Whoever thought of this logo is a GENIUS!
[This post is part of the Ultimate Guide to Launching a WordPress-Powered Blog series. Check out the rest here!]
One of the most important and strategic things that you’ll do as a blogger is collect emails. It’s a pretty simple concept and not many people think of it often but it can have significant payoff in the long-run.
In fact, one of the biggest and most consistent regrets of some of the most successful bloggers out there is that they didn’t start using a newsletter system earlier!
Why? Well, we’ll get to that in a bit (I’ve got a series around it, so stay tuned!) but the point is this: Get a email newsletter system started today!
Ok? Got it? Great! So, what do I use? That’s easy: MailChimp.
For those that aren’t familiar with MailChimp then let me be the honored person to introduce you to it!
MailChimp is a world-class web service that helps you craft simple, effective, and awesome-looking newsletters! I use it here for the TentBlogger Newsletter as well as for some of my other blogs.
There are more than enough reasons to love MailChimp (besides their awesome logo) so I could take a lot more time going in depth about it (and I won’t) so here are some of my top value call-outs:
- It’s free to start using. Love this for new bloggers who are developing out their newsletter subscriber base!
- The web interface is stunningly-brilliant and intuitive.
- They have an amazing tools and resources to help you learn how to use their system the best. They are all about education (just like me) and want to make sure their users are maximizing their system.
- You can throw in custom designs for your newsletters easily!
- Beautiful metrics and reporting!
It’s the last part that I wanted to briefly highlight. I sent my first TentBlogger Newsletter last week and right after it was sent I jumped into the reporting dashboard:
Click for larger view.
As you can see, the reporting they offer is amazing!
Here’s what it looked like the morning after I first sent it out:
People are opening it! Yay! - Click for larger view.
In addition, you have “Clicks over Time,” “Opens by Location,” and even “Click Performance” by URL within the newsletter:
That is sweet looking.
First links in a newsletter are always clicked the most!
Pretty neat, right? You can quickly track the effectiveness of your campaigns and see what’s really going on!
These are just a few things that I love about MailChimp, so if you’re even considering using a newslettering system (which you should) then consider MailChimp.
And that’s the point (again, for emphasis): Starting a newslettering system is a very important part of your blogging strategy. We’ll cover more details about why in a bit, but start today.
Again, I’ve heard it time and time again that one of the biggest regrets of some of the more successful bloggers is that they didn’t start capturing emails via a newsletter earlier!
Oh, and one more thing: There are a lot of options out there when it comes to email newsletter systems and you’ll find that there are some pretty compelling offers, especially as it relates to affiliate marketing and stuff like that. But here’s one more reason why I am suggesting MailChimp to you: I don’t technically get “paid” to support it! There’s no direct financial return for me to share it with you!
Sure, I get “credits” but I won’t be able to cash those out if I never use them. Here’s the point most simply: I believe in MailChimp so much that I’m willing to support it despite that possibility of financial loss as a result of not using another system. I just think MailChimp is that much better!
So, what do you use?
[This post is part of the Ultimate Guide to Launching a WordPress-Powered Blog series. Check out the rest here!]
Not only is their product great..but their website is brilliantly designed. I don’t know if it’s the chimp or the colors but I can’t stop looking at it
seriously. the design is amazing, and it keeps getting better!
The “new” MailChimp logo is by Jon Hicks.
thanks dude!
I’m HUGE into email marketing and list building (but I’d rather refer to it as Community Building). Email is still, in my opinion, one of the most effective communication and marketing tools available. Keyword being “effective”… and that being at getting through, getting attention and generating a response.
With one of my authors we have grown his list to over 60,000 email newsletter subscribers. Now, just that list alone is a giant platform. When he comes out with a new book we can almost bank on selling several thousand books just off his list without any outside help or promotion. Instant bestseller in most cases.
I use Mailchimp, AWeber, Constant Contact and InfusionSoft. Why all 4? Some clients have different needs and I like to check deliver rates, features, etc. Also checking out BlueSky Factory right now with a client as well. Like them too.
Ironically, I have not added a newsletter to my personal blog but there’s a reason for that.
you should write a post for us here.
I’m a huge MailChimp fan as well, John. I was originally attracted to it because it was free, but was instantly sold when I experienced how intuitive it was, how easy it was to navigate and set up, and how thorough the reports are. My only gripe is that the subscriber count that I have with MailChimp does not integrate with my FeedBurner stats. But it’s still by far the best email system I’ve found. I was pleased to see that it gets your endorsement too!
dude…. it’s SO intuitive!
