We all know how time-consuming sending messages can be. You don’t want that level of hassle when orchestrating a marketing campaign. That’s where choosing a free mass email service comes in.
This software sends emails to multiple contacts with a single click. It transforms the entire process to one of ease, contacting everyone en masse and limiting necessary input from you. This strategy is fantastic for small businesses that can only afford to dedicate a few hours to marketing. However, large companies equally favor it, as they have large numbers of contacts and require efficient processes.
No matter your business size, you can benefit from learning about mass emails. We’d go as far as calling it one of the cornerstones of launching a campaign — a pretty weighty claim, right?
So, forget to write a marketing email; how do you send one? In this guide, we’ll tell you all there is to know about utilizing bulk email services. Get ready for definitions, a detailed price breakdown, advice on which tools to pick, and more. You’ll be an expert in no time!
What Is Mass Email Sending?
Let’s rewind quickly; mass email sending is simply launching multiple emails at once. It’s the same email (although sometimes personalized through plug-in software to display different recipient names) but goes to different addresses.
This process saves you the time of going and sending emails individually, which could take literal days.
You might not always recognize the name of this strategy. People often refer to it as bulk or blast emailing. These other names mean the same thing; it’s just a different way of phrasing it.
The email content doesn’t tend to be transactional emails (which usually trigger through synced automation software). Instead, we are talking more about newsletters and promotional content — stuff you want to send simultaneously.
You can find mass email-sending tools built into paid software tools. Alternatively, you can find plenty of options for a free mass emailing service. Budget can be significant when email marketing for small businesses, so these free options may be more attractive. It all just depends on what you choose.
Blasting all those messages at once hinges on the fact that you’ve already got an established database. It might sound obvious, but you can’t bulk-send anything if you still need to collect email addresses. Mass sender software is more of a secondary step in your campaign.
We’ll get into how to collect email addresses later. But, for now, just know that you should generally steer clear of paid email lists, which risk breaking marketing laws. You’ll have to strategize about collecting them organically, like through loyalty programs and WiFi.
For now, let’s move forward with a solid definition of mass emailing under your belt.
Is a Mass Email Sender Free?
Yes, the good news is that you can find many free mass email services. Is every mass email sender free? Sadly not, but with a bit of research, you can find suitable software for a total of nothing.
There are some things you should know about these cheaper options, though. Most of the time, the drawback is that they offer a limited number of emails per month. Some of these are actually quite flexible. Just take a look at the stats on monthly send caps for offering free subscriptions:
- Mailchimp: Up to 1,000
- MailerLite: Up to 1,000
- Hubspot: Up to 2,000
- Sender: Up to 15,000
You can see how limiting some of the free options on the market are. If you have 500 contacts on your email list, you only send two monthly emails on some memberships. Sender is one of the more flexible options, yet even then, for large businesses, that may be restrictive.
As we mentioned before, free sender tools are well-suited to small businesses because of this. These companies have smaller email lists and, therefore, don’t require as much from marketing software.
In summary, while you can find software that sends bulk emails for free, it’s likely only suitable initially. You shouldn’t rely on low-cost software once you establish your bulk email campaigns. Afterward, you should budget around $20 to $40 monthly for mid-range memberships. If you want even more advanced features and sending capacities, budget up to $400 and $500 for premium.
When finding a mass email service, free services have just as much to offer. In fact, free email automation tools have countless benefits. Here are just a few ways you’ll notice payoffs without paying a thing.
1. More Control Over Your Campaign
Automation tools undoubtedly give you more control over your campaign. You can fine-tune small details, like when you send, how many people you send to, and how emails look. This impacts how effective your campaign is overall.
2. Less Focus on Budget
With free tools, there’s less focus on budget. Obviously, this is a huge plus for small businesses, as it means it doesn’t exclude them from email marketing. However, as a byproduct, this ensures market variety and diverse consumer options.
3. Gives You More Flexibility With Software
With zero-cost automation tools, you can choose software for your business more flexibly. For example, you might not need to pay for email marketing software. This would enable you to pay for WiFi marketing platforms or invest in a new till system.
When you access free automation tools, you can direct funds to other software to reallocate spending optimally.
3 Free Mass Email Service Providers
There are many email automation software choices, but what about bulk sending specifically? For a quick breakdown of your best options, here you are. These are the three top free mass email service providers:
1. Sender
Sender is the most generous option, allowing up to 15,000 monthly emails across 2,500 subscribers. It’s an excellent choice if you’ve got a mid-level list and an established campaign.
2. HubSpot
With Hubspot, you get 2,000 free monthly emails and ten lists at a time. If you’re just starting, this is an excellent wiggle room. For a list of 200 contacts, that’s ten emails a month — definitely a sweet spot.
