8 Marketing Automation Software for your Business

Marketing automation software has become an essential marketing tool in today’s digitally driven world. It empowers marketing teams to create and execute campaigns more quickly, saving time and allowing them to focus on high-level marketing strategies that move the needle.

Whether you’re just starting out or your business is well established, there’s marketing automation software to fit your needs. In this article, we'll explore eight of the best marketing automation tools that can help you grow your business and maximize marketing efforts. Let's get started!

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What is marketing automation?

Marketing automation is a marketing process that leverages software technology to streamline marketing tasks, such as email marketing, lead generation, customer segmentation, and marketing analytics. It increases marketing efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, allowing marketing teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. It helps alleviate the marketing team’s workload, saving time and resources.

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What is eCommerce automation? 

eCommerce automation is a marketing technology that automates marketing tasks related to eCommerce websites. It helps marketing teams manage customer segmentation, marketing analytics, email marketing, and lead generation. This type of automation makes it easier for marketing teams to identify customer needs quickly and accurately.

You can automate your business in all areas, including:

Marketing (email marketing, SMS marketing, social media marketing, content marketing) 

Inventory 

Order fulfillment 

Data analytics 

Project management 

Customer service 

Accounting and invoicing 

Automation can help marketing teams increase efficiency and save time. And 66% of small business employees agree that automation opens the door to more creative projects, like community building and envisioning future products. 

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What are the types of marketing automation software?

Marketing automation software comes in many different shapes and sizes, so let’s start by exploring the different types of marketing automation solutions available to use with your marketing strategy.

Email marketing

The most popular marketing automation platform type is email marketing. Email marketing allows businesses to send messages to their target audiences quickly and easily, allowing them to build relationships with customers and prospects.

When using automation with your email marketing efforts, marketing teams can create automated emails that are triggered based on user activity or inactivity. For example, marketing teams can create a welcome email series for new subscribers or an automated email thanking customers for their purchases. 

Looking for email marketing software for B2C businesses? Check out our list. 

SMS marketing 

SMS marketing is another marketing automation tool that businesses use to reach their target audiences. SMS marketing allows you to quickly and easily send text messages to customers; allowing them to stay in the loop on new product launches or special offers. It can be automated to trigger messages when certain actions occur, such as when a customer makes a purchase or signs up for the subscriber list.

For example, marketing teams can use SMS marketing to send customers a discount code for their next purchase or an automated message thanking them for signing up. You’ll often find that email and SMS marketing platforms are combined for the most effectiveness. 

eCommerce marketing automation

eCommerce marketing automation is a marketing automation platform designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. It helps businesses optimize their marketing efforts by automating tasks such as order tracking, customer segmentation, product recommendations, and more. This type of marketing automation makes it easy to stay in touch with customers and keep them engaged with your products.

For example, marketing teams can use eCommerce marketing automation tools to send customer thank you emails, birthday discounts, product recommendations and back-in-stock notifications.

Be sure to follow best practices for eCommerce marketing automation when you’re ready to get started. 

Multichannel marketing automation

Multichannel marketing automation is a marketing automation platform that helps businesses manage marketing campaigns across multiple channels. This includes email, SMS, social media, and other channels. It allows businesses to create personalized marketing messages for each channel, allowing them to reach their target audiences in the most effective way possible.

An omnichannel marketing approach is the most effective way to reach your target audiences, so marketing teams can use multichannel marketing automation to ensure their messages are consistent across all channels.

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Social media automation software

Social media automation software is marketing automation specifically designed for social media marketing. It allows businesses to automate processes such as posting updates, responding to comments, and managing social media campaigns across multiple platforms. This type of marketing automation makes it easy to stay in touch with customers and keep them engaged with your brand.

For example, marketing teams can use social media automation software to post updates and respond to comments quickly, helping them stay connected with customers on a regular basis or to respond to customer inquiries through the chat feature of some social media platforms.

CRM automation

Combining CRM and marketing automation specifically designed to help businesses manage their customer relationships. It enables marketing teams to track customer data and create marketing campaigns that are tailored to a customer's individual needs. This type of marketing automation allows you to provide more personalized marketing experiences for your customers, making them feel valued and increasing engagement with your brand. It can also be used to improve workflow automation and help save time with your marketing efforts.

For example, marketing teams can use CRM automation to send personalized emails and offers based on a customer’s past purchases or interests. The CRM gathers customer data from all sources, allowing marketing teams to create more targeted marketing messages. Sales teams can also use CRM information as part of their sales automation sequence to help drive conversions.

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Top 8 marketing automation software to elevate your eCommerce business  

Now that you understand the different marketing automation software tools available let’s review the top 8 marketing automation software platforms to help you elevate your eCommerce business.

These platforms include:

• Sendlane
• Mailchimp
• Constant Contact
• Klaviyo
• OmniSend
• Active Campaign
• Campaign Monitor
• Drip

1. Sendlane

Sendlane is an email and SMS marketing software built specifically for online vendors and eCommerce stores. 

