Squarespace Email Campaigns vs Other Platforms

Learning Objectives

• Understand the key differences between Squarespace Email Campaigns and other platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Constant Contact
• Learn the advantages of Squarespace's design and automation features
• Explore the analytics capabilities of Squarespace compared to other email marketing tools

Introduction

When you're getting started with email marketing, choosing the right platform can make or break your success. This chapter compares Squarespace Email Campaigns with popular services like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Constant Contact, focusing on design, automation, and analytics. By the end, you'll know which tool best meets your email marketing needs.

Lessons

Design Flexibility: Squarespace vs The Rest

Squarespace Email Campaigns offers a user-friendly design interface that works seamlessly with its website builder. This integration ensures brand consistency between your website and emails.

Here's how to test the design tools:

1. Access your Squarespace Email Campaign section
2. Browse the available templates
3. Notice how they match your website's aesthetics
4. Try customising a template using the drag-and-drop editor

Platforms like Mailchimp offer a broader range of templates and more advanced customisation tools, but they require more setup to match your existing brand.

The reality check: Squarespace keeps things simple and consistent. Mailchimp gives you more options but takes longer to set up.

Automation Features Comparison

Basic automations like welcome emails and follow-ups are straightforward in Squarespace but less advanced than those offered by ConvertKit or Mailchimp.

Setting up basic automation in Squarespace:

1. Go to your Email Campaigns dashboard
2. Click "Create Campaign" and select "Automated"
3. Choose "Welcome Email" for new subscribers
4. Design your email and set the trigger
5. Review and activate your automation

What you get with other platforms:

• ConvertKit: Advanced tagging and sequence building
• Mailchimp: Behaviour-based triggers and A/B testing
• Constant Contact: Social media integration and event-triggered emails

This is the bit most people miss: Squarespace automation works brilliantly for simple needs, but you'll hit limits quickly if you want complex sequences.

Analytics: What You Actually Get

Squarespace's analytics provide essential insights like open rates and click-through rates. For deeper campaign analysis, platforms like Constant Contact and Mailchimp offer more comprehensive tools.

Squarespace gives you:

• Open rates
• Click-through rates
• Subscriber growth
• Basic engagement metrics

Other platforms add:

• Heat maps showing where people click
• A/B testing results
• Detailed subscriber behaviour tracking
• Revenue attribution

Here's the quick version: Use Squarespace analytics for straightforward campaigns. Consider more robust platforms when you need detailed performance data.

Practice

Set up a basic email campaign in both Squarespace and Mailchimp (most offer free trials). Compare the user interface, ease of setup, and initial analytics from both campaigns. This hands-on comparison will show you which platform suits your working style.

Your practice checklist:

• Create the same email in both platforms
• Send to a small test group
• Compare setup time and ease of use
• Review the analytics each platform provides
• Note which interface feels more intuitive

FAQs

How does Squarespace Email Campaigns compare to Mailchimp for design flexibility?

Squarespace is simpler and syncs perfectly with your website design. Mailchimp offers wider template variety and more customisation options, but requires more setup time to match your brand.

Can I automate email sequences with Squarespace's email marketing tool?

Yes, you can automate basic sequences like welcome emails and follow-ups. For complex automations with multiple triggers and branches, Mailchimp or ConvertKit offer more advanced options.

What kind of analytics can I expect from Squarespace Email Campaigns?

Squarespace provides essential analytics including open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber growth. For detailed insights like heat maps and behaviour tracking, consider platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

Is Squarespace Email Campaigns good value compared to other platforms?

For small lists and simple campaigns, Squarespace offers good value through its all-in-one approach. As your list grows or your needs become more complex, dedicated email platforms often provide better cost per feature.

Jargon Buster

• Squarespace Email Campaigns: Squarespace's built-in email marketing tool that works directly with your Squarespace website
• Automation sequences: Pre-written emails that send automatically based on subscriber actions or time delays
• Click-through rate: The percentage of email recipients who click on links within your email
• A/B testing: Sending different versions of an email to see which performs better

Wrap-up

Squarespace Email Campaigns keeps your tools under one roof, offering convenience and brand consistency. The platform works well for straightforward email marketing needs, especially if you're already using Squarespace for your website.

Roll your sleeves up and test both Squarespace and at least one other platform. This hands-on comparison will show you which tool fits your specific needs and working style.

Your next step: Set up those test campaigns and see which platform feels right for your business.

Ready to dive deeper into email marketing? Join our community at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership for more practical guides and support.