Top 5 email marketing software for agencies

It is important for marketing agencies to manage diverse client needs and execute effective campaigns. Email marketing, in particular, remains a cornerstone of successful digital strategies, demanding robust software that can handle segmentation, automation, analytics, and deliverability at scale. In addition, you need tools that not only streamline their own operations but also empower them to provide exceptional value to their clients across various industries. So, here are a few of the best options for you to explore for your email marketing needs.

MailerLite

MailerLite is often praised for its ease of use and affordability, making it appealing for small businesses. This is because it offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop email builder, which can simplify campaign creation for various clients. Its automation features, even in lower tiers, allow for basic sequence setup, and list segmentation helps agencies tailor messages for different client audiences.

However, this tool does have a few drawbacks. Crucially, MailerLite’s free and lower-tier plans often include MailerLite branding on emails, which is unprofessional for agency clients who require white-label solutions. In addition, you cannot create advanced automation workflows, essential for creating complex, client-specific customer journeys and lead nurturing. These features are offered behind high[priced plans, which start at $35 per month, if you want up to 5,000 subscribers. If you want more, then the pricing goes higher.  Detailed reporting and analytics, vital for agencies to demonstrate ROI, may not be as robust or customizable as in platforms designed for agencies. This limits your ability to make the best email marketing campaigns for multiple clients.

While it does offer a Facebook integration, it does not have extensive in-built integration capabilities with other CRM, e-commerce, or analytics tools, which agencies often need to manage diverse client tech stacks. For agencies managing multiple clients, scaling costs can become a concern as the number of contacts across all clients grows. MailerLite’s primary focus is on individual businesses, not agencies, which means agency-specific features like client sub-accounts or dedicated agency dashboards are often absent or rudimentary, making client management less streamlined.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact is a well-established email marketing platform often recommended for small businesses due to its user-friendly interface. The platform has a drag-and-drop email builder, AI copy generator, and a variety of email templates. This makes it easy to use, and allows you to create different campaigns for your diverse set of clients. It also provides basic automation and reporting features across its various plans.

However, for a marketing agency, Constant Contact may not be enough. Its pricing can be relatively high compared to other platforms, especially as the number of contacts across all clients grows, impacting an agency’s profitability. The lightest plan starts from $80 per month for up to 5,000 subscribers, and is not sufficient for agencies. This is because most of its best features like scheduled sends, A/B testing, and dynamic content are locked behind the more expensive plans.

In addition, this pricing goes up depending on the number of subscribers added. For example, if you have 45,001 to 50,000 subscribers, which is standard for most agencies, then you’ll have to pay $430 per month, that too for the basic plan. This makes it cost-prohibitive for agencies targeting thousands of email recipients for different clients.  This lack of agency-specific features for managing multiple client accounts efficiently can make it less ideal for your agency.

Moosend

While Moosend offers a user-friendly interface and a good set of core email marketing features,  it presents several limitations that can hinder comprehensive client management and sophisticated campaign execution. On the pro side, Moosend boasts strong automation capabilities with a visual workflow builder, which can be beneficial for setting up automated email sequences for various client campaigns. It also offers good segmentation options, allowing agencies to target specific customer groups for their clients. Moosend has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which can be flexible for agencies with fluctuating client volumes. Its deliverability rates are often highlighted as a positive.

However, for a marketing agency managing multiple clients, Moosend has several significant drawbacks. A key limitation is the absence of comprehensive agency-specific features like dedicated client sub-accounts or a centralized agency dashboard for easy management of multiple client logins and data. This can lead to administrative overhead for an agency. While Moosend offers integrations, its ecosystem is often smaller compared to industry leaders, potentially limiting seamless connectivity with diverse CRM, e-commerce, or analytics tools that your clients might be using.

