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Software Stack Editor

How understanding the economy can help make for a successful end to the year

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

For many small business owners, the final few months of the year are critical to nailing a successful year. Part of preparing for this often busy period is understanding the current state of the economy so that you can respond to your customers’ needs. This is where the Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI) program can help you make informed business decisions.

Let’s explore what the latest data means for you.

A mixed bag: Green-shoots, ongoing challenges and a loss of momentum

The latest XSBI data for Australia, New Zealand and the UK was a mixed bag over the September quarter, depending on which country you’re operating in. Australia’s small business economy is showing signs of green shoots, while New Zealand’s remains challenging (but isn’t getting worse), and the UK has lost the positive momentum seen earlier in the year.

Here’s a look at how small businesses are faring in your country:

Australia: Sales grew 5.5% year-on-year (y/y) in the September quarter, following a soft 3.9% y/y rise in the June quarter. The latest quarterly performance is the largest rise in sales in two years. Jobs grew 2.7% year-on-year (y/y) in the September quarter, after a 3.0% y/y rise in the June quarter. As an indicator, jobs lag behind sales (because businesses usually want to see a few months of improving sales before they hire new staff), so this September slowdown could reflect the soft sales performance seen earlier in the year. 

New Zealand: Sales grew 1.9% year-on-year (y/y) in the September quarter, after being flat in the June quarter. Normally such a result would be considered soft but it is the best result since the June quarter 2023. The last four months all showed positive sales growth, which is the longest consecutive run of sales growth since mid-2023. Jobs are still weak, at 1.2% lower than a year ago in the September quarter, after a similar fall in the June quarter. 

United Kingdom: Sales grew 3.1% year-on-year (y/y) in the September quarter, the smallest rise in a year and a half. This continued the trend in slowing sales growth seen in the June quarter, after a solid 5.7% y/y rise in the March quarter. Jobs grew 1.1% year-on-year (y/y) in the September quarter, after a 1.9% y/y rise in the June quarter. This slowdown in jobs growth likely reflects both softening sales performance and the impact of heightened uncertainty, with business owners reluctant to take on staff when the outlook is so unclear.

Regional spotlights

The XSBI data not only revealed differences between countries but also within them.

Australia: Sales improved in all states and territories in the September quarter, notably in previously soft Victoria (+4.7% y/y) and usually below-average Tasmania (+6.7% y/y) – this was Tasmania’s strongest performance in over two-and-a-half years. However, job growth softened a little across all regions, with Western Australia (+3.9% y/y) and Queensland (+3.5% y/y) seeing the largest rises.

New Zealand: Auckland and Wellington, which have been a drag on national results since early 2024, saw slight sales increases in the September quarter (+0.6% and +0.4% y/y respectively), but job losses continued (Auckland -2.5% y/y, Wellington -4.5% y/y). Canterbury (+4.3% y/y sales, +1.0% y/y jobs) and Otago (+6.3% y/y sales, with jobs flat) continued to be the top performing regions.

United Kingdom: Regional sales and jobs growth moderated across the UK. The South East led (sales +4.0% y/y, jobs +2.6% y/y), followed by East Midlands (sales +3.1% y/y, jobs +2.3% y/y) and North East (sales +3.2% y/y, jobs +2.0% y/y). Wales was the worst performing region (sales +1.8% y/y, jobs -1.8% y/y). 

What this means for your business at the end of the year 

The latest XSBI data shows that your customers might need some encouragement to spend in the closing months of the year.  

Make your business the easiest option for customers: At such a busy time of year, consider how you can make it easier for your customers to buy from you rather than from your competitors. With consumers being more careful about their spending, making the experience simple and convenient is crucial. This means considering everything from training sales staff, adding more payment options and offering special loyalty deals and flexible purchasing channels such as click-and-collect or delivery. Plus, use marketing to connect with customers early, ensuring your business is top-of-mind before this important trading period.

Prepare for busy periods: A busy season tests every business process, from stock management to staff performance to customer experience. Now is the time to make sure these are all running efficiently so that you can be confident there won’t be any unexpected surprises during November and early December that prevent you from making those sales.  

Manage cash flow during the Christmas/New Year period: After a busy period, many businesses have a quieter time around Christmas and New Year, which can strain cash flow. Sales may slow down and staff may be on leave, but many of your business bills don’t stop. Proactive planning with your accountant is essential to make sure you have sufficient cash flow to cover costs during this period, particularly during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer holidays.  

The end of the year is an important period for many small businesses. Make sure you’re ready to capitalise on these weeks and set your business up for further success in 2026. 

You can explore the XSBI data in more detail, including industry breakdowns, on the XSBI website.

The post How understanding the economy can help make for a successful end to the year appeared first on Xero Blog.

What Is the Best Platform to Sell Online for Beginners?

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

Picture of Haiden Hibbert

Haiden Hibbert

I’m a Content Manager at MemberSpace helping entrepreneurs and creators sell digital products.

If you’re a creator or small business owner, you already know that selling your products isn’t the hardest part. The real challenge? Finding a platform that actually fits what you need — and can grow with you.

You want something simple enough to get started today, but strong enough that you won’t have to rebuild everything once your business takes off. Because switching platforms later? Total headache.

So let’s talk about what really matters when choosing where to sell — and why MemberSpace might be the best place to start (and stay).

Launch your online business in 5 minutes!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like podcasts, online courses, communities, content libraries, and more — all from your own website!




Start selling now

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

What to Look for in an Online Selling Platform

There are a million tools out there promising to help you sell online. But not all of them are built with beginners in mind — or with the kind of flexibility you’ll need later.

Here’s what I’d look for if I were starting fresh today:

1. Easy Setup

If it takes more than an afternoon to get your first product live, that’s too long. You should be able to upload, set a price, and share your link — all without touching code or watching hours of tutorials.

2. Growth Features

The best platforms have flexible, yet powerful growth features. You’ll want:

  • Secure payments
  • Email integrations
  • Customer management
  • Analytics

Basically, everything you need to sell — without juggling five different apps.

3. Real, Helpful Support

This one’s huge. When you’re new, you will have questions. And when you do, you want to hear from a real person who gets it — not an AI bot or a copy-pasted help article.

MemberSpace’s support team is known for being fast, friendly, and genuinely helpful. (Seriously — it’s one of the biggest reasons people stick around.)

4. Room to Grow

You might start with one digital product today, but what about later? Maybe you’ll add a membership, a course, or a private community. Choose a platform that can handle all of that, so you’re not stuck starting over.

5. Freedom to Sell Any Type of Product

Courses, downloads, memberships, exclusive content — whatever you’re building, make sure your platform doesn’t box you in.

Why MemberSpace Is the Best Platform to Sell Online for Beginners

If you want something easy to use, flexible enough to grow with you, and backed by real support — MemberSpace is a solid choice.

It’s built for creators and business owners who want to sell digital products, courses, or memberships — all from one place. You can use it as a standalone site (it takes minutes to set up), or connect it to your existing website on Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and more.

sell online as a beginner with memberpsace

How to Get Started with MemberSpace (Step-by-Step)

Here’s how to start selling online with MemberSpace — even if you’ve never sold anything before.

1. Sign Up for MemberSpace

Head to memberspace.com and create an account for free. This is where you’ll host your digital products and manage your members, plans, and content — all in one place. Connect it to your existing website, or let us build a free, customizable site for you in minutes. 

2. Add Your Content

Upload files (PDFs, images, MP3s), embed videos (YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia), or create posts (like newsletters or blog articles) right inside MemberSpace. 

3. Organize Everything Your Way

Use drag-and-drop to reorder your content, move things between Spaces, and create unlimited folders — even nested ones. It’s flexible, clean, and easy to manage as you grow.

how to sell online as a beginner with memberspace

4. Let Members Bookmark Their Favorites

Members can bookmark any folder or piece of content to save it in their own personal “bookmarks” area. It’s a small touch that makes their experience smoother and keeps them coming back.

5. Share Your Link Anywhere

Once your Space is ready, share the link in your bio, email newsletter, or anywhere your audience hangs out. People can instantly buy your products or join your membership — no website required.

To see how it works in action, check out this tutorial.

Tips for Selling Online as a Beginner

Starting to sell online can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few simple tips that make a big difference early on:

1. Start Small (and Simple)

You don’t need a dozen products right away. Start with one great offer — something that solves a clear problem or gives your audience quick value. Once it’s working, build from there.

2. Focus on Clarity Over Fancy Design

Your audience cares more about what they’ll get than how your sales page looks. Keep your copy clear, your pricing simple, and your next step obvious.

3. Talk About Your Offer Often

Don’t be shy about promoting your product. Mention it in your content, your emails, your social posts — people need to see something multiple times before they buy.

4. Listen to Feedback

Your first customers will teach you a lot. Pay attention to their questions and suggestions — they’ll help you improve your product and your messaging.

5. Keep Learning

Selling online is a skill. The more you experiment, the better you’ll get. Don’t aim for perfect — aim for progress.

FAQ: Selling Online for Beginners

  1. Do I need a website to sell online with MemberSpace?

    Nope! You can create a free MemberSpace site in minutes and start selling right away. If you already have a website, you can connect it directly.

  1. What kinds of products can I sell?

    Pretty much anything digital — downloads, courses, memberships, or exclusive content. You can even combine them into bundles or tiers.

  1. How does payment processing work?

    MemberSpace integrates with Stripe, so you can securely accept payments from anywhere in the world.

  1. Is MemberSpace beginner-friendly?

    Absolutely. You don’t need to know code or have any tech background. The setup is simple, and the support team is there if you ever get stuck.

  1. Can I grow my business on MemberSpace long-term?

    Yes! You can start small and scale as you go — add new products, memberships, or even build an entire community without switching platforms.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering what is the best platform to sell online for beginners, the truth is — it depends on what kind of business you want to build.

But if you want something that’s easy to use, flexible enough to grow with you, and backed by a team that actually has your back, MemberSpace is a great place to start.

You can create your account for free, upload your first product, and start selling today — no tech overwhelm, no complicated setup, and no need to switch later.

Launch your online business in 5 minutes!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like podcasts, online courses, communities, content libraries, and more — all from your own website!




Start selling now

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Crafted With Code: Code That Scales

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

image

Crafted With Code is back with another batch of Webby-worthy projects! The second phase of this year’s showcase, Code that Scales, spotlights Webby-recognized experiences built to evolve—whether digitally, creatively, or strategically.

Now in its sixth year, Crafted With Code is a collaborative showcase created by WP Engine and the Webby Awards. It celebrates the innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration behind some of the internet’s most extraordinary sites—all built on WordPress®[1].

This year, 30% of all Webby-recognized projects in the Websites & Mobile Sites category were built on WordPress, and 43% of those WordPress sites were powered by WP Engine, demonstrating how WordPress and WP Engine are empowering builders to scale bold ideas into world-class digital experiences.

Read on to discover how these Code that Scales projects are pushing boundaries of design, performance, and storytelling.

Code that Scales: Building for Growth

Code that Scales celebrates the sites and creators building future-ready digital architecture through flexible, scalable sites crafted to perform beautifully as audiences, technologies, and ambitions grow.

“Scalability is about more than just traffic or speed—it’s about creating future-proof digital foundations that adapt as a company’s vision and their customers’ demands evolve,” said Regina Yuan, WP Engine Director of Brand.

“These projects show how designers and developers combine creativity with technical sophistication to build sites that will evolve alongside each of the brands they serve.”

The following Code that Scales participants—each powered by WP Engine’s platform—represent just a few of 2025’s Webby-recognized experiences built to grow, adapt, and endure over time.

[embedded content]

Webby Winner | Food & Drink

Flavorful design peppered with personality

Gelato La Boca is bringing authentic Argentinian gelato to Dallas. The team at Matchbox Studio developed a component-based design system blending rich interactivity with performance-driven efficiency to bring their bold vision to life online.

The site captures the vibrant colors and textures of La Boca, the iconic neighborhood in Buenos Aires from which the company took its name, using 3D elements, subtle motion, and immersive visuals to express the brand’s equally vibrant identity.

Every interaction feels intentional, inviting visitors to explore flavors and connect with the brand’s story. Behind the scenes, the scalable foundation of the site ensures that Gelato La Boca’s digital presence can grow right along with it.

[embedded content]

Webby People’s Voice Winner | Travel & Lifestyle

Scalable storytelling meets spirited design

The world’s best bourbon experiences come from Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® website makes finding them easy. Built by Lewis, the site connects visitors to Kentucky’s legendary distilleries, tourist destinations, and hospitality through an immersive, scalable design.

As bourbon tourism continues to boom, the site was designed for growth and flexibility, using a modular content system and a future-ready architecture that streamlines the onboarding process for new partners and distilleries. 

Lewis created a digital experience that mirrors the human journey of finding great bourbon, inviting users to explore, sip, and savor every stop along the way. Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s new, scalable travel hub can now evolve alongside the bourbon industry it celebrates, delivering craftsmanship and storytelling worthy of America’s native spirit.

[embedded content]

Webby Nominee | Architecture, Art & Design

Architectural excellence meets cinematic interactivity

For nearly six decades, Olson Kundig has been designing architecture defined by true artistry. Their new website, crafted by the team at Civilization, invites visitors behind the curtain of one of the world’s most respected architectural design firms.

Built as a cinematic digital experience, the new site mirrors the firm’s ethos of experimentation and transparency. A dynamic, personalized timeline traces the evolution of Olson Kundig’s work from its origins in Seattle through its modern projects across six continents.

The Play section reimagines content discovery as a streaming-style experience where visitors can easily browse videos, interviews, and podcasts. The new site will continue to scale alongside the firm’s legacy while elevating how design storytelling is shared online, balancing beauty, functionality, and depth in perfect proportion.

Scale your success on WP Engine

Want to hear more about how these scalable, standout experiences were created?

Head to the Crafted With Code YouTube playlist to watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, or visit the Crafted With Code site to explore all the Webby-recognized projects in the showcase.

If you’re ready to build future-proof sites that scale with your business, learn how WP Engine’s platform is ready to help you scale for success in this recent webinar!

How to build a community-led academy to boost product adoption

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

“If you want adoption, start with belonging.” That was the argument from Alexander Aidun, Director of Education & Documentation at Dremio, in conversation with Brett Hamilton, Customer Success Lead at LearnWorlds, during the Worlds of Learning 2025 Summit. Alexander made a compelling case for a shift in mindset: from teaching about your product to educating …

Continue

The post How to build a community-led academy to boost product adoption appeared first on LearnWorlds.

10 best email marketing tools for financial service businesses in 2025

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

Running a financial-services business is about far more than moving money in and out of accounts — it’s about managing client trust, regulatory complexity, personalized advice, ongoing service relationships, and layered compliance. The challenge? CRM needs in the financial services industry are uniquely demanding. Firms must track high-value clients, nurture relationships over long horizons, monitor referrals and regulatory touches, segment based on asset classes or risk profiles, deliver timely compliance-safe email communication, and do all of this while maintaining a polished, secure, and scalable marketing system.

Boost Opens & CTRs with HubSpot’s Free Email Marketing Software

That’s where a thoughtful email marketing tool (or CRM with strong email capabilities) becomes a solution. When properly configured, a CRM becomes your operational backbone, enabling you to centralize client data, automate compliant email follow-ups, segment clients by product or asset class, trigger campaigns when life events or portfolio thresholds change, and maintain the audit trail and data governance necessary for financial services.

In this article, you’ll get:

  • A comparison table of the top 10 email marketing tools (or CRM-email hybrids) suited to financial service businesses in 2025
  • Feature breakdowns (for each tool, what it offers for automation, segmentation, compliance/record-keeping, reporting, integrations with financial systems, and mobile access)
  • Real-world pros and cons, especially for companies in financial services (what works, what doesn’t, and what to watch out for)
  • A step-by-step how-to guide for setting up email automations tailored to financial services (i.e., how to map workflows, design compliant templates, segment by client type and asset class, and measure performance)
  • Tips for migration, measurement, and scaling (how financial services firms can move from spreadsheets or generic tools to a best-in-class email/CRM setup, how to measure ROI, and how to scale the system for growth or acquisitions)

It’s also worth noting that real financial services companies already use HubSpot. In the following sections, we’ll examine how other tools compare to HubSpot (and each other) and identify which ones offer the best fit for financial services marketers and operations teams in 2025.

Table of Contents

  • What is email marketing for financial service businesses?
  • Best Email Marketing Tools for Financial Service Businesses at a Glance
  • Best Email Marketing Software for Financial Service Businesses
  • Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Financial Service Businesses
  • How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Financial Service Businesses (Step-by-Step)
  • How to Create Email Marketing Campaigns for Financial Service Businesses
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Financial Service Companies

What is email marketing for financial service businesses?

Email marketing for financial service businesses is the practice of using targeted, permission-based email communication to build trust, educate clients, and nurture long-term relationships in a regulated industry. Unlike retail or eCommerce campaigns that focus on quick conversions, email marketing in financial services emphasizes credibility, compliance, and consistency.

Advisors, lenders, and wealth managers use email to deliver timely market insights, policy updates, product announcements, and personalized advice — all while maintaining strict data privacy and communication standards. The goal isn’t just to sell a service; it’s to position your firm as a trusted advisor who provides ongoing value and transparency.

When done right, email marketing becomes a scalable way to:

  • Strengthen client relationships through personalized, compliant communication
  • Automate onboarding, reminders, and follow-ups
  • Keep clients informed about financial trends, products, and milestones
  • Convert leads into loyal, long-term customers

In short, email marketing for financial service businesses bridges the gap between relationship-driven trust and digital efficiency, helping firms deliver the right message to the right client at the right time.

Best Email Marketing Tools for Financial Service Businesses at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot (Marketing Hub)

Complete financial services marketing automation with enterprise-grade compliance

Advanced email segmentation for client portfolios

Built-in compliance tracking and audit trails

AI-powered send time optimization

Automated lead scoring for high-value prospects

GDPR/CCPA compliance tools

Breeze AI for content personalization

Multi-touch attribution reporting

Native integration with financial data platforms

Free: $0/month/seat

Starter: $9/month/seat

Professional: $800/month/seat

Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

Yes, 14 days

Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

Large financial institutions needing industry-specific CRM

Pre-built financial data models

Household relationship mapping

Compliance documentation workflows

Einstein AI for predictive analytics

Wealth management dashboards

Insurance policy tracking

Financial Services Cloud (Sales): $325/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Service): $325/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Sales and Service): $350/user/month

Financial Services Cloud Agentforce 1 (Sales): $750/user/month

Financial Services Cloud Agentforce 1 (Service): $750/user/month

Yes, 30 days

Zoho CRM (Finance)

Small to mid-sized financial advisory firms

Pre-built financial data models

Household relationship mapping

Compliance documentation workflows

Einstein AI for predictive analytics

Wealth management dashboards

Insurance policy tracking

Standard: $14/month

Professional: $23/month

Enterprise: $40/month

Ultimate: $52/month

No, demo only

Pipedrive

Sales-focused financial advisors and brokers

Visual sales pipeline

Activity-based selling

Revenue forecasting

Email tracking and templates

Smart contact data enrichment

Workflow automation builder

Custom pricing only (see here)

Yes, 14 days

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Business Central)

Enterprise financial services with existing Microsoft infrastructure

Unified customer profiles

Regulatory compliance management

Power BI integration

Customer insights AI

Outlook and Teams integration

Financial services accelerators

Free: $0/user/month

Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials: $70/user/month

Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium: $100/user/month

Dynamics 365 Business Central Team Members: $8.00/user/month

Yes, 30 days

Wealthbox

Independent financial advisors and RIAs

SEC/FINRA compliance features

Task workflow automation

Email archiving

Client meeting scheduler

Investment account linking

Mobile-first design

Basic: $59/user/month

Pro: $75/user/month

Premier: $99/user/month

Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

 

Redtail

Wealth management and financial planning firms

Integrated compliance archive

Client portal with document vault

Seminar management tools

Commission tracking

Custodian integrations

Workflow automation

Launch: $45/month

Growth: $65/month

Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

Yes, 30 days

Keap

Small financial service businesses focused on automation

Appointment scheduling

Pipeline automation

Smart forms and landing pages

Text messaging

Quote and invoice management

Lead capture tools

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers, the pricing plans below are based on a 1,500-subscriber amount

2 users/1500 contacts: $299/month

Yes, 14 days

ActiveCampaign

Financial marketers needing sophisticated email automation

Predictive sending

Split testing automation

Site tracking

Attribution reporting

Lead scoring

SMS marketing

Custom reporting dashboards

Starter: $15/month

Plus: $49/month

Pro: $79/month

Enterprise: $145/month

Yes, 14 days

CopperCRM

Financial teams using Google Workspace

Native Gmail integration

Automatic contact enrichment

Pipeline management

Project tracking

Document management

Workflow automation

Chrome extension

Starter: $12/month

Basic: $29/month

Professional: $69/month

Business: $134/month

Yes, 14 days

Best Email Marketing Software for Financial Service Businesses

1. HubSpot

a screenshot of hubspot’s email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Financial service businesses needing comprehensive marketing automation with built-in compliance tools.

Key HubSpot Features:

  • HubSpot’s AI-powered email segmentation: Financial advisors can automatically segment clients by portfolio size, risk tolerance, and life stage, ensuring personalized communication.
  • HubSpot’s automated compliance workflows: Built directly into the email creation process, HubSpot’s compliance tracking integrations capture approval chains and maintain audit trails required for SEC and FINRA regulations.
  • HubSpot’s Breeze AI integration with financial data platforms: Seamlessly connects with platforms like Creditsafe and Causal, allowing Breeze AI to generate personalized market insights and automatically trigger relevant email campaigns based on market movements.

HubSpot Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month/seat
  • Starter: $9/month/seat
  • Professional: $800/month/seat
  • Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

2. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

a screenshot of salesforce financial service cloud’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Large banks and insurance companies requiring enterprise-scale relationship management with regulatory compliance.

Key Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Features:

  • Household relationship mapping: Critical for wealth managers who need to view entire family financial ecosystems, tracking multiple accounts, beneficiaries, and trust relationships.
  • Einstein AI predictive analytics: Automatically scores leads based on likelihood to convert for specific financial products, helping advisors prioritize outreach to prospects most likely to need retirement planning or investment services.
  • Pre-built compliance documentation workflows: Integrates with DocuSign and Adobe Sign to automate KYC (Know Your Customer) processes, reducing onboarding time from days to hours while maintaining regulatory standards.

Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Pricing:

  • Financial Services Cloud (Sales): $325/user/month
  • Financial Services Cloud (Service): $325/user/month
  • Financial Services Cloud (Sales and Service): $350/user/month
  • Financial Services Cloud Agentforce 1 (Sales): $750/user/month
  • Financial Services Cloud Agentforce 1 (Service): $750/user/month

3. Zoho CRM for Finance

a screenshot of zoho CRM for finance’s email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Small financial advisory firms needing affordable CRM with document management capabilities.

Key Zoho CRM Features:

  • Built-in commission tracking: Automatically calculates advisor commissions based on product sales and AUM changes, essential for RIAs managing multiple fee structures and revenue streams.
  • Client portal with e-signatures: Streamlines account opening workflows by allowing clients to review, sign, and submit documents digitally.
  • Financial calculator integrations: Native connection to mortgage, retirement, and investment calculators that auto-populate CRM fields, enabling advisors to run scenarios during client meetings and save results directly to contact records.

Zoho CRM Pricing:

  • Standard: $14/month
  • Professional: $23/month
  • Enterprise: $40/month
  • Ultimate: $52/month

4. Pipedrive

a screenshot of pipedrive’s email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Independent insurance brokers and financial sales teams focused on pipeline velocity

Key Pipedrive Features:

  • Visual sales pipeline for policy tracking: Insurance agents can drag-and-drop policies through underwriting stages, instantly seeing bottlenecks.
  • Smart contact data enrichment: Automatically pulls financial data from public sources and LinkedIn, giving advisors instant context about prospect employment changes or company IPOs that signal investment opportunities.
  • Activity-based selling automation: Triggers follow-up sequences based on prospect actions (like downloading retirement guides or attending webinars).

Pipedrive Pricing:

  • Custom pricing only (see here)

5. Microsoft Dynamics 365

a screenshot of microsoft dynamics 365 email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Enterprise financial institutions already invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem, requiring seamless Office integration.

Key Microsoft Dynamics 365 Features:

  • Power BI integration for portfolio analytics: Financial advisors can embed real-time portfolio performance dashboards directly in client records.
  • Regulatory compliance management module: Specifically designed for financial services, tracking MiFID II, GDPR, and Dodd-Frank requirements with automated alerts for compliance deadlines and documentation requirements.
  • Teams integration for client collaboration: Enables secure video consultations with screen sharing for portfolio reviews, with automatic meeting notes and action items synced to the CRM record.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Pricing:

  • Free: $0/user/month
  • Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials: $70/user/month
  • Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium: $100/user/month
  • Dynamics 365 Business Central Team Members: $8.00/user/month

6. Wealthbox

a screenshot of wealthbox email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) needing purpose-built wealth management tools with mobility.

Key Wealthbox Features:

  • SEC/FINRA-compliant email archiving: Every client email is automatically archived and indexed for regulatory reviews.
  • Investment account aggregation: Pulls real-time balances from custodians like Schwab and Fidelity, allowing advisors to see total AUM per client and trigger rebalancing workflows when allocations drift.
  • Mobile-first task management: Advisors can update client meetings, log calls, and assign tasks from their phone between appointments, with offline sync ensuring no data loss in areas with poor connectivity.

Wealthbox Pricing:

  • Basic: $59/user/month
  • Pro: $75/user/month
  • Premier: $99/user/month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

7. Redtail

a screenshot of redtail email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Traditional wealth management firms requiring deep custodian integrations and seminar management.

Key Redtail Features:

  • Integrated compliance archive with keyword search: Critical for firms facing SEC audits, allowing instant retrieval of specific client communications using compliance keywords like “guarantee” or “performance.”
  • Seminar management workflow: Automates the entire educational event process from invitation emails to RSVP tracking, attendance check-in, and post-event drip campaigns for retirement planning workshops.
  • Direct custodian integrations: Bi-directional sync with TD Ameritrade, Pershing, and LPL Financial eliminates duplicate data entry and ensures account values update nightly for accurate reporting.

Redtail Pricing:

  • Launch: $45/month
  • Growth: $65/month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

8. Keap

a screenshot of keap’s email marketing user interface

Source

Best For: Solo financial advisors and small teams automating repetitive marketing tasks.

Key Keap Features:

  • Appointment scheduling with buffer time: Essential for financial consultations that often run long, automatically blocking calendar time for prep and follow-up notes while sending reminder texts to reduce no-shows.
  • Smart forms with conditional logic: Pre-qualification forms adapt based on responses, asking relevant questions about retirement goals or insurance needs, routing hot leads directly to calendars while nurturing others.
  • Quote and invoice automation: Integrates with QuickBooks to generate fee proposals based on AUM tiers, automatically sending invoices for quarterly advisory fees and tracking payment status.

Keap Pricing:

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers; the pricing plans below are based on a 1,500-subscriber amount

  • 2 users/1500 contacts: $299/month

9. ActiveCampaign

a screenshot of activecampaign’s email marketing user interface

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Best For: Financial marketers running sophisticated multi-channel campaigns with attribution tracking.

Key ActiveCampaign Features:

  • Predictive sending for market updates: AI determines optimal send times for market commentary emails, crucial for when financial advisors need to reach clients before market open with timely insights.
  • Multi-touch attribution reporting: Tracks which content pieces drive AUM growth, showing if clients who read retirement guides are more likely to rollover 401(k)s, justifying content marketing spend.
  • Site tracking with lead scoring: Monitors which financial calculators and resources prospects use on your website.

ActiveCampaign Pricing:

  • Starter: $15/month
  • Plus: $49/month
  • Pro: $79/month
  • Enterprise: $145/month

10. Copper

a screenshot of copper’s email marketing user interface

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Best For: Financial teams using Google Workspace seeking zero-friction Gmail integration.

