Step into the realm of ConvertKit, the email marketing platform crafted for the creative at heart. It’s a toolkit that empowers bloggers, YouTubers, and podcasters with features like landing pages and email sequences. In this Convertkit Review we’ll dissect its functionalities, evaluate the advantages and drawbacks, and provide comparisons to alternatives like MailerLite, Moosend, and ActiveCampaign. Wrapping up, we’ll address common inquiries about its CRM features, solidifying its status as a top recommendation for digital creators.
What is a ConvertKit?
ConvertKit is labeled as a “creator marketing platform,” but it essentially functions as an all-in-one email marketing software solution with some additional features and enhancements.
Boasting over 60,00,000 users, which includes bloggers, Youtubers, and podcasters, are the target audiences for whom ConvertKit is built.
This is an all-in-one solution that has facilities like seamless email marketing, offering features like a landing page, forms, and a creator network for collaboration growth.
It has a user-friendly interface, comprehensive tools, and unique features like a creator profile and seamless integration, making it a top choice for effective email campaigns.
The free plan offered by ConvertKit provides more features and flexible pricing options, ConvertKit stands out as a valuable resource for those in the creative space.
Features of ConvertKit
Convertkit offers many features. The key highlights are:
- Landing Page and forms
- Email broadcasts and sequences
- Segmentation
- Marketing
- RSS feeds
- Creator Profile and Creator Network
- Commerce features (selling digital products and subscriptions)
- Sponsor Network
- Integrations
Now let’s take a deep dive into all the features mentioned above.
Setting off
Upon your first log-in to convertkit, you’ll be welcomed by a quick survey about how you’ll use the software.
If you are switching from another email tool, convertkit will guide you with specific instructions to smoothly bring over your data. After that, you’ll land on the dashboard.
Soon you’ll find reports here, but firstly, there’s a quick-start guide to assist you with setup.
Use the top navigation bar to access Convertkit’s various tools and features.
These tools are categorized into menus like Grow, Send, Automate, Earn, and Learn.
So, let’s begin with the Grow tools.
Landing Pages
In the grow section, specifically under the Landing pages and Forms, you can create landing pages and forms to expand your email list.
Let’s give it a try!
To start, click on “Create a landing page” to access the template library. Here you can choose from various ready-made templates.
For example, ones designed for gathering events or webinar registrations.
Additionally, there are templates for promoting a podcast, ebook, or other digital products. Also, there are even ‘links’ page templates, which are perfect for creating links in bio pages for Instagram and TikTok.
As we are using Convertkit for email marketing, we will choose one of the newsletter templates that encourages users to sign up for email lists.
When you select a template, it will open up a drag-and-drop landing page builder where you can customize the content and design as needed.
There is a + icon you can use in the preview window to add blocks or elements to the page. Examples could include headings, lists, images, buttons, countdown timers, videos, or even products.
In the editor’s top menu, select “add page” to include a thank you page that will appear automatically for users after they subscribe.
After you’re finished making your page, click publish so that it’ll be ready to share.
Copy the URL and share it on your social media to gather subscribers. Alternatively, you can embed the page on your WordPress site using the convertkit plugin.
Forms
To create opt-in forms on Convertkit, go to grow> Landing pages and forms> create a form. Choose how you want it to appear. Select a template, then use the editor to adjust fields and design.
If you want to change what happens after the user submits the form, click settings. You can add customized messages or redirect subscribers.
To set up a lead magnet, click on the Incentive tab.
You can automatically send an email or redirect users to a download page.
Once done, click Publish to embed the form on your site or get the link for a hosted version.
Creator Profile
Introducing the creator profile, a recently added feature in Convertkit. It allows users to create a page( essentially a mini-site) to serve as their public newsletter feed. Your creator profile page contains a bio, newsletter posts, products, and links.
You have control over which content you want to appear on your Creator profile, and once set up, it stays automatically updated.
When you send a newsletter using the broadcast tool( which we’ll discuss soon ), you can decide whether you want it to be added to your creator profile or not.
Creator Network
Introducing the Creator Network, a fantastic new feature that allows creators to collaborate and grow their email list faster.
After setting up your profile, join the network and explore the creators with similar audiences. And you can add them to the recommendation list. Convertkit will automatically suggest them to your audience (up to 5 creators at a time).
Why would you do this? Recommending others encourages them to recommend you back, increasing your readership.
Plus, you will be featured on the Discover page of Convertkit so that other creators are able to find you.
Well, it’s a win-win for everyone through cross-promotion. Your newsletter gets a new audience and other creators get new readers.
Broadcasts
Now let’s dive into Broadcast, Take a look at the send menu.
In send >Broadcast, you can create, send, and schedule one-time emails.
Click + new broadcast to start and choose a template from either convertkit’s catalog or your saved templates.
The email creator is user-friendly, using the + icon to add blocks, similar to the landing page editor. Note that the product block allows you to embed products for shoppable emails.
The personalization block lets you customize content with liquid snippets, like personalized greetings, and conditional content based on subscribers who have specific tags on their accounts.
The snippet block is a reusable block of content that allows you to create and save yourself, saving time across your emails.
Enter the subject line at the top, and for A/B testing, click the icon to experiment with two variations. Convertkit makes email creation easy!
Once done, you can preview your emails. Then, continue to select your delivery options.
With Convertkit, you can organize your campaigns by segmenting them. You can choose to send broadcasts to everyone, or you can apply filters to target specific subscribers based on segments, demographics, tags, and more.
When you are ready, select when you want to send the email and click continue. Whether you prefer immediate delivery or a scheduled time in the future, it’s up to you.
Sequences
In send>sequences, you can create an email chain that can be sent to subscribers based on triggers.
