Email marketing remains a highly effective channel for affiliate marketers, boasting a high return on investment and a direct line of communication with an engaged audience. However, selecting the right email marketing tool is crucial, as some platforms have strict policies regarding affiliate promotions, which can lead to account suspension.
When choosing an email marketing tool for affiliate marketing, prioritize platforms that are explicitly “affiliate-friendly” and offer features such as robust automation, advanced segmentation, good deliverability, and landing page builders. Using custom domains for sending emails can also significantly improve deliverability and brand credibility.
Here are some of the best email marketing tools for affiliate marketers:
1. GetResponse
GetResponse is often highlighted as one of the most pro-affiliate email marketing platforms available. It offers a flexible workflow editor for building complex automations and creating email sequences based on subscriber behavior and interests. GetResponse also provides numerous guides on affiliate marketing and offers a free plan, with paid plans starting from $15 per month for up to 1000 contacts, with discounts for annual payments. It includes features for email marketing, SMS, and web pushes, making it a balanced solution for various communication channels.
2. ActiveCampaign
Known for its comprehensive marketing automation capabilities, ActiveCampaign allows for personalized affiliate email marketing campaigns with robust automation, customizable templates, and detailed analytics to track subscriber engagement with affiliate links. While it permits affiliate links, it emphasizes that they shouldn’t be the primary focus of emails, and it restricts promotions related to “getting rich” or “making money from home”. ActiveCampaign’s Starter plan costs $15 per month for 1000 contacts and 10,000 emails.
3. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo stands out for its affordability and comprehensive free plan, which allows unlimited subscribers and access to its drag-and-drop email builder, templates, and sign-up forms. It also offers good automation capabilities with a visual workflow editor and A/B testing for affiliate email marketing campaigns. Paid plans start at $8.08 per month for 5000 emails.
4. EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus is considered a safer bet for affiliate marketers due to its more relaxed policy on affiliate content compared to some other ESPs. It’s praised for its value for money, ease of use, and essential features like automation, templates, and landing pages. It offers a generous free plan for up to 2,500 contacts and 10,000 emails per month, with paid plans starting around €20/month for 5,000 contacts.
5. Moosend
Moosend is an affordable option for affiliate marketers, with plans starting at $9 a month, which include an email builder, landing page builder, detailed reporting, and automation features. It has also introduced an AI-powered product recommendation tool to suggest products based on subscriber browsing behavior. Moosend offers a lucrative affiliate program with up to 40% lifetime recurring commission.
6. tinyEmail
tinyEmail offers features crucial for successful affiliate email marketing, including robust segmentation and automation. It also recently launched an AI-powered messaging feature for generating subject lines and copy to save time. It’s particularly useful for sending targeted offers to loyal customers.
7. ConvertKit (now Kit)
Specifically designed for creators, including bloggers, YouTubers, and podcasters, ConvertKit (now called Kit) is popular among affiliate marketers for its simplicity and automation capabilities. It offers visual automations, easy-to-embed forms, and landing pages to grow email lists. Kit provides a feature-packed free plan and good scalability, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced affiliates.
8. AWeber
AWeber is a solid and easy-to-use email marketing tool, especially for beginners and small businesses, known for building and sending newsletters. It offers a large selection of email templates and a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor. While its automation and segmentation might be less advanced than some competitors, it’s considered affiliate-friendly.
Other notable tools include:
- Freshmarketer: An omnichannel marketing powerhouse that allows outreach through email, live chat, SMS, and WhatsApp, featuring AI-powered chatbots and extensive automation options.
- SendX: Offers high deliverability with its Opti-Send technology and a Smart Send feature for campaigns based on lead behavior. It’s designed to support affiliate beginners with free templates and includes automation, tracking tools, A/B testing, and heatmaps.
- Mailjet: Best for newsletters and email API, offering volume-based pricing with unlimited contacts in paid plans, which can be cost-effective for large lists.
- MailerLite: An affordable and user-friendly platform with a comprehensive suite of tools for creating and monitoring email campaigns, including a drag-and-drop builder and automation workflows.
- Omnisend: Specializes in email and SMS marketing automation for e-commerce, offering advanced automation, segmentation, and personalized messaging, with high-converting features for affiliate websites set up like online shops.
- Sendlane: Focuses on real-time customer tracking and message automation, allowing timely offers and promotions. It also features send-time optimization and automated list hygiene, though it is one of the pricier options.
When making your choice, always review the platform’s terms and conditions regarding affiliate marketing to ensure compliance and avoid potential account issues.