Hi John,
A friend had set up Email Buddy on my WordPress site. How does it compare to MailChimp? (I haven’t used it yet.) Also, I’m using Feedburner to develop a blog following. Is there a way to tie all of this together? I don’t like the fact that although Feedburner collects email addresses, I don’t get their name.
I’m learning a lot from your blog. Thanks! Jo Rae
really? you can see all of the emails through feedburner for those who have subscribed via email!
http://cl.ly/2s1C0b1w0c073F453500
I can’t tell where you are when you see all the email addresses. Can you please tell me how to find that screen?
And no, I haven’t gotten a gravatar yet. :-/
it’s right here marcy:
http://cl.ly/5N3x
and then go get a gravatar.
;0
Thank you so much; it was way down at the bottom. And yes, I’m working on the gravatar for next time.
word! i like yours!
Thank you!
I was just talking w/ my Lead Pastor about starting an email newsletter for our church. I was going to look at another (paid) option, but after this post, I’ll definitely be taking a look at MailChimp.
Thanks!
mailchimp is perfect for that!
MailChimp HANDS DOWN !!! The best .. Recommend to everyone I can think of.
http://bradh.us/gkELww
- Brad
wah wah!
Email newsletters are so important, just look at what Seth Godin is doing to gain a subscriber base for his new book. http://www.thedominoproject.com/2011/02/poke.html For every 5,000 subscribers they are lowering the cost of his ebook by $1. Genius.
this was a great idea.
Useful post for sure. I was already tracking Mail Chimp once I saw that you and Larry (above) used it. Thanks for the breakdown.
sure thing clay!
I started this, but the process felt a bit tedious. How long did it take you, John?
setting it up? easy! a few minutes, honestly.
What I don’t get is what I would send a newsletter out for?
What;s the benefit?
ahhhhhhhhhhhh! i will talk much more about this…!
Hi John – I was just going back into MailChimp to set my system up yesterday. Low and behold, I see your post this morning about. Thanks for the post. You have just enforced the use of it.
sweet! that is awesome!
Because of your recommendation, I have started a newsletter on newbloghosting.com
We’ll see if it does anything for me!
great! let me know how it goes!
Take-up is slow, but I expected that. I’m going to write a mini e-book as an added incentive, but that can wait.
Interesting selection of people have signed up for it though. Some I’ve never ‘met’ before. In some ways I think it’s already opening new doors and avenues for growth and I haven’t even sent out my first ‘real’ newsletter yet!
that is so cool! you should write about that!
Thanks for the info John. I just signed up for it!
Most impressive! Again, I appreciate your heads up…
sure thing!
Is there a certain plugin you recommend for MailChimp integration and people to signup on your blog?
i don’t have one off the top of my head… i just like the direct link though…!
Yeah, I figured out that was your style after leaving the comment. I’m looking to help a friend set up a blog for when she’s in Africa for 15 months. Wants to keep people informed. I may just go w/ the direct link as well. Thanks!
There are a few plugins, but you can also grab some code straight from MailChimp and use your WordPress Text widget, and people can subscribe straight from your site.
ah. it’s you!
for sure!
sure thing! that’s awesome!
Sometimes I login to MailChimp just to talk to the monkey:)
seriously…….1
So what are some cool a/b tests you’ve done?? Segmenting?
not much to be honest… got any suggestions?
I’ve also been forced to use Constant Contact, and MailChimp kicks it in the teeth. MailChimp is #WINNING!
will you be in charge of the churchmag newsletter? i think that would be great. thanks.
I like your thinkin’.
i like you.
Did you ever get around to writing about WHY to have a mailing list/newsletter? There’s no link in the post. I have some suspicions, but I thought I’d ask.
dennis,
you know what? i don’t think so. let me put this on the list. thanks!
MailChimp offers RSS to email campaigns where you can link your RSS feed (works with feedburner) to MailChimp and send blog updates through email.
I plan to offer 3 different newsletters on my website (subscribers can choose 1 or all 3). In addition I want my email subscribers to be able to subscribe to blog updates. I’m thinking it makes sense to integrate my blog updates by email into MailChimp instead of using feedburner for the email updates. That way readers only have to subscribe to one service for everything instead of mailchimp for newsletters and feedburner for blog updates.
Thoughts? I just want to make sure I won’t regret not using feeburner since that seems to be the popular way to receive blog updates.
i think that’s fine and mailchimp can help you track. But, what about your straight-up RSS feed readers?
I would still use feedburner for RSS feed readers.