Hubspot is perfect for integrating with other strategies, like social media marketing and SMS campaigns.
3. EmailOctopus
Another generous option, EmailOctopus, allows up to 10,000 emails a month for free. Split across 2,500 subscribers. That’s definitely an easy balance to strike.
A Word of Warning
If you’re an email marketing beginner, take heed to this section. When you bulk send marketing emails, you really can cause maximum damage. Think about it: one mistake or controversy has gone to most, if not all, of your primary customer base.
Because of this, it becomes even more vital to proofread your emails and measure reactions through analysis tools. With proofreading, you stop basic grammar errors and maintain a professional facade.
With analysis tools, you can measure exactly what works and doesn’t. This way, you aren’t destroying your prospects accidentally. If one email falls flat, you know immediately why and can avoid making the same mistake.
You have to learn fast when bulk sending to dodge damage. There’s definitely a thinner margin for error.
How To Plan an Email Campaign: 4 Simple Steps
Planning an email campaign is simple when you know the proper steps to take. In this section, we’ll whizz you through the four stages of building a successful marketing campaign.
As we covered before, knowing how to send mass emails isn’t the first step of your journey. Here’s how bulk sending comes into the bigger picture.
1. Establish Demographics, Budget, and Goals
This stage is all about planning. Before beginning, you should know your budget and your existing and ideal customer demographic. It’s also worth having your goals in mind. Knowing what a realistic content schedule will look like will help bucketloads later down the line.
2. Choose a Software
Next, pick an email marketing platform. This software could be free, a paid subscription, or a custom design. Check to see what features each offers. You may need a drag-and-drop email builder or bulk-sending capacity.
Ideally, secure a free trial or demo for any paid options.
3. Draft Content
Now, start drafting your content. Will you send promotional emails or newsletters? The copywriting and digital illustrations, as well as general ideation and strategizing, are in your court.
Utilize all the software tools, like drag-and-drop editor functions and personalization plug-ins.
4. Send and Review
Click bulk send and watch the success and data come rolling in. The final stage is the most important.
Many software packages include built-in email automation for analysis. This data is vital feedback for adjusting strategies for optimal success. Analysis is even more important for those using bulk sending so you don’t make multiple rounds of mistakes.
How To Collect Email Addresses
If you’re going to start bulk emailing, you’ll need a database of contacts. That might sound simple, but it can actually be a challenge. As this is your first stage, it’s also not something you want to spend ages plotting. So, because of that, try some of these most effective methods:
- Launch a loyalty program and require email addresses to sign up.
- Use a captive portal WiFi system.
- Run a giveaway and collect contacts to secure entry.
- Offer email confirmations.
WiFi is one of the smartest ways to build a business email list; we’ll come back to it in a second.
FAQ
We’ll wrap things up with some vital advice on momentarily collecting emails. However, before we do, check out these most commonly asked questions.
How can I send 5,000 emails at once?
Sending 5,000 emails at once is easy. You just need email automation software that includes a bulk-sending feature. The technology lets you mass-select all (or a set proportion of) contacts and send emails with one click.
Is Mailchimp still free?
Yes, Mailchimp still offers a free package of 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month. However, if you want fewer limitations, you’ll have to purchase a paid subscription. The free subscription option is better suited to smaller businesses.
How much does mass email software cost?
Mass email software can range from free to hundreds of dollars a month. It all depends on what you need. Free software subscriptions allow you to send a certain number of emails a month at zero cost. The number of emails you get per month is usually between 1,000 and 5,000.
If you want to send more, the software costs between $20 and $40 per month on an average subscription basis.
Beambox: Picking the Right WiFi Strategy
You need the right strategy when collecting email addresses through WiFi. The best choice is a captive portal system. This technique uses a temporary barricade to prevent customers from immediately joining your network.
Instead, when they click to join, it transports them to a webpage pop-up. This pop-up has a form where you can request specific details in exchange for them accessing your WiFi. You guessed it — you can ask for email addresses for marketing purposes.
By utilizing this simple strategy, you can quickly build a list of email contacts that actually care about your business. Once you set it up, it’s a totally passive process, as the results sync to a software database. And the beauty is that this organic method operates on the basis of true marketing consent and brand familiarity. This inevitably optimizes your open rates; you’re targeting the right people in the right way.
At Beambox, we offer businesses like you a customizable captive portal. Address your customers in your style and in a way that appeals to them. Our all-in-one WiFi marketing software is a great way to harness the power of individuality, even amidst mass email campaigns.
Start your Beambox free trial today and take the following steps before choosing your free mass email service!
