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2024’s Biggest Business Shift: What Will Happen If You Don’t Have an E-commerce Website?

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1 week ago

August 31, 2024

Studies show that 88% of online shoppers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. This means that your ecommerce website’s design can directly impact your bottom line.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, having a robust ecommerce website is essential for any business looking to thrive online. With global ecommerce sales expected to hit $7 trillion by the end of 2024, the competition is fierce, and your website is often the first impression customers have of your brand. Choosing the right ecommerce website builder and platform isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a seamless shopping experience that can drive sales and build customer loyalty.

In this article, we’ll explore not only how to pick the best ecommerce website builder but also how to optimize your site for performance and user experience. We’ll highlight some of the top ecommerce websites out there, share key data insights, and offer practical tips to ensure your online store stands out in a crowded marketplace.

What is an ecommerce website?

An ecommerce website is a platform that allows businesses to sell products or services online. Unlike a simple informational website, an ecommerce site is designed to handle everything from displaying products to processing payments. Its main purpose is to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience, letting them browse, select, and purchase items from the comfort of their own home or mobile device.

Ecommerce platforms vs. ecommerce websites

An ecommerce platform is a software or service that provides the tools to build and manage an online store. Examples include Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. On the other hand, an ecommerce website is the actual online storefront you create using one of these platforms or from scratch. While platforms provide the foundation, the website is where customers interact, shop, and engage with the brand.

Key components of an ecommerce website

Unlike blogs or corporate websites, ecommerce sites are transactional, focusing on driving sales and delivering a smooth shopping experience. As a result, they have specific features designed to facilitate online shopping.

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX)

Their UI is usually clean and simple, with lots of white space, clear images, and a layout that guides your eyes straight to what matters—the products. There’s no unnecessary clutter, just a consistent, easy-to-navigate design that feels reliable and trustworthy.

The real magic, though, is in the UX. These sites focus on minimizing any friction between you and your purchase. From fast loading times and easy navigation to a streamlined checkout process, everything is designed to make buying stuff feel seamless. They’re also optimized for mobile, so the experience is just as smooth on your phone. The result? You’re more likely to find what you want, trust the site, and actually purchase without any hassle.

Product catalog

The product catalog is the heart of any ecommerce website. It’s where customers explore what you have to offer. Each product should have detailed information, including a clear name, a compelling description, high-quality images, and transparent pricing. This helps customers make informed purchasing decisions.

Proper categorization and filtering options also make it easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for, whether it’s a specific product type, brand, or price range.

2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Search Engine Journal

Lastly, you should have a robust search function. It allows users to quickly find products by typing in keywords, saving them time and enhancing their shopping experience.

1725141363 104 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Search Engine Journal

Shopping cart

The shopping cart is where customers keep their chosen products before finalizing their purchase. Your customers should be able to easily add items to their cart and remove them if they change their minds.

1725141363 48 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Shopify

The checkout process should also be smooth and straightforward. A complicated or lengthy checkout can cause customers to abandon their carts.

Payment gateway

A secure and reliable payment gateway is the final step in the shopping journey, and if it’s not up to par, it can be a dealbreaker. You want your customers to feel completely confident when they enter their payment details. So, you want your website to integrate with trusted payment processors. If they sense anything sketchy, they’re likely to abandon their cart and take their business elsewhere.

1725141363 575 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Weglot

You should also be able to support various payment options. This can include credit cards, PayPal, and other digital wallets. This allows your customers to choose the method they’re most comfortable with.

1725141364 100 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Search Engine Journal

Shipping and delivery

Efficient shipping and delivery options keep customers happy and coming back for more. When customers can choose from multiple shipping options, it gives them the flexibility to select the method that best suits their needs, whether they’re looking for the fastest delivery or the most cost-effective choice. Clear pricing for these options is equally important, so there are no surprises at checkout—nobody likes hidden fees.

1725141364 96 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Wix

But it doesn’t stop there. Providing tracking information and regular delivery updates is just as important. When shoppers can easily see where their order is and know exactly when it will arrive, it gives them peace of mind and keeps them engaged with the process.

1725141364 749 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Wonderment

Why your business needs an ecommerce website

Whether you’re running a small boutique or a large corporation, an ecommerce site opens up a world of opportunities.

24/7 availability: Unlike a physical store, an ecommerce website never closes. Your customers can browse and shop at any time, even in the middle of the night. This means more potential sales without the need for extended hours or additional staff.
Broader reach: With an ecommerce website, you’re not limited to a local customer base. You can reach people across the country—or even the world.
Lower operating costs: Running an ecommerce site can be more cost-effective than maintaining a physical storefront. You can save on rent, utilities, and other overhead costs. Plus, automation tools can help manage operations like inventory and customer service, reducing the need for a large team.
Data-driven decisions: You can track what products are selling, which marketing strategies are working, and where improvements can be made. This helps you make informed decisions to boost sales and customer satisfaction.
Personalized shopping experience: An ecommerce website allows you to offer personalized recommendations, promotions, and content based on customer preferences and browsing history. This increases the likelihood of repeat business.
Scalability: As your business grows, your ecommerce website can grow with you. Whether you’re adding new products, expanding into new markets, or increasing your marketing efforts, an ecommerce site provides the flexibility to scale up.

Choosing the best ecommerce website builder

When it comes to building your online store, choosing the right ecommerce website builder is crucial. The right platform can make all the difference in how your business operates and grows.

What to look for in an ecommerce website builder

Here are some essential features to consider when making your choice:

Customization: Your e-commerce site should match your brand’s style. Choose a builder that lets you easily customize everything from the layout to the colors, so you can create a unique shopping experience that stands out.
Scalability: As your business grows, your website should grow, too. Pick a builder that can handle more products, traffic, and features without slowing down.
Ease of use: You don’t need to be a tech expert to build your site. Look for a builder with a user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop tools, and clear instructions so you can manage everything easily.
Integration with payment gateways: Make sure your builder works seamlessly with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Square for secure and easy payments.
SEO and marketing tools: To attract customers, your site needs to be easy to find online. Choose a builder that includes SEO tools, email marketing, and social media integration to help drive traffic and boost sales.
Support and resources: Even with an easy-to-use platform, you might need help. Pick a builder that offers strong customer support and useful resources like tutorials and forums to guide you through any challenges.