Key Copper Features:

  • Native Gmail integration for compliance: Automatically logs every client email without plugins or BCC addresses, essential for advisory firms needing complete communication records for regulatory compliance.
  • Automatic contact enrichment from Google: Pulls LinkedIn profiles and company data directly into contact records, helping advisors identify high-net-worth prospects based on job titles and company exits.
  • Project tracking for client onboarding: Creates templated workflows for account opening, moving each new client through KYC verification, investment policy creation, and initial deposit tracking with deadline automation.

Copper CRM Pricing:

  • Starter: $12/month
  • Basic: $29/month
  • Professional: $69/month
  • Business: $134/month

Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Financial Service Businesses

Automated compliance documentation eliminates regulatory risk.

Financial service businesses face constant scrutiny from SEC, FINRA, and state regulators who require detailed documentation of all client communications. Manual tracking of email approvals, archiving conversations, and maintaining audit trails consumes hours of administrative time while leaving firms vulnerable to compliance violations that can result in hefty fines.

Plus, HubSpot’s compliance integrations can:

  • Capture email interactions
  • Log approval chains
  • Maintain searchable archives that satisfy regulatory requirements

When advisors create emails in HubSpot, its compliance tracking features flag potentially problematic language, route content through designated compliance officers for pre-approval, and timestamp all modifications.

AI-powered personalization increases client engagement and AUM growth.

Financial advisors struggle to maintain personalized communication with hundreds of clients while managing portfolios, attending meetings, and staying current on market conditions.

Breeze AI analyzes client data including:

  • Portfolio composition
  • Life stage
  • Past interactions to generate hyper-personalized email content that resonates with individual financial goals

For instance, HubSpot’s Breeze-generated subject lines can increase open rates by crafting messages like “John, your tech holdings outperformed the S&P by 12%” rather than generic “Q3 Market Update” subject lines.

Pro tip: HubSpot’s smart content rules dynamically adjust email sections based on client segmentsc (i.e., ensuring young professionals receive 401(k) maximization tips while retirees see RMD reminders).

Mobile CRM access enables real-time client service.

Financial advisors spend significant time outside the office meeting clients at their homes, attending networking events, or traveling between appointments, yet critical client information often remains trapped on desktop systems. This disconnect leads to missed opportunities when advisors can’t access portfolio details during impromptu client encounters or update meeting notes before details fade from memory.

HubSpot’s mobile CRM app provides complete access to client records, email history, and portfolio data from any device, allowing advisors to pull up account information during meetings or log touchpoints immediately after leaving a client’s office.

Integrated analytics prove marketing ROI and drive strategic decisions.

Financial marketing teams struggle to demonstrate how their email campaigns translate into actual AUM growth or new client acquisition, often relying on vanity metrics like open rates that don’t connect to revenue. Without clear attribution between marketing efforts and business outcomes, firms continue investing in ineffective strategies while missing opportunities to scale successful campaigns. Luckily, HubSpot’s multi-touch attribution reporting tracks the complete client journey, revealing exactly which content drives conversions.

For example, HubSpot’s revenue attribution dashboard can show that clients who engaged with retirement calculator emails subsequently rolled over an average of $450,000 in 401(k) assets, while those receiving only market commentary averaged $125,000 — providing clear direction for content strategy and budget allocation.

Workflow automation reduces administrative burden.

Financial service teams waste countless hours on repetitive tasks like sending appointment reminders, following up on incomplete applications, and manually segmenting clients for quarterly review outreach. This administrative overhead prevents advisors from focusing on high-value activities like financial planning and relationship building.

HubSpot’s workflow automation builder creates sophisticated trigger-based sequences that handle routine communications without human intervention, which automatically:

  • Sends onboarding emails when prospects schedule consultations
  • Triggers document reminders for unsigned forms
  • Initiates birthday greetings with personalized portfolio milestone updates

Lastly, HubSpot’s customizable email templates maintains brand consistency while allowing quick personalization.

5 Important Features for Financial Planning Email Marketing Software

  1. Regulatory Compliance Management and Audit Trail Documentation: Financial planners must maintain meticulous records of all client communications to satisfy SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory requirements, with the ability to produce complete email histories during surprise audits. HubSpot’s embedded security frameworks automatically archives every email interaction with tamper-proof timestamps, creates approval workflows that route marketing content through compliance officers before sending, and maintains searchable audit trails that can be exported in regulator-friendly formats.
  2. Mobile CRM Access with Offline Functionality: Financial planners frequently meet clients outside traditional office settings — at their homes for estate planning discussions, restaurants for prospecting lunches, or conference venues for educational seminars — requiring instant access to portfolio data and planning tools. Plus, HubSpot’s mobile CRM app provides complete functionality on iOS and Android devices, allowing planners to access client net worth statements, update meeting notes with voice-to-text transcription, and trigger follow-up email sequences directly from their phones.
  3. Advanced Pipeline Customization for Complex Financial Products: Financial planning involves multiple parallel pipelines — from 401(k) rollovers and life insurance applications to estate planning and college savings accounts — each requiring unique stages, timelines, and documentation. HubSpot’s customizable pipeline builder allows firms to create separate tracks for each financial product with industry-specific stages like “Risk Assessment,” “Underwriting,” “Carrier Selection,” and “Policy Delivery,” ensuring nothing falls through the cracks during lengthy sales cycles. HubSpot’s pipeline automation features automatically move opportunities through pipeline stages based on triggers like document submission or approval notifications, while the platform’s probability weighting helps planners forecast commission income based on historical conversion rates for each product type.
  4. Sophisticated Email Automation with Behavioral Triggers: Financial planning requires nurturing prospects over extended periods — sometimes years — as they approach major life transitions like retirement, inheritance receipt, or business exits that trigger planning needs. HubSpot’s workflow automation processes create complex, multi-year drip campaigns that adapt based on prospect behavior, such as automatically intensifying communication frequency when someone downloads a free guide or resource. Plus, HubSpot’s behavioral scoring tracks engagement across email opens, link clicks, and website visits to identify when prospects transition from education mode to active decision-making, triggering alerts for planners to initiate personal outreach at optimal moments.
  5. Native Integrations with Financial Planning Ecosystem: Financial planners rely on specialized software for portfolio management, insurance quoting, and, of course, financial tools that must seamlessly exchange data with their CRM. HubSpot’s extensive integration marketplace includes pre-built connectors to major financial platforms, automatically syncing account values, investment performance, and planning projections to trigger relevant email campaigns. The bi-directional sync capabilities in HubSpot ensure that updates made in financial planning software — like revised retirement dates or beneficiary changes — automatically update CRM records and trigger appropriate email workflows, eliminating duplicate data entry while maintaining information consistency across all systems.

How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Financial Service Businesses (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your workflows.

Start by documenting your financial service firm’s unique processes across client acquisition, onboarding, and retention cycles. Financial planners typically manage multiple parallel workflows, including:

  • Initial consultation scheduling
  • Risk assessment questionnaires
  • Account opening documentation
  • Quarterly portfolio reviews
  • Annual planning meetings

Then, map out your current manual processes, identifying where emails are triggered (like after a prospect downloads a retirement guide), what approvals are needed (compliance review for market commentary), and which team members are involved at each stage. Consider the complexity of financial product sales cycles that can span months, requiring sophisticated nurture sequences that adapt based on life events like job changes, inheritance receipt, or approaching retirement dates.

Pro tip: Document integration points where your email marketing must connect with portfolio management systems, custodian platforms, and financial planning software to maintain data consistency.

Step 2: Identify must-have features.

Financial service businesses require specialized capabilities beyond standard email marketing, with regulatory compliance topping the list of non-negotiable features. Your platform must include:

  • Automated email archiving with timestamps
  • Pre-send compliance workflows that route content through designated officers
  • Searchable audit trails that satisfy SEC and FINRA requirements during examinations

Look for behavioral tracking that identifies when prospects transition from research to decision mode — such as multiple retirement calculator uses or repeated visits to rollover guides — triggering timely advisor alerts. Additionally, mobile access is essential for advisors meeting clients outside the office, while advanced segmentation capabilities must handle complex criteria like asset levels, risk tolerance, age brackets, and product ownership. Ensure the platform offers dynamic content blocks that automatically adjust messaging based on client life stage.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit.

Next, evaluate how quickly your team can become proficient with each platform, considering that financial advisors often have limited technical expertise and even less time for extensive training. Request hands-on trials where your actual team members (not just IT staff) create email campaigns, set up automation workflows, and generate compliance reports to assess real-world usability. Additionally, don’t forget to consider the learning curve for different user roles:

  • Advisors need intuitive mobile interfaces for logging client interactions
  • Marketing teams require drag-and-drop email builders with compliant templates
  • Compliance officers need straightforward approval workflows with clear audit trails

Assess vendor support quality by testing response times with financial industry-specific questions about regulatory features, checking whether they offer dedicated onboarding specialists who understand financial services, and evaluating the depth of their knowledge base for self-service troubleshooting. Platform adoption succeeds when the interface feels familiar to users accustomed to financial software, with terminology that matches industry conventions like “AUM” instead of “deal size” and “client households” rather than “companies.”

Step 4: Check cost at scale.

Calculate the true cost of ownership beyond initial license fees, factoring in how pricing scales as your firm grows AUM, adds advisors, and expands client databases.

Many platforms charge per contact or email send, which can exponentially increase costs for financial firms maintaining large prospect databases for long-term nurturing, especially when considering that financial planning prospects may take years to convert. Evaluate whether the platform includes essential financial features in base pricing or requires expensive add-ons for compliance archiving, advanced automation, or CRM functionality that are non-negotiable for your operations.

Heavily consider hidden costs like:

  • Implementation fees
  • Data migration charges
  • Training requirements
  • Ongoing consulting needs

Compare pricing models carefully — per-user pricing may seem expensive initially but often provides better value than per-contact models for financial firms with small teams managing large client bases.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot.

Select a platform that can evolve with your financial service business from solo advisory practice to multi-advisor firm without requiring a complete system migration. Look for solutions offering modular upgrades where you can start with basic email marketing then add advanced automation, compliance management, or multi-touch attribution as your AUM grows. HubSpot exemplifies this scalability — financial planning firms can begin with free CRM tools then progressively adopt Starter, Professional, or Enterprise tiers while maintaining consistent client records and regulatory documentation.

Franchise Brokers Association, a membership organization supporting entrepreneurs, achieved a 216% increase in lead generation, 60% increase in deal closures, and unified their fragmented data systems, all by using HubSpot’s Marketing Hub. Marketing Hub’s flexibility enabled automated member onboarding workflows, boosted content production organization-wide, and consolidated reporting for leadership decision-making.

Franchise Brokers Association’s success proves that an investment in HubSpot means growth without limitations (or frustration), allowing financial advisors to create custom objects for investment products and insurance policies, build specialized workflows for different client segments, and, most importantly, achieve measurable AUM growth that justifies marketing spend to compliance officers and firm partners.

How to Create Email Marketing Campaigns for Financial Service Businesses

Step 1: Define your campaign goals and compliance requirements.

Before creating any email content, establish clear objectives aligned with measurable financial outcomes like:

  • AUM growth
  • Client retention rates
  • New account openings

Then, document your compliance requirements including SEC and FINRA regulations for client communications, required disclosures for investment products, and approval workflows for market commentary or performance discussions.

Pro tip: Set up HubSpot’s compliance tracking features to route all campaigns through designated compliance officers for pre-send approval, ensuring every email meets regulatory standards without slowing down your marketing velocity.

Step 2: Segment your audience by life stage and financial goals.

Move beyond basic demographic segmentation to create sophisticated audience groups based on:

  • Life stages
  • Risk tolerance
  • Portfolio composition
  • Upcoming financial milestones (like retirement or college funding needs)

Additionally, HubSpot’s lead scoring tools automatically identifies prospects transitioning from research to decision mode by tracking engagement patterns like multiple retirement calculator uses or repeated downloads of estate planning guides. Then, build dynamic sequences in HubSpot that update automatically as clients’ situations change — moving them from “young professional” segments to “growing family” campaigns when they add beneficiaries or open 529 accounts.

Step 3: Create personalized email content with AI-powered tools.

Leverage HubSpot’s Breeze AI to generate compelling subject lines and email copy that resonates with specific financial planning needs while maintaining compliance standards.

Next, use HubSpot’s drag-and-drop email designer with pre-built financial services templates that include compliant disclaimers, dynamic content sequences that adjust based on client segments, and mobile-responsive layouts optimized for advisors reviewing emails between client meetings.

Step 4: Set up automated workflows and behavioral triggers.

Build sophisticated multi-touch campaigns using HubSpot’s custom report builder that nurtures prospects through lengthy financial planning sales cycles with perfectly timed touchpoints.

Afterwards, create branching workflows in HubSpot’s automation engine that adapt based on prospect actions, sending different sequences for term life insurance inquiries versus whole life interest, while maintaining personalized follow-up cadences that respect the longer decision timelines in financial services.

Step 5: Implement A/B testing for continuous optimization.

Test every element of your financial services emails using HubSpot’s built-in A/B testing tools that automatically determine statistical significance and declare winners based on your chosen success metrics.

Run split tests on subject lines comparing urgency-based messaging (“Only 3 days left for 2024 IRA contributions”) versus benefit-focused approaches (“Maximize your tax deduction with IRA contributions”) to identify what motivates your specific client base.

Pro tip: Use HubSpot’s Complete A/B Testing Kit to elevate your email marketing tactics.

Step 6: Launch campaigns with mobile preview and compliance checks.

Preview every email across devices using HubSpot’s mobile optimization tools, ensuring critical CTAs remain visible and clickable for advisors and clients checking emails on smartphones during commutes or between meetings.

Run final compliance checks through HubSpot’s approval workflow system that logs reviewer comments, tracks version changes, and maintains an audit trail showing exactly who approved each campaign element before sending.

Pro tip: Activate HubSpot’s send time optimization feature that analyzes historical engagement data to deliver emails when individual recipients are most likely to open them — crucial for time-sensitive market updates or deadline-driven communications about contribution limits.

Step 7: Monitor performance and attribution analytics.

Track campaign performance using HubSpot’s real-time analytics dashboard that goes beyond vanity metrics to show actual business impact like influenced revenue, new AUM acquired, and client lifetime value changes.

Lastly, configure custom reports in HubSpot that connect email engagement to downstream activities like appointment bookings, account openings, and portfolio transfers, proving marketing’s contribution to firm growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best email marketing tool for financial service companies?

HubSpot stands out as the most comprehensive email marketing solution for financial service companies, combining robust compliance features with sophisticated automation capabilities that address the industry’s unique requirements. As previously mentioned, HubSpot’s built-in compliance software automatically archive all client communications with timestamps, route content through designated compliance officers for pre-approval, and maintain searchable audit trails that satisfy SEC and FINRA examination requirements.

Unlike generic email platforms that require costly add-ons or custom development for financial services functionality, HubSpot includes native features like:

  • Household relationship mapping
  • Lead scoring for high-net-worth prospects
  • AI-powered personalization that adapts messaging based on client life stages and portfolio characteristics.

What features should I look for in email marketing tools for financial planning companies?

Financial planning companies should prioritize five critical features when evaluating email marketing platforms:

  • Regulatory compliance management with automated archiving and audit trails
  • Mobile CRM access with offline functionality for advisor meetings outside the office
  • Advanced pipeline customization for complex financial products (like insurance and retirement accounts)
  • Trigger automation that identifies when prospects transition from research to decision mode, and native integrations with financial planning software (like Datarails, Creditsafe, and Acterys Analytics & Planning)

Furthermore, the platform must handle sophisticated segmentation based on:

  • Asset levels
  • Rsk tolerance
  • Life stages

Pro tip: Look for platforms that offer pre-built compliance templates flagging problematic language like “guaranteed returns,” role-based permissions ensuring only authorized team members approve client communications, and multi-touch attribution reporting that connects email campaigns directly to AUM growth and client acquisition metrics.

Is HubSpot good for financial servicing?

HubSpot excels in financial services environments by providing purpose-built features that address strict regulatory requirements while enabling sophisticated client engagement strategies that drive AUM growth.

Plus, HubSpot’s Breeze AI analyzes:

  • Client portfolios
  • Life stages
  • Interaction history to generate hyper-personalized content

Financial firms using HubSpot’s Marketing Hub report 58% more deals closed, allowing advisors to focus on high-value activities like financial planning rather than manual email management.

How much does email marketing software for financial servicing cost?

Email marketing software for financial services typically ranges from $20/month for basic platforms to $3,600+/month for enterprise solutions, with pricing models varying between per-user, per-contact, and flat-rate structures.

When calculating total cost of ownership, financial firms must consider hidden expenses including implementation fees ($5,000 to $50,000), data migration charges, training requirements, and ongoing consulting needs, plus the opportunity cost of advisors spending hours on manual tasks that proper automation eliminates. Per-contact pricing models can become prohibitively expensive for financial firms maintaining large prospect databases for long-term nurturing — a firm with 10,000 contacts might pay $500 to $2,000 monthly on platforms like ActiveCampaign or Mailchimp, while HubSpot’s user-based model provides better value for small teams managing extensive client bases.

Pro tip: HubSpot offers transparent tiered pricing starting at $9/month for Starter, $800/month for Professional, and $3,600/month for Enterprise, including essential compliance features in base packages rather than requiring expensive add-ons like many competitors.

How can email marketing software help with regulatory compliance in financial services?

Email marketing software designed for financial services automates the complex compliance requirements that can otherwise consume hours of manual documentation and expose firms to regulatory penalties ranging from $10,000 to millions in fines. Platforms like HubSpot include:

  • Pre-sending compliance workflows that automatically route marketing content through designated compliance officers
  • Flagging potentially problematic language such as “guaranteed returns” or “risk-free investments”
  • Maintaining email archives with complete audit trails searchable by keyword, date range, or client name

Additionally, a CRM software’s role-based permissions ensure only authorized personnel can approve external communications, while automated retention policies preserve emails for the required timeframes (typically 3 to 7 years depending on communication type) and securely purge outdated records according to regulatory guidelines.

Pro tip: During SEC or FINRA examinations, firms using compliant email marketing platforms can instantly produce required documentation showing approval chains, modification histories, and complete client communication records.

Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Financial Service Companies

HubSpot stands out as the premier email marketing solution for financial service companies, offering enterprise-level compliance and automation capabilities at a price point that scales with firm growth. Unlike traditional financial CRM systems that charge per asset under management or require expensive custom compliance modules, HubSpot’s CRM provides built-in regulatory features starting at just $9/month, making sophisticated email marketing accessible to solo advisors and billion-dollar RIAs alike.

Key HubSpot Features for Financial Services

  • Automated Compliance Management: Built-in SEC/FINRA-compliant email archiving with pre-send approval workflows and searchable audit trails that satisfy regulatory examinations without expensive add-ons or manual documentation.
  • AI-Powered Client Personalization: HubSpot’s Breeze AI analyzes portfolio data, life stages, and behavioral patterns to generate hyper-personalized email content that increases engagement while maintaining compliance standards through automated language screening.
  • Integrated Financial Ecosystem: Native connections with financial operations software like Maxio and SaasGrid ensure seamless data flow that triggers timely rebalancing reminders and opportunity alerts.

Proven Real-World Impact with HubSpot

HubSpot transformed NQM Funding’s high-touch broker relationships by unifying their fragmented communication systems into one scalable platform that could grow with their expanding network of specific broker segments. Over the course of their implementation period, the organization achieved a remarkable 900% increase in contact growth by leveraging HubSpot’s Marketing Hub.

All-in-all, HubSpot’s true power for financial services lies in its comprehensive approach — combining regulatory compliance, sophisticated automation, and measurable ROI tracking in one platform.

Ready to see how HubSpot can transform your financial firm’s client relationships while maintaining regulatory compliance, all through the power of email marketing? Get started with HubSpot’s email marketing tools today.

What’s New: What we launched in October 2025

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

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Imagine if your team could work with AI the same way you already work together in Miro. Not everyone in their own AI chat bubble. Not copying and pasting things back and forth. Just… together. On the canvas. Where teamwork actually happens.

This month at Canvas 25, we made that vision real. It marked the start of a new chapter for Miro as the AI Innovation Workspace — where AI helps your whole team move faster together.

Couldn’t make it? Watch the keynote to catch all the announcements. 

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What we announced at Canvas 25

Here’s what we’ve been hearing: AI is making individual work lightning-fast, but teams are moving slower. Everyone’s working with AI in their own chat, building their own version of the plan. But when it’s time to sync up? That’s where you lose momentum. 

So we built something different. At Canvas 25, we unveiled two major updates: the AI Innovation Workspace, where teams can work with AI directly onto the canvas. And Miro for Product Acceleration: a set of AI-first products built to move product, engineering, and design teams from idea to shipped product without losing momentum.

Let’s walk through them.

AI Innovation Workspace: Where your team and AI work together

The AI Innovation Workspace brings AI onto the canvas, where your team already works. At the heart of this is the AI Canvas, which includes powerful new capabilities like Sidekicks and Flows. AI can see anything you select on the board, and gets the context of your work — so you can skip copy-pasting things back-and-forth.

Join the waitlist to be one of the first to try it. Here’s what’s inside.

Team up with Sidekicks

Sidekicks are conversational AI agents that work with your team on the canvas, and help you move forward. They can see anything you select on the canvas, and use that context to give feedback, suggest next steps, or create things like presentation slides, prototypes, and diagrams for you so you’re not getting lost in the weeds.

You can start with ready-to-go Sidekicks for common tasks like project kickoffs, competitive analysis, or campaign planning. Or build your own and set them up for success by connecting your brand guidelines, strategic frameworks, and methodologies. From handing off busywork to spotting oversights or just getting a fresh perspective — there are endless ways to make them a valuable part of your team.

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Stay in the flow of work with Flows

Flows are multi-step AI workflows that live on your canvas where all your team’s work already sits. No need to copy context elsewhere — just connect what’s on the canvas and run the next steps.

Want to turn customer interviews into a sprint plan? A brainstorm into a working prototype? Flows can handle all that. And they can build things for you in any format, from docs and tables to slides — and even prototypes. Take your pick of AI models for each step to get optimal results. The best part? Your team isn’t in the dark. You can jump in and tweak the steps, re-run the Flow, and refine the results together. 

Start fast with our pre-built Flow templates, or create your own. Once you’ve perfected your process, save it as a template for your team to reuse.

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Connect the canvas to your coding tools with MCP

Here’s where it gets really interesting for engineering teams. Model Context Protocol (MCP) connects Miro to AI coding tools like Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, and Claude Code.

This means all the context from your canvas — PRDs, prototypes, technical designs, architecture diagrams — can flow directly into your AI coding tools. And when specs change (because they always do), context flows back into Miro so everything stays in sync.

For engineers, this is the canvas-to-code pipeline you’ve been waiting for. For product teams, it means the thinking and planning that happens on the canvas actually makes it into the code that gets shipped. Find out more about MCP, and join the waitlist. 

Miro for Product Acceleration: Built for product, engineering, and design teams

Miro for Product Acceleration is a set of AI-first products built specifically for product, engineering, and design teams and leaders. They tackle three challenges that come up all the time:

  • Connecting strategy to daily work: How do we make sure what we’re building actually ladders up to company goals?
  • Building the right things: How do we know we’re building what customers actually need before we invest time in development?
  • Getting more from AI code generation: How do we get our AI tools to write better code, so we don’t spend ages debugging?

Here’s a highlight of four of these products — check out the rest at the Miro for Product Acceleration page. 

Turn ideas into prototypes in minutes with Miro Prototypes

Got sticky notes from a brainstorm? Screenshots from a competitor app? A rough sketch of how something should work? With Miro Prototypes, you can turn any of that into a clickable, interactive prototype in minutes.

Anyone on your team can make prototypes — from PMs to designers and marketers. Customize screens with drag and drop, preview clickable flows, and share with stakeholders for feedback. Explore multiple directions and test variations fast, so by the time you move to high-fidelity design or development, you’ve already validated you’re on the right track.

Miro Prototypes is available as an add-on for Starter, Business, and Enterprise plans. 

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Build what customers actually need with Miro Insights

Product decisions shouldn’t be based on guesswork or the loudest voice in the room. Miro Insights connects customer feedback from your CRM, call recording tools, support tickets, and other sources — then uses AI to turn that feedback into recommendations for what to build next.

Instead of manually sifting through hundreds of interviews, surveys, and support tickets, you get data-backed intelligence that reveals what customers actually need. Insights helps you prioritize with confidence, stay ahead of competition, and run far less risk of shipping something that misses the mark.

For product, design, and UX teams, this means customer insights don’t gather dust in a doc somewhere. They shape what gets built, right from the start. 

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Stay aligned and on track with Miro Roadmaps

Roadmaps shouldn’t live in slides that go stale the moment you share them. Miro Roadmaps brings roadmapping onto the canvas, where it becomes a living plan your whole team can collaborate on.

Get AI-powered suggestions based on company insights, collaborate on priorities with cross-functional teammates, and sync everything to dev tools like Jira and Azure DevOps so you always have the latest status. And when priorities shift (because they always do), you can come back together, update the plan with AI’s help, and pivot faster.

This is roadmapping as a team sport. Everyone sees the plan, everyone contributes to it, and everyone stays aligned on what’s next.

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Create production-ready specs with Miro Specs

By the time requirements make it from product to code, context gets lost and decisions get forgotten. Miro Specs solves this by capturing PRDs, prototypes, and technical diagrams in one place, then packaging them into comprehensive specs. Through Model Context Protocol (MCP), those specs flow directly into your AI coding tools, like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Windsurf, and Claude Code — so AI has everything it needs to generate quality code. And as code changes, your specs stay in sync.

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Want to learn more about Miro for Product Acceleration?

Visit the Miro for Product Acceleration page or read this post from our CPTO Jeff Chow to see how all 10 products work together to help teams build the right things faster.

Catch up on Canvas 25

Thousands of you joined us in New York City and online, and the energy was incredible. The conversations, the connections, the collective excitement about what’s next for teamwork. Thank you for being part of it. We already can’t wait for the next one — and it might be coming sooner than you think.

Want to relive the highlights or catch what you missed? Our Canvas 25 YouTube playlist has you covered. Watch recordings of hands-on Miro workshops and talks from leaders at Intercom, NFL, Red Hat, and more.

Celebrating 100M+ people building the next big thing

At Canvas 25, we celebrated a major milestone: Miro now has more than 100 million users worldwide, with 250,000 companies building on our platform.

This isn’t just a number. It’s a community of innovators, collaborators, and builders who show up every day to turn their ideas into reality. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We can’t wait to see what you create next.

What’s next

Canvas 25 was just the beginning. Some of what we announced is ready to try today, and more is rolling out soon. Join the waitlist for the AI Canvas, explore Miro for Product Acceleration, and stay tuned for more. We’re just getting started.

Best CRM for Outlook in 2026

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

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Outlook has long been the standard for business email and scheduling. For millions of companies, it remains a reliable hub for daily communication and calendar management. And when paired with the right CRM, Outlook becomes much more than just an inbox.

On its own, Outlook keeps teams connected through email and meetings. What it doesn’t cover is customer relationship management.

CRM integrations close that gap. With the right setup, Outlook can log customer interactions automatically, turn emails into contacts, and link conversations directly to deals or projects. Calendar events sync into the CRM, so follow-ups and meetings sit alongside the customer record.

You just need the right CRM.

In this guide, we’ll explore the CRMs that work best with Outlook.

Capsule CRM software + Outlook

Outlook is a daily workspace for millions of professionals. But for businesses that rely on customer interactions and sales follow-ups, Microsoft Outlook alone doesn’t go far enough.

Capsule CRM helps here with a lightweight, effective add-in that brings customer data, tasks, and opportunities directly into the Outlook environment.

It’s a solution designed to feel natural, without the complexity often associated with larger CRM platforms.

