Small Business News

Mailchimp Introduces Marketing Platform for Small Businesses

For two decades Mailchimp has gained popularity as a platform small businesses could use to manage email lists and send out updates to customers. Now, as PCMag reports, the company is expanding into a full-service marketing suite. The result could be a big deal for small business owners.

In a blog post announcing the initiative, Mailchimp CEO Ben Chestnut explained, “For more than two years, we’ve been adding new features, like landing pages, Facebook ads, Google remarketing ads, postcards, social posting, and our marketing CRM tools that have become the heart of the Mailchimp platform.” He continued, “This week, we’re bringing it all together with a deeply integrated app experience for users, so they can market smarter and grow faster, new packages that allow customers to get the most out of Mailchimp, and a global marketing campaign where we tell the world we’re officially an ‘all-in-one Marketing Platform.'”

Given all of these new features, it only makes sense that Mailchimp is also reconfiguring its pricing structure. Currently the three tiers are free, $10 a month, and $199 a month. Now the company will offer four main tiers — free, $9.99 a month, $14.99 a month, and $299 a month — with each option offering different features and products. According to PCMag, the free version of Mailchimp will include such features as email, landing pages, a marketing CRM, and the ability to create Facebook and Instagram ads. Meanwhile the $9.99 adds A/B testing, the $14.99 package brings custom-coded templates, automations, and ad retargeting, and lastly the $299 option will include several advanced features, a custom domain, phone support, and more.

While these prices will go into effect for new customers starting May 15th, existing customers will be able to stick with their current plan for the time being should they choose to do so. Furthermore Chestnut had a message for current customers in his blog post, writing, “We’re obviously excited about this news, but also understand that it’s going to seem like a big change for some of our longtime customers. I want to assure you that we’re making these changes thoughtfully based on what our customers have been asking for, and strategically based on how we know marketing platforms can help small businesses grow. And we’re looking out for our loyal customers throughout the process—our current customers will be able to stay on their pricing plan as long as they like until they choose to upgrade.”

Obviously this move from Mailchimp isn’t completely out of left field. In fact, as they note that, they’re really just “bringing it all together” with their latest announcement. Nevertheless it is an interesting development in the world of small business marketing that could very well serve to propel bootstrapping entrepreneurs to new heights. As Chestnut concludes his post, “Onward!”

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