Top ecommerce website builders

When it comes to the best ecommerce website builders, several top contenders stand out for their features, ease of use, and overall performance. Here are simple reviews of ecommerce website builders that stood out for us the past year:

Dukaan
Dukaan stands out for its intuitive drag-and-drop builder and highly customizable themes, making it accessible for users without technical expertise. It offers a complete eCommerce solution with numerous plugins for marketing and conversion, all at an affordable price.
Wix
Wix is perfect for beginners, offering a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder and a wide variety of customizable templates. It’s best suited for small stores with limited products, though it may require third-party tools for more extensive inventory management.
Ecwid

Ideal for those on a budget, Ecwid allows you to start selling for free and integrates seamlessly with existing websites. It’s particularly useful for small stores or those adding eCommerce functionality to a non-eCommerce site.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a robust platform that powers major eCommerce brands. It offers extensive customization options and cross-channel commerce, though it comes with higher costs and revenue-based pricing tiers.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a top choice for WordPress users, providing extensive customization and integration options. It’s an open-source plugin, perfect for those with some technical skills looking for flexibility and control.
Shopify
Shopify is known for its extensive ecosystem of themes and tools, making it easy to scale your store. It’s ideal for large inventories but may require additional costs for third-party plugins and tools.
Squarespace
Squarespace offers beautiful, well-designed templates and a powerful drag-and-drop builder. It’s best for users who appreciate an all-in-one solution without the need for third-party apps, though it may be pricier for advanced features.

Free vs. paid options

Starting out, you might wonder whether to go for a free ecommerce website template or invest in a paid option. This depends on your business needs and budget. :

Free ecommerce website templates

Pros:

Cost-effective: No upfront costs, making it ideal for those just starting out.
Low risk: Allows you to experiment and test your online store without financial commitment.

Cons:

Limited customization: Often comes with restrictions on design and functionality.
Basic features: May lack advanced tools necessary for scaling your business.
Upgrade necessity: As your business grows, you may need to switch to a paid option for more features.

Paid ecommerce website templates

Pros:

Advanced features: Offers more tools and customization options to build a robust online store.
Better design: Access to premium themes that provide a professional look.
Enhanced support: Typically includes better customer service and technical support.
Scalability: More storage and flexibility to grow your business.

Cons:

Upfront cost: Requires an investment, which might be a drawback for those on a tight budget.
Commitment: You’re financially committed, even if you’re unsure about long-term needs.

If you’re just starting and want to minimize costs, a free template might be enough. But if you’re planning for long-term growth, a paid plan could save you time and headaches down the line.

Building your ecommerce website

Building an ecommerce website might seem like a daunting task, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process much more approachable. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Select a platform

Choose an ecommerce platform that fits your business needs. The platform you choose will impact how you build, manage, and grow your store, so it’s important to pick the right one from the start.

Choose a domain name

Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. It should be easy to remember, relevant to your brand, and ideally include keywords related to your business. Make sure it’s unique and reflects what your store is all about.

Set up hosting

Once you’ve secured a domain name, the next step is to choose a hosting provider. Hosting is where your website lives on the internet. Look for a reliable hosting service that offers good speed, security, and customer support. Some ecommerce platforms include hosting as part of their package, which can simplify this step.

Design your site

Start building your website by choosing a template or theme that aligns with your brand. Customize the layout, colors, fonts, and images to create a cohesive look that appeals to your target audience.

Add products

Upload your products to the site, including high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate pricing. Organize them into categories to make it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for. If you’re still on the lookout for products to sell, here’s our in-depth guide on some of the best ecommerce products.

Set up payment and shipping

Integrate a payment gateway to process transactions securely. Also, configure your shipping options so customers can choose the best delivery method for their needs.

Test your site

Before going live, test your website thoroughly. Check for broken links, ensure the checkout process works smoothly, and make sure your site looks good on all devices.

Launch your site

Once you’re confident everything is in place, it’s time to launch! Announce your new website on social media, through email marketing, or with a special promotion to attract your first customers.

Using free ecommerce website templates

Free ecommerce website templates can be a great starting point, especially if you’re on a budget. However, to make your site truly unique, you’ll want to customize these templates to fit your brand.

Start by swapping out the default images and text with your own. Adjust the color scheme to match your brand colors, and tweak the fonts to reflect your brand’s personality.

Don’t forget to customize the layout to highlight your best-selling products or special promotions. Most templates offer drag-and-drop functionality, so you can easily rearrange elements to suit your needs.

E-commerce website examples

Looking at successful ecommerce websites can provide inspiration and insight into what works well.

WJD Exclusives

1725141365 792 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — WJD Exclusives

WJD Exclusives, a New York-based fine jewelry merchant, has built its brand on exceptional customer service. Founded in 2002, the company started with a simple website and a few product listings, but their commitment to customer satisfaction set them apart. By handling all aspects of their business in-house—from product listings and inventory management to customer repairs—they’ve been able to offer personalized, rapid services that keep customers coming back. Co-founder Vahan Avagyan attributes their success to this customer-first approach.

Two key tools have driven WJD Exclusives’ growth: WooCommerce and Afterpay. WooCommerce’s flexibility allows them to customize their website to meet customer needs, while Afterpay’s buy now, pay later option has significantly boosted sales and reduced returns. Avagyan estimates that over 30% of their traffic comes from the Afterpay Marketplace. For WJD Exclusives, prioritizing customer service is the foundation of their business, helping them turn first-time buyers into loyal customers who spread the word.

The Memo

1725141365 415 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — The Memo

The Memo, founded in 2019, set out to make shopping for baby supplies easier and more supportive for parents. Co-founders Kate Casey and Phoebe Simmonds aimed to clear up the confusion in the baby retail space by creating a seamless and informative shopping experience. To achieve this, they needed an eCommerce solution that was easy to use and could unify their online and in-store touchpoints. With Shopify Plus and Shopify POS, The Memo has built a loyal customer base and seen remarkable growth, including a 45% YoY revenue increase and a 60% return customer rate.

The challenge for The Memo was ensuring that the in-store experience matched their high-quality online offering, especially since 70% of their in-store customers also shop online. Shopify’s native integration allowed The Memo to provide a consistent, simplified shopping journey across both platforms. This approach has helped The Memo create a unified experience that meets the needs of busy parents, whether they’re shopping online or in-store.

Using Shopify’s tools, The Memo has automated various processes, personalized customer interactions, and optimized their website for a seamless user experience. The result? Loyal customers who keep coming back and rapid business growth. With Shopify handling the technical side, The Memo can focus on what really matters—supporting parents on their journey.

Data insights: The state of ecommerce websites

Let’s dive into the latest data insights on e-commerce websites, covering key growth stats, emerging trends, and performance metrics that are shaping the online retail landscape.

Ecommerce growth statistics

Ecommerce is booming, and the numbers don’t lie. Over the past few years, ecommerce has seen tremendous growth globally and regionally. According to recent data, global ecommerce will surpass $6.3 trillion this year, marking a significant milestone in online retail. This growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Projections suggest that by 2026, global ecommerce sales could surpass $7 trillion, driven by increased internet access, mobile shopping, and changing consumer habits.