Setup and availability of Outlook CRM integration

The Capsule Outlook Add-in can be installed directly from Microsoft AppSource. It’s available on all Capsule plans and works seamlessly across Outlook Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

A key detail: the integration requires a Microsoft 365 Business or Commercial subscription.

Personal, Family, or on-prem Exchange accounts aren’t supported, which is an important limitation to note upfront. Once installed, connecting Capsule to Outlook is straightforward – users authenticate their Capsule account, grant permissions, and the add-in is ready to use within minutes.

The add-in can also be pinned to the Outlook sidebar, giving teams constant visibility of CRM records while they process emails. This eliminates the stop-start workflow of switching between the inbox and CRM tabs.

Core features, including calendar

  • Email capture and storage: Save entire conversations from Outlook directly into Capsule, where they’re linked to the right contact. With the “conversation tracking” feature, future replies in the same thread are automatically stored.
  • Contact management: Add new people or organizations to Capsule straight from incoming emails. Capsule even supports merging new email addresses with existing contacts, helping teams maintain clean records.
  • Tasks, projects, and opportunities: Create follow-up tasks, open opportunities, or new projects without leaving the message view.
  • Calendar sync: Capsule integrates with Outlook Calendar to display past and upcoming events within contact timelines. Meeting details – including descriptions, Teams links, and attendees – are logged as activities, keeping communication and scheduling aligned in one place. Attendees not yet in Capsule can be added instantly as contacts.
  • Automatic email storing: On Growth, Advanced, and Ultimate plans, Capsule can auto-store all emails for a given contact. This feature gives teams a full history of communication without manual logging.

Together, these features turn Outlook into a live hub of customer insights.

What users say about the best Outlook CRM

User reviews highlight Capsule’s ease of use and reliability. One Marketplace reviewer described it as an “absolute game changer,” noting how emails and calendar events track against contacts “with very minimal effort.”

Another praised the add-in for being “far better than Salesforce’s Outlook add-in,” appreciating how diary records sync cleanly.

Other feedback emphasizes its intuitive flow: “Really easy to use, it just flows. Love the Outlook add-in feature for attaching emails,” one G2 user wrote.

Another described Capsule as the “perfect CRM for our needs in every respect,” citing the Outlook integration alongside FreeAgent support as indispensable.

The recurring theme is simplicity. Capsule’s Outlook add-in doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary functions, but instead delivers exactly what small and mid-sized businesses need: a clean, functional way to align email, calendar, and CRM.

Beyond the basics

Capsule’s Outlook integration also supports customization.

Businesses can tailor fields, tags, and pipelines to match their processes, and those elements flow naturally into the Outlook add-in.

Combined with Capsule’s integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Mailchimp, and other tools, Outlook becomes part of a wider connected ecosystem.

For mobile teams, the fact that the add-in works on Outlook for iOS and Android means customer interactions are captured no matter where the email arrives. Capsule’s 99.99% uptime and strong focus on data security add an extra layer of confidence for SMBs managing sensitive client communications.

Why Capsule stands out – more than affordable CRM solution

Many CRMs offer Outlook integrations, but Capsule’s approach stands out for three reasons:

  1. Simplicity → Setup takes minutes, and the interface is intuitive enough that teams actually use it daily.
  2. SMB focus → Unlike Salesforce or HubSpot, Capsule doesn’t overload smaller businesses with enterprise-grade complexity.
  3. Value → With pricing starting at $18/user per month, Capsule offers a cost-effective way to connect Outlook with a powerful CRM system.

For SMBs looking for a CRM that feels like a natural extension of their inbox, Capsule remains the best choice.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive offers several ways to bring CRM directly into Outlook. The official “Pipedrive for Outlook” add-in lets users create new contacts and activities straight from their inbox, while third-party options such as Pipelook or SaySync expand functionality with task management features and opportunity management tools.

Beyond the add-in, Pipedrive also supports native email and calendar sync through Office 365 or IMAP, with Smart Bcc available as a fallback. This setup means customer emails and contact records flow smoothly into the CRM.

Teams benefit from access to pipeline management, email templates, and basic sales automation. The platform is often seen as an affordable CRM solution compared to enterprise systems like Microsoft Dynamics or SalesOutlook CRM, while still offering robust features for lead capturing, lead progression, and team collaboration.

The limitation is that feature depth varies by plan and sync setup – some advanced sales automation or reporting tools, like Excel reports or data analytics, require higher-tier paid plans. Still, for SMBs looking for a user-friendly Outlook CRM experience that saves time and supports everyday sales processes, Pipedrive remains one of the best Outlook CRM options.

HubSpot CRM

Not every business needs a heavyweight Outlook integration – but HubSpot’s add-in shows what a broader CRM software can deliver when email is only part of the workflow.

When installed inside Microsoft Office Outlook, it adds a sidebar where users can log emails, track opens and clicks, insert templates or snippets, and even schedule meetings. Sales teams also gain access to sequences and workflow automation, linking daily Outlook emails to larger email marketing and customer management strategies.

For companies already invested in Microsoft products and looking to tie Outlook into campaigns, lead nurturing, or analytics, HubSpot can fill the role of a complex CRM.

However, it’s worth noting that many of the more advanced capabilities – like sequences and detailed reporting – sit behind paid Sales Hub tiers, leaving the free plan with a more limited scope.

For organizations that need depth beyond Outlook but can handle the cost, HubSpot stands as a flexible option, even if lighter tools (like Capsule) may suit SMBs seeking simplicity.

Salesforce

Salesforce brings its CRM software into Outlook through the official add-in, which connects directly to records such as accounts and opportunities. From inside Outlook emails, users can log customer communication, track calendar events, create email templates, and manage tasks, giving both sales and support teams the context they need.

A key feature is Einstein Activity Capture, which automates the logging of emails and events – removing a lot of routine tasks and helping teams stay focused on selling. For larger organizations, the add-in also blends with broader Microsoft tools and products, aligning Outlook with Salesforce’s wider tech stack for marketing or lead scoring.

There are some caveats: Salesforce Inbox is a paid add-on, not included in all editions, and the older plugin is being phased out. Still, for enterprises already running Salesforce across departments, the integration makes Outlook part of a solid system that improves team productivity and ties email workflows into wider business processes.

Zoho CRM

What if your Outlook inbox could double as a gateway to full CRM software? With the Zoho CRM Outlook plugin – available across all plans – you can add contacts directly from emails, log conversations, and view engagement history. For small teams, it’s an affordable CRM solution that ties basic Outlook usage to lead management and light automation.

Because Zoho is a fully fledged CRM, users can expand beyond the plugin into pipeline management and reporting as their needs grow. The plugin is simple enough to start with, yet it plugs into a much larger ecosystem of features, from opportunity tracking to campaign tools.

The limitation is scalability: the free plan covers the essentials, but advanced workflow automation, analytics, and deeper integrations come with higher tiers. For SMBs needing a low-cost way to connect Outlook with CRM systems, Zoho remains a practical on-ramp.

Insightly

Insightly offers an Outlook sidebar plugin that brings CRM software features into the inbox. Users can view and manage contacts and log correspondence directly to customer records.

Project-driven organizations often value Insightly’s focus on combining contact management with opportunity management and project context, making it more than just an email logging tool. Teams can track leads, attach emails to opportunities, and maintain visibility across the sales process.

That said, setup details are less clearly documented compared to other Outlook CRM integrations, and many of the more advanced capabilities are tied to paid tiers. For businesses already invested in Insightly’s broader platform, the plugin extends Outlook into a practical workspace, but it may feel limited as a standalone add-in.

Conclusion

Outlook remains a trusted tool for email and scheduling, but it gains real power when paired with a CRM. From Salesforce and HubSpot with their enterprise-level automation to Zoho and Pipedrive offering affordable entry points, there’s no shortage of options. Each solution adds something extra to Outlook.

For many SMBs, though, the complexity of these platforms can outweigh the benefits.

Capsule CRM takes a different route: instead of overwhelming users with features, it makes the essentials – email logging, contact management, calendar sync – work smoothly inside Outlook. The result is less admin and a CRM system that teams actually want to use.

If Outlook is already central to your daily workflow, Capsule shows how a simple integration can turn it into a smarter, more connected space for managing customer relationships.

FAQ

What is CRM in Outlook?

CRM in Outlook refers to connecting customer relationship management software directly into your Outlook inbox and calendar. With an add-in, you can log emails and link messages or events to deals and projects without leaving Outlook.

Is Outlook a good CRM?

On its own, Outlook is not a CRM. It’s excellent for communication and scheduling, but it doesn’t offer sales pipeline management or customer data tracking. With the right integration – such as Capsule CRM – it can work as part of a complete CRM setup.

Can Outlook act as a CRM?

Outlook can support basic contact and email management, but it isn’t designed to be a fully fledged CRM. By connecting it to CRM software, Outlook emails and meetings become part of a wider system that manages leads and customer records.

What is the best CRM for Outlook?

The best CRM for Outlook depends on your team’s needs. Enterprise companies often turn to Salesforce or HubSpot for their advanced automation. Smaller businesses usually prefer Capsule CRM because it’s lightweight and integrates seamlessly with Outlook while still covering essential CRM functions.

How Viva scaled talent acquisition and cut time to hire by 75% with Typeform

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

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Startups move fast. Luckily, Viva, a subscription-based executive assistant (EA) service for C-level startup leaders, knows how to keep pace. Viva helps founders and executives reclaim their time while increasing productivity and improving work-life balance by pairing them with highly skilled EAs.

“Our EAs are trained to support leaders with calendar and email management, team engagement, meeting support, and travel and expense support. Where we take it to the next level is through operational support such as process improvements, data analysis reports, and special projects,” said Viva Talent Acquisition Manager Grace Castro. “Whatever companies need to reach their business goals, we’re there to help.”

With thousands of applications rolling in every month and pressure to scale quickly, Grace and the rest of the Talent team hit a bit of a roadblock: growing fast without overwhelming recruiters while still delivering an outstanding candidate experience.

Legacy systems offered low visibility

Grace had worked with her fair share of clunky legacy systems that slowed down even the most nimble teams. When Grace joined Viva, she inherited Typeform and it was love at first sight.

“Before I started using Typeform, we were a data mess. The tools we used felt like they were built 40 years ago, so functions, integrations, and data visualization were all limited. The forms were outdated and hard to use for recruiters and candidates,” Grace explained. “Without access to good data, we couldn’t see where people dropped off or how to improve the experience for candidates.”

Using Typeform to build a better, faster, and more human hiring experience

Seeing the opportunity in front of her, Grace and her team got to work. They redesigned Viva’s entire application process in Typeform, making each touchpoint more candidate-friendly.

1. Shorter, smarter forms that drive completions

By tapping into Typeform’s analytics, Grace and her team uncovered some clear friction points:

  • Top-of-funnel forms took up to two hours to complete
  • Many candidates started the application process but dropped out partway through
  • As a result, completion rates were very low

The candidate experience didn’t quite hit the mark, which reflected poorly on the business. One of the things Typeform delivered was visibility, which helped the team get to the heart of the issues.

“We finally understood why completion rates were low and why candidates were bouncing. Our application was just too long,” Grace explained. “We could see which questions caused people to drop off.”

Using those insights, the team shortened the application form, leveraged conditional logic to show only relevant questions, gave the UX a glow-up to be more attractive and user-friendly, and ensured it was fully responsive so candidates could easily apply on any device.

“It’s a very easy experience now,” Grace said. “The visuals of the design are customizable, so candidates can apply quickly on their phone or laptop, then return later to complete evaluations.”

The team also split the original form into two parts: a short initial application and a separate screening form that candidates could complete later.

Their efforts paid off:

  • Application completion time plummeted 93%, from two hours to just nine minutes
  • Completion rates jumped to 50%

2. Extending a great experience beyond hiring

Viva knows talent acquisition doesn’t stop at an offer letter. Once Grace and her team understood what a difference Typeform made during the hiring process, they quickly expanded its use across the entire employee lifecycle, including:

  • Candidate feedback surveys at multiple stages of their journey
  • Onboarding forms to collect documents and references
  • Training surveys and performance reviews
  • Staff engagement surveys throughout the year
  • PTO and leave requests
  • Customer satisfaction forms for clients using their EA service

“We use Typeform for employees and customers to get feedback and understand their experience,” Grace said. “You might think CEOs and CFOs wouldn’t have time for surveys, but that’s the incredible thing about Typeform: You can make forms as short or as quick as you like, so they actually do it.”

Thanks to Typeform’s flexibility and customization, each form feels like part of a singular, seamless Viva experience. Whether you’re a candidate, new hire, or customer, the interaction is consistent, smooth, and, most importantly, human.

3. Automating workflows to save time and cost

After optimizing the frontend, Grace shifted the team’s focus to automating manual processes that bogged down the team. The team cut time-consuming follow-ups and other administrative work by integrating Typeform with tools like Slack, Google Sheets, Notion, and Zapier. It was like a magic wand, enabling them to scale recruitment without hiring more recruiters.

Now, when someone submits a form, the right person is automatically notified in Slack. Data flows straight into Google Sheets, databases update in Notion, and basically any other automation Viva can dream up.

“Everything happens automatically in the background, reducing the manual workload and making sure nothing gets left behind,” Grace commented.

This automation revolution helped cut the time to hire from 20 days down to five. Great candidates don’t wait around, so the faster hiring speed gives Viva a real edge in securing high-quality candidates before competitors do.

4. Maintaining a human touch at scale

Viva now handles a staggering 48,000+ applications a year using Typeform. “Most tools don’t have the capacity to take on so many applicants,” Grace remarked.

At that scale, it can be hard to prevent the hiring process from resembling a series of soulless transactions. Fortunately, Viva hasn’t lost what makes their Talent team unique: a genuinely human and empathetic recruitment process. No candidate wants to be a number in a crowd. They want to be treated like human beings, and Viva has found a way to maintain their core values even as their applicant volume skyrockets.

“Typeform has allowed me to keep that human touch that we don’t want to lose,” Grace shared. “Of course, we want to keep growing as a company, onboarding more customers and building a bigger team, but never at the cost of quality or losing that human connection. What’s great about Typeform is that it lets us keep that personal touch at all our different touch points, staying true to who Viva is.”

That dedication to the personal touch elevates the entire process. It creates a top-tier hiring experience while reflecting the kind of company culture candidates can expect when they join the team.

Typeform: the tool talent teams have been waiting for

For any HR team struggling with candidate drop-off, drowning in manual tasks, or making decisions without the right hiring insights, Grace has a clear message:

“Other tools just don’t compare. Typeform is cost-effective, easy to use, and gives you the data you actually need. I wouldn’t lead another recruitment process without it.”

Viva’s biggest wins come down to two things: speed and visibility. Smooth integrations with a wide range of popular apps fuel a faster, more efficient process that allows them to scale recruitment without scaling costs. And with deeper insights across the funnel through Typeform’s built-in reporting capabilities, recruiters know what’s working — and where to focus where it really counts.

“Typeform gives us visibility on data, and understanding the drop off points, completion rates, and completion times has helped us improve the candidate experience,” Grace said. “Partnering with Typeform was definitely the best decision. What it’s done for my team is incredible.”

Want to streamline your hiring process like Viva?

Start building your next job application form with Typeform.

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Ultimate Strategic Marketing Guide for SMBs

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

Strategic marketing management turns scattered efforts into a repeatable system for small businesses.

The payoff is clear: steady leads that drive measurable growth.

In this article, you’ll learn how to build a strategic marketing approach that makes every marketing dollar work harder. You’ll also get a four-step framework and practical tactics that integrate with your sales processes.

Key takeaways from strategic marketing

  • Strategic marketing online aligns all marketing activities with business goals, creating predictable revenue growth instead of marketing experiments.

  • Focusing marketing efforts on channels and content that reach the right prospects improves conversion speed and efficiency.

  • Integrating marketing campaigns with CRM and sales processes reduces lost leads and makes follow-up more effective.

  • Pipedrive helps your team set goals and track your strategic marketing impact in real-time – try it free for 14 days.

What is strategic marketing? (and why most advice doesn’t work for SMBs)

Strategic marketing definition: Strategic marketing means having a clear plan and purpose that aligns with your business goals for every marketing activity.

This approach helps companies avoid random acts of marketing, where you might launch a campaign or write an article without knowing how it contributes to business growth.

For small and medium businesses (SMBs), being strategic means using your marketing spend and resources even more efficiently.

Example. A project management SaaS startup publishes blog posts sporadically, based on topics the sales team suggests. Traffic is inconsistent and the blog posts don’t generate many leads.

The marketing lead does market research and maps topics to the customer journey. Each new post nurtures leads and directly supports sales.

Much of the strategic marketing advice out there has large enterprises in mind. It often assumes you have a big team, deep budgets and time to test multiple approaches at once.

Typical advice may include strategies like advanced market segmentation – which requires digging through lots of data – or public relations campaigns that rely on costly agencies and media connections.

When you have fewer resources, an SMB marketing strategy should integrate with your existing workflows – not require a complete organizational overhaul.

Recommended reading

https://www-cms.pipedriveassets.com/Marketing-Management-Tools.png

The ultimate marketing management tools guide

The 4-step strategic marketing framework for SMBs

Following a framework helps keep your marketing team on track and working toward the same goal.

These four steps take you from the decision-making and planning process to a fully-fledged marketing strategy.

1. Align your strategic marketing plan with sales objectives

Start with your sales targets and work backward to determine what marketing needs to deliver.

While getting more social media followers or newsletter subscribers is good, revenue is the clearest measure of success for SMBs.

Download Your Sales and Marketing Strategy Guide

Grow your business with our step-by-step guide (and template) for a combined sales and marketing strategy.

Aligning marketing with sales goals ensures that every activity contributes to the key results, such as generating leads or shortening the sales cycle.

You can use customer relationship management (CRM) data to help set your marketing objectives.

Example: One in five leads typically becomes a customer. Since your goal is 10 new customers this quarter, your marketing objective is to generate 50 qualified leads. By focusing on specific outcomes, you easily measure the impact of your strategic marketing efforts.

Using Pipedrive as your CRM, you can set a goal for how many new leads enter your sales pipeline.

Strategic marketing Pipedrive goals

Set a timeframe and assign the relevant stakeholders. Visualizing your progress is a great way to motivate your team.

Pipedrive in action: Tour and activity booking company TrekkSoft aimed to increase sales in specific areas and verticals. With Campaigns by Pipedrive, it personalized emails to each segment, increased email sends from 500 to 4,000 per week and doubled sign-ups.

2. Define and segment your ideal customer for laser-focused targeting

Focus on the customer groups that generate the most revenue instead of relying on broad buyer personas.

Strategic marketing is most effective when it reaches the customers who matter most to your business. Chasing every possible lead can spread resources thin.

Look at the closed deals in your CRM and see if you can find and see if you can find patterns in:

  • Deal size – which customers bring the most revenue?

  • Sales cycle length – who tends to close faster?

  • Close rate – which types of customers are most likely to convert?

  • Lifetime value – who renews or expands their contracts?

From there, group similar customers together. Aim for around two or three main segments that represent most of your revenue.

Example: The SaaS company finds that creative agencies close quickly and adopt premium features, but their budgets are smaller and these customers churn more often. Consulting firms take longer to decide, but when they do, they bring bigger contracts and stay longer.

Map out pain points, buying behavior and preferred channels for each segment to create marketing campaigns that speak directly to those groups.

Note: If you have access to more detailed data, you can create in-depth marketing segmentation based on factors like customer demographics or purchase history. This approach lets you refine your value proposition and make more confident marketing decisions for each group.

3. Choose marketing channels that fit your resources and feed your sales process

Spreading efforts across every possible platform can drain resources and dilute results.

Instead, pick two or three channels. When evaluating these channels, consider:

  • Resource requirements – can you use the channel consistently with your current team?

  • Audience alignment – are your target customers active and reachable there?

  • CRM integration – can you track leads from this channel through your sales pipeline?

  • Measurable ROI – can you link activity on this channel directly to closed deals?

While limiting the channels you use seems counterintuitive, it lets your SMB team invest their time where it matters most.

The result? Greater customer engagement and improved conversion across your campaigns.

Example: The SaaS team focuses on LinkedIn and content marketing. Consulting firms in the brand’s target audience spend time on LinkedIn, where case studies and posts build trust. Creative agencies respond better to practical blog articles that show how the software saves time.

4. Measure your success through sales outcomes, not marketing metrics

At this stage, focus on immediate sales outcomes that show whether your marketing activities are helping deals move forward.

Traditional marketing metrics like email opens, website traffic and social media engagement don’t directly predict revenue. Instead, focus on signals like:

  • Lead-to-opportunity conversion rate. The percentage of marketing-sourced leads that become qualified opportunities.

  • Opportunity-to-customer conversion rate. How many of those opportunities turn into paying clients.

  • Time to close. How quickly marketing-sourced deals move from first contact to signed deal.

With Pipedrive, you can easily see how many of your leads convert with the deal conversion report.

Strategic marketing Pipedrive deal conversion report

You could even add custom labels to deals that come from your marketing campaigns (like “Newsletter” or “Facebook ad”).

Then, you can filter for those labels in the conversion report to see how well leads convert from specific campaigns.

Remember, sales metrics don’t just indicate how successful your campaigns are. The data also shows you where to focus your efforts to reach your goals faster.

Example: The project management SaaS sees that leads from case study downloads move through the pipeline faster than article lead magnet downloads. The marketing team decides to prioritize case studies next quarter.

Having marketing metrics and sales data at your fingertips empowers you to make more confident decisions and helps your teams stay focused.

Pipedrive in action: Digital agency Spark Interact created custom dashboards in Pipedrive to track campaign results and daily KPIs. This visibility helped it identify top-performing sales and marketing strategies, leading to a 12% average annual revenue increase.

As Marketing Technology Specialist Mackey Kandarajah observes: “With marketing and sales data housed in one place, the team gains a clear view of which content truly moves prospects, allowing them to refine strategy in real time and convert interest into long-term client relationships.”

Now that you know how to structure your marketing strategically, learn how to execute that framework in practice with concrete tactics ideal for SMBs.

Proven strategic marketing tactics for resource-strapped SMBs

Strategic marketing campaigns don’t need to be flashy to get results.

The tactics below work because they directly support sales and move deals forward.

Align email marketing campaigns with your sales stages

Develop email sequences that mirror your sales process. Instead of generic newsletters, create targeted campaigns for each buying stage:

  • Awareness – product marketing and educational content addressing pain points.

  • Consideration – case studies and product comparisons.

  • Decision – testimonials and implementation guides.

  • Post-purchase – onboarding resources and referral or partner programs.

Planning campaigns with these stages in mind ensures you meet customer needs throughout their buying journey.

Here’s an onboarding email example from product analytics platform Posthog:

The email works because it focuses on the onboarding stage and directly addresses what the user needs to do next.

It sets clear expectations for how often emails will arrive and maintains a personal, approachable tone that encourages engagement.

Create content for in-market buyers

Content is most effective when it speaks to people further along in the marketing funnel who are already evaluating solutions.

Instead of broad awareness pieces, focus on bottom-of-funnel (BoFu) assets that help prospects choose your product.

Strategic marketing Pipedrive marketing funnel stages

Comparison guides and “top X software” roundups often have much higher conversion rates than top-of-funnel content and help secure your market position.

Work with your sales team to surface common objections and decision factors, then create content that addresses them head-on.

Here’s an example from time-tracking app Buddy Punch:

Strategic marketing Buddy Punch article

The introduction speaks directly to its customer base by addressing pain points head-on. The rest of the article shows how Buddy Punch solves those problems and offers alternative solutions.

Build relationships on LinkedIn for social selling

Equip your sales team with LinkedIn social selling strategies that complement marketing efforts.

Share valuable industry insights or new products, engage with prospect content and build relationships with your target market.

Here’s how Will Allred, co-founder of AI email assistant Lavender, connects with sales teams on LinkedIn:

Strategic marketing Will Allred LinkedIn post

Coordinate your social media marketing efforts with marketing campaigns. When the marketing team publishes new content, sales reps can share it with relevant prospects while adding personal commentary.

When marketing runs LinkedIn ads, the sales team can follow up with warm messages to engaged prospects.

Run referral or affiliate programs

Referrals are among the most cost-effective ways for small businesses to grow.

Your program could be as simple as a discount for referred clients or as formal as an affiliate program with recurring commissions.

Here’s an example from Senja, a customer testimonial tool:

Its affiliate program clearly outlines how partners earn commissions, making it easy for customers to share the product and earn rewards.

A clear, consistent sales referral system means you can turn happy customers into one of your strongest acquisition channels.

How to measure strategic marketing success over time

Along with tracking immediate results, it’s essential to monitor longer-term trends that show the overall impact of your marketing efforts.

These metrics reveal whether your strategy is sustainable and scalable, not just effective in the short term:

Metric

Details

Lead quality score

  • What it is: The percentage of marketing leads that become qualified opportunities.

  • How to calculate: Divide the number of marketing-generated leads that reach the “qualified” stage by total marketing-generated leads in the same period.

Pipeline velocity

  • What it is: How quickly marketing-sourced deals move through sales stages.

  • How to calculate: Average number of days a deal spends from first contact to close, for all marketing-sourced deals.

Customer acquisition cost (CAC)

  • What it is: Total marketing spend per new customer acquired.

  • How to calculate: Add all marketing expenses (tools, content, ads, staff) and divide by the number of new customers in the same period.

Revenue per lead

  • What it is: Average revenue generated by marketing-sourced prospects.

  • How to calculate: Total revenue from marketing-sourced deals divided by the number of marketing-sourced leads.

Alongside these metrics, examine marketing attribution to learn where leads came from and which campaigns influenced their decisions.

The simplest starting point for SMBs is single-touch attribution. It credits just one touchpoint per conversion, while multi-touch attribution splits credit across all interactions.

You can track attribution through tools like Google Analytics or a platform like Dreamdata.

Strategic marketing Dreamdata dashboard

Dreamdata integrates directly with Pipedrive to sync conversions automatically and link leads and digital marketing campaigns to your revenue. You can easily identify your most successful campaigns without creating complex dashboards.

Even with the right tools, SMBs can fall into pitfalls when implementing strategic marketing. Awareness of the risks helps your business manage its marketing efforts safely and successfully.

Common strategic marketing mistakes SMBs make

Avoid these mistakes to protect your marketing budget and make your campaigns more effective.

Copying enterprise tactics without the resources to execute them

Enterprise marketing strategies need dedicated teams, big budgets and sometimes complex new technology.

Small businesses should focus on simplified versions that fit their constraints. For instance:

  • Create basic qualification criteria based on company size and budget instead of complex lead scoring

  • Develop a few targeted email campaigns for the primary customer segments instead of elaborate automation sequences

It’s best to start small. You can always add more complexity as your strategic marketing and sales processes evolve.

Spreading efforts too thin across different channels

Focused marketing on two or three channels can deliver better results than implementing efforts across many platforms.

When you master a few key channels, you can create higher-quality content and build stronger engagement with prospects.

Pick channels where your target audience is active and you can execute consistently. Build expertise in these areas before expanding to new ones.

Running marketing separately from CRM and sales processes

Connecting marketing directly to your sales processes improves conversions and keeps leads moving forward.

Here’s how to link the two:

  • Build CRM integration into every marketing campaign from the start

  • Set up lead capture forms to automatically create CRM records

  • Configure email campaigns to track engagement in your sales system

Campaigns by Pipedrive connects email marketing directly to your CRM, so every email interaction automatically updates contact records.

Strategic marketing Pipedrive Campaigns detail

When your email marketing lives inside your CRM, your sales reps can see which prospects engage with content and tailor their outreach accordingly.

Pipedrive in action: Trainify, a corporate education company in Latvia, uses Campaigns by Pipedrive to connect its email marketing with the CRM. This two-in-one functionality saves Trainify two hours per week on campaign creation and management while automatically tracking interactions to support sales follow-up.

