You need email marketing. You need email marketing. You need email marketing. 

I’m pretty sure every online entrepreneur has this phrase running through their mind and inspiring nightmares as they slumber. 

And for good reason.

Yes, it’s true! If you have an online business, you need an email list. Whether you’re an event planner, dress designer, or coach, you.need.an.email.list. 

Okay. You get it. It’s time to start an email list and hop into the inbox of your ideal clients (and business besties) once a week. But where do you begin?

How will you send your email newsletter?

How do you keep track of email addresses?

And how can you make these emails as engaging and creative as possible (apart from hiring a professional copywriter, obviously)

The answer: through online emailing software, such as MailChimp or Flodesk.

Stop right there, you’re talking gibberish again Jasmine.

If you’re 100% new to the world of email marketing, hi! I’m Jasmine, copywriting for luxury service providers (event planners & providers, I’m your girl), and a passionate emailer. But I wasn’t always this way. 

Once upon a time, I didn’t believe in email marketing. I didn’t see the point. Didn’t use it in my marketing. And had no idea how damn fun email marketing is (yes, I’m biased, but there’s nothing I love more than penning an email to my list– it’s like talking to friends!)

If you’re like I was, let’s take this back to basics, so you can fully understand what the question ‘which is better, Flodesk or Mailchimp?’ really means and how you can benefit from it.

What is email marketing?

Email marketing is spreading your message and connecting with potential clients via email. You can send out engaging and informative emails, promotional emails, announcement emails, and a whole lot more.

Me? My emails are engaging and informative with an indication of my services at the bottom. You can subscribe here if you so wish.

Why does email marketing matter?

Email marketing matters if you want to make money. And considering you’re here, I’m pretty sure that’s the aim of your game.

According to Litmus, Email marketing has a return on investment of $36 for every $1 spent.

How insane is that?! 

Direct sales from sending emails. 

No posting content out into the world, unsure if it’ll be seen.

No spending thousands on ads.

No trying anything and everything to get your business off the ground. 

Email marketing has an impact, and it’s something EVERYONE should be leveraging (my event planners & vendors, I’m looking at you!) 

Email marketing gets your message directly in front of the eyes who want to see it– these people are already invested in you (they signed up to hear from you), already care what you have to say (they’re reading your emails), and because of this, they’re a hell lot likelier to buy from you.

How do I start email marketing?

It all starts with growing your list. You can do this several ways:

• Service guide opt-ins 
• Freebies
• Simply asking people
• Pinterest pins

As long as they click the ‘yes I want to hear from you!’ button, you’re all good to send them your emails.

What do I include in my emails?

How you craft and structure your emails will depend on your business and personal preference. While I’ll be covering this in another post, here’s an insight into my email marketing method:

Every week (ok, most weeks–I’m trying my best!), I’ll hop into my email lists inbox with an anecdote. Usually, it’s something I’ve done that week, a big life occasion, or just the everyday thoughts of a digital entrepreneur. There will always be a lesson woven within my story.

Here’s some from past editions

My graduation + structuring your website

Appropriate messaging + portaloo ads (yep, 100% serious on this one!)

Being a vegetarian + decision making

It’s a fun, laughable, and engaging story with important teachings hidden throughout. And, at the end, is a little ‘how to work with me’ section, so those interested in collaborating know how to do so. 

Not only is this effective marketing, but it builds relationships and I LOVE writing it. 

The way you do email marketing might be different, and that’s okay!

It’s about finding your groove and what works for you and your business.

How do I send my emails?

First, let’s chat about how you’re not going to send your emails; you’re not going to load up Gmail, type your email, add your email addresses and click send (yikes!)

Instead, you’re going to use email software like Mailchimp or Flodesk to design, house, and send your emails.

What’s better, Flodesk or Mailchimp?

Yay! We finally made it to the all-important questions.

Buuuut, before we begin, here’s a lil backstory as to how I discovered these popular email platforms, it might be similar to how you came across them…

Mailchimp was the first email platform I came across. I’d seen the name in various Facebook groups, ads, and from other entrepreneurs. I wanted a quick solution, and I didn’t have the time or energy to do my research (not something I recommend!) I’d never heard of Flodesk, so it wasn’t even an option at the time.

My experience with Mailchimp

Mailchimp got the job done. I was able to send semi-attractive emails and collect an email list. If the question was ‘does Mailchimp provide what it claims to?’ The answer would be absolutely! But, at the time, I didn’t have much else to compare it to. That was until other business emails started flooding in with well-formatted, attractive and engaging designs. 

“Urm, excuse me?! Where did you get that?”

*Side note* one thing I don’t like about Mailchimp is unless you shed out for their subscription, you can’t remove their logo from your emails. I get it, but it’s not cute nor an incentive to stick with them and eventually purchase.

Flodesk was the answer.

My experience with Flodesk

I was recommended Flodesk via a coaching programme and I’ve never looked back.

->Easy to use

->Aesthetically pleasing

->Not too expensive– (especially when you use this 50% discount link)

->No ugly logos

->Simple to separate subscribers for multiple purposes

->Clear + simple workflows (trust me, I’m a tech novice)

It’s every entrepreneur’s dream!

I get excited to hop on Flodesk and put together my weekly newsletter. I love watching it fly into the world in all its beautifully designed glory (no credit to me here).

Flodesk ticks all the boxes, and for me, it’s the clear winner.

But, it did take me about a million years to actually discover it, so maybe there’s something else I’m not familiar with. Drop your favourite email marketing software in the comments below.

Oh, and that weekly newsletter? You can subscribe here. See you in your inbox on Wednesday! 

xo