1725141365 114 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — eMarketer

Regionally, Asia-Pacific continues to dominate the ecommerce landscape, accounting for the largest share of revenue. However, North America and Europe are also seeing robust growth, fueled by rising consumer confidence in online shopping and improved digital infrastructure.

As we look ahead, the next 5-10 years are expected to bring even more changes to the ecommerce space. Trends like the rise of social commerce, the expansion of AI and machine learning in personalizing shopping experiences, and the growing importance of sustainable and ethical shopping practices are set to shape the future of online retail.

Ecommerce website performance metrics

Understanding how your ecommerce website performs is crucial to its success. Key performance indicators (KPIs) like conversion rates, bounce rates, and average order value (AOV) provide insights into how well your site is meeting customer needs.

Average conversion rates: Conversion rates can vary depending on the industry, but a typical ecommerce site sees an average conversion rate of 2-3%. However, top-performing sites often achieve rates above 5%.
Bounce rates: The average bounce rate for ecommerce websites hovers around 45-50%. A high bounce rate may indicate that visitors aren’t finding what they’re looking for or are having trouble navigating the site.
Other KPIs: Additional metrics like cart abandonment rates, customer lifetime value (CLV), and return on ad spend (ROAS) are also critical to monitor. These indicators help you understand customer behavior, measure marketing effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement.

Best-performing ecommerce platforms

When it comes to ecommerce platforms, some are leading the pack in terms of market share and performance. According to a 2023 report, WooCommerce is a frontrunner, with a market share of 39%. It’s especially popular among small to medium-sized businesses that value flexibility and control. Its offshoot, Woothemes, is second in place with a market share of 14.95%.

1725141366 340 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Statista

Squarespace, on the other hand, is third with a market share of 14.67%. In fourth place is Shopify, with a market share of 10.32%. Both of these platforms have user-friendly interfaces, extensive app ecosystems, and scalability, making them a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.

Customer behavior trends

Customer behavior in the ecommerce space is constantly evolving, influenced by technology, social trends, and economic factors. One of the most notable trends is the shift toward mobile shopping. Mobile devices now account for over 77% of global ecommerce traffic, highlighting the importance of mobile optimization for any online store.

Mobile vs. desktop usage: While more people browse on their phones, they often switch to desktops for bigger or more complicated purchases, leading to higher conversion rates and order values on desktops.
Average order values and purchasing behavior: Personalized shopping experiences, like subscription models, loyalty programs, and targeted promotions, are key to boosting average order values and encouraging repeat purchases.
Sustainability and ethical shopping: Consumers are increasingly focused on sustainability. Brands that highlight eco-friendly products and ethical practices are gaining stronger customer loyalty and better conversion rates.

Optimizing your ecommerce website

Ecommerce website optimization attracts more visitors and ultimately drives sales. Here’s a breakdown of essential optimization strategies to help your online store perform at its best.

Ecommerce website optimization tips

The following are essential optimization strategies for a successful ecommerce website.

On-Page SEO

Optimizing your product pages, images, and content is crucial for improving your site’s visibility in search engines. Make sure to include relevant keywords in product titles, descriptions, and metadata. You can also optimize images by using alt tags.

Page speed optimization

Fast-loading pages are essential for keeping visitors engaged. A slow website can lead to higher bounce rates and lower conversions. To speed up your site, consider compressing images, enabling browser caching, and using a content delivery network (CDN). Regularly monitor your page speed and make adjustments as needed.

Mobile optimization

With more than half of ecommerce traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly is non-negotiable. A responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes is a must. Simplify navigation for mobile users, ensure buttons and links are easily clickable, and make checkout processes as seamless as possible. Mobile optimization not only improves user experience but also positively impacts your search engine rankings.

1725141366 841 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Search Engine Journal

Conversion rate optimization (CRO)

Increasing your website’s conversion rate is all about making it easier for visitors to become customers. Here are some techniques to boost sales and customer retention:

Simplify the checkout process: A complicated or lengthy checkout can lead to cart abandonment. Streamline the process by reducing the number of steps, offering guest checkout options, and providing multiple payment methods.
Use clear and compelling calls-to-action (CTAs): Encourage visitors to take action with prominent, well-worded CTAs. Whether it’s “Buy Now” or “Sign Up for Exclusive Offers,” make sure your CTAs stand out.
Use social proof: Displaying customer reviews, testimonials, and ratings can build trust and encourage purchases. Highlight best-sellers and feature customer photos or user-generated content to enhance credibility.

1725141366 57 2024s Biggest Business Shift What Will Happen If You Dont — Eyetamins.co

Marketing and promotion

Once your site is optimized, the next step is to drive traffic and engage customers through effective ecommerce marketing strategies.

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Like other websites, ecommerce sites can benefit from SEO. This goes beyond on-page SEO.

Local and off-page SEO boosts your visibility. Start by identifying keywords your target audience is using, especially those related to your location if you have a physical presence.

For local SEO, optimize your site for location-based searches to attract nearby customers. This includes managing your Google My Business profile and ensuring your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across different directories.

Don’t forget off-page SEO. Build high-quality backlinks and work on improving your site’s domain authority to enhance your overall search engine ranking.

Content marketing

Adding a regular blog with valuable posts, optimizing product descriptions, and creating engaging social media content can drive traffic and boost your SEO efforts. Content marketing helps establish your brand as an authority and keeps customers coming back.

Email marketing

Building and maintaining an email list allows you to engage with customers directly. Create engaging email campaigns with personalized offers, product recommendations, and updates on new arrivals or promotions. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to retain customers and encourage repeat purchases.

Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to promote your products and engage with your audience. Paid advertising on social media can help you reach a more extensive, targeted audience quickly. Create eye-catching posts and run campaigns that align with your overall marketing goals.

Ecommerce analytics and measurement

To understand how well your ecommerce website is performing, you need to track and analyze key metrics. Monitor metrics like:

Website Traffic: The number of visitors coming to your website.
Conversion Rates: The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, like making a purchase.
Average Order Value (AOV): The average amount of money spent each time a customer makes a purchase.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): The average cost of acquiring a new customer, including marketing and sales expenses.

These KPIs provide insights into how your site is performing and where improvements can be made.

Tools like Google Analytics are essential for tracking user behavior, understanding traffic sources, and measuring the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Use these insights to refine your strategies and make data-driven decisions.

Security and compliance

Protecting your customers’ data and ensuring your site complies with legal standards is crucial for building trust and maintaining a reputable online store.

Implement strong security measures to protect customer data, such as SSL certificates, encryption, and regular security audits. Make sure your site is safe from breaches and that customers feel confident when shopping with you.

Ensure your payment processes are secure and compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This not only protects sensitive information but also helps you avoid costly fines and damage to your reputation.