Focusing on brand awareness instead of lead generation

Brand awareness works best as a side benefit rather than the primary goal.

Small businesses get better ROI from demand generation that directly feeds the sales pipeline.

Focus on creating content that captures contact information and moves prospects toward purchase, like webinars or free templates that solve a specific challenge.

Your brand naturally builds market share through valuable, lead-generating content that solves real customer problems.

Strategic marketing FAQs

  • Strategic marketing connects all marketing activities to business goals and measures success by sales results.

    Regular marketing focuses on specific tactics like content or emails without necessarily planning how they link to revenue.

  • Initial results usually appear within a few months as you optimize targeting and messaging.

    Early indicators include better lead quality, shorter sales cycles and higher conversions from marketing-generated leads.

  • Your SMB can build a strategic marketing strategy using your customer data. Broader market research can add valuable context if you have the resources to pull it off.

    A focused market analysis can help you identify market trends affecting strategy.

    For instance, a simple SWOT analysis and benchmarking (comparing your performance to competitors or industry standards) highlight your sales opportunities and challenges.

    This insight informs decisions about pricing strategies, segmentation and new business opportunities.

  • Start by defining your ideal customers and segmenting them based on their needs and behaviors.

    Choose a marketing mix that fits your resources and feeds your sales process. Track results with marketing analytics to see what’s driving leads and revenue.

    This approach turns your marketing into a repeatable system that supports growth.

Final thoughts

The strategic marketing process isn’t about having the biggest budget or the largest team.

Focus on the most impactful marketing initiatives for your small business to turn strategy into a sustainable competitive advantage.

Tracking your marketing campaigns’ performance is key to effective marketing and sales success, helping you see what works and optimize it for improved results.

Pipedrive supports a strategic approach by connecting your leads, sales activity and revenue in one place – try it free for 14 days.

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Content Marketing Strategy

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Content Marketing Strategy

This step-by-step guide teaches you how to build a content marketing strategy for your business.

How to Get Ahead in AI Search with Semrush

Software Stack Editor · October 29, 2025 ·

How to Get Ahead in AI Search with Semrush

See how to measure and grow your brand’s visibility in ChatGPT, Google AI, and more using Semrush. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started.

How To Sell on Newegg: Steps and Tips for Ecommerce Sellers (2025)

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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Are you an entrepreneur looking to tap into the booming tech market? Whether you sell high-performance gaming PCs, smart-home devices, or must-have computer peripherals, choosing the right platform can make all the difference in reaching your ideal buyers. 

In a world of online marketplaces, Newegg stands out as a top destination for tech enthusiasts. For nearly 25 years, it’s offered a deep catalog of tech products. With more than 45 million monthly visitors and 2.1 million active customers, Newegg now serves shoppers in 17 countries. 

Unlike general marketplaces like Amazon, Newegg’s focus on tech products helps you reach a more targeted audience of tech-savvy buyers. The company also offers a fulfillment service for B2C and B2B ecommerce sellers, handling shipping and returns so you can focus on growing your business.

Here’s how to sell on Newegg and make the most of the platform.

Newegg vs. NeweggBusiness

Newegg is a B2C (business-to-consumer) site that sells tech products directly to individual consumers. NeweggBusiness, which launched about eight years after the original site, is a B2B (business-to-business) site. It’s more suitable if you’re selling to corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other entities. 

You can add a NeweggBusiness account to your existing Newegg account and administer them both from the same login. You can also move and copy product listings between these platforms. The platforms differ in commission fee structures, shipping needs, and buyer expectations. NeweggBusiness may involve custom shipping setups and long-term client relationships.

How to sell on Newegg

  1. Create a Newegg seller account
  2. Choose a plan
  3. Sync Newegg with your ecommerce store
  4. List your products on Newegg
  5. Optimize your listings
  6. Promote your products
  7. Fulfill orders

If you’d like to start selling to consumers directly on Newegg, the process is relatively straightforward. Follow these seven steps:

1. Create a Newegg seller account

To create a Newegg account, click “Apply” on the Newegg sellers page and follow the application process. You’ll provide your name, email address, and a passcode. Newegg says that “all reseller and brand businesses” are eligible to sell, with one exception—sole proprietorships. This means you’ll need to set up at least an LLC. 

Next, you’ll register to become a seller. For selling in the Newegg Marketplace, you’ll need a recent W9 form, a business bank account document, an SS-4 confirmation letter from the IRS, articles of incorporation, a business tax return, and a business license (if you’re outside the US).

Once that’s done, Newegg will send you an email, and you will need to submit additional business information, financial documents, and bank details if you want payment through bank wire transfer. The registration process takes around two weeks before you gain access to the seller portal.

2. Choose a plan

There are three paid membership plans. The “non-elite” plan charges 99¢ per item sold and maxes out at 100 item listings. There are also two Elite plans—Professional and Enterprise. These apply to both Newegg Marketplace and Newegg Business sellers.

Professional allows up to 25,000 item listings and offers a 5% discount on shipping. The Professional plan has a monthly fee of $29.95. Elite is the enterprise plan. It offers an unlimited number of item listings and a 10% discount on shipping. It costs $99.95 per month. For complete details on all services, check this Newegg FAQ page.

3. Sync Newegg with your ecommerce store

You can list products on Newegg only or link your Newegg store with your existing ecommerce store. This step is optional, but connecting your stores makes sense if you’d like to streamline your operations. For example, the Newegg marketplace app on Shopify links your Shopify store with your Newegg US and NeweggBusiness accounts, keeping them in sync. With this setup, you can manage Newegg orders from your Shopify admin. 

4. List your products on Newegg

If you’re using the Newegg Marketplace app for Shopify, listing your products is simple—just sync your Shopify store. 

You can also upload each product to Newegg manually. This process requires adding high-quality images, product titles and details, pricing, and other relevant information. Upload products via the Newegg seller portal, where you manage all your listings. You can also add variants—different sizes and colors of the product—and then submit the item for sale.

5. Optimize your listings

Great product listings are key to driving sales on Newegg. Make sure to optimize your listings by adding relevant keywords, using high-quality product images, and focusing on SEO best practices. Newegg recommends a minimum of 70 characters for each product’s title, including (in this order): brand or manufacturer, model, product name, and the most important feature.

Strong product descriptions also boost your SEO performance. Newegg suggests a minimum of 500 words for a description, and unique text that includes keywords. You should also add rich content like videos. For keyword research, use Google Trends to find out what people are searching for.

Focus on providing accurate, detailed product descriptions. A simple list of features gets the job done, but detailed listings help customers feel more confident about their purchase decisions. Avoid filler words and superlatives, and don’t use duplicate descriptions across multiple products.

6. Promote your products

Promoting your products can help you gain visibility in the Newegg store and reach more potential buyers. 

Newegg’s sponsored product ads offer a cost-per-click program that lets you target keywords. You can also use sponsored display ads, which let you show ads for specific items, categories, or brands. These can be on-site or off-site, meaning the ads will appear on the Newegg site or on search engines. Either approach brings more customers directly to your Newegg store from search results.

Beyond Newegg’s platform, you can leverage social media marketing to drive traffic to your store, partner with tech influencers, and explore other digital marketing strategies to expand your reach.

Newegg also uses seller reviews, so buyers can rate sellers from one to five eggs. You can view, search, and sort these reviews in your seller portal. Use feedback to optimize both your product line and your customer service and boost your ratings. Earning a Top Rated seller badge can significantly boost your profile.

7. Fulfill orders

Newegg’s SBN (Shipped by Newegg) fulfillment service processes more than 55,000 packages daily. If you don’t have your own shipping operations set up, it’s definitely worth considering. You can even use Newegg’s fulfillment service for orders from other channels—you don’t have to sell exclusively through Newegg’s store. SBN integrates with many other online marketplaces and storefronts, including Shopify, Home Depot, and Amazon. 

Newegg ships orders out of several warehouses across the US and Canada, and most orders go out the same day, arriving within two days. You can estimate your order costs here. Shipping is available to over 50 countries.

You can ship your goods via Newegg’s fulfillment centers by manually filling in a web form with the order number and details, or you can process all your orders offline and bulk upload them. Newegg will automatically assign a warehouse location based on your sales patterns.

Speed up fulfillment times with Shopify

Shopify comes with built-in tools to help you track, prioritize, and fulfill orders from one place, so you can get orders out the door sooner and exceed customer expectations.

Explore order management on Shopify

Best practices for selling on Newegg

Follow these proven strategies to maximize your success on Newegg:

List fewer items

Counterintuitively, focusing on fewer, high-quality items often drives better sales. Start by focusing your promotional activities on your bestselling products.

This strategy helps people avoid analysis paralysis. Customers may give up when they can’t choose between too many options in your store. If you’ve ever closed an Amazon tab because the options seemed overwhelming, you know the feeling.

Focusing on your most relevant SKUs also helps you break into bestseller lists. As Apple founder Steve Jobs once famously advised Nike CEO Mark Parker, “Just get rid of the crappy stuff and focus on the good stuff.”

Newegg’s own guidelines suggest studying the bestseller lists in your category and promoting your most important and viable products in those areas. Plus, limiting your inventory makes financial sense—Newegg charges a monthly fee of 0.5¢ per SKU for any item that goes unsold in a 12-month period. 

Go niche

While Newegg is large, it’s still a specialized marketplace focused on technology, electronics, and gadgets. Smart small businesses should double down on this and identify their own niche within this world. If you’re the only one selling a product, you already have an advantage. When you know your market inside and out, you can provide exactly what your customers want.

Consider targeting early adopters. They’re more likely to embrace products outside the mainstream and shop outside of mainstream stores like Amazon, Walmart, or Target.

Aim for the “Buy Box”

When shoppers browse Newegg, they often find multiple sellers offering the same product. Newegg’s algorithm picks one seller to feature in the “Buy Box”—the prime spot next to the Add to Cart button. This listing gets the most clicks and sales. 

To win that spot, offer competitive prices, fast shipping, and excellent customer service. Customer satisfaction is the most important factor here. Stay on top of your seller account, respond quickly to customer inquiries, and you’ll boost your chances of earning this valuable free promotion. Get it right, and Newegg will put your product front and center.

How to sell on Newegg FAQ

How to become a Newegg seller?

To become a Newegg seller, you must run a registered business, then simply follow the signup process. After your application is approved—which takes about two weeks—you can start adding products to your store.

What is Newegg Marketplace?

Newegg Marketplace is an international online marketplace for tech products and gadgets. The platform includes sellers of all sizes and offers shipping fulfillment services and promotional tools to help grow your business.

Can I connect my Shopify store to Newegg Marketplace?

You can easily connect your Shopify store to Newegg Marketplace using the Newegg Marketplace app. Once connected, your products, inventory, and orders automatically sync between platforms—no manual updates required. This integration gives you access to millions of tech shoppers on one of the largest electronics marketplaces while managing everything from your Shopify admin.

How To Use the NPV Formula To Calculate Net Present Value (2025)

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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When a business plans an expansion that requires substantial investment, key stakeholders must weigh the upfront cost against the estimated revenue the expansion will generate during the next several years. To do so, they use a calculation to determine what’s known as the investment’s net present value, measuring how much the future income is worth in today’s dollars.

Here is what you need to know about net present value, the NPV formula for calculating it, and how you can use it in your business.

What is net present value?

Net present value (NPV) is the difference between the money spent now on an investment and the money received in the future from that investment. The funds coming and going are typically referred to as cash flows. Future cash flows are reduced to their estimated present value using a process known as discounting.

If you’ve ever bet on a big lottery jackpot, then you are familiar with the idea of present value. The winner could take the full amount in a series of annual payments or take a lump sum that’s made up of the first payment and all the future annual payments reduced to their present value by some rate of interest.

Net present value revolves around two principles: the time value of money and the discount rate. The time value of money means simply that money received sooner is more valuable than money received later. The sooner you have it, the sooner you can invest it and earn a return. The more time you must wait to receive money from an investment, the more its future value is eroded by inflation and by opportunity cost, which is what you might have earned from a different investment.

The discount rate used to discount future cash flows is typically a rate of return that businesses or investors could reasonably expect from any investment. For instance, a minimum acceptable rate might be the prevailing interest rate for benchmark government bonds. Most often, a business bases the discount rate on the firm’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) from debt and equity financing, which typically is higher than government bond rates.

What net present value can tell you

Net present value can help your business see, in dollar terms, whether investment opportunities such as buying new equipment, hiring more people, or creating a new product are likely to be profitable. In general, investments with a positive net present value—the discounted future cash flows are more than the investment’s cost—are worth undertaking, while those with a negative NPV are not. Positive NPV also signals that the investment’s internal rate of return (IRR) exceeds the cost of capital, a baseline for a successful investment.

Investors also use NPV for evaluating securities such as stocks and bonds, using financial modeling that discounts all expected cash flows, such as cash from operations, dividends, and interest income, to determine an appropriate trading price. For example, a stock might have discounted future cash flows on a per-share basis that exceed the company’s current market price, suggesting it’s undervalued and poised to rise. Corporate mergers and acquisitions also rely on an NPV calculation to determine business valuation and set a price for a purchase.

Limitations of net present value

Although the NPV formula and calculation can often help a business, it has some limitations:

Depends on assumptions

Net present value relies on assumptions about future expected cash flows, the discount rate to calculate their present value, and the cost of the investment. An NPV calculation is only as reliable as its underlying estimates.

Doesn’t consider the investment’s scale

Although an NPV calculation results in a dollar figure, it doesn’t take into account the size of the upfront investment required. For example, say a hypothetical company looks at one investment idea with an NPV of $500,000 and another idea with an NPV of $50,000. The first idea looks more attractive, but it would require an initial $5 million investment, while the second idea would require only a $100,000 investment.

Ignores the rate of return

Net present value shows only a dollar amount, not a project’s return on investment (ROI) across the life of the investment, or the annualized internal rate of return, both of which are key measures of an investment’s efficiency. In the above example, the first idea would have a 10% return on investment, while the second would have a 50% ROI. To properly contextualize an NPV calculation, it’s worthwhile to consult these additional metrics.

Tedious manual process

If you’re working through the NPV formula by hand, each expected cash flow’s present value must be computed differently, using a compounded discount rate. The discounted cash flows must then be added up and subtracted from the cash outflow of the investment.

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How to calculate NPV

  1. Determine your cash flows
  2. Select a discount rate
  3. Set a time period
  4. Calculate present value for future cash flows
  5. Calculate NPV

The NPV formula is the sum of a series of mathematical equations, each involving a discounted cash flow. The NPV formula has three components—cash flows, a discount rate, and a time period. Together, they allow you to calculate NPV:

1. Determine your cash flows

The first cash flow is negative, reflecting the cost of the investment. Subsequent cash flows are positive, showing money generated from the investment. Total up your investment cost and anticipated return.

2. Select a discount rate

The discount rate is typically what a company might reasonably expect to earn from an alternative investment had it not tied up money in the proposed investment. Many companies use WACC—a blend of the rates they pay for borrowing and the return expected by investors who provide equity funding. In finance, this is sometimes called the hurdle rate.

3. Set a time period

Net present value is based on discounting anticipated cash flows for future periods, which could be months, quarters, or years. Most companies calculate NPV using yearly intervals, figuring an investment will take at least a few years to bear fruit.

4. Calculate present value for future cash flows

Let’s start simple and assume there’s only one projected cash flow received one year from now. The future cash flow is divided by one plus the discount rate expressed as a decimal:

Present value = Expected future cash flow / (1 + Discount rate)

For a longer-term project with multiple cash flows expected across a span of years, the present value formula is more complicated. It’s the sum of the cash flows, each discounted by the rate compounded by the number of years of cash flow. That looks like this:

PV = Cash flow / (1 + Discount rate) + Cash flow/(1 + Discount rate^2) + Cash flow/(1 + Discount rate^3)

Here’s how a hypothetical business would use the present value formula for an investment. Let’s say Company A makes an initial investment of $5,000 and expects a cash flow of $10,000 from the investment one year from now. It uses a discount rate of 7%. The present value of the future $10,000 cash flow is:

PV = $10,000 / (1 + .07) = $9,345.80

5. Calculate NPV

To determine the investment’s net present value, subtract the initial investment cost from the present value of the discounted future cash flow. In the example, the initial investment is $5,000, and the present value of the future $10,000 cash flow is $9,345.80. Thus, the net present value is:

NPV = $9,345.80 – $5,000 = $4,345.80

This example aside, businesses usually don’t project a single cash flow. Instead, they estimate multiple cash flows across a longer time span. So let’s say Company A boosts its investment from $5,000 to $10,000 and now projects $10,000 in annual cash flows for three years. These flows are discounted at compound rates using the formula for present value:

$1,000 / 1.07 + $1,000 / 1.07^2 + $1,000 / 1.07^3

Using the NPV formula, the discounted cash flows calculation looks like this:

Year one: $10,000 / 1.07 = $9,345.80

Year two: $10,000 / 1.145 = $8,733.60

Year three: $10,000 / 1.225 = $8,163.30

So the present value of the three future cash flows is:

PV = $9,345.80 + $8,733.60 + $8,163.30 = $26,242.70

And the net present value is the sum of the discounted cash flows, minus the initial investment cost:

NPV = $26,242.70 – $10,000 = $16,242.70

NPV formula FAQ

What’s the NPV of $1,000 with a 10% discount rate over 10 years?

The net present value (NPV) of $1,000, which would be received in 10 years, is $385.54 when discounted by 10% compounded across that time span.

What are NPV and IRR?

NPV, or net present value, is the value today of an investment’s estimated future cash inflows, minus the investment’s upfront cost. IRR, or internal rate of return, is the annualized return on the NPV. Generally, a positive NPV indicates the IRR exceeds the cost of capital for the investment.

What is the difference between NPV and DCF?

Discounted cash flow, or DCF, is part of the NPV formula. A business estimates the future cash inflows (income) from a proposed investment and discounts them to a present value—what they’re worth in today’s dollars. Those cash inflows are then subtracted from the cash outflows, or the cost of investment, to calculate NPV.

How Long Does SEO Take? Month-by-Month Results Timeline (2025)

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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Your new product pages are live, and your blog is packed with fresh posts. Yet, weeks later, your Google rankings—and organic traffic—barely budge.

This isn’t a sign that search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t working. It’s exactly how organic search operates. Unlike paid ads, SEO builds momentum over time as Google discovers, evaluates, and tests your pages before deciding where they belong.

So, how long does SEO take to show results, and what happens each month? This guide breaks down what realistic SEO progress looks like, plus the five factors that can accelerate your results or slow them down.

How long does it take for SEO to start working?

“Most sites can expect to see measurable results from their SEO efforts within three to six months,” Arthur Camberlein, SEO senior specialist at Shopify, says. “Most Shopify stores also start to see results within that timeframe.”

Arthur notes that various factors influence this timeline, including how competitive your industry is, what state your website is in, and what resources you have available for SEO work. “Patience and ongoing optimization are key to achieving and maintaining favorable SEO outcomes.”

The first couple of months focus on laying the groundwork, like conducting a website audit and developing a content strategy. Performance gains typically begin once the technical foundations are in place and content starts being published. Even after your pages start climbing in the search results rankings, they might bounce up and down before they stabilize.

Here’s what a realistic month-by-month SEO journey actually looks like for an ecommerce business. 

Month 1: Auditing and laying the foundation

Your first month is about preparing your site for growth. Before you can climb the rankings, you need a clean, healthy foundation that search engines can easily crawl and understand.

Your month one priorities include:

What to expect: You may not see ranking changes yet. This month is entirely about building a strong base.

Month 2: Technical optimization and content creation

With the basics in place, this month focuses on making your site easier for both search engines and shoppers to navigate.

Key activities this month:

  • Refine site architecture to ensure logical internal linking.

  • Submit updated XML sitemaps to speed up crawling and indexing.

  • Improve structured data or schema markup for products and collections to increase the chance of being featured in rich results, like Google Shopping. 

  • Begin developing high-quality blog content aligned with your strategy, targeting long-tail, non-branded search queries with informational search intent.

What to expect: Search engines start crawling your improved structure, but visible changes remain elusive.

Month 3: On-page SEO and publishing

This is when you build the pages and posts that will eventually drive traffic.

Focus areas include:

  • Publishing or optimizing product descriptions and category pages for priority keywords

  • Launching your blog with five to 10 quality pieces of content that support your content strategy

  • Optimizing meta titles and descriptions to boost click-through rates from search engine results pages (SERPs)

What to expect: You may see slight increases in impressions (how often your pages appear in search) while actual rankings hold steady.

Month 4: Early traction (and possible bounce)

By month four, rankings start moving—but don’t expect stability yet.

Google often deliberately shifts pages up and down after big changes to test how they perform for searchers. This “trial period” can last 60 to 90 days, and rankings might dip before they improve.

At this point, you should be regularly publishing high-quality content. Here’s the key: publish only what you can afford to create at a high quality level. One exceptional piece of content per month beats four mediocre ones every week.

What to expect: 

  • Impressions increase in Search Console, even if rankings are still fluctuating

  • Some low-competition keywords may reach page one

  • Begin outreach for backlinks from industry publications or partners

Month 5: Growth phase 

Your earlier groundwork delivers its first real returns. Organic search traffic starts its upward climb, and you might even see your first SEO-driven sales.

  • Organic traffic shows consistent upward momentum as pages gain authority.

  • Products start ranking for transactional keywords, creating direct conversion opportunities.

  • Google may display your store in rich results.

What to expect: Organic traffic maintains its upward trajectory, and clicks from high-intent transactional keywords become more frequent.

Month 6: Measurable results 

Many ecommerce sites hit their first consistent ROI from SEO at this stage, seeing tangible increases in sales.

Progress markers:

  • Ranking stability improves for mid-competition keywords

  • Organic sales attribution becomes clearer in analytics

  • Your consistent publishing and optimization efforts begin compounding results 

What to expect: Many achieve their first top 10 rankings and experience more stable SEO results by now, especially with consistent content, backlinks, and a strategic keyword approach. Not seeing results? Start by checking for technical blockers and verifying your tracking setup. If everything looks good, revisit your keyword strategy, audit your content quality, and verify that your pages align with search intent. SEO results take time, but missing results at month six deserves investigation.

Month 7 and beyond: Compounding gains

You’ve moved past waiting for search engines to “notice” your site. The content and optimizations from earlier months now deliver consistent returns as you benefit from SEO momentum.

Your topical authority (your expertise in a particular niche) has solidified. After months of consistently publishing quality content around a specific set of topics, Google recognizes you as an authority in your niche, so newer content within these clusters ranks with less effort.

As your content attracts more clicks and engagement, Google trusts your domain more, making it easier for new content to be indexed and ranked. Plus, if your content has collected backlinks, the domain authority gained from these links benefits your entire domain, boosting the performance of all your pages.

To maintain this momentum, consistently publish quality content that readers share or link back to and create a schedule to optimize or refresh older content. From here, you can expand into secondary niches, target higher-competition terms, and build content hubs around priority topics.

5 factors that influence the SEO timeline

  1. Domain age and site history
  2. Competition
  3. Content quality and consistency
  4. Backlink profile
  5. Technical SEO and user experience

SEO isn’t like paid search marketing (SEM), where you see immediate traffic. It’s a long-term strategy because search engines need time to discover, assess, and compare your pages against others targeting the same keywords.

In highly competitive industries like lifestyle, finance, or health, it takes additional time to earn the trust and authority needed to outrank established sites.

These five key factors control how quickly you’ll see results: 

1. Domain age and site history 

Older websites often rank faster than brand-new domains. New websites (less than 12 months old) may experience a delay, referred to as the sandbox effect, while search engines evaluate trustworthiness. Although Google itself has never confirmed this, it’s generally accepted by SEO experts.

Sites recovering from manual or algorithmic penalties, which often stem from behaviors that violate Google’s Search Essentials, also often need extra time to rebuild trust before SEO efforts pay off. Arthur notes that “noindex tags, duplicate content (internally or externally), or bending the rules too much” make it challenging to come back from a penalty.

2. Competition 

The more competitive your niche, the longer it typically takes to rank. Keywords dominated by established, high-authority sites can take more than 12 months to challenge, while targeting less-contested, niche-specific terms, like long-tail product queries (e.g., “vegan leather laptop bag for women”) or location-based searches (e.g., “best sushi restaurant in Boston”), helps you rank faster. Strong performance on these lower-volume keywords then strengthens your efforts to rank for higher-volume, more competitive terms.

That’s why Arthur advises new domains not to spend too much time targeting high-intent keywords right away. “Focus on your niche and slowly grow the website, the content, the product—if needed—and rely on good structure,” he says.

Your competitors’ SEO maturity also matters. If other businesses in your space are consistently publishing optimized content and building backlinks, you’ll need sustained effort, like matching their publishing frequency and link-building pace, to keep up. 

3. Content quality and consistency

Google prioritizes high-quality content that fully addresses a searcher’s needs. According to Google Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, in-depth, original, and well-structured content consistently outperforms thin or duplicated material. Your content needs to offer more than a rehash of what other websites have already said about a topic, and it must be well-organized and engaging for the reader.

Consistency is another important factor. Publishing on a regular cadence helps build topical authority faster. Meanwhile, sporadic efforts make it harder for search engines to recognize your site as a reliable source.

4. Backlink profile

Google considers sites with high-quality backlinks from trusted, relevant sites as more credible than those with fewer backlinks. Even if your site has great content and clean technical SEO, starting from scratch without backlinks usually means slower results. Remember: Link quality matters more than quantity. Low-quality or spammy links can slow or reverse progress.

5. Technical SEO and user experience

Issues like slow page load times, mobile-unfriendly design, or broken navigation can delay indexing and reduce ranking potential.

Good site structure, internal links, and updated XML sitemap(s) help search engines understand and prioritize your pages more quickly, Arthur advises.

How often does SEO need to be updated?

SEO is an ongoing process. Search engines, especially Google, favor fresh, relevant content, and updating your site strategically helps maintain SEO performance over time. Google recommends regularly checking for crawl errors, mobile usability issues, and index coverage in Search Console.

You should perform SEO audits at least once a year, but in fast-changing industries like ecommerce, a three-to-six-month cadence works better. This helps you catch technical issues, content gaps, and competitive shifts early, before they impact your rankings.

Content updates should follow a similar rhythm. For example, Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening says his team optimizes their content every year to identify what needs updating or refreshing for accuracy.

How long does SEO take FAQ

How much time do I need for SEO?

Most sites begin seeing measurable results in three to six months, but highly competitive verticals can take 12 months or more. Timelines depend on factors like site history, competition, and how consistently you publish and optimize content.

Is doing SEO difficult?

SEO isn’t necessarily hard, but it can be unpredictable and time-consuming. It combines technical site health, keyword research, content creation, and link-building. The learning curve can be steep, but most ecommerce owners can achieve SEO success with consistent effort and a clear process.

What is the 80/20 rule of SEO?

The 80/20 rule suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In SEO, this typically means a small number of well-optimized, high-value pages drive most of your traffic and revenue. Prioritizing those pages, while still maintaining overall site health, helps maximize your time and budget.

Marketing Efficiency Ratio: How To Calculate + Improve MER (2025)

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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In ecommerce, every dollar counts. The business owners who succeed know how to spend smartly on marketing for the highest return on investment (ROI). A marketing efficiency ratio (MER) helps you calculate how much revenue each marketing dollar makes so you can do just that. Companies that adopt MER achieved up to 15% to 20% higher marketing ROI than peers relying solely on channel-level metrics.

Learn how to compute your own marketing efficiency ratio, what this number means for your organization, and how to improve it.

What is a marketing efficiency ratio?

Businesses use a marketing efficiency ratio (MER), sometimes called a media efficiency ratio or marketing efficiency rating, to understand how much revenue they’re earning from their marketing spend. Instead of looking at individual campaign metrics, this calculation uses high-level performance data to evaluate marketing strategy and advertising efforts as a whole.

