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What to consider when choosing an email marketing tool for your business in Zimbabwe
- agnes2718
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
One of the most powerful marketing tools for your Zimbabwean business, small or large is Email Marketing for particular reasons.
It drives engagement
It builds relationships
It provides a great Return on Investment (ROI) if used effectively.
Dozens of email marketing tools exist in the market but choosing the right one often deems difficult.
First, you have to understand what your business needs are and what features can fulfill those needs.
In this guide, we have laid out what you need to consider while choosing the right email marketing tool for your business in Zimbabwe.
PRO TIP:
Think beyond price.
It is understandable that businesses want to cut operational costs by any means necessarily that is why they always pick the available free tools and just start.
Whereas it is vital to operate within limited means to achieve greater returns, free plans have limitations.
We cannot, however, deny the fact that an entirely free platform works for a small business since they can do so much with those platforms.
There is need to evaluate your business needs and choose an email marketing platforms with the required features to do what you need it to do.
Don't choose a tool that will make you conform to the way it works and what it offers.
Do choose a tool that will let you run your campaigns the way you deem fit.
Email marketing features to consider before committing to a platform that will either add value to your campaign or create endless challenges.
GDPR Compliant
Full compliance with privacy and data protection regulations is a very important factor to put into consideration.
What to look out for:
Unsubscribe links should be clearly stated in the emails sent out.
The platform should also allow for consent tracking.
Why it matters:
Compliance protects your business and helps improve deliverability.
Deliverability
This is very key for Zimbabwean businesses. Low deliverability negatively impacts campaign success.
What to look out for:
Good tools should support SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication.
The platforms should be able to spam rates and sender reputation
Why it matters:
Good deliverability guarantees high coverage and a good open rate since the communication is received by the intended recipient.
Pricing
Here budget flexibility is key for Zimbabwean businesses.
What to look out for:
Platforms that allow you to pay as you go.
Platforms that have affordable entry plans
Also platforms that allow you to communicate on multiple channels and not just email to help you achieve greater value from your money.
Why it matters:
Most small and Medium Enterprise businesses never have huge marketing budgets; free or affordable plans would give them a great headstart.
4. Automation
A good software must have within it the possibility of automatic flows that are triggered based on the customer's actions.
What to look out for:
Welcome emails
Behavior based triggers
Abandoned cart emails
Drip campaigns
Why it matters:
Automation saves time and increases revenue which is why tools like Trembi stand out.
Data segmentation for customized mailings
Every consumer has varying needs and for this precise reason, communication must be customized to their preferences.
What to look out for:
A tool that lets you group customers (location, behavior, purchases)
Personalize emails (names and interest)
Target campaigns better
Why it matters:
It increases chances of conversion thanks to improved engagement.
Ease of use
What to look out for:
Pre-built templates and ability to customize them to you needs.
Drag and drop email builder to aid creation of email designs
Email scheduling where email is set up and you schedule it to go out on a given day or time.
Onboarding videos to assist the business familiarize itself with the tool.
Why it matters:
Platforms that are easy to use save time and frustration.
7. Analytics and reporting
Most email marketing tools collect and report data regarding your email marketing performance.
What to look out for:
Open rates
Click through rates
Unsubscribe rates
Conversion rates
Why it matters:
If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. Analytics help shape future campaigns.
Multi-channel marketing
Most platforms that offer email marketing solutions support multiple channels like, SMS and WhatsApp. Email alone is not enough anymore.
What to look out for:
CRM integration for contact management
SMS marketing and Push messaging for assured deliverability
WhatsApp integration for wider customer reach.
Why it matters:
These have become essential elements of all marketing strategies. With increased digitalization, texting has become the ideal way for businesses to reach consumers.
Mobile first abilities
Most users in Zimbabwe access email on their mobile phones.
What to look out for:
Ensure the tool has mobile optimized templates
Allows preview on emails
Supports responsive design.
Why it matters:
For increased engagement, the emails have to look good on the phones otherwise they risk being left out.
Local relevance
Some of the questions to ask include:
Does it support local payment methods? Most global tools charge in USD
Does it understand the African audiences?
Why it matters:
It is very relevant for Zimbabwean businesses to work with tools that understand African markets, lest they will be frustrated.
Some of the platforms to consider based on functionality, support and ease of use.
Trembi
Trembi is an all-in-one sales and marketing platform. It is an AI powered lead generation platform that helps clients find clients, engage them to conversion and retain them using its inbuilt CRM.
Email marketing features:
It unifies Email, SMS amd WhatsApp.
It supports scheduling of campaign to be sent out at the given time.
It automates workflows saving time and resources for the user.
The platform is simple to use and comes with adjusted price tags based on the functions you want and the number of contacts on your list.
ActiveCampaign
Its features
Robust email marketing functionality
Automated workflows
CRM integration
Integration with website to allow for site tracking, advanced personalization options and built in chat box functionality.
It integrates with many e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce
3. Mail chimp
This platform is suitable for budget conscious freelancers, small businesses and startups.
It is very easy to use
It has automation features that allow for contact management and segmentation.
It has a subject line helper and content optimizer that offers suggestions to help you improve your content for better conversion and engagement.
Tips to help Zimbabwean businesses choose a suitable email marketing platform.
Email marketing tools are many, there isn't one best marketing tool for everyone.
For maximum results, Zimbabwean businesses should;
Evaluate their needs
Focus on the features
Start a trial
Talk to your network or friends for recommendations
It is very important that you ask for a demo
Try monthly subscription to start
Bottom line:
Your sales, marketing and customer service experience will solely depend on the tool that you choose, so take your time to choose the right one for a massive Return on Investment.
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