Lastly, stay informed about the legal requirements for ecommerce in your region. This includes privacy laws, tax regulations, and consumer protection guidelines. Complying with these laws helps avoid legal issues and builds customer trust.

Best practices for running your ecommerce website

Running a successful ecommerce website isn’t just about the initial setup—it requires ongoing effort to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently. Here are some best practices to ensure your online store stays in top shape.

Ongoing maintenance and updates

Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping your ecommerce website secure, updated, and functioning at its best.

Security updates: Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, so it’s vital to keep your site’s software, plugins, and themes up to date. Regularly update your platform to patch vulnerabilities and protect customer data. Implement automated backups to ensure that your data is safe and can be restored quickly in case of an emergency.
Content updates: Keep your site fresh by regularly updating content, including product descriptions, images, and blog posts. This not only improves SEO but also keeps your customers engaged and informed about new products or changes.
Performance checks: Regularly monitor your site’s speed, functionality, and user experience. Slow load times or broken links can frustrate customers and lead to lost sales. Schedule regular checks to identify and fix any issues before they impact your business.

Analytics and performance tracking

As mentioned, Google Analytics is an essential tool for monitoring site performance. It provides valuable insights into user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates. By analyzing this data, you can identify what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.

Set up goals and track key metrics such as page views, bounce rates, and average session duration to gauge the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and overall site performance.

Customer service and support

Excellent customer service is the backbone of a successful ecommerce business. According to a Microsoft study, 96% of people said that customer service plays a big role in their brand loyalty and whether they’ll make repeat purchases. What’s more, 54% of respondents now see customer service as even more important than they did just a year ago.

Provide clear and accessible contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and live chat options. Being available and responsive to their needs shows that you care about their experience.

Effective customer support is also critical for resolving issues and retaining customers. Additionally, a well-defined returns and refunds policy can boost customer confidence and encourage purchases. Regularly gather customer feedback to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments as needed.

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Final thoughts

Building and running a successful ecommerce website takes careful planning and continuous effort. Choosing the right ecommerce website builder is the foundation of your online store’s success. It’s essential to pick one that aligns with your business needs. From there, optimizing your website for performance, mobile use, and conversion rates will ensure that you’re providing the best possible experience for your customers.

Now that you’ve got a solid understanding of what it takes to create and manage an ecommerce website, it’s time to take the next step. Start by exploring the recommended ecommerce platforms we’ve discussed. If you need additional help, consider reaching out to their experts for guidance. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start selling and growing your business online.

FAQs

What are ecommerce websites?

Ecommerce websites are online platforms that allow businesses to sell products or services over the internet. These sites provide everything a customer needs to browse, select, and purchase items from the comfort of their home or mobile device. Ecommerce websites typically include features like product catalogs, shopping carts, secure payment gateways, and customer service options to facilitate the entire shopping process.

What is the best ecommerce website builder to use?

The best ecommerce website for you depends on your specific needs and business goals. Some of our top picks include Dukaan, Wix, WooCommerce, and Shopify.

How do I start my own ecommerce website?

Starting your own ecommerce website involves several key steps:

Pick an ecommerce platform that suits your business needs.
Choose a domain name that reflects your brand.
Select a hosting provider if your ecommerce platform doesn’t include hosting.
Design your website by choosing and customizing a template or theme.
Add your products, including images, descriptions, and pricing.
Set up payment and shipping options to ensure smooth transactions.
Test your website thoroughly before launching to catch any issues.
Launch your site and start promoting it through marketing channels like social media, email, and SEO.

How much does an ecommerce website cost?

The cost of an ecommerce website can vary widely depending on several factors. Platform fees are a significant consideration. For instance, Shopify starts around $99 per month, while WooCommerce is free but requires hosting, which can range from $10 to $100 per month or more.

Design and development costs can vary, from using free templates to hiring a designer, which could add a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity. Paid plugins or apps may also increase costs over time. Remember to factor in ongoing expenses like domain renewal, marketing, and transaction fees. A basic ecommerce website might start at a few hundred dollars, while more advanced sites with custom features could cost several thousand dollars or more.

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John Kostak of Web Dev USA – WordPress.com News

“We can really be dangerous if we want, without being too afraid of it.”

John Kostak has been building websites for longer than most social media networks have even been around. So splashy features don’t interest him much—he’s far more into performance, reliability, and compatibility. Which is why he and his company, Web Development USA, have been using WordPress.com from the start.

In this fun Q&A, John shares more about his WordPress journey, what matters most to him as a developer, and a few of his favorite sites (in spite of the fact that it was like making him pick his favorite child). Note: The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

If John’s love for WordPress.com has you reconsidering your current hosting environment, you can learn more about our specs and get started at WordPress.com/hosting.

Jeremy: How long have you been using WordPress and WordPress.com?

John: I have been building websites for about 15 or 16 years and started in a corporate environment for a large company. We never had an internal digital team and we basically created our own digital agency within this big corporate company. And that was pretty innovative back then.

Then out of that, I spun off and started Web Development USA. That began in 2015, and so next year will be our 10th year, which is crazy to think about. But it went quickly because we really do enjoy this. And we look for people who find this to be a passion, as we do.

Jeremy: Have you been using WordPress.com the entire time?

John: Yes we have. We started doing some testing with SiteGround and Elementor hosting, but we still like WordPress.com the best. You know you can go through a McDonald’s three miles away or 10,000 miles away on the other side of the planet and your lunch is going to be reasonably what you expect. That’s what WordPress.com feels like with its consistency and the familiarity of the UI and getting around.

Jeremy: What do you like most about WordPress.com? Is it about ease of use on your side as a builder? Convenience for the customer? Both?

John: Resiliency. With Jetpack at the core and all the updates that it does, we just don’t have that much of a risk of things exploding, especially when we bring contractors in and out. We can always fall back to a previous state, and we have an exact record of it. We can get into PHP code. We can get into the very, very back end if we want. We can really be dangerous if we want, without being too afraid of it.

Overall, it is certainly the all-around performance, security, and cadence that you use for backing up sites.

Jeremy: What are some of your favorite features when building sites on WordPress? Do you have go-to themes, blocks, plugins, etc.?

John: Well, it’s changed over the years. We used to use standard old-school wireframe and theme templates that were very basic. And then we went into more “custom designer” mode, I would say, with templates and flashy designs. We graduated from Walmart t-shirts to Gucci t-shirts. And, you know, we enjoyed that for a while.

Now we’re going back to robust wireframes and doing more from scratch. What’s more important now is really the entire stack, including performance and compatibility. You know, we just don’t have time to troubleshoot when we have some whizzy feature on the site. We don’t have time to go in and look for why the thing is down. So, we are sort of simplifying certain things and then standardizing on a certain stack.