MER can determine if you’re allocating your advertising and marketing dollars effectively. A lower MER may indicate the need for additional conversion-focused messages. A higher marketing efficiency ratio indicates you’re generating an optimal return on your marketing efforts and ad spend. The goal is to spend the least money possible and yield the highest impact from marketing; bottom line, you want a high MER for your business.

MER vs. ROAS: What’s the difference?

Marketing efficiency ratio (MER) and return on ad spend (ROAS) both use ad spend as a basis for understanding value. 

MER reflects the impact of branding efforts, organic traffic, influencer partnerships, and awareness campaigns. MER gives business owners a truer sense of overall marketing profitability and sustainability. ROAS may fail to represent the complete picture by only focusing on ad spend. MER provides a more holistic understanding of the costs associated with all marketing activities involved in attracting and converting customers. 

ROAS is best for evaluating the short-term performance of specific campaigns or ads, as you can quickly see which initiatives directly drive revenue. MER, on the other hand, works better when you need a big-picture view—understanding whether all your marketing spend, from paid ads to influencer deals, is moving the needle on overall revenue growth. 

In practice, you can track both ROAS for tactical adjustments at the campaign level and MER for strategic decisions about long-term marketing efficiency.

How to calculate marketing efficiency ratio

  1. Select a time period
  2. Calculate revenue
  3. Determine marketing and ad spend
  4. Apply the marketing efficiency ratio formula

You can calculate MER by using these steps and marketing efficiency ratio formula:

1. Select a time period

To calculate MER, start by defining a distinct time period, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually. For an accurate figure, keep this time period consistent throughout your calculation. If you decide to examine Q1 results, for example, gather revenue and marketing spend figures from this time frame. 

2. Calculate revenue 

Collect revenue data. MER is an all-inclusive metric—it reflects sales revenue from a specific time period tied to your marketing campaigns. Pull revenue data from an official tracking platform, such as your customer relationship management (CRM) or ecommerce platform, that reflects all sales.

3. Determine marketing and ad spend 

You need two core numbers: total revenue and total marketing spend. Revenue should include sales driven by paid ads, influencer campaigns, email flows, or other marketing activities you can reasonably connect back to your strategy. Marketing spend, by contrast, should account for all costs tied to marketing and advertising—paid media campaigns, influencer partnerships, content creation, email marketing software, agency retainers, and even smaller recurring expenses like design tools. 

Calculate how much money your team spent on all marketing and advertising initiatives during the specified time frame. This includes paid ad placements, influencer marketing campaign expenses, creative production costs, and any marketing-specific payments for tools or contractors. It typically does not include fixed costs like marketing team salaries and product warehousing or production expenses. For accurate comparison, keep track of the costs you include in this category and use the same list for future MER calculations. 

4. Apply the marketing efficiency ratio formula 

Gather revenue numbers and total ad spend details for your selected date range and apply the following formula:

Total Revenue / Total Marketing Spend = Marketing Efficiency Ratio

To express MER as a percentage, simply multiply your results by 100. 

A sample calculation for an ecommerce business examining Q3 marketing results could look like this:

Q3 Revenue = $200,000

Total Q3 marketing and advertising spend = $50,000

200,000 (total sales revenue) /50,000 (total marketing spend) = 4 (marketing efficiency ratio). 

Multiplying the results by 100 reveals a MER of 400%. In this example, the business earned $4 for every $1 spent on marketing efforts. 

What is a good marketing efficiency ratio?

MER boils all of your marketing efforts over a period of time down to one number. It’s a useful metric for getting a broad overview, but it may not tell the whole story. MER results vary depending on your marketing goals, industry, and company maturity. New companies focusing on building consumer awareness or market penetration may naturally have a lower MER; spending more money at the outset, in this case, may be a valid way to invest in the future of your business. 

Generally, MER is a more useful calculation for mature companies with many months of revenue to analyze. For established companies, a higher MER between 3 and 5 (or 300% and 500%) is a sign you’re spending sustainably and on the path to profitability. In the ecommerce industry, where businesses face high product production costs, marketing teams may aim for the higher end of this range as well.

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How to improve your marketing efficiency ratio

Improving your MER means generating more revenue for every marketing dollar spent. This can involve improving your ad messaging to attract more customers or finding ways to drive additional sales with your existing strategies. Try these tips to get more out of your advertising and marketing budget:

Refine targeting and segmentation strategies

Review your existing audience segments and targeting strategy. Consider using consumer data to adjust your segmentation strategy and group users based on conversion likelihood. If you focus on targeting consumers who are close to purchasing, you may be able to drive more sales without spending more money. This allows you to optimize ad spend.

Optimize creative messaging 

Experiment with different creative advertising and marketing assets to increase your ad conversion rate. Consider using A/B testing tools to compare images, taglines, and CTAs in paid advertisements. These programs can monitor performance, identify messages that resonate with your audience, and automatically display the most effective advertisements. 

Prioritize high-value channels 

Review ROAS and MER for each of your active advertising channels to identify which channels consistently yield the best results. To increase efficiency, consider reallocating your budget to focus on high-performing channels. 

Focus on AOV 

A higher average order value (AOV) can improve MER—if each order generates more revenue, your efficiency ratio will improve, even if cost per acquisition remains the same. Upsells and cross-sells are common strategies for increasing AOV. Consider adding an upsell to your checkout experience to entice customers with related products or impulse purchases.

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Product bundles are a great way to increase cart values and ensure your products are discovered by more shoppers. Download the free Shopify Bundles app to quickly and easily create bundles for your products and variants from your Shopify admin.

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Improve pipeline efficiency 

Tightening up a leaky sales pipeline can improve conversion rates, leading to more revenue without increasing your ad budget. To improve your sales pipeline, start by reviewing customer journey data. Track how many users make it through each stage of your sales funnel and identify large drop-offs. Look for ways to improve the customer experience in those stages. Common tricks for improving the sales flow include improving page load time, optimizing your website for mobile shopping, and reducing steps in the checkout experience.

Support CLTV

Increasing your customer lifetime value (CLTV) can also improve MER in the long run. If you can turn your existing customers into repeat customers, you’ll continue to benefit from money spent on acquisition long after the first purchase. Repeat purchase incentives, like loyalty programs, and high-quality customer support experiences can improve CLTV.

Marketing efficiency ratio FAQ

How do you measure marketing efficiency?

To measure marketing efficiency, divide total revenue generated by your total marketing and advertising spend over a predefined time period. This calculation, also known as your marketing efficiency ratio (MER), reveals how much revenue a business generates per ad dollar spent.

What’s a good marketing efficiency ratio?

Advertising professionals often suggest targeting a MER between 3 and 5 (or 300% and 500%). A lower MER doesn’t always suggest a problem. Company goals, maturity, and industry can all affect MER.

What is MER vs. ROAS?

Marketing efficiency ratio (MER) and return on ad spend (ROAS) are both focused on spending efficiency, but MER has a broader scope. ROAS focuses on revenue generated by paid advertising campaigns. A marketing efficiency ratio measures marketing and advertising dollars spent across all organic and paid channels. Compared to ROAS, MER provides a more holistic view of marketing inputs.

10 best email marketing tools for event planning businesses in 2025

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

Planning events is about more than venue bookings and catering — it’s about orchestrating countless moving pieces, building relationships, delivering memorable experiences, and sustaining them over time. The challenge? CRM needs in the event-planning industry are uniquely demanding. Event-planning businesses must juggle multiple stakeholders (clients, vendors, attendees, and sponsors), shifting timelines, varied event formats (virtual, hybrid, and live), and the need to both scale and personalize communications — all at once.

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Generic CRMs often struggle to meet these demands: they don’t always support multi-channel attendee journeys, complex registration flows, sponsor and vendor tracking, or the seamless follow-up needed to turn one-off attendees into repeat event advocates. That’s where a CRM built (or configured) for the event industry becomes a solution.

A properly chosen CRM becomes your operational backbone: it lets you centralize attendee, client and vendor data; automate email sequences for invitations, reminders, and post-event follow-ups; segment contacts by event type or role (vendor versus sponsor versus attendee); integrate registration and ticketing systems; and track engagement and ROI across your event lifecycle.

In this article, you’ll get:

  • A comparison table of the top 6 email-marketing/CRM tools suited to event-planning businesses in 2025
  • Feature breakdowns of what each tool offers (automation, segmentation, mobile access, event-specific workflows, integrations, email flows, etc.)
  • Real-world pros and cons, especially for event planners navigating attendees, sponsors, vendors, and multiple formats
  • A step-by-step how-to guide for setting up email automations tailored to event-planning workflows (e.g., initial invite → reminder → follow-up → referral nurturing)
  • Tips for migration, measurement, and scaling your system as your business grows and your event types diversify

And just so you know: HubSpot is already used by real event-planning companies — for example, event organizations report saving thousands of hours annually after switching to HubSpot’s event-centric workflows.

So, if you’re ready to cut through the chaos, streamline your attendee/vendor/client communications, and bring real ROI to your events business in 2025, read on.

Table of Contents:

  • What is email marketing for event planning businesses?
  • Best Email Marketing Tools for Event Planning Businesses at a Glance
  • Best Email Marketing Software for Event Planning Businesses
  • Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Event Planning Companies
  • 5 Important Features for Event Planning Email Marketing Software
  • How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Event Planning Companies (Step-by-Step)
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Event Planning Companies

What is email marketing for event planning businesses?

Email marketing for event planning businesses is the strategic use of email to promote events, manage attendee relationships, and drive engagement before, during, and after an event.

In this industry, email isn’t just about announcements — it’s about creating a seamless attendee journey. From the first save-the-date invitation to post-event thank-you messages, email marketing helps event professionals nurture relationships with clients, sponsors, vendors, and guests at every stage of the planning process.

Effective email marketing lets event planners:

  • Build anticipation through personalized invitations and countdown campaigns
  • Boost attendance with targeted reminders and RSVP follow-ups
  • Enhance the attendee experience by sharing updates, agendas, and logistical details
  • Drive long-term growth by collecting feedback, sharing highlights, and promoting future events

In short, email marketing acts as the connective tissue of an event-planning business — turning one-time guests into repeat clients and loyal brand advocates through timely, relevant, and automated communication.

Best Email Marketing Tools for Event Planning Businesses at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot (Marketing Hub)

All-in-one event marketing automation with robust CRM integration

Event registration forms

Automated email workflows

Smart segmentation

RSVP tracking

Post-event surveys

Breeze AI for subject line optimization

Landing page builder

Social media integration

Free: $0/month/seat

Starter: $9/month/seat

Professional: $800/month/seat

Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

Yes, 14 days

Mailchimp

Small to mid-sized event planning businesses seeking ease of use

Drag-and-drop email builder

Event announcement templates

Audience segmentation

Basic automation

Social media ads

Calendar integration

Free: $0/month

Essentials: $13/month

Standard: $20/month

Premium: $350/month

Yes, 14 days

Constant Contact

Event planners needing built-in event management tools

Event marketing suite

Online ticketing

Registration management

Automated event reminders

Attendance tracking

Custom event pages

Lite: $12/month

Standard: $35/month

Premium: $80/month

Yes, 30 days

Eventbrite

Event-first businesses prioritizing ticketing with email marketing

Native ticketing platform

Automated confirmation emails

Waitlist management

Attendee messaging

Check-in tools

Promotional email campaigns

Free: $0/month/seat

Additional tiers: Custom pricing only (see here)

No, but free version available

ActiveCampaign

B2B event planners requiring advanced automation

Predictive sending

Event attribution tracking

Multi-step automation

CRM with deal tracking

SMS marketing

Dynamic content

Starter: $15/month

Plus: $49/month

Pro: $79/month

Enterprise: $145/month

Yes, 14 days

Brevo

Budget-conscious planners needing transactional emails

Unlimited contacts on all plans

Transactional email API

SMS campaigns

Event invitation templates

WhatsApp campaigns

Signup forms

Starter: $8.08/month

Standard: $16.17/month

Professional: $449.08

Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

No, demo request only

GetResponse

Webinar and virtual event organizers

Built-in webinar hosting (up to 500 attendees)

Landing pages

Conversion funnels

Automated webinar reminders

Registration forms

Email automation

Starter: $19/month

Marketer: $59/month

Creator: $69/month

Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

Yes, 14 days

Kit

Creator-led events and workshops

Visual automation builder

Subscriber tagging

Content upgrades

Workshop registration forms

Creator network

Deliverability focus

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers, the pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount

Newsletter: $0/month

Creator: $39/month

Creator Pro: $79/month

Yes, 14 days

Moosend

Small event businesses wanting affordability

Event countdown timers

RSVP tracking forms

Weather-based sending

Advanced segmentation

Landing pages

Automation templates

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers, the pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount

Pro: $16/month

Moosend+: Custom pricing only (see here)

Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

Yes, 30 days

Klaviyo

Event planners in e-commerce or retail spaces

Revenue attribution

Predictive analytics

CDP capabilities

SMS & email coordination

Abandoned cart recovery for event tickets

Dynamic segmentation

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers, the pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount and 250 messages-per-month limit

Free: $0/month

Email + mobile messages: $60/month

Email: $45/month

No, demo request only

Best Email Marketing Software for Event Planning Businesses

1. HubSpot

a screenshot of hubspot’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Event planning businesses need comprehensive marketing automation that centralizes attendee management and campaign orchestration.

Key HubSpot Features:

  • HubSpot’s Breeze AI-powered email personalization: Event planners can leverage Breeze AI to automatically optimize subject lines and send times based on attendee engagement patterns.
  • HubSpot’s automated event workflow builder: Create multi-touch campaigns that trigger based on registration status, with HubSpot’s workflows automatically sending confirmation emails.
  • HubSpot’s native CRM integration with smart lists: Segment attendees by event history, ticket type, or engagement level using HubSpot’s unified database, then automatically sync with Eventbrite, Zoom Events, or Cvent through HubSpot’s app marketplace.

HubSpot Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month/seat
  • Starter: $9/month/seat
  • Professional: $800/month/seat
  • Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

2. Mailchimp

a screenshot of mailchimp email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Small event planning businesses managing under 50 events annually.

Key Mailchimp Features:

  • Pre-built event invitation templates: Access professionally designed event templates optimized for mobile devices.
  • Audience journey mapping: Visualize the attendee experience from first touchpoint to post-event feedback, automatically moving contacts through different segments based on their RSVP status and engagement.
  • Social media retargeting integration: Connect Facebook and Instagram ads to automatically retarget email subscribers who opened but didn’t register.

Mailchimp Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month
  • Essentials: $13/month
  • Standard: $20/month
  • Premium: $350/month

3. Constant Contact

a screenshot of constant contact’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Traditional event planners coordinating in-person conferences and trade shows that require integrated registration management.

Key Constant Contact Features:

  • Built-in event registration system: Eliminate third-party ticketing fees by managing registrations directly.
  • Automated reminder sequences: Schedule a series of touchpoints, including “save the date” (60 days out), early bird deadlines (30 days), and day-of logistics automatically based on event date.
  • Real-time attendance tracking integration: Sync with check-in apps to trigger automated emails to no-shows or send immediate thank you messages to attendees.

Constant Contact Pricing:

  • Lite: $12/month
  • Standard: $35/month
  • Premium: $80/month

4. Eventbrite

a screenshot of eventbrite’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Ticketed event organizers who prioritize seamless payment processing with integrated promotional email campaigns.

Key Eventbrite Features:

  • Native ticketing with email automation: Automatically trigger different email sequences based on ticket type (VIP, early bird, general admission).
  • Waitlist management workflows: When events sell out, automatically add interested attendees to waitlists and send instant notifications when spots open up.
  • Organizer app integration: Send real-time updates directly from the Eventbrite Organizer mobile app during events.

Eventbrite Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month/seat
  • Additional tiers: Custom pricing only (see here)

5. ActiveCampaign

a screenshot of activecampaign’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: B2B event coordinators managing multi-day conferences with complex speaker and sponsor communications.

Key ActiveCampaign Features:

  • Predictive content personalization: AI analyzes past event behavior to customize email content blocks automatically.
  • Multi-channel automation sequences: Coordinate email with SMS reminders for time-sensitive updates.
  • CRM deal tracking for sponsors: Track sponsor engagement from initial outreach through post-event ROI reports.

ActiveCampaign Pricing:

  • Starter: $15/month
  • Plus: $49/month
  • Pro: $79/month
  • Enterprise: $145/month

6. Brevo

a screenshot of brevo’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Budget-conscious event startups managing community workshops and local meetups with under 500 attendees.

Key Brevo Features:

  • Unlimited contacts storage: Store your entire event database without per-contact fees.
  • Transactional email API: Ensure critical emails like ticket confirmations and password resets achieve successful delivery rates.
  • WhatsApp Business integration: Reach international attendees through their preferred messaging app.

Brevo Pricing:

  • Starter: $8.08/month
  • Standard: $16.17/month
  • Professional: $449.08
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

7. GetResponse

a screenshot of getresponse’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Virtual event hosts combining webinars with email marketing for online summits and digital conferences.

Key GetResponse Features:

  • Integrated webinar hosting platform: Host events for up to 500 attendees directly within the platform.
  • Automated webinar funnel templates: Deploy proven registration-to-attendance sequences that typically increase show rates.
  • Post-webinar engagement automation: Automatically segment attendees vs. no-shows, sending replay links to non-attendees, and special offers to engaged participants.

GetResponse Pricing:

  • Starter: $19/month
  • Marketer: $59/month
  • Creator: $69/month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

8. Kit

a screenshot of kit’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Workshop facilitators and course creators hosting educational events with content delivery requirements.

Key Kit Features:

  • Visual automation builder with tagging: Create branching paths based on workshop attendance.
  • Digital product delivery system: Automatically send workshop materials, recordings, or certificates upon registration or completion.
  • Creator network cross-promotion: Tap into Kit’s creator community for speaker recommendations and cross-promotional opportunities.

Kit Pricing:

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers. The pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount

  • Newsletter: $0/month
  • Creator: $39/month
  • Creator Pro: $79/month

9. Moosend

a screenshot of moosend’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Seasonal event organizers managing holiday parties and outdoor festivals with weather-dependent logistics.

Key Moosend Features:

  • Weather-based sending optimization: Automatically adjust email send times based on local weather forecasts.
  • Countdown timer emails: Embed dynamic countdown clocks that update in real-time.
  • Recurring event automation: Set up template campaigns for monthly or annual events that automatically clone and adjust dates.

Moosend Pricing:

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers. The pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount

  • Pro: $16/month
  • Moosend+: Custom pricing only (see here)
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing only (see here)

10. Klaviyo

a screenshot of klaviyo’s email marketing for event planning user interface

Source

Best For: Event planners selling merchandise or running festivals with e-commerce components requiring revenue attribution.

Key Klaviyo Features:

  • Revenue per recipient tracking: Monitor exactly how much revenue each email campaign generates in ticket sales, helping justify marketing spend with ROI metrics.
  • Abandoned cart recovery for registrations: Automatically remind prospects who started but didn’t complete registration.
  • Dynamic VIP segmentation: Automatically identify and segment high-value attendees based on lifetime event spend.

Klaviyo Pricing:

*Note: Pricing varies based on the number of subscribers. The pricing plans below are based on a 1,000-subscriber amount and a 250-messages-per-month limit

  • Free: $0/month
  • Email + mobile messages: $60/month
  • Email: $45/month

Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Event Planning Companies

Automate time-consuming registration and follow-up workflows.

Event planners typically spend countless hours manually sending confirmation emails, reminders, and post-event surveys — time that could be spent securing sponsors or improving attendee experiences. Email marketing software eliminates this administrative burden through intelligent automation that handles the entire attendee journey.

HubSpot’s workflow automation builder enables event teams to create multi-step campaigns that trigger based on registration actions. These campaigns automatically send personalized confirmations within seconds of sign-up, provide parking instructions 24 hours prior to the event, and include feedback surveys after the event concludes.

Plus, by implementing HubSpot’s pre-built event workflow templates, planning teams can significantly reduce manual email tasks while ensuring no attendee falls through the cracks, whether managing a 50-person workshop or a 5,000-attendee conference.

Maximize attendance rates through data-driven optimization.

The industry-wide challenge of no-shows costs event planners money in wasted catering, materials, and venue capacity; however, email marketing platforms provide the analytics to help improve these numbers.

Modern email software tracks open rates, click patterns, and engagement timing to identify which messages actually drive attendance versus those ignored in crowded inboxes. HubSpot’s Breeze AI analyzes historical event data to automatically optimize subject lines and send times for each segment, helping event planners to improve their attendance rates when utilizing HubSpot’s predictive sending features.

Additionally, HubSpot’s A/B testing tools allow teams to experiment with different reminder frequencies and messaging styles, providing precise data on whether attendees respond better to “last chance” urgency or exclusive “VIP preview” framing.

Centralize attendee data across multiple events and touchpoints.

Event planning companies juggling multiple simultaneous events often struggle with scattered attendee information across spreadsheets, registration platforms, and email lists, leading to duplicate communications or missed VIP recognitions.

Email marketing CRMs create a single source of truth that tracks every attendee interaction from initial interest through post-event engagement. HubSpot’s unified contact database automatically syncs with popular event platforms, such as Eventbrite and Zoom Events, while maintaining complete histories of which events each contact attended, their ticket types, and engagement levels.

This centralization through HubSpot’s Marketing Hub means planners can instantly identify that a registrant attended three previous conferences as a VIP, automatically triggering premium treatment and early-access offers without manual research or risk of overlooking loyal attendees.

Scale personalization without expanding team size.

Growing event companies face the paradox of needing more personalized communication as their attendee base expands, yet lacking the resources to write individual emails to hundreds or thousands of registrants. Email marketing software enables mass personalization that maintains the boutique touch attendees expect from premium events.

HubSpot’s smart content dynamically adjusts email sections based on attendee attributes, displaying different agenda highlights to speakers versus sponsors, or customizing meal options according to previously indicated dietary preferences. Additionally, with HubSpot’s personalization tokens and Breeze AI, a single team member can:

  • Create emails that address each recipient by name
  • Reference their company
  • Recommend relevant breakout sessions based on past attendance

Measure ROI and justify marketing investments.

Event planning companies often struggle to prove the value of their marketing efforts to stakeholders, relying on basic metrics like registration numbers that don’t tell the complete story of campaign effectiveness.

Comprehensive email marketing platforms provide attribution reporting that connects specific campaigns to:

  • Revenue
  • Sponsor acquisitions
  • Long-term attendee value

HubSpot’s attribution reporting dashboard tracks the complete journey from first email open to ticket purchase, showing exactly which campaigns drive the highest-value registrations and which messages convert free attendees to paid tickets. By leveraging HubSpot’s custom reporting builder, event teams can demonstrate clear ROI from their email campaigns, whether that’s ticket sales from early-bird promotions or new sponsorships generated through HubSpot’s sequences tool, providing concrete data that secures continued marketing investment.

5 Important Features for Event Planning Email Marketing Software

  1. Event Registration Forms with Smart Field Mapping: The ability to create customizable registration forms that automatically populate your CRM is essential for capturing attendee information without manual data entry. HubSpot’s drag-and-drop form builder allows event planners to design registration pages with conditional logic, showing different questions based on ticket type or displaying meal preferences only for in-person attendees. Most importantly, HubSpot’s forms integrate directly with the CRM, automatically creating or updating contact records, assigning lead scores based on ticket value, and triggering appropriate nurture workflows based on registration type.
  2. Multi-Channel Campaign Automation with Timeline Visualization: Event promotion requires coordinated outreach across email, SMS, and social media on precise schedules leading up to event day. HubSpot’s visual workflow editor lets event teams map entire promotional campaigns on a timeline, setting automatic triggers for early-bird announcements, deadline reminders, and day-of logistics. Within HubSpot’s automation suite, planners can create branching logic that sends different messages based on a user’s registration status. HubSpot’s Marketing Hub also enables cross-channel coordination, allowing teams to pause email campaigns if an attendee registers through a social media ad, preventing redundant messaging while maintaining consistent communication across all touchpoints.
  3. Mobile CRM Access for On-Site Event Management: Event planners require real-time access to attendee information as they navigate between venue spaces, manage vendor relationships, and address last-minute changes. HubSpot’s mobile app provides full CRM functionality from any smartphone or tablet, enabling planners to check attendee lists, update contact records, and even send targeted emails while walking the event floor. During registration, staff can use HubSpot’s mobile app to manually check in attendees, add notes about dietary restrictions or special requests, and immediately trigger welcome emails with WiFi passwords and agenda updates.
  4. Native Integration Ecosystem with Event-Specific Platforms: Modern event planning requires seamless data flow between ticketing platforms, virtual event software, payment processors, and marketing tools. HubSpot’s App Marketplace offers pre-built integrations with essential event platforms, including Eventbrite for ticketing, Zoom Events for virtual components, Calendly for speaker scheduling, and Stripe for payment processing. These native HubSpot integrations eliminate the need for manual CSV exports or custom API development, automatically syncing registration data, attendance records, and payment status in real-time.
  5. Advanced Analytics with Attribution Reporting: Understanding which marketing efforts drive ticket sales and sponsor conversions is crucial for optimizing event promotion budgets and demonstrating ROI. HubSpot’s attribution reporting tools track the complete journey from first touchpoint to ticket purchase, showing whether attendees converted from organic search, email campaigns, or social media ads. Event planners can leverage HubSpot’s custom report builder to create dashboards showing registration pace compared to previous events, geographic distribution of attendees, and revenue by ticket type.

How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Event Planning Companies (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your event marketing workflows.

Before evaluating any email marketing platform, document your complete event lifecycle from initial promotion through post-event follow-up. Start by outlining each touchpoint in your attendee journey, including:

  • Awareness campaigns
  • Early-bird promotions
  • Registration confirmations
  • Reminder sequences
  • Day-of logistics
  • Feedback surveys

Identify which communications are currently manual versus automated, noting pain points like sending individual sponsor updates or coordinating speaker confirmations. Then, consider the complexity of your events — do you manage single-day workshops or multi-track conferences with VIP tiers? Map how data flows between your registration platform, payment processor, and communication tools.

This workflow visualization reveals whether you need basic email broadcasting or sophisticated automation with branching logic based on attendee behavior, helping narrow your platform requirements before entering the evaluation phase.

Step 2: Identify must-have features for event success.

Create a prioritized list distinguishing between essential capabilities and nice-to-have features based on your mapped workflows. Essential features for event planners typically include:

  • Registration form builders with conditional logic
  • Automated confirmation and reminder sequences
  • Mobile access for on-site management
  • Integration with ticketing platforms like Eventbrite or Cvent

Next, consider your team’s technical expertise — do you need drag-and-drop simplicity or are you comfortable with HTML customization? Evaluate whether you require advanced capabilities like dynamic content personalization for different attendee segments, attribution reporting to prove event ROI, or multi-channel coordination across email and SMS.

Pro tip: Don’t forget operational necessities like list segmentation for speakers versus sponsors, GDPR compliance tools for international events, and the ability to quickly send urgent updates about schedule changes or weather delays.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit.

Request trials of your top platforms and have your actual event team test core functions they’ll use daily. Evaluate how quickly team members can create and send a basic event invitation without technical support (if it takes more than 30 minutes, consider the productivity impact across dozens of annual events).

Test the learning curve for advanced features: can your coordinators build automated workflows independently, or will you need ongoing IT involvement? Assess the quality of customer support, particularly during critical pre-event periods when you can’t afford delays.

Once you’ve done all of this, review the vendor’s training resources, looking for:

  • Event-specific templates
  • Best practice guides
  • Dedicated onboarding for event planning companies (versus generic setup assistance)

Step 4: Check cost at scale.

Calculate total cost of ownership beyond base subscription fees, factoring in your expected growth over the next 2 to 3 years. Most platforms price by contact volume, so project costs if your database grows from 5,000 to 15,000 contacts as you add events. Include hidden expenses like overage charges for:

  • Exceeding email send limits during peak registration periods
  • Fees for additional user seats as your team expands
  • Costs for premium features like custom reporting or dedicated IP addresses

Lastly, compare pricing models — some platforms charge per email sent while others offer unlimited sending to your contact limit. Factor in potential savings from consolidated tools; replacing separate email, survey, and landing page services with an all-in-one platform might justify higher upfront costs.