Our platform comes loaded with features that make email automation and 50+ Pre-Built Funnels accessible to everyone. With a sleek and easy to use UI, customizing funnels, segmenting your audience and reviewing real-time data is a breeze With this powerful tool in your hands you can start sending campaigns out immediately!

You can set up your cart abandonment flow, back-in-stock notifications, and post-purchase nurture flow ‍to win customers back and boost revenue 

Sendlane's multi-store capabilities make it easy for eCommerce brands to access all of the data they need from one central location and even leverage cross-promotion. Sendlane's dashboard allows you to quickly assess which campaigns are successful and where improvements can be made by tracking engagmenet, revenue attribution, and deliverability - making performance metrics simple.

Sendlane's best features:

• 50+ Pre-built email and SMS funnels to save time and money creating a campaign
• Customizable and professionally designed email templates
• Access to every feature Sendlane offers no matter what plan you sign up for! (SMS added as subscription to any plan)
• Multivariate testing and advanced data analytics to keep track of every campaign
• Customer support available 24/7/365 - even on holidays - in 30 seconds or less

‍Cost:  

Sendlane offers SMS add-on subscriptions which allow you to purchase credit bundles with your email plan as well as a free trial:

• Growth Plans: Start at $83/month for up to 5,000 contacts. You get access to all features, our all-star Product Support Team, the SMS subscription add-on, and access to eCommerce Academy - Email Marketing Basics & SMS Marketing Basics online courses
• Pro Plans: Start at $640/month for up to 50,000 contacts. You get access to everything in the Growth plan, plus custom onboarding, access to our Customer Success Team, monthly program reviews, and access to eCommerce Academy - Email Marketing Basics, Novice, and Intermediate, and SMS Marketing Basics online courses.

SMS/MMS subscriptions start from $100 (monthly) for 5,000 credits, or save even more with annual plans!

• 1 SMS = 1 credit
• 1 MMS = 3 credit 

Who can use it? 

Sendlane is ideal for eCommerce businesses of all sizes. This includes those just starting out, as well as larger businesses. It stands out from the competition with its user-friendly interface and many marketing automation capabilities.

2. Mailchimp

Mailchimp has everything eCommerce stores need to cultivate meaningful connections with their customers - its simple email marketing software is packed with features that make it easy.

You can automate segmented campaigns, set up campaign scheduling, A/B test copy and more. Plus, get detailed reporting on purchase history, browsing behavior and even location-based messages for a truly personalized customer experience.

Mailchimp’s best features:

• Automated abandoned cart email, product reviews and post-purchase campaigns
• Tons of integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento and BigCommerce
• Simple analytics tracking like open rates, click-through rates and revenue

‍Cost: 

Mailchimp offers a free plan for up to 2,500 contacts with limited features. Their cheapest paid plan starts at $13 per month for up to 500 contacts, and goes up to $350 per month for up to 50,000 contacts. For larger contact lists, enterprise pricing is available and goes up from there.

Who can use it?

Mailchimp is ideal for small businesses that are just starting out.  Its intuitive user interface and comprehensive marketing automation features help make it easy by offering the basics.

3. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is marketing automation software that provides businesses with marketing tools such as email marketing, marketing automation workflows, and social media management. It's beginner-friendly but still has super powerful tools to automate your email marketing.

For example, you can send a single welcome email, triggered messages to specific people, or an automated email series that helps with lead nurturing.

It also allows you to segment customers based on their behavior and preferences, so you can easily target the right people for your marketing campaigns. Additionally, it offers marketing automation tools that allow you to automate tasks such as sending out marketing emails and reminders.

Constant Contact's best features:

• Simple marketing automation tools for small businesses
• Segment customers based on preferences and behavior
• Detailed analytics and reporting
• Integrations with other marketing software platforms such as Shopify, Salesforce and Google Analytics.

‍Cost: Constant Contact offers affordable pricing plans to fit different business needs. Their basic plan starts at around $10 per month, allowing up to 500 contacts. For larger businesses, their Email Plus plan is priced at $45 per month, which includes automated marketing and can handle up to 10,000 contacts. The pricing goes up from there depending on the number of contacts needed. Constant Contact also offers a free 60-day trial, so you can try out their services risk-free.

Who can use it?

Constant Contact is ideal for small businesses and organizations. Because of its user-friendly interface and marketing automation capabilities, it's easy for small businesses to get up and running quickly. It's also known for having incredible customer support, online training, and helpful webinars.

4. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is marketing automation software designed to help businesses create marketing campaigns that are tailored to their customers. With the capacity to launch automated email campaigns, segment your customer base and track revenue generated from emails opened, you can stay up-to-date with what customers desire in real-time. Not only that but it can aid in creating a long-term relationship between them and your eCommerce platform so they keep coming back.

Klaviyo's best features:

• Powerful marketing automation tools with easy-to-use features
• Real-time customer segmentation and targeting
• Integrations with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce and Magento
• Detailed reporting so you can track emails opened, clicks, and revenue.