Jeremy: What excites you about the future of WordPress.com? Are there any new features you’re especially excited to try out and use?

John: Honestly, we just don’t have time to get into a lot of that. We don’t look much to experimental features or anything like that. We’re trusting that by the time the feature or tool makes its way into being a standard of WordPress, it will be tried and true. We’re not looking for early adopter types of things anymore.

The reality is that our value add is more about custom coding for integrations—maybe for a particular reservation system that has to shake hands and stay for a while on the site before it goes out to a third-party point of sale. It takes some custom coding there. That’s where our focus has really been—managed services and then a lot more programming. We’ve been onboarding more programmers in the last 18 months than we did the first eight years of the company.

Jeremy: Do you have a few favorite client sites that you can share?

John: Well, Jeremy, it’s like asking you who’s your favorite child.

Jeremy: Depending on the week, I can give you a pretty good answer. 😊

John: Yeah, that’s a good point! Sure, I have a few:

TuckMusic.com

appalachian-air.com

kdmconsults.com

Get started at WordPress.com today

Even though WordPress.com provides the freedom and tools to create stunningly beautiful and innovative websites, that’s not why developers choose us. Folks like John Kostak rely on WordPress.com because we have the most performant, secure, and compatible infrastructure out there. If you made it this far, you already know that you don’t have to take our word for it.

Learn more about our top-notch hosting and get started:

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Analysing Features, Pricing, and User Experience

Published

4 days ago

September 5, 2024

Max

Elementor Hosting Review: Analysing Features, Pricing, and User Experience

When I started building my website with WordPress, I stumbled upon Elementor’s plugin. This powerful website builder, known for its drag-and-drop interface, has been my go-to tool, thanks to its user-friendly interface and wide array of design options.

Since then, Elementor decided to take things up a notch by expanding into the hosting space.

Elementor Hosting is a hosting service tailor-made for WordPress users, seamlessly integrated with Elementor’s page builder and WooCommerce. With Elementor hosting, you get a streamlined experience from site creation to publication, all within the Elementor platform.

This article will dive into Elementor’s hosting service, examining its features, pricing, and overall value, providing an in-depth Elementor Hosting review.

What is Elementor Hosting

Elementor Hosting is a managed web hosting service provided by Elementor, the industry-leading WordPress website builder.

I’ve found that Elementor Hosting is designed to seamlessly merge web hosting services with the advanced capabilities of the Elementor page builder. This unique integration creates an all-in-one platform that empowers you with everything you might need for website creation, hosting, and management.

In a single package, you gain access to the Elementor Pro website builder, valued at $99 per year, alongside the freedom to install preferred plugins.

Keep reading this full hands-on Elementor Hosting review to decide if this is the right option for you.

Who is Elementor Hosting for?

Elementor Hosting is designed for users who want to create, manage, and host WordPress websites using the Elementor website builder.

Here’s a closer look at who might find Elementor Hosting particularly beneficial:

Web developers and designers: Elementor is a great choice for people who regularly build websites for clients and appreciate its versatility and extensive design capabilities.
Small- and medium-sized businesses: Ideal for entrepreneurs looking to establish or enhance their online presence with a polished web design without shelling out hefty design fees.
Bloggers and content creators: Elementor Hosting is suitable for individuals seeking a user-friendly platform that enables them to concentrate on content creation.
E-commerce store owners: Elementor Hosting comes with WooCommerce, which is great for people with an online store.
Marketing and SEO professionals: Perfect for marketing professionals requiring quickly editable and optimized web assets.

Core Features of Elementor Hosting

Elementor Hosting is tailored to offer a seamless experience for users who wish to design, manage, and host websites easily. You get everything under one roof — editor, theme, and hosting.

Before we get into how you can easily build a website with Elementor Hosting, let’s have a look at the features.

Below are the core features that make Elementor Hosting stand out.

Page Builder

Elementor Hosting Review: Analysing Features, Pricing, and User Experience 1

Elementor Hosting Review: Analysing Features, Pricing, and User Experience 2

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14+ Best Email Automation Tools For Your Business (Expert Pick)

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

Max

14+ Best Email Automation Tools For Your Business (Expert Pick)

We’ve run online businesses and websites for years, so we know how long it can take to write emails to customers, leads, and subscribers.

As a business owner, your time is valuable. You need to focus on growing your business, not just writing emails. Luckily, email automation tools can help you do that.

That being said, there are so many tools out there that it’s hard to know which one to choose. That’s why we’ve tested many of them and looked at how easy they are to use, how much they cost, and how well they can personalize your emails.

Although we personally use Drip on WPBeginner, we have also done a deep dive into other options for small business owners.

And in this article, we will share the best email automation tools we have found. These tools will help you save time and still send emails that feel personal to each recipient.

email-automation-tools-for-your-business-og

Top 3 Email Marketing Automation Tools

In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks for the best email marketing tools.

How We Test and Review Email Automation Tools

When we review tools, we don’t just look at fancy features. We focus on whether the tool can actually help your business grow.

Marketing expert Neil Patel perfectly sums up what’s most important:

The big things I look for in email marketing are:

1. Segmentation: The goal is to create email campaigns that are personal and relevant to each recipient.
2. Personalization: When you personalize your email content, you make a connection with your contacts on a human level—which can lead to improved click-through rates, higher open rates, and more conversions.
3. Valuable: Make sure the content of your email provides value that’s relevant to your audience’s interests, and more importantly, that doesn’t come across as a sales pitch.

Neil Patel – Digital Marketing Expert and Entrepreneur

With that in mind, we’ve been using some of the tools featured here every day for our own websites, so we know firsthand how they work. We use them to send welcome emails to new customers, remind people about items they left in their cart, and share special offers.

Other options are super popular tools that we tested to see if they lived up to the hype. We dug into online reviews to see how they perform in the real world. We want to make sure we recommend tools that are reliable, easy to use, and offer good value for the price.

Why Trust WPBeginner?

We’ve been helping people with WordPress, online marketing, and website design for over 16 years. We are a team of WordPress experts who carefully review and test every tool and plugin we recommend, not just on demo sites but on real, live websites.

To learn more, check out our entire editorial process.

1. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is the best all-around email marketing automation tool, trusted by over 600,000 businesses. We have tested it extensively, which you can read about in our Constant Contact review.

Constant Contact segments your audience into four categories: most engaged, somewhat engaged, least engaged, and everyone else.

This segmentation isn’t as targeted as some other tools, but it’s helpful for beginners wanting to separate their most loyal customers from the rest.

It has one of the most user-friendly interfaces we’ve tested. From the moment you start the free trial, it guides you through a super-simple setup process.

You can also choose from hundreds of customizable templates and layouts. Whether you need an eye-catching email for newsletters or a simple announcement, there’s a template to fit your needs.

Pros of Constant Contact:

Automatic list segmentation helps you target your audience efficiently.
Hundreds of customizable templates to match your branding.
Comprehensive analytics tools to measure the performance of your campaigns.

Cons of Constant Contact:

They don’t offer unlimited sends.

Pricing: Constant Contact starts from $12 to $80 per month, with pricing based on the number of contacts. They also offer a 30-day free trial period. You can use our Constant Contact coupon code to get 20% off of your purchase.

Why we chose Constant Contact: We like Constant Contact for beginners because it covers the email marketing basics well. The service helps with list building, automating campaigns, and designing mobile-friendly emails, making it perfect for new users.

To learn more about the tool, check out our Constant Contact review.

2. Brevo

Brevo is an email marketing app that gives you access to an unlimited number of contacts on any plan. We tried it out to test all the features, which you can check out in our complete Brevo review.

The tool comes with contact segmentation features so you can target smaller groups of subscribers. You can engage them with relevant content by filtering contacts by previous engagement, declared interests, purchase history, and other options.

Creating a segmented email list using Brevo

It’s our second choice because it’s one of the only platforms that offers unlimited contacts right off the bat, which is great for growing your list.

One downside of Brevo is that multi-user access is only available for higher-tier users, which can limit collaboration for people on lower-tier plans.

Pros of Brevo:

Unlimited contacts on all plans.
Marketing automation to send emails to specific segments at the right moments in their user journey.
Predictive sending feature to send emails at the best time for each individual.

Cons of Brevo:

Multi-user access is unavailable in lower-tier plans.

Pricing: Brevo is free to start with unlimited contacts and up to 300 email sends per day. The paid plans start from $9 to $18 per month.

Why we chose Brevo: We chose Brevo because it offers unlimited contacts on all plans, which is ideal for growing businesses. Its segmentation and predictive sending features help you target the right audience at the best times.

If you want more information, feel free to read our Brevo review.

3. HubSpot

HubSpot is one of the most affordable and diverse marketing automation tools, making it into our top three. We made a HubSpot account for this roundup and went through all the features, which you can see in our HubSpot review.

With HubSpot, you can send automated emails after someone fills out a pop-up or embedded form, which helps you start nurturing leads right away. You can also segment your contacts and personalize your emails to ensure they reach the right people.

Designing a beautiful email blast using HubSpot

Starting at $15 per user per month, you can get up to 1,000 marketing contacts to kickstart your campaigns.

One drawback is that HubSpot only allows 10 automated actions in its lower-tier plans, which might be enough initially but limiting as you grow. To access more, you need to upgrade to the Marketing Hub Professional plan.

Pros of HubSpot:

1,000 marketing contacts, offering plenty of room to grow.
The email tool syncs with CRM contacts for seamless data integration.
Automation features for nurturing leads via email and engaging users who submitted their information using a form.

Cons of HubSpot:

Only 10 automated actions in lower-tier plans, with a high price jump to the next higher-level plan.

Pricing: HubSpot offers a free plan to get started. The Marketing Hub Starter plan costs $15 per user per month. For more marketing contacts and unlimited automated actions, you can opt for the Marketing Hub Professional plan at $800 per month.

Why chose HubSpot: We chose HubSpot for its affordability and versatility. With robust automation features and seamless CRM integration, it provides powerful tools for building customer relationships.

You can read our HubSpot review for more details.

4. Drip

Drip is one of the best email automation tools on the market due to its advanced feature set. It goes beyond just addressing the recipient by name, as it uses liquid tags to personalize emails based on specific behavior, location, or other attributes.

That’s one of the biggest reasons why we switched from Mailchimp to Drip at WPBeginner, as it allowed us to send more customized content to our valued readers.

One thing to consider is that Drip is more expensive than other solutions, starting at $39 per month for 2,500 subscribers. However, we think it’s worth it for businesses looking for more powerful features.

Pros of Drip:

Smart segmentation can automatically segment your audience.
Liquid tags allow you to create dynamic content based on various attributes.
Drip syncs all product data from your WooCommerce store so you can make product recommendations or send upsell emails.

Cons of Drip:

Can be more expensive compared to other solutions on the list.

Pricing: Drip starts at $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, with pricing increasing as your subscriber count grows. You can also use our Drip coupon code to get a 14-day free trial.

Why chose Drip: We chose Drip for its advanced personalization features that make email content dynamic and highly relevant. Its smart segmentation makes it an excellent choice for businesses seeking powerful automation tools.

5. Groove

Groove review: Is it the right help desk for your WordPress website?

If you need a collaborative email platform with powerful automation features, then Groove is a top choice. We use Groove across our partner companies to efficiently handle support emails from our customers.

For more details, see our extensive Groove review.

Groove’s AI features make it a standout for businesses. With Instant Replies, you can turn a specific response into a reusable, automated one with a few clicks. Plus, the automation templates make it easy to route, categorize, and organize customer conversations.

Keep in mind that Groove is designed for customer service emails, not marketing. It doesn’t have email marketing templates or a drag-and-drop email builder.

Pros of Groove:

Instant replies to save time on repetitive questions.
Over 50 automation templates to streamline processes.
Collision detection to avoid double replies and ensure smooth team communication.

Cons of Groove:

No feature for email marketing templates or a drag-and-drop email marketing builder.

Pricing: Groove’s pricing ranges from $16 to $56 per user per month. A free 7-day trial is available without requiring a credit card, allowing you to try it out before committing.

Why we chose Groove: We chose Groove because its AI and automation features save a lot of time on repetitive emails. This makes Groove ideal for small businesses wanting to improve their customer support.

Learn more about this email service in our Groove review.

6. FunnelKit Automations

If you use WooCommerce and want to boost your store’s performance with emails, then FunnelKit Automations is for you. We’ve tested it across a bunch of WooCommerce stores – just read our FunnelKit review for more details.

What we like about this tool is that you can run automated email campaigns right inside WordPress.

Here, you can easily import pre-built sequences for abandoned cart recovery, post-purchase follow-ups, win-back campaigns, and lead nurturing. All emails are pre-written and customizable with the visual builder. Plus, you can also create audiences based on items bought or average order value.

One downside is that setup can be more complicated because you may have to use an SMTP service to ensure email deliverability. FunnelKit also doesn’t recommend using Gmail or Outlook as email service providers, so you may have to switch to a different one.

Pros of FunnelKit:

Integrates with WordPress, WooCommerce, and popular tools like WPForms and Slack.
Comes with many email sequence templates, from abandoned cart recovery to welcome sequences and newsletters.
The visual builder makes it easy to customize your automation to your exact preferences.