Pro tip: Request custom quotes if you’re managing over 10,000 contacts or 50+ events annually, as enterprise pricing often includes negotiable discounts and additional support resources.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot.

Select a platform that can evolve with your event business from intimate workshops to large-scale conferences without requiring a complete system migration. Look for solutions offering modular upgrades where you can start with basic email marketing then add advanced automation, CRM capabilities, or reporting tools as needs develop. HubSpot exemplifies this scalability — event planning companies can begin with free email marketing tools then progressively adopt Starter, Professional, or Enterprise tiers while maintaining consistent workflows and historical data.

Clearwing, a high-end audio, lighting, video, and staging systems company, managed 500+ campaign assets for AVL Expo, an audio, video, and lighting technology conference, generated 250+ leads, and delivered 4,200% ROI, all by using Marketing Hub. Marketing Hub’s flexibility lead to faster campaign launches, stronger event attendance, and more engaged, loyal prospects.

Clearwing’s success proves that an investment in HubSpot means scalable growth without limitations, allowing event planners to create custom objects for venues and speakers, build specialized workflows for different event types, and, most importantly, achieve measurable ROI that justifies marketing spend to big decision-makers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best email marketing tool for event planning companies?

The best email marketing tool for event planning companies depends on your specific event types, audience size, and automation needs.

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub consistently ranks as a top choice because it combines robust email marketing with integrated CRM capabilities, event-specific workflows, and comprehensive analytics in one platform.

For small event businesses just starting out, HubSpot’s free tools provide email marketing for up to 2,000 sends per month, while growing companies can scale into paid tiers that include advanced features like Breeze AI for subject line optimization and multi-touch attribution reporting.

What features should I look for in email marketing tools for event planning companies?

Essential features for event planning email marketing include:

  • Automated workflow builders (for registration confirmations and reminder sequences)
  • Customizable registration forms with conditional logic
  • Mobile accessibility for on-site event management

Additionally, look for platforms offering:

  • Segmentation capabilities to differentiate between attendees, speakers, sponsors, and prospects
  • Integration options with ticketing platforms (like Eventbrite or Cvent)
  • Dynamic content personalization that adjusts messaging based on ticket type or past attendance history
  • Attribution reporting to track which campaigns drive ticket sales
  • Multi-channel coordination for combining email with SMS updates

The platform should also provide responsive templates optimized for mobile devices, since many attendees check event emails on smartphones, and real-time analytics to monitor registration pace and adjust promotional strategies accordingly.

Is HubSpot good for event planning?

Yes, HubSpot excels for event planning companies due to its all-in-one approach that eliminates the need for multiple disconnected tools.

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub provides event planners with pre-built workflow templates for common event sequences, smart lists that automatically segment attendees based on behavior and attributes, and the ability to create custom objects for tracking venues, speakers, and sponsors beyond standard contact records.

Lastly, as previously mentioned, event planning companies like Clearwing have achieved 4,200% ROI using HubSpot’s Marketing Hub for conference promotion, demonstrating the platform’s ability to handle complex, multi-faceted event campaigns while providing clear attribution data that proves marketing impact.

How much does email marketing software for event planning cost?

Email marketing software for event planning typically ranges from free for basic tools to $3,000+ monthly for enterprise solutions.

HubSpot offers a free tier with basic email marketing, with paid plans starting at $9/month per seat for Starter and scaling to $800/month for Professional (includes 3 seats). Costs typically increase based on:

  • Contact list size
  • Number of emails sent
  • Additional user seats
  • Advanced features (like predictive analytics or dedicated IP addresses)

Event planners should budget for 20 to 30% annual price increases as their contact databases grow and factor in potential savings from consolidating multiple tools into one platform.

Can email marketing software integrate with my existing event ticketing platform?

Most modern email marketing platforms offer native integrations or API connections with popular event ticketing systems, enabling automatic data synchronization between platforms.

As mentioned before, HubSpot’s App Marketplace includes pre-built integrations with Eventbrite, Zoom Events, Cvent, and other major ticketing platforms, automatically syncing:

  • Registration data
  • Attendance status
  • Tticket types

These integrations enable powerful automation possibilities — for example, when someone purchases a VIP ticket through Eventbrite, HubSpot can automatically trigger a premium welcome sequence with exclusive content and special venue access instructions.

Pro tip: If your ticketing platform doesn’t have a native integration, look for email marketing tools with Zapier connectivity or open APIs that allow custom connections, though these may require technical setup and ongoing maintenance compared to out-of-the-box integrations.

Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Event Planning Companies

HubSpot stands out as the premier email marketing solution for event planning companies by offering enterprise-level automation capabilities at a price point that works for businesses of any size. Unlike traditional event management software that charges per registration or requires expensive custom implementations, HubSpot provides a robust free tier supporting email marketing up to 2,000 sends monthly, making it accessible to solo planners and growing agencies alike.

Key HubSpot Features for Event Planners

  • Free Forever Foundation: Start with comprehensive attendee management, email automation, and registration forms at no cost, then scale features as your event portfolio grows without migrating platforms or losing historical data.
  • Integrated Event Workflows: Process registrations through native Eventbrite and payment integrations while automatically triggering personalized confirmation sequences, reminder emails, and post-event surveys based on ticket type and attendee history.
  • 360-Degree Attendee View: Track every touchpoint from initial email open through event check-in and post-event feedback in one timeline, ensuring any team member can provide informed support to attendees, speakers, or sponsors.

Proven Real-World Impact with HubSpot

INBOUND, HubSpot’s flagship industry event, achieved 40% conversion rate (CVR) from event page visits to registrations by leveraging LinkedIn ads through HubSpot’s Marketing Hub.

All-in-all, HubSpot’s true power lies in its scalability — start free, pay only for what you need, and never outgrow your system as you expand from local workshops to international conferences. With built-in tools for sponsor management, speaker coordination, and attendance analytics, HubSpot eliminates the need for multiple disconnected tools that complicate your workflows and inflate your technology costs.

Ready to see how HubSpot can transform your event planning business? Get started with HubSpot’s free email marketing tools today and join thousands of event professionals who’ve streamlined their marketing while boosting attendance rates.

6 best email marketing tools for cleaning companies in 2025

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

Running a cleaning company is about more than mops and elbow grease — it’s about managing relationships, schedules, recurring contracts, field teams, and customer retention. The challenge? CRM needs in the cleaning industry are uniquely demanding. Cleaning businesses juggle high-volume recurring work, on-the-move teams, location-based services, spot‐jobs, and varying customer preferences, all while trying to deliver consistent quality and timely communication.

Boost Opens & CTRs with HubSpot’s Free Email Marketing Software

Generic CRMs often struggle to meet these demands: they lack effective route optimization, mobile crew updates, recurring job automation, and field-to-office synchronization capabilities. That’s where industry-aware CRMs become a solution.

A properly configured CRM becomes your operational backbone. It lets you centralize all client touchpoints, automate email reminders and follow-ups, sync field data in real time, track job frequency, and segment communication based on property type or service history. In effect, it turns a cleaning company’s scattered workflows into a streamlined, scalable system.

In this article, you’ll get:

  • A comparison table of the top 6 email/CRM tools suited to cleaning businesses
  • Feature breakdowns that highlight what each tool offers (automation, mobile access, segmentation, email flows, integrations, etc.)
  • Real-world pros and cons, especially from companies in the cleaning space
  • A step-by-step how-to guide for setting up email automations tailored to cleaners
  • Pro tips for migration, measurement, and scaling

Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that HubSpot is already used by real cleaning companies to unify their marketing, service, and operations on one platform. Throughout this post, you’ll get clarity on how tools like HubSpot stack up and which options offer the best fit for cleaning business owners in 2025.

Table of Contents

  • What is email marketing for cleaning companies?
  • Best Email Marketing Tools for Cleaning Companies at a Glance
  • Best Email Marketing Software for Cleaning Companies
  • Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Cleaning Companies
  • 5 Important Features for a Cleaning Company Email Marketing Software
  • How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Cleaning Companies (Step-by-Step)
  • How to Create Email Marketing Campaigns for Cleaning Companies
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Cleaning Companies

What is email marketing for cleaning companies?

Email marketing for cleaning businesses is the strategic practice of using automated and personalized email communications to acquire new clients, retain existing customers, and maximize the lifetime value of both residential and commercial cleaning contracts.

Unlike general email marketing, cleaning company email strategies focus on:

  • Service-specific touchpoints like appointment reminders
  • Seasonal cleaning promotions
  • Review requests after service completion
  • Recurring contract renewals (that align with the unique customer journey of property maintenance services)

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub enables cleaning businesses to centralize their email marketing with CRM data and service scheduling workflows. Additionally, by connecting email campaigns directly to customer service histories and booking patterns, HubSpot’s Email Marketing Software transforms routine operational messages into revenue-generating touchpoints. This integration means cleaning companies can automatically trigger personalized campaigns based on specific customer behaviors.

In the next section, I’ll provide a brief overview of the best email marketing tools for cleaning companies, including pricing for each tool and the features available.

Best Email Marketing Tools for Cleaning Companies at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot (Marketing Hub)

Growing cleaning companies that are seeking all-in-one marketing automation with AI-powered optimization

Breeze AI for predictive engagement scoring and send time optimization

Marketing Hub integration with scheduling and invoicing tools

Intelligent segmentation for residential vs. commercial clients

Automated review request campaigns

Revenue attribution tracking for cleaning services

Mobile-optimized booking forms

Content Hub for SEO-optimized service pages

Free: $0/month/seat

Starter: $9/month/seat

Professional: $800/month/seat

Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

Yes, 14 days

Jobber

Field service businesses that need integrated scheduling with email marketing

Built-in client management for cleaning routes

Automated appointment reminders

Quote and invoice email automation

Service history tracking

Two-way calendar sync

Customer portal access

Individual Plans:

Core: $39/month

Connect: $89/month

Grow: $149/month

Team Plans:

Connect: $129/month

Grow: $249/month

Plus: $449/month

Yes, 14 days

ServiceTitan

Large commercial cleaning operations requiring enterprise-level automation

Advanced dispatch integration

Membership and recurring service campaigns

Equipment maintenance reminders

Multi-location management

Performance analytics dashboard

Custom workflow automation

Custom pricing only (see here)

Yes, 14 days

Housecall Pro

Residential cleaning services that prioritize ease of use

Pre-built cleaning industry templates

Instant booking links

Before/after photo sharing

Automated review invitations

Text and email combo campaigns

Quick estimate builders

Basic: $79/month

Essentials: $189/month

Max: $329/month

Yes, 14 days

Mailchimp

Budget-conscious cleaning startups focusing on email design

Drag-and-drop email builder

Basic automation journeys

Social media integration

Landing page creator

A/B testing tools

Mobile app management

Free: $0/month

Essentials: $13/month

Standard: $20/month

Premium: $350/month

Yes, 14 days

Constant Contact

Cleaning franchises needing multi-account management

Industry-specific templates

Event management for open houses

SMS marketing add-on

List segmentation by service type

Social media scheduling

Real-time reporting

Lite: $12/month

Standard: $35/month

Premium: $80/month

Yes, 30 days

Best Email Marketing Software for Cleaning Companies

1. HubSpot

a screenshot of hubspot’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Growing cleaning companies that need comprehensive marketing automation with AI-powered customer engagement.

Key HubSpot Features:

  • HubSpot’s Breeze AI predictive engagement scoring: HubSpot’s Breeze AI analyzes which residential and commercial cleaning clients are most likely to book recurring services, helping cleaning businesses prioritize outreach to high-value prospects and reduce churn by identifying at-risk customers before they cancel.
  • HubSpot’s automated review request workflows: HubSpot’s Marketing Hub triggers personalized review invitations 24 hours after service completion, automatically segmenting satisfied customers (based on NPS scores) into advocacy campaigns while routing dissatisfied clients to service recovery sequences.
  • HubSpot’s Content Hub integration for service area pages: HubSpot’s unified platform connects email campaigns with SEO-optimized location pages, enabling cleaning businesses to automatically personalize email content based on service areas while tracking which geographic segments generate the highest lifetime value through HubSpot’s revenue attribution models.

HubSpot Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month/seat
  • Starter: $9/month/seat
  • Professional: $800/month/seat
  • Enterprise: $3,600/month/seat

2. Jobber

a screenshot of jobber’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Field service cleaning teams with 5-50 employees managing recurring residential routes.

Key Jobber Features:

  • Two-way calendar sync with route optimization: Automatically sends confirmation emails when cleaners are assigned to jobs.
  • Quote-to-cash email automation: Follows the typical cleaning business workflow from estimate request through approval, automatically converting approved quotes to scheduled jobs.
  • QuickBooks and Stripe integration: Syncs payment status with email campaigns, enabling automated thank-you messages after payment processing.

Jobber Pricing:

Individual Plans:

  • Core: $39/month
  • Connect: $89/month
  • Grow: $149/month

Team Plans:

  • Connect: $129/month
  • Grow: $249/month
  • Plus: $449/month

3. ServiceTitan

a screenshot of servicetitan’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Commercial cleaning enterprises managing technicians across multiple locations.

Key ServiceTitan Features:

  • Multi-location dispatch integration: Matters for large cleaning operations managing different service territories, automatically routing email communications to the appropriate branch manager while maintaining centralized campaign oversight.
  • Membership renewal automation: Handles the complex workflow of recurring commercial contracts, sending escalating renewal reminders 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration.
  • Salesforce and NetSuite ERP integration: Enables enterprise cleaning companies to sync customer data across platforms, triggering targeted upsell campaigns based on facility square footage and service frequency patterns.

ServiceTitan Pricing:

  • Custom pricing only (see here)

4. Housecall Pro

a screenshot of housecall pro’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Solo cleaners and small residential teams prioritizing mobile-first operations

Key Housecall Pro Features:

  • Before/after photo sharing automation: Critical for building trust in residential cleaning, automatically embeds service photos in follow-up emails to showcase work quality and justify premium pricing.
  • Instant booking links with real-time availability: Streamlines the booking workflow by embedding calendar availability directly in emails.
  • Google My Business and Facebook integration: Automatically triggers review requests through preferred platforms, while syncing positive reviews to email signatures and marketing campaigns for social proof.

Housecall Pro Pricing:

  • Basic: $79/month
  • Essentials: $189/month
  • Max: $329/month

5. Mailchimp

a screenshot of mailchimp’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: New cleaning startups testing email marketing with limited budgets.

Key Mailchimp Features:

  • Pre-built cleaning service templates: Saves time on email design with industry-specific templates for seasonal promotions, move-in specials, and spring cleaning campaigns.
  • Customer journey builder for service packages: Maps the standard cleaning customer lifecycle from initial inquiry through recurring service setup, with branching logic based on residential versus commercial segments.
  • WooCommerce and Shopify integration: Enables cleaning businesses selling supplies or gift certificates to sync purchase data with email campaigns.

Mailchimp Pricing:

  • Free: $0/month
  • Essentials: $13/month
  • Standard: $20/month
  • Premium: $350/month

6. Constant Contact

 a screenshot of mailchimp’s email marketing software user interface

Source

Best For: Cleaning franchises managing brand consistency across 10+ locations.

Key Constant Contact Features:

  • Multi-account management dashboard: Essential for franchise operations to maintain brand standards while allowing individual locations to customize local offers and service area messaging.
  • Event marketing for open houses: Supports the common franchise workflow of hosting community events and property manager meetups, with RSVP tracking and automated reminder sequences.
  • SMS add-on with email coordination: Integrates text messaging for urgent communications like arrival notifications while maintaining longer-form email nurturing for contract renewals and seasonal promotions.

Constant Contact Pricing:

  • Lite: $12/month
  • Standard: $35/month
  • Premium: $80/month

Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Cleaning Companies

Automated appointment management reduces no-shows and cancellations.

Cleaning businesses, like most service-/client-based companies, often face revenue loss from last-minute cancellations and no-shows, particularly during peak seasons when rebooking slots becomes challenging.

Email marketing software addresses this costly problem through automated reminder sequences that trigger at optimal intervals before scheduled services. HubSpot’s Marketing Hub workflow automation allows cleaning companies to set up multi-touch reminder campaigns that:

  • Send initial confirmations immediately after booking
  • Deliver follow-up reminders 48 hours before service
  • Dispatch day-of notifications with cleaner arrival times

Additionally, HubSpot’s mobile CRM access enables field teams to update appointment status in real-time, automatically triggering rescheduling options for affected customers.

AI-powered personalization increases booking rates for seasonal services.

Most cleaning companies struggle to promote seasonal services like spring deep-cleaning or holiday prep packages because manually segmenting customers and crafting targeted messages requires hours of administrative work.

Modern email marketing platforms solve this challenge by leveraging artificial intelligence to personalize campaigns at scale. HubSpot’s Breeze AI generates customized subject lines and email copy based on individual customer preferences and past service history, while HubSpot’s predictive engagement scoring identifies which clients are most likely to book seasonal add-ons, enabling cleaning businesses to focus promotional efforts on high-conversion segments.

Centralized customer communication improves team coordination.

Cleaning companies often face communication breakdowns when customer interactions are scattered across phone calls, texts, and various email accounts, leading to mishaps like:

  • Duplicate bookings
  • Missed follow-ups
  • Inconsistent service delivery

Email marketing CRMs create a single source of truth for all customer communications. HubSpot’s unified inbox consolidates emails from multiple service areas and team members into one dashboard; its customizable email templates ensure consistent brand messaging, whether communications come from sales, scheduling, or field teams.

Additionally, HubSpot’s conversation intelligence tracks all interactions automatically, giving managers complete visibility into customer service quality without manual logging.

Revenue attribution tracking identifies most profitable customer segments.

Without proper tracking, cleaning businesses can’t determine which marketing efforts drive the most valuable contracts, often wasting budget on channels that attract one-time customers rather than recurring commercial accounts.

Email marketing software provides detailed analytics that connect marketing activities directly to revenue outcomes. Plus, HubSpot’s revenue attribution models track the complete customer journey from initial email open through contract signing and renewal, while HubSpot’s custom reporting dashboards visualize which email campaigns generate the highest customer lifetime value.

This enables cleaning companies to identify that, for instance, commercial property managers acquired through targeted LinkedIn integration campaigns deliver 5x more revenue than residential customers from general promotions.

Automated review management builds online reputation without extra staff.

Cleaning businesses know that online reviews drive a large chunk of new customer decisions, yet most struggle to consistently request feedback because manual follow-up requires dedicated staff time they can’t afford.

Email marketing automation transforms review collection into a systematic process that runs without intervention. HubSpot’s automated review request workflows trigger personalized emails 24 hours after service completion when satisfaction is highest, while HubSpot’s smart content features dynamically insert the customer’s specific service details and cleaner’s name for a personal touch.

Additionally, when integrated with HubSpot’s Service Hub, the system automatically routes four to five star reviewers to public review platforms while directing dissatisfied customers to internal feedback forms, protecting online reputation while capturing valuable service improvement insights.

5 Important Features for a Cleaning Company Email Marketing Software

  1. Mobile-First CRM Access for Field Teams: Cleaning businesses need email marketing platforms that work seamlessly on mobile devices. HubSpot’s mobile app enables cleaning crews to access customer communication history, update job statuses, and trigger automated email sequences directly from job sites. For instance, when a cleaner marks a service as complete in HubSpot’s mobile CRM, it automatically initiates the review request email sequence and schedules the next recurring appointment reminder. HubSpot’s offline sync functionality ensures that field updates made without an internet connection automatically update once reconnected, preventing communication gaps when teams work in buildings with poor connectivity.
  2. Service-Based Pipeline Customization: Standard sales pipelines often fail to match the unique workflow of the cleaning industry, which spans from quote request to recurring service management, necessitating extensive customization capabilities. HubSpot’s custom pipeline builder allows cleaning companies to create separate tracks for residential one-time services, recurring maintenance contracts, and commercial RFP processes — with HubSpot’s deal stage automation triggering specific email sequences at each phase. For example, HubSpot’s pipeline automation can send immediate quote follow-ups when prospects enter the “Estimate Sent” stage, deliver onboarding packets when deals move to “Contract Signed,” and queue renewal campaigns 60 days before commercial contracts expire in the “Renewal Pending” stage.
  3. Scheduling and Route Management Integrations: Email marketing effectiveness for cleaning companies depends on seamless connection with operational tools that manage scheduling, routing, and dispatching. Plus, when integrated with route optimization tools, HubSpot’s workflow automation can send arrival window notifications based on real-time traffic data.
  4. Dynamic Quoting and Proposal Tools: Cleaning businesses lose prospects during the lengthy quote-to-approval process, necessitating email marketing software with built-in proposal capabilities that accelerate decision-making. HubSpot’s quote builder creates professional, mobile-responsive proposals that embed directly in emails with e-signature functionality. Additionally, HubSpot’s smart content personalizes pricing based on property size, service frequency, and customer segment, all of which are pulled from the CRM.
  5. Multi-Channel Automation Workflows: Modern cleaning customers expect communication through their preferred channels, requiring email marketing platforms that coordinate messages across multiple touchpoints, including email, SMS, and social media. HubSpot’s workflow builder creates sophisticated multi-channel sequences that adapt based on customer preferences and behaviors. For instance, sending booking confirmations via email while delivering day-of-arrival notifications through SMS. HubSpot’s branch logic enables different communication paths for residential versus commercial clients, while its re-engagement automation identifies inactive customers and initiates win-back campaigns across channels. Most importantly, HubSpot’s conversation intelligence prevents redundant messaging by tracking all interactions in a unified timeline, ensuring customers don’t receive duplicate appointment reminders through different channels.

How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Cleaning Companies (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your workflows.

Start by documenting your cleaning company’s entire customer journey from initial inquiry through service delivery and retention.

Then, identify every touchpoint where email communication occurs, including:

  • Quote requests
  • Booking confirmations
  • Appointment reminders
  • Rescheduling notifications
  • Payment processing
  • Review requests
  • Contract renewals

Next, map out which team members handle each communication type and note where manual processes create bottlenecks. For residential cleaning services, this might include a 5-step flow from online booking to post-service review request, while commercial cleaning contracts might require a 12-step process, including RFP responses, site visits, and quarterly business reviews.

Document how long each step currently takes and where customers typically drop off to identify automation opportunities.

Step 2: Identify must-have features.

Based on your workflow mapping, create a prioritized list of non-negotiable features your email marketing tool must provide. For cleaning businesses, essential features typically include:

  • Mobile access for field teams (using HubSpot’s mobile app)
  • Scheduling integration to sync appointment changes
  • Automated review request sequences
  • Quote and invoice capabilities (using HubSpot’s Invoice Software)
  • Customer segmentation for residential versus commercial accounts (using HubSpot’s Audience Segment Software)

Consider operational necessities like:

  • Multi-location management if you service different territories
  • SMS integration for day-of notifications
  • Route optimization connections to update arrival times automatically

Rank these features by impact on your daily operations. For instance, if 60% of your revenue comes from recurring commercial contracts, automated renewal reminders should top your list.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit.

Evaluate how quickly your team can adopt each platform by requesting demos and free trials focused on your specific use cases. Then, test critical workflows with actual team members who’ll use the system daily (i.e., have schedulers create appointment confirmations, field supervisors update job statuses from mobile devices, and office managers run basic reports).

Pro tip: Pay attention to training requirements and ongoing support availability, especially during evenings and weekends when cleaning businesses often operate; be sure to consider whether the platform requires dedicated administrators or if team members can self-serve for routine tasks (like updating email templates or pulling performance reports).

Step 4: Check cost at scale.

Calculate the total cost of ownership beyond initial pricing by projecting expenses as your cleaning business grows. Factor in:

  • Costs per contact as your database expands
  • Additional user licenses when you hire more cleaners
  • Premium features you’ll need as operations become more complex
  • Potential integration costs with your existing scheduling or accounting software

Also, remember to include hidden expenses (i.e., implementation consultants, ongoing admin support, and time lost to manual workarounds) if the platform lacks critical features. Then, compare this against potential revenue gains from improved customer retention, increased booking rates from automated follow-ups, and time savings from eliminating manual communication tasks.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot.

Select an email marketing platform that can grow and adapt with your cleaning business rather than forcing you to switch systems every few years. Look for comprehensive solutions that combine email marketing with CRM, scheduling, and reporting capabilities to avoid the “Frankenstein tech stack” problem many growing businesses face. HubSpot’s extensive platform exemplifies a solution-oriented, unified approach, helping Botkeeper save $100,000 annually.

Prior to onboarding its employees onto HubSpot’s CRM, Botkeeper struggled to maintain a plethora of disconnected tools, leaving the business with a more-than-fragmented stack of tools. But with the help of HubSpot’s diverse CRM system (including Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub), Botkeeper was able to migrate 300+ people, including 60+ sales users, as well as deploy three full-time employees (FTE) to do more important, less time-consuming tasks.

Botkeeper’s success with HubSpot’s tools proves that an investment in HubSpot isn’t another expense. It’s a revenue multiplier, growth accelerator, and efficiency engine for companies of all sizes.

How to Create Email Marketing Campaigns for Cleaning Companies

Step 1: Define your campaign goals and target segments.

Start by establishing clear objectives for each email campaign based on your cleaning business’s growth priorities.

Your goals might include:

  • Increasing recurring residential bookings by 25%
  • Winning back dormant commercial clients
  • Promoting seasonal deep-cleaning packages during peak periods

Segment your contact database into actionable groups:

  • Residential one-time customers: Target for recurring service conversion
  • Commercial property managers: Focus on contract renewals and upsells
  • Inactive customers (90+ days): Design win-back campaigns with special offers
  • High-value recurring clients: Prioritize retention and referral requests
  • Geographic service areas: Customize messaging for different neighborhoods

Pro tip: HubSpot’s Marketing Hub enables cleaning businesses to set measurable campaign goals with built-in tracking for conversion rates and revenue attribution.

Step 2: Build your email list with permission-based tactics.

Grow your subscriber base through ethical collection methods that comply with CAN-SPAM regulations while attracting qualified cleaning prospects.

Check out some effective list-building strategies for cleaning businesses below:

  • Place email signup forms on high-traffic pages (like pricing calculators and service area maps)
  • Offer downloadable cleaning checklists or seasonal maintenance guides (in exchange for email addresses)
  • Include opt-in checkboxes on quote request and booking forms
  • Collect emails during in-person estimates with tablet-based forms
  • Add QR codes to service vehicles linking to special offer landing pages

BTW: HubSpot’s form builder creates mobile-responsive intake forms that cleaning companies embed on service pages, quote requests, and booking confirmations.

Step 3: Choose campaign types based on customer journey stages.

Select email campaign formats that align with where customers are in their relationship with your cleaning service, such as:

  • Welcome series (new subscribers): Thank you message with service overview, introduction to your cleaning team and values, first-time customer discount or incentive, and service area confirmation and availability
  • Booking confirmation and reminder sequences: Immediate confirmation with service details, 48-hour reminder with preparation checklist, day-of notification with cleaner details and arrival window, and post-service feedback requests
  • Seasonal promotion campaigns: Spring deep-cleaning packages (March – April), holiday prep services (November – December), move-in/move-out specials (May – September), and commercial facility maintenance (quarterly)

Remember: Different touchpoints require different messaging strategies to maximize engagement and conversion.

Step 4: Design mobile-responsive email templates.

Create professional email designs that display correctly across devices. HubSpot’s drag-and-drop email editor provides cleaning businesses with industry-specific templates that automatically adjust for smartphone, tablet, and desktop viewing.