‍Cost: Klaviyo offers three pricing plans that cater to businesses of all sizes. Their Basic Plan is free for up to 250 contacts, while their paid plans start at $20/month for 500 contacts and go up to $110/month for 5,500 contacts, and so on. The prices increase based on the number of contacts you have in your database.

Who can use it?

Klaviyo is ideal for small businesses and marketing teams that are geared toward eCommerce vendors that focus on customer retention. 

5. Omnisend

Omnisend is marketing automation software that offers features such as email marketing, marketing automation workflows, SMS marketing, and more. It integrates with popular eCommerce solutions like Shopify and Magento, making it easy to manage an omnichannel marketing communication strategy.

It also allows for customer segmentation and marketing automation tools so you can easily target the right customers for your marketing campaigns. Additionally, it offers advanced reporting tools to help you track the performance of your marketing efforts.

Omnisend's best features:

• Omnichannel marketing capabilities
• Pre-built eCommerce Workflows
• Drag & Drop Automation Editor
• Automation Splits

‍Cost: Omnisend offers a variety of pricing plans to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Their cheapest plan starts at $16 per month for up to 500 contacts. The price then goes up to $50 per month for 5,000 contacts and so on. Their pricing is flexible and scales up as your business grows.

Who can use it?

Omnisend is ideal for small to mid-sized marketing teams and small businesses who prioritize reporting capabilities. That's because of its advanced reporting features that can help track the success of marketing campaigns.

6. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is marketing automation software that combines email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM efforts  into one platform, making it easier to manage marketing campaigns. It offers features like marketing automation workflows, email marketing, segmentation and personalization tools, as well as integrations with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify.

ActiveCampaign's best features:

• Advanced marketing automation tools
• Real-time segmentation and targeting 
• Detailed insights and analytics
• Integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Magento
• A/B testing capabilities.

‍Cost: ActiveCampaign offers a basic plan starting at $29 per month for up to 500 contacts. For up to 2,500 contacts, the Plus plan costs $70 per month. The Professional plan costs $159 per month for up to 10,000 contacts, and the Enterprise plan offers customized pricing for businesses with over 10,000 contacts. Pricing continues to increase based on the number of contacts.

Who can use it?

ActiveCampaign is a great fit for marketing teams who use multiple channels. It offers marketing automation capabilities, powerful reporting tools, and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to see a high-level overview of all marketing efforts.

7. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is a marketing automation software that offers a straightforward approach to email marketing and marketing automation.  It allows marketing teams to create marketing campaigns using drag-and-drop tools, segment customer groups, and integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify.

Campaign Monitor's best features:

• Simple email marketing tools
• Segmentation capabilities
• Integrates with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify 
• Real-time reporting tools
• Email template builder

‍Cost: Campaign Monitor offers a basic plan for just $9 per month, which includes up to 2,500 contacts. If you need to reach more contacts, their premium plans range from $29 for up to 5,000 contacts, $149 for up to 50,000 contacts, and so on. Pricing goes up from there depending on the number of contacts you need to reach.

Who can use it?

Campaign Monitor is ideal for marketing teams who are focused on email marketing and need an easy way to create, manage, and analyze campaigns. It's great for small businesses who want an all-in-one marketing platform without the complexity of larger marketing automation software.  

8. Drip

Drip is a marketing automation platform that allows businesses to create marketing campaigns and automate marketing tasks. It integrates with popular eCommerce solutions like Shopify and Magento, making it easy to manage marketing efforts across multiple channels.

It's best known for its email marketing automation. It helps marketers build emails, automation workflows, and targeted email campaigns. It also has a robust analytics dashboard to see exactly how your marketing campaigns are working.

Drip's best features:

• Real-time marketing automation
• Powerful segmentation and targeting capabilities
• Integrations with Shopify and Magento
• Advanced analytics and insights
• A/B testing capabilities

‍Cost: Drip's pricing starts with a basic plan at $39 per month, which covers up to 2,500 contacts. If you have more contacts, pricing will range depending on the number of contacts and can go up to $1,899 per month. Additionally, there is an enterprise pricing option that can be customized to fit your specific needs.

Who can use it?

Drip is ideal for marketing teams and small businesses. It offers marketing automation capabilities, powerful reporting tools, and a user-friendly interface, making automation easy to set up.

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Marketing automation is here to stay

Marketing automation software can help marketing teams and small businesses increase efficiency in marketing tasks and better manage marketing efforts across multiple channels. Be sure the marketing automation platform has an easy-to-use interface and integrates with popular eCommerce solutions, so you can hit the ground running with marketing automation.

The right marketing automation platform will help sales and marketing teams increase efficiency in marketing tasks, target the right customers with marketing campaigns, and track customer data for better marketing efforts. With the right marketing automation software, your business will be on the path to growth.

And if you find yourself needing marketing automation, why not take Sendlane for a spin? We're an email & SMS marketing automation platform built to help eCommerce stores (like yours) save time and generate more money on autopilot.

‍Try us out for 60 days and get in touch with our savvy support team! 

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Want to learn more about eCommerce? Check out our similar posts:

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Marketing Automation Software FAQs: