Is Mailchimp The Best Choice For New Bloggers?

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Starting your blog’s email list is one of the smartest choices you will make. Choosing a provider for your emails is equally important. One of the most recommended platforms for new bloggers is Mailchimp. They have a lot of awesome features for the new blogger. But the question remains- is Mailchimp the best choice for new bloggers?

Why It’s Great For New Bloggers

One of the major reasons that Mailchimp is recommended for new bloggers is simply because it’s free. You can start building your list today without spending a dime.

This is super appealing for new bloggers (especially those on a budget). Statistics show that about 25% of your visits in a typical day are return visitors. Most visitors will see your site and not return.

This isn’t because you don’t have great content or an awesome blog. It’s simply because there’s a lot of competition out there for their time.

Mailchimp will allow you to subscribe to their free plan which covers up to 2000 subscribers and 12k emails.

Reading The Fine Print

Here’s a little secret most new bloggers don’t realize: depending on the service you use, you can hit this 2000 subscriber limit pretty quickly.

Mailchimp is one of several email providers that has software that doesn’t differentiate between subscribers. So if Jill signs up for 10 of your freebies, Jill is counting 10 times towards your 2000 subscriber limit.

When you explore more expensive, paid options like ConvertKit, they will merge these subscribers to only count for you one time.

It doesn’t mean that it can’t be merged at all- it just means that it is going to be an extra administrative step for you to be aware of.

Gorgeous Templates

Mailchimp is probably one of the best at email newsletter creation. They have several gorgeous templates to choose from that make your emails look like they are professionally done (even if you are just starting out).

I will definitely tell you that Aweber, Active Campaign and Constant Contact is much more DIY than what you see here. Aweber offers several template choices but these are some of the most customizable ones you will find.

Full Integration With Squarespace

For all of my Squarespace users out there- Mailchimp is definitely going to be your best bet. The integration between these two are pretty seamless. If you use another service with Squarespace, integration can be done but it isn’t as easy.

Lauren Hooker of Elle and Company has a great Mailchimp overview you can find here.

When I was in my Squarespace trial, integrating with my email service was very complicated. If you have Squarespace using Mailchimp is simply the easiest way to go.

Mailchimp Is Easy To Learn

Mailchimp has a reputation for being easy to learn. Even switching to a new email service like Aweber or ConvertKit can have a bit of a learning curve for new bloggers/marketers.

If you run into problems using Mailchimp, just click the chimp to get help. They also have a large knowledge base that can help you troubleshoot any issue you may have.

Why Start With A Paid Service

For a new blogger, deciding to go with a paid service vs. the free Mailchimp plan comes down to autoresponders. An autoresponder is a feature that frees up your time by sending automated emails to your new subscribers.

Having an autoresponder may not seem like a big deal when you are starting your list but here’s how it can help you down the road:

• Delivering your lead magnets automatically
• Setting up a series of emails to get your new subscribers connected with your brand
• Delivering an email course

Because let’s face it- life gets in the way of our businesses and blogs sometimes. Having to remember to push out content or a newsletter is tedious and can inevitably hurt your business in the long run.

Investing in a plan with an autoresponder is a great idea for your business. You can get started with a plan for as low as $9/mo.

You Can’t Put A Price On Support

Another thing for you to consider is how much support you get on a free plan. Mailchimp (the free version) only offers live support to you for the first 30 days.

Learning how to use an email service can be tricky (especially if you haven’t done it before). If you are good at following DIY articles you may be able to use a free service with limited support. Otherwise, you may need to look for a paid option simply because you need some help getting everything set up.

Bottom Line…

Mailchimp (the free version) can be a great option for new bloggers because:

• It’s free.
• It’s easy to use.
• There’s a large knowledge database to help you.
• It’s the best choice for you if you are on Squarespace.

To get more customized support you can opt for a paid plan with Mailchimp.

Since many of the best features of Mailchimp come through a paid plan, it would be best for you to check out all of your options to compare and make sure you make the best deal.

Most bloggers will tell you that switching to a new email service provider isn’t the most fun you will have. So whatever choice you make now, you may want to make sure it’s something you can live with for awhile.

So tell me- do you use Mailchimp? What do you think about it? Why did you pick your email provider?