If you were wondering what your email template should include, here’s a list quick-hit list of design elements that you should use for any (and all) cleaning company emails:

  • Clear company branding: Logo, brand colors, and consistent fonts
  • Prominent call-to-action buttons: “Book Now,” “Get Quote,” “Schedule Service”
  • Before/after service photos: Visual proof of cleaning quality
  • Trust signals: Insurance badges, certifications, review ratings
  • Contact information: Phone, email, and service area details in every footer

Step 5: Write compelling subject lines and preview text.

Craft attention-grabbing subject lines that achieve 25 to 35% open rates typical for service businesses while avoiding spam triggers.

Here are a few high-performing subject line formulas to get you started:

  • Urgency-based: “Last-minute opening tomorrow in [Neighborhood]”
  • Benefit-focused: “Get your weekends back with recurring cleaning”
  • Seasonal: “Spring cleaning special: 20% off deep clean services”
  • Personalized: “[Name], your next cleaning is scheduled for Tuesday”
  • Question-based: “Ready for a cleaner office environment?”

Pro tip: HubSpot’s Breeze AI suggests optimized variations based on cleaning industry benchmarks and recipient behavior patterns.

Step 6: Set up automated workflow triggers.

Configure smart automation rules that send the right message at the optimal moment based on customer actions and timing. HubSpot’s workflow builder connects email campaigns with CRM data, ensuring cleaning businesses deliver personalized communications without manual intervention.

The following key automation workflows for cleaning companies:

  • Quote follow-up sequence: Triggers 24, 72, and 168 hours after estimate delivery
  • Service anniversary campaigns: Celebrates one-year milestones with loyalty rewards
  • Weather-based promotions: Sends gutter cleaning offers before storm seasons
  • Re-engagement series: Activates after 60 days of inactivity with win-back offers
  • Contract renewal reminders: Initiates 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration

Step 7: Test and optimize campaign performance.

Implement A/B testing to continuously improve email performance based on data-driven insights rather than assumptions. If you’re new to A/B email testing, start with HubSpot’s testing tools to measure multiple campaign variables simultaneously.

To help you start A/B testing smoothly, these are elements to test for your cleaning company emails:

  • Send times: Morning (7 to 9 AM) vs. evening (5 to 7 PM) for residential clients
  • Discount amounts: 15% off vs. $50 off for first-time customers
  • Image styles: Before/after photos vs. team member introductions
  • CTA placement: Top of email vs. multiple throughout content
  • Email length: Brief 3-sentence messages vs. detailed service explanations

Step 8: Analyze results and scale successful campaigns.

Review campaign analytics to identify top-performing emails that drive bookings and revenue growth.

These are the critical metrics for cleaning company email campaigns:

  • Open rate: Target 25-35% for service businesses
  • Click-through rate: Aim for 3-5% on booking links
  • Conversion rate: Track quote requests and completed bookings
  • Revenue per email: Calculate average value generated per send
  • List growth rate: Monitor monthly subscriber increases
  • Unsubscribe rate: Keep below 0.5% to maintain list health

Once you’ve identified campaigns that exceed these benchmarks (for at least three consecutive sends), document:

  • Winning campaign templates
  • Subject lines
  • Automation workflows that consistently generate results

Then, replicate these proven formulas across different customer segments and service offerings to maximize your email marketing ROI.

Pro tip: HubSpot’s reporting dashboard visualizes key metrics that cleaning businesses need to track ROI and optimize future campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best email marketing tool for cleaning companies?

The best email marketing tool for cleaning companies depends on your business size, budget, and specific operational needs.

For growing cleaning businesses seeking comprehensive automation, HubSpot’s Email Marketing Software offers the most complete solution with integrated CRM, scheduling workflows, and AI-powered optimization.

Pro tip: When choosing your next email marketing tool, select a platform that can automate your unique workflow while providing mobile access for field teams and integration with your existing scheduling tools.

What features should I look for in email marketing tools for cleaning companies?

Essential features for cleaning company email marketing tools include:

  • Mobile CRM access for field teams to update job status in real-time
  • Automated appointment reminder sequences to reduce no-shows
  • Integration with scheduling and routing software
  • Customizable quote and invoice templates
  • Review request automation
  • Customer segmentation for residential versus commercial accounts

These other features are also must-haves:

  • Multi-channel communication (email plus SMS)
  • Territory-based personalization for different service areas
  • Revenue attribution reporting to track which campaigns drive recurring contracts

Additionally, advanced features like predictive engagement scoring and dynamic content personalization can significantly improve conversion rates as your cleaning business scales.

Is HubSpot good for cleaning companies?

Yes, HubSpot is particularly well-suited for cleaning companies due to its comprehensive feature set that addresses industry-specific challenges.

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub enables cleaning businesses to automate the entire customer lifecycle while maintaining personalized communication at scale.

As previously mentioned, the platform’s mobile app allows field teams to access customer information and trigger follow-up sequences from job sites, while Breeze AI helps optimize send times and subject lines for maximum engagement. Plus, the free tier makes it accessible for startups, while enterprise features support multi-location operations with thousands of recurring clients.

How much does email marketing software for cleaning companies cost?

Email marketing software for cleaning companies ranges from free to $500+ per month depending on features and contact volume. HubSpot’s paid tiers range from $9/month for Starter to $3,600/month for Enterprise-level features.

When calculating costs, factor in hidden expenses like:

  • Implementation fees
  • Training time
  • Integration costs with existing tools
  • Potential admin support needs

Can email marketing software integrate with my existing cleaning business tools?

Yes, modern email marketing platforms offer extensive integration capabilities with cleaning-specific software for scheduling, routing, invoicing, and customer management.

While HubSpot’s integration ecosystem doesn’t presently connect with popular field service tools like Jobber, ServiceTitan, and Housecall Pro, it does have direct linkages with accounting software including QuickBooks and Xero. Plus, through Zapier or other native APIs, you can connect email campaigns with route optimization tools, payment processors, review management platforms, and even smart home access systems for keyless entry coordination.

The right integrations eliminate manual data entry, prevent double-bookings, and ensure consistent communication across all customer touchpoints.

Meet HubSpot, the Top Email Marketing Choice for Cleaning Companies

HubSpot stands out as the premier email marketing solution for cleaning businesses by offering enterprise-level automation capabilities at price points that work for companies at every growth stage.

Unlike traditional field service software that charges per technician or requires costly custom implementations, HubSpot provides a robust free tier, making professional email marketing accessible to solo cleaners and multi-location operations alike.

Key HubSpot Features for Cleaning Companies

  • Free Forever Foundation: Start with comprehensive email automation, and booking forms at no cost, then scale features as your client base grows without switching platforms or losing historical data.
  • Integrated Service Workflows: Connect scheduling, dispatching, and invoicing tools while automatically triggering appointment reminders, review requests, and renewal campaigns based on service history and customer segments.
  • 360-Degree Customer View: Track every touchpoint from initial quote request through recurring contract renewal in one timeline, ensuring any team member can see complete service history and communication logs.

Proven Real-World Impact with HubSpot

Before adopting HubSpot, SANDOW Design Group, a Florida-based media agency, struggled immensely with navigating a complex tech stack — too many processes, not enough results, and a lack of collaboration and understanding between sales and marketing teams.

However, with the help of Marketing Hub, SANDOW Design Group was able to develop a more agile, user-friendly email design experience, resulting in better email marketing communications and 30% growth in B2B subscribers. Moreover, they were also able to reduce email campaign build time by 97% by implementing HubSpot’s drag-and-drop email builder and workflow automation.

All-in-all, HubSpot’s true power lies in its scalability — start free with basic email automation, add Marketing Hub as you grow, and integrate Service Hub when you’re ready for advanced customer support features. With built-in tools for route optimization, review management, and revenue attribution reporting, HubSpot eliminates the need for multiple disconnected tools that drain your budget and complicate your operations.

Ready to see how HubSpot can transform your cleaning company’s customer communications? Get started with HubSpot’s free email marketing tools today.

Best email hosting for small business: our picks

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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First impressions start in the inbox.

That old free Gmail address might still work… but it’s quietly hurting your brand.

Still using a free Gmail account for your business? It’s time for an upgrade. A professional email address gives you credibility, security, and control: everything free inboxes lack.

We’ve rounded up the best email hosting providers for small businesses in September 2025, with clear pricing and key features to help you choose the right fit.

Why email hosting services are so important

Email hosting is all about building trust and keeping communication secure. And when you open your inbox right now, most professional messages you see come from hosted business domains. What are its benefits?

  • Professional image: An address like john.doe@acme.com instantly looks credible, unlike johndoeacme@yahoo.com.
  • Security and compliance: Paid plans include enterprise-grade spam filtering, malware protection, and encryption. For industries like healthcare, HIPAA-compliant hosting is non-negotiable.
  • Reliability: Business hosting guarantees uptime and consistent access to your email, even during spikes in activity.
  • Scalability and storage: As your team grows, you can add accounts and expand storage without managing servers yourself.
  • Collaboration tools: Many providers bundle calendars, contacts, and file sharing to simplify teamwork.
  • User management and support: You control access through admin tools and get responsive, human support when needed.

Most providers offer these basics, but the real difference lies in pricing, scalability, and performance, especially if you manage multiple mailboxes.

How to choose an email host

In 2025, business email hosting options range from simple IMAP mailboxes to full productivity suites with calendars, chat, and collaboration tools. Before you decide, review what really matters (and what’s just a bonus).

Must-haves (non-negotiables)

These are the essentials every small business should look for:

  • Scalability. Affordable entry-level plans with the flexibility to add users or upgrade storage as your team grows.
  • Security and privacy. Built-in spam filtering, malware protection, encryption, and two-factor authentication. Bonus points for providers operating under EU/Swiss privacy laws.
  • Reliability and uptime guarantees. At least 99.9% uptime with clear SLAs so you can depend on consistent access.
  • Support and ease of use. Responsive customer service and migration assistance if you’re switching from another host.
  • Storage and attachments. At least 10 GB per user (preferably 30 GB+) if your business handles large files or frequent attachments.

Nice-to-haves (depends on your needs)

These features can enhance productivity but aren’t essential for everyone:

  • Productivity suite integration. Calendars, file storage, and video calls.
  • Shared inboxes or team collaboration tools: Useful for customer support or marketing teams.
  • Advanced admin controls: Centralized account management, role-based permissions, and reporting dashboards.
  • Regional data centers: Choose this if compliance or data residency is a priority.
  • AI-powered tools: Some modern platforms include smart replies, email scheduling insights, or spam learning algorithms.

Once you’ve outlined your must-haves, compare plans side by side; not just for price, but for how they fit your current workflows and growth plans.

PS. If you need a way to sell and market, not just communicate, Transpond is a capable email marketing platform that integrates seamlessly with Capsule CRM.

Best email hosting solutions for small businesses

Google Workspace (Gmail for Business)

Google Workspace is one of the most popular options for small businesses thanks to its low entry price point and rich feature set.

Pricing plans (billed annually with a 16% discount):

  • Starter, at $6.30 per user per month
  • Standard, at $12.60 per user per month
  • Plus, at $22 per user per month
  • Enterprise with custom pricing

Every plan includes Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Chat, and Meet, with a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Key features

  • Professional email on your own domain with Gmail’s familiar interface
  • Collaboration tools like Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Meet, all accessible across devices
  • Spam filtering, two-factor authentication, and strong admin controls
  • 30 GB to 5 TB of storage per user, depending on the plan

Pros

  • Smooth integration with Google’s productivity apps
  • Simple onboarding for teams already using free Gmail accounts
  • Robust security and centralized admin controls

Cons

  • Subscription costs scale quickly as you add users
  • Limited flexibility outside Google’s ecosystem

Best for:

Small businesses that value simplicity, collaboration, and familiarity. Ideal for teams that already rely on Google tools like Docs and Sheets and want a trusted all-in-one environment.

Hostinger

Hostinger’s business email hosting offers one of the best solutions for a competitive price in the market.

Pricing plans

  • Business Starter, at $2.99 per user per month
  • Business Premium, at $5.99 per user per month

Every plan includes a free domain for 1 year, 50 email aliases, and at least 1000 emails/day per inbox.

Key features

  • Auto-replies for when you are away and want to respond
  • Audit logs to track all mailbox activity
  • End-to-end encryption to keep the data safe
  • Catch emails sent to mistyped addresses
  • Integration with Outlook, Gmail, CRM tools, and more

Pros

  • Relatively cheap with a 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Easy setup and migration
  • Advanced security for your email
  • 24/7 support to assist you

Cons

  • Offers only two plans, which are not super flexible
  • Storage per mailbox might be lacking for some users

Best for:

Individuals and small businesses that want a user-friendly platform and excellent value for the money spent.

Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online)

Looking for an email host that fits naturally into the Microsoft tools you already use? Microsoft 365 combines Exchange email with Office apps such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel — making it a solid choice for many small and midsize businesses.

Pricing (per user/month):

  • Exchange Online Plan 1: $4 50 GB mailbox
  • Plan 2: $8; 100 GB mailbox and 150 MB attachments
  • Business Standard: $12.50; everything from Plan 2 plus Office apps and Teams
  • Business Standard (no Teams): $10.25

Key features

  • Custom domain email via Exchange, accessible across web, desktop, and mobile
  • Advanced security: anti-spam, anti-malware, encryption, and eDiscovery
  • Tight integration with Microsoft Office apps and Teams
  • 99.9% uptime SLA and 24/7 customer support

Pros

  • Familiar Outlook experience with seamless Office integration
  • Enterprise-grade security and compliance (GDPR, DLP, HIPAA)
  • Generous mailbox sizes (50–100 GB)

Cons

  • Higher learning curve for new users
  • Licensing structure and plan names can be confusing

Best for

Businesses that already rely on Microsoft tools for daily operations or need strict compliance and strong data protection. A solid pick for B2B teams that want everything (email, meetings, and files) under one Microsoft roof.

Zoho Mail (Zoho Workplace)

Zoho is mainly known for its all-in-one business tools (CRM, invoicing, and help desk software), but it also offers Zoho Mail, a privacy-focused email hosting service that fits neatly into the same ecosystem.

It includes a forever-free plan for up to five users (5 GB per user), which works well for freelancers or very small teams. Paid tiers expand both mail and file storage:

  • Mail Lite: €0.90/user/month,5 GB mail storage, unlimited seats
  • Mail Premium: €3.60/user/month, 50 GB mail storage
  • Workplace Standard: €2.70/user/month, 30 GB mail + 100 GB file storage
  • Workplace Professional: €5.40/user/month, 100 GB mail + 1 TB file storage
  • Workplace Enterprise: custom pricing with advanced identity management

All plans include Zoho WorkDrive, Calendar, and ToDo, while Directory and eProtect appear in higher tiers.

Key features

  • Ad-free email hosting integrated with Zoho Workplace
  • Built-in AI assistant to suggest replies and manage tasks
  • Free plan for up to five users
  • Multi-region data centers for performance and privacy

Pros

  • Competitive pricing and flexible entry-level options
  • Simple, intuitive interface that’s easy to onboard
  • Integration with Zoho’s wider suite of business tools

Cons

  • Some advanced features (like eDiscovery) are limited to higher tiers
  • Occasional performance dips and smaller storage caps on free plans

Best for

Small businesses already using Zoho apps or looking for an affordable, ad-free email solution that covers the essentials.

Proton Mail (Proton Business)

When privacy tops your priority list, Proton Mail stands out as the go-to option. Built and hosted in Switzerland, it’s governed by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws and uses end-to-end encryption to secure every message.

Proton offers plans for individuals, families, and businesses, but only business plans include admin controls and multiple user management. There’s no free tier for Proton Business, though a 14-day trial is available.

Pricing (per user/month):

  • Mail Essentials: €6.99, 15 GB mail storage, 10 addresses per user
  • Mail Professional: €9.99, 50 GB mail storage, 15 addresses per user
  • Proton Business Suite: €12.99, 1 TB storage, full productivity suite, Optional add-ons: Proton VPN (€6.99), Proton Pass (€1.99), Proton Drive (€7.99 for 1 TB).

Key features

  • End-to-end encryption with open-source cryptography
  • Self-destructing messages and metadata protection
  • Swiss-based data centers under strict privacy regulation
  • Bridge app for using Proton Mail with Outlook or Apple Mail

Pros

  • Unmatched privacy and security credentials
  • No ads, tracking, or data mining
  • Anonymous sign-up option for extra discretion

Cons

  • No free plan for business use
  • Some encryption options (like subject-line protection) are not standard
  • Requires the Bridge app for third-party mail clients

Best for

Businesses handling sensitive communications or operating in regulated industries that require airtight privacy, secure hosting, and multiple addresses per user.

IONOS Mail and Microsoft Exchange

Want a professional email address for just a few dollars a month? IONOS Mail delivers exactly that: affordable business email hosting with the flexibility to add Microsoft Exchange if you need more power later on.

Pricing (per account/month):

  • Mail Basic 1: $1.10, 2 GB storage
  • Mail Basic 25: $2 25 accounts, 2 GB storage each
  • Mail Business: $3 — 50 GB storage per user (five users cost $22 total) These prices require a three-year contract.

Exchange users can access additional features such as Microsoft-preferred architecture, geo-redundant setup, and multiple domain controllers for $4.50 per user/month (one-year term). You can also bolt on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for just $1 per user/month.

Key features

  • Custom domain with free registration included
  • Spam and virus filtering, plus scheduling and email templates
  • Shared calendars and contacts in Exchange plans
  • 24/7 support and integration with the IONOS website builder

Pros

  • Some of the lowest-priced business mailboxes available
  • Easy upgrade path to Exchange or 365 without switching providers
  • Domain hosting and email are bundled under one roof

Cons

  • The control panel can feel dated and unintuitive
  • Premium features require commitment to higher tiers or add-ons

Best for

Businesses that want cheap, reliable email hosting tied to their domain, with the option to expand into Exchange or Microsoft 365 when collaboration needs grow.

Fastmail

If you want to move away from big ecosystems like Google or Microsoft but still expect reliability, Fastmail offers a clean, privacy-focused alternative. It combines custom domain email and strong security: all without ads, tracking, or unnecessary add-ons.

Fastmail supports business accounts with custom domains. Its privacy stance and minimalist design make it a favorite among teams that value simplicity.

Pricing (per user/month):

  • Basic: $3, 5 GB email, 1 GB file storage
  • Standard: $5, 50 GB email, 10 GB file storage
  • Professional: $9, 100 GB email, 50 GB file storage

Only the Standard and Professional tiers allow integration with third-party apps like Outlook or Apple Mail. The Professional plan also includes email retention and compliance features.

Key features

  • Custom domain support with modern web and mobile apps
  • Advanced search and filtering with JMAP protocol support
  • Masked email addresses to protect your primary identity
  • Built-in calendar, contacts, and file storage tools

Pros

  • Fast, intuitive interface with a strong focus on productivity
  • Great privacy and no ad-tracking policies
  • Reliable uptime and responsive customer support

Cons

  • Pricier per user than budget-focused hosts
  • No built-in office suite or deep collaboration features

Best for

Small teams and professionals who want a private, fast, and uncluttered email host with the essentials covered, and none of the ecosystem lock-in.

Rackspace Email

When uptime and real human support matter more than flashy features, Rackspace Email is a solid choice. It’s built for businesses that can’t afford downtime, with a 100% uptime guarantee and 24/7 support from real people, not bots. Despite being more enterprise-leaning, its entry price makes it accessible for small businesses, too.

Rackspace keeps things simple with one core plan and a couple of optional upgrades.

Pricing (per mailbox/month):

  • Standard mailbox: $2.99 — 25 GB mailbox, 30 GB file storage
  • ActiveSync add-on: +$1 — shared calendars, contacts, and Microsoft Office app compatibility
  • Advanced security add-on: +$3 — attachment scanning, unlimited storage, and email retention for compliance-heavy sectors

Key features

  • Business email hosting with optional shared calendar and contact tools
  • Compliance with HIPAA and SOC 2 standards
  • 100% uptime guarantee and 24/7/365 live support
  • Optional archiving, retention, and Exchange add-ons

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade reliability and security for a small-business price
  • Generous storage allocation for base plans
  • Excellent support and compliance coverage for regulated industries

Cons

  • More complex setup compared with lighter hosts
  • Tailored more toward mid-size businesses; it may be too robust for solo users

Best for

Small and mid-size businesses in regulated industries such as finance or healthcare that value compliance and hands-on support over extensive integrations or productivity add-ons.

Greatmail

When all you want is solid email hosting on US-based servers, Greatmail delivers exactly that. Founded in 2003, it’s one of the few providers that focus purely on email.

Pricing (per mailbox/month, minimum 5 users):

  • Standard: $1.95 — 10 GB mailbox storage
  • Groupware: $3.95 — 25 GB mailbox storage plus shared calendars and contact sync

Key features

  • IMAP/POP email hosting with custom domain and multi-domain support
  • Shared calendars and contact sync in the Groupware plan
  • SPF, DKIM, and DMARC support for high deliverability
  • Migration assistance and responsive admin support via phone or ticket

Pros

  • Low entry price and flexible mailbox options
  • Strong focus on email deliverability and security protocols
  • US-based data centers for businesses that require domestic hosting

Cons

  • Basic interface without collaboration tools or modern design
  • A minimum five-seat purchase may not suit freelancers or very small teams

Best for

Small businesses that want reliable, inexpensive IMAP hosting without productivity suites: just dependable email that does what it’s supposed to.

Mailbox.org

When privacy and independence from big tech are non-negotiable, Mailbox.org stands out as a trustworthy choice. Based in Germany, it’s known for its commitment to data protection, transparency, and green infrastructure; without leaning on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Migration is straightforward, there are no ads, and every plan operates under strict German and EU privacy laws.

Pricing (per user/month):

  • Light: €1, 2 GB of email storage
  • Standard: €3, 10 GB of mail and 5 GB of file storage
  • Premium: €9, 25 GB of mail and 50 GB of file storage

Key features

  • Custom domain hosting with built-in office suite and video conferencing
  • End-to-end PGP encryption and ISO 27001-certified data centers
  • 100% renewable energy operations and GDPR-compliant policies

Pros

  • Exceptional privacy standards and full data sovereignty within the EU
  • Integrated productivity tools and collaboration features
  • Transparent, ad-free environment focused on security

Cons

  • Interface feels dated compared to slicker alternatives
  • Pricing can add up for larger teams or heavy storage users

Best for

Privacy-conscious small businesses that value security and European data hosting, but with enough collaboration tools to replace mainstream ecosystems.

Conclusion

At first glance, most email hosting services look the same: similar prices, familiar promises, identical checklists of features. But once you dig in, real differences emerge: some prioritize privacy, others collaboration or scalability.

The best choice depends on what you value most, but one thing’s certain. Anything beats using a free, generic email address if you want customers and partners to take you seriously.

Once your communication is set up, it’s time to connect it to the bigger picture. Capsule CRM lets you link every email, contact, and interaction, so you can nurture leads, close deals, and run segmented campaigns… all in one place.

Start for free and give your communication the structure it deserves.

The 11 best low-cost CRMs for small businesses

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

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Small businesses have a lot of expenses to manage, so the idea of adding another monthly subscription for a CRM can feel like a luxury. Many owners worry about high fees, complicated features they’ll never use, or surprise costs hidden in the fine print.

At the same time, relying on old methods often makes it harder to stay on top of client conversations and opportunities.

That’s where low-cost CRMs step in. They strip away the bloat and give small firms just what they need: a clear view of contacts, deals, and ongoing relationships.

This article looks at 11 of the best affordable CRMs on the market today, starting with Capsule CRM, which consistently stands out as the most practical choice for small firms.

What makes a CRM “low-cost, high-value”?

For many small businesses, the decision to invest in software comes down to simple math: will this tool save enough time or win enough new business to justify the cost?

A low-cost CRM has to do more than carry an attractive price tag: it needs to deliver real value.

What “low-cost” really means for small businesses

Low-cost CRMs are built with the realities of small businesses in mind. Most firms don’t have the budget for enterprise licenses, training, or consultants to manage their systems. They need software that can be up and running quickly, without complex setup or hidden extras. A low-cost CRM, then, isn’t just about being cheaper but also about offering the right features at a fair, predictable price.

Criteria for low-cost, high-value CRMs

1. Free plans or affordable entry tiers that are genuinely usable

A free trial is helpful, but many small firms need a free or budget-friendly plan they can use long-term while they grow. “Free” should mean functional: the ability to add contacts, track a pipeline, edit a lead profile, or manage follow-ups. If a plan locks essential features behind expensive upgrades, it’s not truly low-cost.

2. Transparent pricing without forced onboarding fees

Hidden charges are one of the biggest frustrations small businesses face with software. A low-cost CRM should make pricing simple: a flat monthly fee, per-user pricing, a one-time payment, or simply a clear tier system. Predictability matters as much as affordability.

3. Core features that cover daily needs

The most valuable CRMs don’t overload small businesses with dozens of modules they’ll never touch. Instead, they focus on essentials like:

  • Contact management → keeping all client details, emails, and notes in one place.
  • Sales pipelines → visualizing where deals stand and what actions come next.
  • Task reminders → staying on top of calls, meetings, and deadlines.
  • Reporting –> simple insights into what’s working and what isn’t.

These features form the backbone of everyday client management, and they need to work well even in lower-cost tiers.

4. Flexibility to grow without cost spikes

A low-cost CRM shouldn’t trap you. As a business adds more clients, projects, or staff, the software should scale smoothly. That means affordable upgrades, not sudden leaps into enterprise pricing. A good system grows with you, instead of forcing a costly CRM migration just as your business grows.

Why value matters as much as cost

For small businesses, time is often more scarce than money. A low-cost CRM earns its keep if it saves hours of manual data entry or keeps your business up and running. That’s what “high-value” really means: not bells and whistles, but a system that makes daily work easier and more reliable at a price that makes sense.

Best cheap CRM software for small businesses

“Cheap” in this context doesn’t mean low quality: it means getting strong functionality without overpaying. The goal is a CRM that fits the budget of a small business while still handling real client work reliably.

Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM strips away the noise of enterprise tools, giving teams a lean, capable system that scales at a fair price.

Why it’s low-cost / high-value

  • Generous free tier for small users. Up to 2 users can use Capsule free forever, giving small firms a no-risk entry point.
  • Transparent, predictable pricing. Pricing is published clearly (Starter, Growth, Advanced, Ultimate) without hidden onboarding fees or surprise modules.
  • No forced upsells on core features. Essential CRM tools like contact management, pipelines, tasks, and reporting are included; you don’t need to pay extra for features many consultancies rely on.

Standout features

  • Customizable pipelines. Define stages and deal flows that match your sales or consulting process, not a rigid preset.
  • Tracks automations. Create “tracks” (automated workflows) to trigger follow-ups or reminders when conditions are met.
  • Task management/activity reminders. Associate tasks and follow-ups to contacts and deals.
  • Gmail / Outlook integration. Log emails, link them to contacts, and keep communication connected without switching tools.
  • Project boards. Once a deal is won, shift it into a project board to track deliverables visually (e.g., Kanban style).
  • Dashboards & reporting. Built-in dashboards let you view pipeline health, business conversion metrics, and task performance.

Ideal for

Small consultancies, freelancers, and SMEs that want a CRM that stays out of the way while providing structure. If you want to avoid paying for every little add-on and just have a reliable CRM that grows with you, Capsule is a strong choice.

Reviews

Capsule has solid user feedback on G2 and other platforms.

One reviewer said:

“It’s easy to set up… the project boards are very handy too.”

Another:

“Customer support has always been absolutely first class … the learning curve was very quick.”

Critics do point out that reporting capabilities at the lowest tiers are somewhat limited, and the mobile app isn’t always as full-featured as the desktop.

Pricing

  • Free. Up to 2 users, includes basic contact & pipeline features.
  • Starter. ~$18/user/month. Adds more contacts, email templates, shared inbox, and basic reporting.
  • Growth. ~$36/user/month. Includes automations, multiple pipelines, project boards, advanced reporting, and team permissions.
  • Advanced & Ultimate. Higher tiers focused on larger teams, richer contact enrichment, higher limits, and priority support.