For as, you might use it to create a welcome sequence when a new subscriber submits an opt-in form that gets sent out.
To begin, click + new sequence. then choose a template
This will bring up the same email creator as the broadcast tool, where you can customize your email content.
This time, you can also click Add Email on the right to create your automated series.
You can determine the interval between each email. For example, you might schedule the second email to be sent one day after the first, and the third email to follow three days later.
The user-friendly interface makes the process of establishing automated sequences easy, and simple compared to other tools.
However, the sequence has its limitations, it is only useful for setting up uncomplicated triggered emails. You also need to explore other tools for more sophisticated tasks.
Visual Automation
In automations > visual automation, allows you to create more complex marketing workflows.
Define the entry point and create paths to send different subscribers down based on actions, events, and conditions.
To begin, click + new automation. Next, you can either click empty automation to start from scratch or select a pre-built template.
Creators benefit from templates If you are a podcaster, you might use the ‘welcome subscribe to your podcast’ template.
Enhance list management with templates like ‘let your subscribers self-segment based on their interests’.
Once you have selected a template, the workflow builder unfolds like a flow chart, simplifying the process of linking events, actions, and conditions into automation paths. It’s easier than you think to work with it.
Rules
Create automation on Convertkit using rules, that involve link triggers and connect to your other marketing tools.
Rules follow a straightforward ‘if this, then that’ logic. Define the trigger (‘if’) and the subsequent action (‘that’).
For example, set up a rule to add a tag to a subscriber’s account when they click a specific link. This way, you can target users with this tag in future email broadcasts.
RSS Feeds
For bloggers and content creators, convertkit offers a robust RSS tool.
Simply go to Automate > RSS> Add feed.
Then enter the feed URL, and select whether you want to notify your subscribers whenever a new post appears or send a scheduled digest with multiple posts.
Similar to regular emails, you can use filters to target specific segments of your list for these RSS emails.
Other Features
Beyond what we have covered, Convertkit has even more to offer.
Products– Sell digital products and subscription memberships to your audience, complete with tools for order fulfillment and transaction management.
Tip Jars– Collect donations from supportive subscribers who want to contribute.
Creator University– You can learn how to earn a living through Convertkit’s extensive course for creators.
Sponsor network– Join Convetkit ’s sponsor network to earn extra revenue by connecting with premium advertisers.
Integrations– Convertkit integrates tons of third-party tools.
Convertkit Pros and Cons
Like every other platform, ConvertKit has pros and cons.
Let’s understand all its pros and cons
Convertkit Pros:
Creator-focused features: Convertkit is made for creators with features like the creator profile and network, reflecting its origins in the blogging and content creation spheres.
Incentive delivery: Convertkit effortlessly sends lead magnets to new subscribers. You can customize the landing page, it’s so easy to offer a second lead magnet without creating a second list.
Impressive interface: Convertkit’s UI is user-friendly, it’s super simple, straightforward to work with, and seamless integration of various tools together.
Good delivery rate: Convertkit has a pretty good delivery rate of 99.8%. It’s all because of the new account approval process. Convertkit maintains a strong sender reputation and also helps in reducing spam.
All-in-one Solution: Convertkit is an all-in-one email marketing solution that has everything you need to grow your email list, automate your process, run campaigns, and generate revenue, all on one platform.
Free plan: Offers a generous free plan for up to 1000 subscribers. Basically, you don’t have to pay when you are just starting, and there’s a free trial option for paid plans.
Convertkit Cons:
Limited Reporting Data: Convertkit provides basic analytics with fundamental metrics like opens, clicks, and unsubscribers, but it doesn’t offer much more than that.
No Spam Testing: Unlike some competitors, Convertkit lacks a spam testing feature that assesses the likelihood of an email being marked as spam based on trigger words.
Email Editor Improvement: While the email editor is user-friendly, it could be improved.
Convertkit Alternatives
No doubt, ConvertKit is best for creators but in case it doesn’t match your needs, here are some alternatives:
MailerLite: It is affordable, feature-rich, and user-friendly, making it our top choice for the best email marketing software overall.
Moosend: Super easy, affordable email marketing tool. Especially suitable for beginners who just started with email marketing.
ActiveCampaign: It is our top choice for the best email automation tool. Which comes with a top-notch workflow builder, and automation templates, as well as tools for managing your email marketing campaigns.
Conclusion on Convertkit
So as we have reached the conclusion part of our honest convertkit review,.
If you are a blogger or an online creator, we recommend you use Convertkit. It provides all the necessary tools for a successful email marketing campaign, and its user-friendly interface makes it even more easy to use. With unique features like a creator profile and creator network.
If you are uncertain, just give it a try yourself. Click the button below to sign up for a free plan or a free trial and experience Convertkit.
FAQs
1. What is ConvertKit good for?
ConvertKit shines as a beacon for email marketing, simplifying the way businesses connect with their customers. It’s a breeze to use, with automation that feels like magic, and tools that create engaging conversations right in your customer’s inbox.
2. Which is better, MailerLite or ConvertKit?
MailerLite is the go-to for small businesses looking for a budget-friendly option that’s a delight to use. ConvertKit, on the other hand, is the artist’s loft where creators and influencers find everything they need to grow their audience and turn their passion into profit.
3. How do I make money on ConvertKit?
Step into the spotlight as an affiliate, where you can earn commissions just by sharing your love for ConvertKit. Or, dive into the digital marketplace with features that let you sell your creations, launch paid newsletters, and set your marketing on autopilot to turn your audience into your income.
4. Is ConvertKit a CRM?
While ConvertKit may store leads like a CRM, it’s really an email marketing virtuoso, orchestrating customer journeys with personalized emails. It’s not a full CRM, but it plays one beautifully for your email marketing symphony.
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