problem resolution.

Fast and Efficient Assistance

Constant Contact emphasizes responsive and competent assistance to meet the diverse needs of its users.

• Available Support: Access customer support through various channels, including phone, social media, email, and live chat.
• Quick Response Time: Benefit from quick answers to your questions, reducing wait times and improving efficiency.

Constant Contact's customer support is well-equipped to provide fast and accurate responses, which is essential for maintaining smooth platform use.

Online Resources and Training

An abundance of online resources and training options is available to help users maximize their use of the platform.

• Knowledge Base: Explore a vast collection of articles, guides, and FAQs for effective self-help.
• Webinars and Tutorials: Access educational webinars and video tutorials for an in-depth understanding of Constant Contact's features.

Online resources and training options enrich the Constant Contact user experience by providing learning and skill development tools.

Community Support

Constant Contact's community support fosters an exchange of ideas and solutions among users.

• Community Forums: Engage in discussions with other users to share tips, tricks, and get support.
• Feedback and Suggestions: Constant Contact encourages feedback and suggestions for continuous service improvement.

The community aspect of Constant Contact's customer support adds a valuable dimension, offering a platform for collaborative learning and expertise sharing.

Commitment to Customer Satisfaction

Constant Contact's commitment to customer satisfaction is evident through its dedicated support and comprehensive resources.

• Customer Orientation: A strong commitment to problem resolution and continuous improvement of the user experience.
• Adaptation to User Needs: A user-centered approach to adequately respond to their specific requests.

Constant Contact's customer support demonstrates a clear commitment to user satisfaction, which is essential for ensuring a positive and productive experience with the platform.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Constant Contact

Step 1: Sign Up and Create an Account

Begin your email marketing journey by establishing your presence on Constant Contact.

• Access the Site: Visit Constant Contact's website and click on "Sign Up" or "Free Trial".
• Account Information: Enter your personal details to create an account.
• Account Activation: Confirm your registration via the link sent to your email address.

With your account activated, you are ready to dive into the world of email marketing.

Next Step: Set up your account to meet your specific needs.

Step 2: Initial Setup

Customize your account for a tailored email marketing experience.

• Log In: Sign in to your Constant Contact account.
• Account Settings: Complete the initial steps to configure your preferences.
• Personalization: Adjust settings such as time zone and language.

Your account is now personalized, putting you in an ideal position to launch your campaigns.

Next Step: Organize and manage your contacts for targeted marketing.

Step 3: Import and Manage Contacts

Managing your contacts is crucial for the success of your email marketing campaigns.

• Access Contacts: Navigate to the "Contacts" section.
• Import: Add contacts manually or import them in bulk.
• Segmentation: Create lists for better organization and precise targeting.

With your contacts well-organized, you are ready to launch targeted and effective campaigns.

Next Step: Create captivating and personalized email campaigns.

Step 4: Create an Email Campaign

Embark on creating emails that will captivate your audience.

• Initiate a Campaign: Select "Campaigns" then "Create".
• Choose a Design: Opt for a template or start with a blank canvas.
• Customize: Use the editor to add content and personalize your email.

Your email is ready to be sent, marking a significant step forward in your communication strategy.

Next Step: Send your campaign and track its impact.

Step 5: Send and Track the Campaign

Maximize the impact of your campaigns by sending them at the right time and tracking their performance.

• Send the Email: Choose to send your email immediately or schedule it.
• Analyze Performance: Use reporting tools to evaluate your campaign's effectiveness.

You now have the skills to not only send campaigns but also to analyze and adjust your strategies based on feedback.

Pricing & Features

User Reviews & Feedback

Users particularly appreciate:

• the ease of use
• the responsive customer support
• the reliability of deliverability
• the versatility (emails + SMS + events)

Criticisms include:

• less advanced automations than HubSpot
• less advanced flexibility than more technical solutions

Comparison with Competitors

Constant Contact Mobile App

Available on iOS & Android:

• Create posts & emails
• Track performance in real-time
• Schedule and manage contacts
• Notifications on campaign status

Essential for entrepreneurs on the go.

Conclusion & Critical Review

Constant Contact remains one of the best choices for small businesses, associations, and freelancers looking for an email marketing solution that is simple, reliable, and comprehensive.

It may not be the most advanced tool on the market, but it is clearly one of the most accessible, with solid support, an educational interface, and sufficient features to produce effective campaigns quickly.