Cons of FunnelKit:

Setup can be more complicated compared to other options.

Pricing: Starts at $99.50 per year for FunnelKit Automations alone and $249.50 per year for FunnelKit Automations and FunnelKit Funnel Builder. The second includes a sales funnel builder to optimize your website for more conversions.

Why we chose FunnelKit Automations: We chose FunnelKit Automations for its seamless integration with WordPress and WooCommerce. Plus, it offers many email templates and a visual builder for creating effective campaigns, even if you have no experience.

Get more information about the platform in our FunnelKit Automations review.

7. Omnisend

Omnisend is arguably the best eCommerce marketing automation tool around. We signed up for an account and tried out all the features, which you can learn about in our Omnisend review.

It helps you improve targeting, drive sales on autopilot, and remain consistent with your brand messaging. Plus, it works across many channels, from emails and SMS to web push notifications.

One unique feature that we don’t see elsewhere is the smart campaign booster feature. It automatically resends your email campaigns that haven’t been opened or clicked. That allows you to reach subscribers who missed out on the opportunity the first time easily.

However, Omnisend has a limited number of contacts. Even the highest plan only allows up to 2,500 contacts, whereas alternatives like Brevo offer more contacts at a lower price.

Pros of Omnisend:

Campaign Booster helps boost engagement by automatically sending the same message to people who haven’t opened it.
Pre-built workflows for email communication with customers and re-engaging them to make a purchase.
Unlimited custom events to assign as triggers for email workflows.

Cons of Omnisend:

Limited number of contacts compared to other options on the list.

Pricing: Omnisend is free to start for up to 250 contacts. The paid plans range from $16 to $59 per month.

Why we chose Omnisend: We chose Omnisend for its smart campaign booster and strong multi-channel capabilities. Its pre-built workflows will make it easy for eCommerce businesses to automate and improve their marketing.

If you want to learn more, head to our Omnisend review for more details.

8. AWeber

AWeber is an email marketing service that covers all the essential features you need to send automated campaigns and email blasts. We’ve experimented a lot with AWeber, and we’ve written about it in our AWeber review.

What we enjoyed about AWeber is its behavioral automation, making it easy to track and engage your most active subscribers.

For example, you can trigger special campaigns based on email opens and link clicks. This lets you send targeted content to those who interact with your messages.

One downside is that the user interface feels a bit outdated and clunky. However, AWeber does have a Canva integration to make designing easier.

Pros of AWeber:

Behavioral automation to engage with subscribers based on their actions.
Email tagging lets you categorize your subscribers into different segments based on their interactions.
Design email templates in Canva without leaving AWeber.

Cons of AWeber:

The software has an outdated interface that feels clunky.

Pricing: You can get started for free. Paid plans start from $12.50 per month to $899 per month.

You can also use our AWeber coupon code to get 33% off of your purchase.

Why we chose AWeber: If you like using Canva to design emails, then AWeber is a great choice. Its behavioral automation and email tagging can help you create highly targeted and engaging campaigns.

9. MailerLite

MailerLite is one of the most beginner-friendly email marketing services available. We did a deep dive into its email marketing features, which you can see in our MailerLite review.

The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create emails using pre-built design blocks or dynamic content blocks for personalization.

You can build automated workflows to reach the right people at the right time. For advanced functionality, MailerLite offers multi-trigger automation, allowing up to three triggers in one automation, which creates multiple entry points.

However, live chat support is only available for Advanced plan users, which can be a downside for people on lower-tier plans.

Pros of MailerLite:

The drag-and-drop block editor with dynamic content blocks makes email creation easy and personalized.
Built-in email verification tool to clean and optimize your list.
Multivariate testing allows you to test up to 8 variations of the same campaign to see what works best.

Cons of MailerLite:

Live chat support is only available for Advanced plan users.

Pricing: MailerLite is free to start for up to 12,000 monthly emails. Paid plans range from $9 to $18 per month, offering unlimited monthly emails.

Why we chose MailerLite: We chose MailerLite for its user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, dynamic content blocks, and multivariate testing. These features make it ideal for beginners looking to create effective email marketing campaigns with ease.

10. ConvertKit

With ConvertKit, there’s no need to build a new email list for each project launch or sale. It offers segments and unique tags to group subscribers based on custom form fields, location, or other tags. This way, you can easily manage and target specific audiences.

ConvertKit also has a lead-scoring capability to assess the quality of your leads. For example, if a customer doesn’t open your last five emails, then you can deduct points. If they visit your pricing page or click a link, you can add points. This helps you focus on your most engaged leads.

However, we found its analytics to be limiting. Detailed analytics like open and click rates are only available in the highest-tier Creator Pro plan.

Pros of ConvertKit:

Lead-scoring capability to identify and engage your most active leads.
Group subscribers automatically using custom form fields, making segmentation easy.
Unlimited landing pages, opt-in forms, and email broadcasts in all plans.

Cons of ConvertKit:

Helpful analytics are only available for higher-tier users.

Pricing: ConvertKit is free to start for up to 10,000 subscribers. Paid plans range from $25 to $50 per month, with pricing increasing as you get more subscribers.

You can also use our ConvertKit coupon to get a discount.

Why we chose ConvertKit: If you’re a content creator or an online business owner, then ConvertKit’s features can help you effectively manage and engage your subscribers.

11. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign comes with an automation builder and map, which we found to be easy to use. To initiate events, simply assign triggers (conditions) and actions. This visual overview makes it easy to manage and optimize your automation workflows.

ActiveCampaign also offers conditional content, which lets you personalize email sections based on specific attributes. This means you can target messages to the right people, like showing event details only to local subscribers or tailoring content by sales stage.

One thing to consider is that ActiveCampaign has no refund policy, so make sure to use the 14-day trial to see if it suits your needs.

Pros of ActiveCampaign:

Easy-to-use automation builder with various triggers, such as actions related to eCommerce, emails, and sales.
Conditional content to personalize emails based on specific attributes.
AI content generation tool to save time writing emails.

Cons of ActiveCampaign:

No refund policy, so try the free trial before committing.

Pricing: Pricing ranges from $15 to $145 per month, with a 14-day free trial available.

Why we chose ActiveCampaign: We like how ActiveCampaign strikes a good balance between ease of use and advanced personalization features. This makes it great for businesses of all sizes.

Looking for tools similar to ActiveCampaign? Check out our list of the best ActiveCampaign alternatives.

12. GetResponse

GetResponse comes with template autoresponders, allowing you to use proven workflows like welcome series, post-purchase, abandoned cart, webinars, events, and sales promotions. These workflow templates save you time by removing the need to tinker with sequences.

You can also set up A/B tests to experiment with different subject lines and email content. Simply create two versions of your email, and GetResponse will test both to see which one performs best.