Start simple with the free version, then upgrade when you’re ready to see how Capsule scales with your work.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM offers flexible pricing that scales gradually, giving small consultancies room to grow. Its customization depth is useful, though setup may take time.

It works especially well when you want a CRM solution that grows, start simple and unlock extras later.

Standout features

  • Contact management tools. Zoho helps you store, organize, and access all your contacts in one central system.
  • Lead management. You can track leads from first touch all the way through to conversion.
  • Track customer interactions. Every call, email, meeting, or note can be logged and tied back to the right record.
  • Custom reports. Design dashboards and reports that align with your business goals (not just default charts).

Considerations

  • The free tier is limited in users and functionality, so serious teams will likely move to a paid plan.
  • Some advanced automation features and AI tools are only available in higher-priced editions.
  • The interface and depth of customization can feel overwhelming initially, especially for small teams.
  • While Zoho integrates well inside its ecosystem, connecting to some third-party tools may require extra paid modules or technical effort.

Pricing

Zoho CRM’s pricing starts with a Free Edition for up to 3 users. Paid tiers include:

  • Standard: $20/user/month, for essential CRM functions.
  • Professional: $35/user/month, with more automation and workspace flexibility.
  • Enterprise: $50/user/month, includes AI and expanded customization.
  • Ultimate: $65/user/month, for maximum scale, analytics, and support.

Zoho CRM brings strong capabilities to the table, though consultants who prefer simplicity might find its depth more distracting than helpful.

Less Annoying CRM (LACRM)

Less Annoying CRM is aimed at small teams that value practicality and clear organization above customization.

That simplicity means fewer barriers to entry, and fewer headaches down the road.

Standout features

  • Contact and customer data history. Every call, note, file, or interaction is tied to the same record.
  • Pipeline management. Supports basic pipelines that help you track where prospects are in your process.
  • Task reminders & calendar sync. Set reminders, sync with Google/Outlook calendars, and never miss follow-ups.
  • Unlimited custom fields & reporting. Let you shape the tool to your business and pull basic reports on contacts, activity, and pipeline health.

Considerations

  • It is not built for large sales teams or complex sales organizations; advanced workflows or team-level automation are largely absent.
  • It lacks automated lead scoring or more sophisticated predictive tools, which some growing firms will want.
  • Integration options are limited compared to more extensible CRM systems; connecting to niche tools may require custom work.
  • Advanced analytics and in-depth dashboards are minimal; reporting is basic by design.

Pricing

One flat plan: $15/user/month, no tiers, no hidden fees. Like many “cheap” CRM offerings, the power comes in knowing exactly what you’re getting without unexpected costs.

Less Annoying CRM delivers what many small businesses need – predictable pricing and core functionality – but for firms that need advanced features or deep team tools, it may feel limiting.

HubSpot CRM (Free Sales Hub)

With its free tier for unlimited users, HubSpot CRM provides a low-barrier entry for small firms getting their first system in place. Its close link to HubSpot’s marketing tools helps when outreach becomes a bigger focus.

HubSpot CRM lowers the entry barrier for small firms by offering a free CRM plan that scales with new users.

Standout features

  • Contact database. Manage and segment all your contacts with rich contextual data.
  • Pipelines & deal management. Track deals through stages to help you close deals more predictably.
  • Email tracking & templates. Send and monitor emails directly from the CRM with notifications.
  • Basic automation. Build simple workflows and triggers to reduce repetitive work.

Considerations

  • The free plan handles the basics, but advanced business features live in paid “hubs.”
  • Deep automation or custom logic is locked behind higher tiers.
  • As your list of high-value customers grows, you may hit limits in free tools.
  • Reporting and analytics are more restricted compared to paid plans.

Pricing

HubSpot offers its core CRM for free, letting teams add capabilities later through the Sales, Marketing, or Service Hubs.

HubSpot CRM works well as an entry point for small teams, but its advanced tools can feel excessive before your processes mature.

Pipedrive

With clear pricing and a sharp focus on deal flow, Pipedrive gives sales-first teams structure without the distractions of complex CRM suites.

That focus makes it practical for teams that value efficiency over customization.

Standout features

  • Visual pipelines. See deals as cards in stages, making it easier to prioritize and move opportunities.
  • Workflow automation. Automate repetitive tasks like status changes, notifications, and simple follow-ups.
  • Communication capabilities. Integrated tools make it easy to send and track emails directly within the CRM.
  • Contact & customer information sync. All client details, history, and interactions live in one place.

Considerations

  • Reporting in the entry plans covers only the basics; meaningful insights and customization appear once you move to the upper tiers.
  • More advanced automations sit behind higher-tier plans or paid extensions.
  • Pipedrive stays firmly sales-focused, so anyone expecting full marketing capabilities will need separate tools.
  • Handling client relationships after a deal closes often requires creative workarounds or integrations with customer success platforms.

Pricing

Pipedrive doesn’t offer a free plan, but there is a 14-day free trial. Plans start at about $24/user/month for the Essential tier, with higher tiers adding automation and team features.

Pipedrive gives sales-focused small teams a clear, efficient CRM setup, though firms that rely on advanced marketing or analytics may find noticeable gaps.

BIGContacts

BIGContacts offers a simple path into CRM use through a capped free plan and affordable paid options. It’s practical for small teams that want structure for their client data but don’t require complex integrations.

You won’t get every advanced module, but it includes more than just the bare minimum.

Standout features

  • Contact management. Consolidate names, email histories, notes, files, and custom fields in unified records.
  • Email workflows. Automate reminders, drip-style follow-ups, or alerts tied to contact stages.
  • Visual sales pipeline. A drag-and-drop board makes it easy to shift deals between stages as your sales cycle progresses.
  • Project tie-ins/opportunity linking. Tie tasks, activities, and follow-ups directly to deals and contacts, helping with account management post-sale.

Considerations

  • As a CRM provider aimed at small businesses, it may lack the depth or modularity found in larger suites.
  • The CRM setup is generally straightforward, but some integrations or custom workflows may require manual tweaking.
  • It doesn’t aim to replace full enterprise software; big firms with heavy needs for reporting, security, or scale may find it lacking.
  • It includes basic service tools, but more advanced customer support capabilities will require add-ons or complementary tools.

Pricing

  • Free / Forever Free allows up to 100 contacts with core features.
  • Business plan starts around $9.99/month for 1,000 contacts, with more users and premium features.

BIGContacts delivers strong basic CRM and pipeline capabilities for micro-businesses, but if your team demands advanced analytics or deep support, it may not take you all the way.

Nimble CRM

Nimble takes a people-first approach to CRM, emphasizing quality interactions and lasting connections.

It’s best suited for consultants and small firms that build business through relationships, not high-volume selling.

Standout features

  • Unified inbox/communications history. All emails, social messages, and notes are centralized so you see the full context per contact.
  • Social profile data enrichment. Pulls in public social and web data to build richer contact profiles.
  • Visual pipelines. Track deals with drag-and-drop interfaces, clearly showing where each opportunity stands.
  • Workflow automations & reminders. Automate simple follow-ups or moves in your deal flow to reduce repetitive tasks.

Considerations

  • It’s less suited for teams that depend heavily on rigorous data management and complex operations.
  • Some features that support business strategy (e.g., advanced forecasting) are limited or only available in higher tiers.
  • Integration with external tools is solid, but customizing deep business processes may require workarounds.
  • As contact volumes and deal complexity grow, you may find gaps in analytics or scalability for small business teams.

Pricing

Nimble doesn’t offer a free tier, but it provides a 14-day trial. Paid Nimble plans start at $29.90/user/month.

Nimble CRM works well for firms that grow through relationships and personal service, though it can feel limited for operations that depend on heavier systems.

Salesflare

Salesflare is an automation-led CRM designed for small B2B teams. It minimizes manual data entry so teams can focus on conversations and deal flow rather than upkeep.

It’s particularly useful for firms aiming to scale sales processes without expanding operations staff.

Standout features

  • Email sync & auto-logging. Captures email activity and links it to the correct contact without manual input.
  • Lead tracking & enrichment. Surfaces signals about promising prospects by pulling in extra data and interaction history.
  • Pipeline automation. Tasks, reminders, and stage transitions can trigger automatically, smoothing your sales flow.
  • Mobile access & inbox sidebars. Use the CRM from your phone or directly inside Gmail/Outlook, making it easier to stay on top of activity.

Considerations

  • For deep customer relationships work (like support tickets or customer success), it’s not as full-featured as some larger platforms.
  • Customization of dashboards and reports is decent, but not as flexible as in enterprise CRMs.
  • Because it automates much of the tracking, mapping logic must be set up correctly.
  • It focuses heavily on sales workflows, so teams needing heavy post-sale modules or service tools may find gaps.

Pricing

Salesflare offers a free trial. Plans begin at $29/user/month (Growth), move to $49/user/month (Pro), and top out at $99/user/month (Enterprise) with added features like custom dashboards, team permissions, CRM training, and migration services.

Salesflare provides helpful automation for teams that want a streamlined CRM experience. It’s best suited for sales-focused workflows rather than end-to-end operational needs.

Folk CRM

Folk CRM offers a modern, lightweight setup for teams that need more structure than a simple contact list but don’t want the weight of a full enterprise platform.

Because it centralizes both contacts and activity, small firms can view client interactions as part of an ongoing relationship rather than one-off touchpoints.

Standout features

  • Centralized platform across tools. Bring together your communications and schedules by syncing email, calendar, and LinkedIn data into a single, organized view.
  • Customizable pipelines. Shape your pipeline to match your actual sales instead of adjusting your work to legacy structures.
  • Built-in email marketing & templates. Run email campaigns or outreach from within the CRM using templates and scheduling.
  • Historical data & enrichment. Logs past interactions and uses tools like folkX to enrich contacts automatically.

Considerations

  • Reporting and analytics are fairly basic; deep dashboarding is not Folk’s strongest suit.
  • Because it emphasizes simplicity, you won’t find advanced admin controls or enterprise-grade modules.
  • While integrations exist, some niche tool connectivity may require using Zapier or custom workarounds.
  • The mobile experience is improving, but some users report limitations compared to the desktop interface.

Pricing

Folk offers a free trial for new users. Its entry-level paid plan starts at $25/user/month, scaling upward for more contacts and features.

Folk CRM gives small firms a well-rounded system that stays simple to use. Teams needing deeper reporting or enterprise-level oversight, however, may find its scope limited.

Monday CRM

Monday CRM combines customer management with everyday project tracking, offering small teams a visual, board-based workspace. It works well for firms that prefer one adaptable system instead of switching between multiple tools.

The platform’s customizable templates make it easy to shape workflows around how your team actually operates.

Standout features

  • Customizable boards. Create boards for your pipeline and adjust each column to fit your process, from first contact to close.
  • Automation rules. Take care of routine updates and notifications, helping work move forward automatically.
  • Dashboards & reporting. Pull data into visual dashboards to monitor performance.
  • Web forms & lead capture. Embed forms to collect lead info directly into your pipeline.

Considerations

  • To use Monday CRM beyond a basic use case, you’ll need at least three users, which raises the entry cost for solo consultants.
  • Some advanced automations or reporting features are reserved for higher-cost tiers.
  • Because it blends project and CRM features, it may feel more complex than a lean budget-friendly CRM built only for sales.
  • As your workflow grows more complex, you might hit limits in how far boards and automations can scale.

Pricing

  • Basic: ~$12/seat/month, includes unlimited contacts, pipelines, and boards.
  • Standard: ~$17/seat/month, adds 2-way email sync, account/deal management.
  • Pro: ~$28/seat/month, adds advanced analytics and automation.

Monday CRM provides a mix of sales and project tools, ideal for teams that manage both pipelines and delivery. Firms looking for a lighter, sales-only setup may find it more expansive than required.

Insightly

Insightly ties sales tracking and project coordination together, helping teams move from deal to delivery with less handoff.

It’s often used by small businesses that want a unified system.

Standout features

  • Projects linked to deals. Convert won opportunities into project tasks and milestones.
  • Workflow automation. Set rules to send follow-ups, update fields, or trigger actions when deal stages change.
  • Centralized contact data. Have a unified view of each client, where all communication and records sit together for quick reference.
  • Customizable dashboards. Build reports and views that align with how your business tracks progress and performance.

Considerations

  • The free trial is limited; there isn’t a permanent free tier for up to three users under the newer pricing structure.
  • While it handles contact, project, and sales workflows, it’s less focused on customer support or post-sale service modules out of the box.
  • Some users note performance lags or complexity in setup when customizing for larger datasets or workflows.
  • Because of its breadth, there’s a steeper onboarding curve; getting the entire team aligned on how to use both CRM and project tools may take time.

Pricing

  • Insightly offers a free 14-day trial.
  • Paid plans start at $29/user/month (Plus), with a Professional tier at ~$49/user/month and Enterprise at ~$99/user/month.

Insightly combines sales tracking and project management in a single system, offering a structure where many tools separate the two. It can, however, feel a bit heavy for firms that prefer minimal setups or focus mainly on client support.

Take care of customer relationship management today!

Your CRM should feel like a silent teammate, not another expense to manage. The right CRM improves client service by giving every team member visibility into the sales process.

The best CRM is one you’ll actually use: simple where possible, powerful where needed. Capsule nails that balance: it’s built for small firms that want clarity.

7 Best Customer Marketing Strategies for SMBs

Software Stack Editor · October 28, 2025 ·

Customer marketing transforms one-time buyers into brand advocates who drive growth.

For small businesses, it means shifting focus from the high costs of chasing new prospects to maximizing the value of customers who already trust the brand – and are easier to sell to.

In this article, you’ll discover seven effective customer marketing strategies to generate predictable revenue and sustainable business growth from your existing customer base.

Key takeaways from customer marketing

  • Customer marketing focuses your efforts on existing customers who already trust you instead of only chasing new prospects.

  • Focusing on existing customers drives more revenue through upgrades or selling additional products while keeping acquisition costs low.

  • Programs like referrals, loyalty rewards and VIP treatment turn satisfied buyers into advocates and prevent churn.

  • Pipedrive tracks customer history, automates follow-ups and helps you segment by value so you can focus on marketing strategies that drive the highest returns – try it free for 14 days.

What is customer marketing?

Customer marketing definition: Customer marketing takes a customer-centric approach by focusing marketing efforts on the existing customer base. Your business encourages current customers to buy more, stay loyal and refer others

While many businesses focus on customer acquisition, this approach overlooks easier revenue opportunities.

Customer marketing focuses on your current customers, who already know your business. They’ve experienced your value first-hand and may be more willing to re-purchase.

According to Smile.io research, customers who buy from your online store once have a 27% chance of buying again. Their second and third purchase probability goes up further.

customer marketing repeat customers

Your existing customers become more valuable over time, with each purchase building trust and familiarity with your business.

Still, you can’t treat all customers the same way. Someone who bought from you once needs different attention than a customer who’s been with you for years.

There are three key elements to effective customer marketing based on your buyers:

  1. Segmentation – segment according to people’s customer engagement and purchase behavior

  2. Personalization – create messages that address specific customer needs

  3. Progression – strengthen customer relationships and move them toward higher value

You need to understand where each customer sits in their journey with you. Then, create clear paths that guide them toward higher value and deeper engagement.

Benefits of customer marketing

Customer marketing gives you a head start over acquisition. You skip the awareness and consideration stages altogether.

The customer journey becomes shorter and you start with warm leads instead of cold leads every time.

Download our customer journey map template

Start mapping your customer journey with our free customer journey template.

Here are some of the benefits of customer marketing for small businesses:

Higher profitability

Why it works: Your existing customers are more profitable than new ones.

Example: Say your acquisition cost is $500 per customer and you sell software plans of $1,000 annually. When users renew next year, you make $1,000 in profit instead of $500. Moreover, you already know their specific needs.

Cost-effective growth

Why it works: Existing customers require less marketing budget and effort.

Example: A B2B SaaS company may spend $5,000 on ads to get five new trial users. However, an upgrade email to existing users might convert more for the cost of one email blast.

Revenue expansion

Why it works: Existing customers are easier to upsell and cross-sell.

Example: A three-person sales team uses your basic software plan at $50 per user. When the team doubles, your customer marketing manager sends an email offering additional seats. They upgrade immediately, adding $150 in monthly revenue. No re-pitch required – they already trust your solutions.

Competitive protection

Why it works: Satisfied buyers become loyal, improving customer retention rates.

Example: Your customers get cold emails from competitors with promotions, but are reluctant to change service providers. A 20% off offer in HR software isn’t attractive when they’ve already built their processes in your system. They’d have to start over and lose the relationship they’ve built with your team.

Business insights

Why it works: Long-term buyers give you better customer feedback and data.

Example: Say you run a survey and find out most of your customers prefer using the mobile app. So you improve the mobile experience, which helps you sell more effectively to similar sales prospects.

Now that you understand why customer marketing works, learn why it’s different from lifecycle marketing in a fundamental way.

Customer marketing vs. lifecycle marketing

Customer marketing and lifecycle marketing differ in timing.

Customer marketing starts after the first sale. You increase customer satisfaction, build loyalty and move customers toward advocacy. The main focus is developing the post-purchase relationship for retention and repeat purchases.

Lifecycle marketing starts before potential customers know you exist. You create marketing for every customer touchpoint along the journey – from brand awareness to advocacy.

Customer marketing is one function of lifecycle marketing, while the latter spans the whole journey.

Most businesses need both approaches for successful growth. Yet, small-scale business owners often focus on acquisition and miss out on crucial customer retention opportunities.

Recommended reading

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10 reliable ways to delight the customer and amplify customer loyalty

7 successful customer marketing strategies for SMBs

Customer marketing strategies work best when they match your current business stage and customer needs..

Here are some successful marketing strategies you can use.

1. Customer onboarding campaigns

A customer onboarding campaign is a sequence of emails that guides new customers.

You design these emails to educate customers or help them achieve milestones. For example, helping them set up their first sales pipeline or importing their contact list.

The main goal of these emails is to move customers from “I’m just signed up” to “I’m getting value”. If customers don’t get value quickly, they may churn.

An onboarding campaign can have the following email sequence:

First milestone email (e.g., create an email campaign or import contacts)

SMB benefit: Onboarding campaigns work better for small businesses that need to educate customers. If customers can understand your offer without guidance, onboarding may be unnecessary.

Here’s an example of an email from Pipedrive’s onboarding sequence:

customer marketing pipedrive onboarding email

This is a milestone email to help customers import data. Rather than making customers log into their account and navigate to the feature, Pipedrive provides a handy “Let’s go!” button.

The message also includes a link to a video tutorial. This gives customers additional support if they need more guidance on the import process.

2. Upselling and cross-selling

Upselling and cross-selling marketing help you promote upgrades and complementary products to get more value from customers.

Upselling campaigns promote premium versions of products your customers already use. For instance, you may market a pro plan to customers who are on your software’s basic plan.

Meanwhile, cross-selling campaigns promote additional or new products that complement customers’ purchases. For example, a buyer who’s upgraded to your pro plan may need your consulting services.

SMB benefit: Upselling and cross-selling increase customer lifetime value without adding acquisition costs. Higher lifetime values mean you can invest more in your business growth

Take Grammarly, the writing assistant that marketing teams can use to create content faster. Here’s how it subtly upsells to its customers:

customer marketing grammarly upselling

When you use the free plan, Grammarly catches basic spelling and grammar errors – providing immediate value. Pro suggestions appear greyed out as you write, promising to improve your content quality.

SMBs can instantly see how a product upgrade benefits their limited resources, which makes the sales conversation easier.

3. Customer loyalty programs

Customer loyalty programs are reward systems that give customers incentives to keep buying.

They typically involve points, tiers or membership benefits. You structure these programs so customers earn rewards after reaching a specific milestone.

A few examples for a small SaaS provider can include:

  • “Pay yearly, get 15% off”

  • “Refer a client, earn $100 credit”

  • “Spend $,5,000 yearly, unlock VIP support”

SMB benefit: Loyalty programs are critical for SMB management and success because you can turn occasional customers into predictable revenue. Users earn rewards for repeat purchases, making them less likely to switch to competitors.

Take how an Amazon Prime subscription can help small businesses get supplies delivered quickly at no extra cost.

Amazon Prime represents a new approach to loyalty programs. Instead of using point accumulation, it creates loyal customers through upfront membership fees.

customer marketing amazon prime

The subscription offers fast shipping, exclusive discounts and access to other Prime products.

Because of these benefits, Prime members may be more motivated to buy from Amazon. They’ve already paid for the benefits, so they’ll want to maximize their investment.

If loyalty works for Amazon, you can make it work for your valued SMB customers.

4. Customer advocacy programs

Customer advocacy programs turn your happiest customers into brand ambassadors who promote your business through content creation and customer stories.

This content may come in the form of:

Advocacy initiatives recognize a simple truth. Happy customers often enjoy sharing their wins. Your job is to give them easy ways to share those stories.

SMB benefit: Advocates create authentic marketing content. Sales prospects trust real customers more than ads, making social proof more effective for SMB sales than any campaign you could run.

Atlassian owns project management tools like Jira and Trello, which small teams can use to track tasks and collaborate on projects.

Here’s how Atlassian’s community champion program turns customers into advocates

customer marketing atlassian champion

Atlassian looks for customers with deep product expertise. The company gives these champions free course vouchers, exclusive champion-only spaces and even direct access to the Atlassian team.

Champions create educational content about Atlassian products in return. They host webinars, mentor other users and speak at conferences.

This advocacy feels natural because it builds on real expertise and genuine enthusiasm – an ideal scenario in the tech industry.

5. Referral programs

Referral programs are a word-of-mouth strategy in which customers refer others to your product or service.

Referrals involve giving both the referring customer and the new customer a reward. This reward often comes in the form of:

A referral program works because it leverages the existing trust between customers and their networks. When someone gets a recommendation from a trusted source, they’re more likely to pay attention to it and dismiss any sales pitch.

SMB benefit: Referral programs are one of the most effective ways of acquisition. Instead of paying upfront for advertising that may not deliver results, you only pay when someone brings you a new customer.

Consider Dropbox. Small businesses can use the cloud storage service to collaborate on documents and back up important data.

Here’s how Dropbox’s referral program makes both existing and new customers willing to take part:

customer marketing dropbox referral

You just need to sign up for Dropbox and send an email or referral link to your contacts. If one of them joins Dropbox, you both get an extra 500 MB (Basic users) or 1 GB (Plus users) of space.

Everyone benefits from this interaction. Dropbox gains a new customer and users win more storage space.

This makes the referral process feel mutually beneficial rather than a transaction.

6. Win-back campaigns

Win-back campaigns try to re-engage customers who stopped using your product or service.

It often involves sending emails with compelling offers to convince customers to buy from you again. The email may start with a simple “we miss you” message and escalate to special discounts.

Win-back strategies work because former customers are easier to convert than new customers. They already know your business and have experience with your product.

SMB benefit: When you have a limited marketing budget, reaching out to former customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. You’re essentially skipping the awareness stage and going straight to conversion.

At the same time, by understanding why customers left, you prevent future customer churn.

Canva’s design tool is popular among small businesses looking to create professional-looking marketing materials.

Here’s how the brand re-engages customers:

customer marketing canva strategy

After you’ve been on the free plan for a while, when you log into Canva, a pop-up offers you 30 days of premium features for free. This achieves several purposes:

  • Removes the cost barrier that made you downgrade

  • Reminds you of premium features you’re missing

  • Creates urgency with a time limit

  • Provides value without risk

When you can remind customers of specific benefits, your win-back strategies become more compelling.

7. VIP/exclusive programs

VIP programs provide exceptional customer experiences to high-value customers.

The value of these customers is often based on their spending or strategic importance. Losing one usually costs far more than losing an average customer. They represent a considerable amount of your revenue, so it makes sense to invest in extra resources to keep them happy.

Keeping high-value customers is more about risk management. Not an optional customer service enhancement.

SMB benefit: Retaining high-value customers becomes even more critical for SMBs. If you generate $500k a year and a customer account for $75k, losing them means losing 15% of revenue.

Small businesses rely on Microsoft tools for daily operations – from email to file sharing. Here’s how its Premier Support program provides VIP treatment to high-value clients:

customer marketing microsoft partners

The program offers a dedicated account manager, faster response times, workshops and in-depth customer support.

A key component of this strategy is recognizing that the cost of extra services is far less than losing high-value customers and that VIP marketing efforts help preserve their lifetime value.

Recommended reading

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Campaign management for SMBs: benefits, best practices and top tools

How to implement customer marketing strategies with Pipedrive

While Pipedrive’s customer relationship management (CRM) software manages your sales pipeline and tracks customer interactions, it can also power your customer marketing efforts.

The platform streamlines email campaigns, identifies high-value customers and segments audiences for targeted marketing.

Here are three ways Pipedrive supports some of the customer marketing strategies outlined in this article.

1. Automate email sequences with Campaigns

Pipedrive’s Campaigns feature automates your email campaigns and customer communications directly from your CRM.

With this customer marketing solution, you can send onboarding sequences or win-back marketing campaigns.

Create an automated email campaign by going to Campaigns > Automated campaigns > + Campaign.

customer marketing Pipedrive automated campaign setup

Enter the trigger, condition and action. For example, to build a welcome sequence that includes tutorial videos on day one, set:

  • Trigger as “deal won”

  • Condition as a label for “new customer”

  • Action as “send email immediately”

customer marketing Pipedrive campaign automation

Once your campaign is live, you can track open rates and click-throughs to see which messages resonate best with your customers.

The drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to design professional emails. You can customize your messages by adding your brand colors, images and CTA buttons.

Pipedrive in action: Trainify, a corporate education company in Latvia, struggled with disconnected email marketing and CRM tools. Every campaign required the company to export contacts from its CRM into its email tool first. This process wasted hours each week and created errors when the data didn’t sync properly.

After switching to Pipedrive’s CRM and adding the Campaigns feature, Trainify consolidated all contacts on a single platform. Email campaigns now pull data directly from the CRM without manual exports or imports, saving the company two hours every week.

2. Track customer value with deal data

Pipedrive stores metrics and information about every customer sale in your deal records.

You can see purchase history and product preferences all in one place. The deal records help you identify which customers spend the most in your business. You can spot patterns like:

customer marketing Pipedrive deal view

From these insights, you can identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities.

Example: You might notice a client’s marketing team has grown from five to 10 people. Their current plan only covers five seats, which signals a perfect moment to reach out about upgrading.

Pipedrive in action: Snug, a subscription rental housing platform, relied on spreadsheets to track customer data. This manual process made it difficult for the sales team to access and act on information.

With Pipedrive, everything moved into a centralized system. Custom fields and automation helped Snug’s small sales team prioritize leads more effectively,boosting its prospect list growth by 40% a month.

3. Segment customers with labels and filters

Pipedrive lets you organize customers into groups using labels and custom filters.

You can create segments based on purchase behavior, engagement levels or customer value. Think of these segments as customer personas that help you send the right message to the right people.

customer marketing Pipedrive leads filter

Example: You might create labels like “VIP customer”, “upsell ready” or “at risk of churning”. Apply these labels to deals or contacts based on the patterns you spot in your customer data.

When you need to run a specific campaign, filter your contact list by label to target exactly the right people.

Pipedrive in action: UK-based marketing agency Creative Race struggled to monitor prospects’ movements across the pipeline, leading to missed sales opportunities and poor forecasting.

With Pipedrive’s customizable fields, CreativeRace built targeted customer lists and maintained accurate data across its dashboards and reports. The payoff:a 600% year-over-year boost in client acquisition.

Final thoughts

Customer marketing can increase revenue per customer, reduce churn and turn satisfied customers into brand advocates – all while keeping marketing costs low.

Instead of chasing new, costly prospects, you focus on those who already trust and know your value.

Pipedrive gives you the tools you need to implement effective customer marketing strategies. You get automated campaigns, customer segmentation and value tracking in one platform.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial to grow your SMB through your existing customers.

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