In addition, Moosend does not have a free plan. Once you’re done with their 30-day trial, you have to opt for a subscription. Its pro subscription costs $48 per month for 5,000 subscribers, which is not sufficient for most agencies. As you grow your client base, you’ll have to pay much higher amounts to target more subscribers. Even with the higher plans, you’ll find that many great features such as priority support are add-ons instead of being part of the subscription. So, all of this can add up quite a bit. This means while Moosend is a solid email marketing tool, an agency might find itself needing to bridge gaps with other tools or processes for truly streamlined and professional client service.

Brevo

While Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) aims to be an all-in-one marketing platform and offers a generous free plan, making it attractive for some small businesses, it presents several limitations when considered as a dedicated email marketing software for marketing agencies. On the plus side, Brevo’s free plan allows for unlimited contacts and a decent daily email sending limit (300 emails/day), which can be useful for initial client testing. It features a user-friendly drag-and-drop email builder and a visual automation workflow builder, allowing agencies to create basic campaigns and automated sequences for their clients. In addition, Brevo includes a built-in CRM, which can be an advantage for agencies managing client interactions. Its multi-channel capabilities (SMS, WhatsApp, web push) can be appealing for agencies looking for diverse communication methods for their clients.

However, the platform also has its fair share of limitations. A major one is that Brevo branding is present on emails in the free and Starter plans, which is highly unprofessional for agencies requiring white-label solutions for their clients. While it offers automation, highly advanced or complex behavioral-based automation workflows are often restricted to higher-tier Business or Enterprise plans. Furthermore, it does not offer very detailed, customizable reporting and analytics, essential for agencies to demonstrate granular ROI and optimize campaigns for their clients.

In addition, the number of pre-designed email templates, while functional, might be less extensive compared to other platforms, potentially requiring more design effort on your end. While Brevo offers various integrations, they are less comprehensive than some agency-focused competitors. For an agency needing robust white-labeling, highly customizable reporting, and truly advanced agency-specific features, Brevo’s higher plans might become costly, pushing it out of the budget range for many small to mid-sized agencies.

PosterMyWall

PosterMyWall may primarily be known as a design tool, but it actually has excellent in-built email marketing features. So, you can handle your email marketing campaigns from design to tracking, all in one place. This makes it a surprisingly strong contender for marketing agencies, especially those prioritizing visually rich campaigns.

The platform offers an incredibly user-friendly drag-and-drop email builder, allowing agencies to quickly design visually stunning and professional email campaigns for diverse clients across various industries, from real estate to fashion. Its vast library of customizable templates, including many designed specifically for business and marketing purposes, significantly reduces design time. Agencies can easily incorporate client branding, logos, and specific messaging to resonate with their Lahore clients’ target audiences. In addition, it supports a wide range of media, including high-quality stock photos, videos, and even has its own AI Writer to help you come up with content and subject lines. The ability to schedule and send email campaigns directly from the platform streamlines the workflow for agencies. In addition, you can also track your campaign performance metrics such as click-through and open rates. Furthermore, you can use PosterMyWall’s Content Planner to manage email calendars and schedule campaigns in advance for multiple clients. The pricing structure, which includes email sending capabilities, can be quite cost-effective, especially for agencies that also leverage its design features. Its most expensive subscription, Premium Plus, costs $29.95 a month, with no limit on the number of subscribers.

However, it may lack highly sophisticated automation workflows, such as complex behavioral triggers or multi-branching customer journeys, which larger agencies might require for highly nuanced client campaigns. The reporting and analytics, while providing essential metrics, might not offer the deep, customizable insights or integration with advanced CRM/analytics tools that agencies need for detailed ROI analysis and client presentations. However, all of this is counterbalanced by the affordable pricing and the convenience the platform offers. This works especially well for small to mid-size agencies, where you have to handle multiple clients with limited resources. Therefore, PosterMyWall is an ideal email marketing solution, covering every step from planning to tracking.

In conclusion, if you want an all-rounder solution for your agency, PosterMyWall is the best bet for you. The best way to make the right decision for yourself is to try out multiple options, and then see what works for you.