One downside is that not all automation templates are available in all plans. Higher-tier plans have exclusive features like drip campaigns.

Pros of GetResponse:

Wide range of automated email templates, from follow-ups to post-purchase emails.
Besides emails, you can create lead magnets, opt-in forms, sales pages, and webinar funnels.
Google Analytics integration for tracking campaign performance.

Cons of GetResponse:

Some automation templates are only available in higher-tier plans.

Pricing: GetResponse offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $13.20 per month and go up to $82.90 per month.

Why we chose GetResponse: We chose GetResponse for its variety of email templates and easy A/B testing. It’s perfect for businesses wanting to simplify their email marketing and improve performance with minimal effort.

13. EngageBay

EngageBay is an all-in-one automation platform that integrates sales, marketing, and support team operations into a single platform.

It offers a variety of tools like template builders, email workflows, and marketing automation. Its email autoresponder allows users to pull information from their built-in CRM, so you can send more personalized messages based on previous interactions with your business.

If you want to use EngageBay, we recommend opting for the two higher-tier plans, as the free and lower-tier options don’t include automation features.

Pros of EngageBay:

All-in-one CRM and email automation tool that eliminates the need to pay for these features separately.
Email automation syncs with CRM to ensure a seamless customer journey.
Predictive lead scoring to find and engage qualified leads.

Cons of EngageBay:

Automation features are only available in higher-tier plans.

Pricing: EngageBay offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts. The paid plans start from $12.74 to $101.99 per user per month.

Why we chose EngageBay: EngageBay’s all-in-one solution is great for businesses that want to streamline operations and manage everything from one platform.

14. Moosend

Moosend is one of the most affordable email marketing services, making it perfect for businesses on a tight budget.

When testing Moosend, one feature that stood out was its ability to show how many people on each list bounced off your email. This helps you clean your list to boost open rates and improve your sender score.

One thing you should consider is that transactional emails, like order confirmations and shipping notifications, are only included in the Enterprise plan. This means if you run a business site but can only use the Pro version, you cannot send these transactional emails.

Pros of Moosend:

Free 30-day trial and affordable pricing, including pre-built automation templates and an automation workflow designer.
List optimization to improve email deliverability.
Email heatmap analytics to see how users interact with your emails.

Cons of Moosend:

Transactional emails are not available in non-Enterprise plans.

Pricing: Moosend offers a 30-day free trial. The Pro plan starts at $7 per month for up to 500 contacts, with Moosend+ (Pro with add-ons) and Enterprise plans available at custom pricing.

Why we chose Moosend: Moosend’s affordability and comprehensive features make it ideal for businesses on a budget. Its list optimization and email heatmap analytics are also great for improving email performance.

Bonus: OptinMonster

An email automation strategy wouldn’t be complete without a tool to bring in leads. For this, we recommend OptinMonster.

OptinMonster is the best lead-generation WordPress plugin, helping you automatically collect and segment email addresses. It’s what we use to increase our email subscribers by 600%. You can segment new subscribers based on attributes like cookies, user activity, location, and more.

It offers a visual builder to create high-converting opt-in forms, along with exit-intent technology. This prevents visitors from leaving your site without taking action by showing a targeted campaign just before they leave.

To learn more, check out our OptinMonster review.

Pros of OptinMonster:

Create spin-to-win coupon wheels to boost engagement.
Integrates with all the popular email marketing software.
You can A/B test various opt-in campaigns to maximize conversions.

Cons of OptinMonster:

No free version is available.

Pricing: OptinMonster ranges from $9.97 per month to $49.97 per month. All plans include unlimited campaigns, unlimited subscribers, and no transaction fees.

Why we chose OptinMonster: OptinMonster’s ease of use and powerful targeting and segmentation features are ideal for businesses looking to maximize conversions and build their email list efficiently.

Bonus: WP Mail SMTP

Here’s the thing: By default, WordPress sends email through the PHP mail function, which often causes your messages to go to spam. This is because PHP mail lacks proper authentication, leading to deliverability issues.

WP Mail SMTP is the best SMTP plugin for WordPress users. Essentially, it is ideal for people who want to make sure that their emails land in users’ inboxes and not in the spam folder.

We use WP Mail SMTP across our websites, so check out our complete WP Mail SMTP review for more details.

It uses an SMTP server to properly authenticate the sender, improving email deliverability and ensuring your messages are seen.

For more details, you can see our guide on how to fix the WordPress not sending email issue.

Pros of WP Mail SMTP:

Integrates with many email marketing services like Brevo and SendLayer.
Offers open-and-click tracking to see which recipients opened your emails.
Smart email routing lets you send emails through different providers based on factors like message and subject.

Cons of WP Mail SMTP:

Pricing: A free version is available. The Pro version starts at $49 per year and goes up to $399 per year, with higher plans allowing use on more sites.

Why we chose WP Mail SMTP: WP Mail SMTP is essential for any small business with a WordPress site. It ensures all your important emails, like password resets or shipping notifications, reach your users’ inboxes.

What Is the Best Email Automation Tool for Small Businesses?

If you’re looking for the best all-around email marketing automation tool, then Constant Contact is our top recommendation.

Trusted by over 600,000 businesses, it’s user-friendly and perfect for beginners. With hundreds of customizable templates and easy audience segmentation, it helps with list-building and automating campaigns. That said, it doesn’t offer unlimited sends.

For people needing unlimited contacts from the start, Brevo is an excellent choice. Ideal for growing businesses, it offers segmentation and predictive sending capabilities. These features allow you to target your audience effectively. Note that multi-user access is only available in higher-tier plans.

HubSpot is another great fit. Starting at $15 per user per month, it provides powerful email automation, segmentation, and CRM integration. While lower-tier plans limit automated actions, upgrading unlocks more advanced features.

Frequently Asked Questions About Email Automation

Now that you know the best email automation tools, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about email automation:

How do I set up automated email for my business?

All you need is automated email software like Constant Contact or Brevo. From there, you can add your email list, build workflows, and craft your messages. The tool will send bulk messages based on the conditions you’ve set.

What is the difference between email automation and autoresponder?

Email automation is a broad term that relates to any task related to emails, such as sending cold outreach, customer responses, or inbound messages. Autoresponders are automated emails triggered by a specific event, like a customer opting into your email list or making a purchase.

How much does an automated email system cost?

The price varies depending on the software’s feature set. That said, you can expect to pay under $100 for 5,000 email contacts or less. For lists that are 10,000 or more, expect to pay a few hundred dollars.

Ultimate Guides to Email Marketing

We hope this article helped you find the best email automation tool for your small business. You may also want to check out our list of tested and easy ways to grow your email list faster or our comprehensive guide on how to build an email list in WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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