Constant Contact Software

Pros

Very simple to design an email. The new editor makes it a snap. The options available allow a lot of creativity.

Cons

I wish we could see those that reported as SPAM like other systems use. Every opportunity is given to unsubscribe but some users prefer the spam button.

Pros

I like how easy it is to design emails within Constant contact - you can upload graphics, include links to relevant articles, etc.

Cons

I don't like the process of inputting names/updating names/creating mailing lists - the process is rather clunky. I also haven't been terribly impressed by customer service - I tried a few webinars to learn best practices, but the instructors seemed more focused on selling me their consulting services than teaching me how to use the program.

Time-consuming to set up templates the way you want them. Some of the formatting, like the table of contents, is completely out of your control.

Pros

It produces a professional looking end product most of the time.

Cons

It has a lot of formatting problems. Things do not appear in the preview or in the final product the same as they appear in the user view. Even though the formatting appears to be correct in the user view, it shows up differently in the preview. The only way to correct these errors is to redo the module. Sometimes it will just log me out while I'm in the middle of working on something and fails to save my work. Very time consuming to be repeatedly correcting problems or rewriting something it didn't save. Frustrating to use.

Pros

Templates and stats on emails are good. Emails go out quickly and easily. Still have issues with people forwarding an email to friends and their friends unsubscribing them.

Cons

You've removed some features (renaming) that I've used. Really need them back to keep my stuff organized.

All the features provided along with the excellent support puts this program heads and heals above all it's competitors.

Pros

The support Constant Contact provides makes this product worth it. In fact, the excellent support alone makes this product the reason to choose Constant Contact over all of its competors.

Cons

This program has a lot of features, which also makes this program more difficult to figure out. For someone not trained on this program, it's not intuitive and could be difficult to use. It's a very difficult program to find your way around for someone not familiar with it.

I've referred people use the service

Pros

Made the decision making process very easy and the sales teams contacted me vs. Me reaching out to them individually for information.

Cons

One of the recommendations missed the mark completely, but we were able to determine that within a couple minutes of conversation.

for the ease of use, it is worth the money- good discount for non profit.

Pros

Easy to use and build an event or send an email that matches our colors and branding. Can save the color scheme in the application for later use.

Cons

Not as many ways to customize an event with sessions, times or other options. Just simple event planning tool.

Pros

Drag and drop features
Pre-built templates
Helpful guides
Easy to read reporting
Beautiful, simple interface

Cons

Some features could be expanded upon (example: form integration/availability within the email)
Need to add more social media options to the pre-built and integrated social media "bar"

Pros

Ease of use. You can easily adjust and customize your emails and lists to meet your specific needs.

Cons

Confusion managing lists. Lots of overlap and hard to find contacts at times because they are spread out in various lists. Sending emails can be challenging to find your right lists.

The ability to personalize each email makes a huge difference, especially when communicating with our donors. In comparison to other products, Constant Contact is much more intuitive.

Pros

Constant Contact is an easy drag and drop interface that creates professional, custom, and quick marketing solutions. Constant Contact offers in person "meet-ups" every so often that provide face to face training and best practices.

Cons

The reporting aspects on the back end of Constant Contact could be more thorough. There are basic reports available, but I would like to create custom reports for more than the number of people who opened the email and who clicked through on a link within the email, etc.

Pros

Templates make it easy to slot in your information. You can easily move and add sections to customize your newsletters.

Cons

There are limits on the size of pictures which sometimes affects the quality. Social media links don't always work and customer service was never helpful to resolve the issue.

Pros

The ability to add multiple email addresses into the database for one mass email.
The ability to send test emails to myself to check the look of a mailing before sending it to customers.

Cons

Manipulating data/material can become very confusing for a novice user. It's easier to copy an older mailing to edit rather than producing a new mailing from scratch.

Pros

I like how it integrates with other programs like donor perfect. I love the event page ability and ease of use for social media

Cons

Do not like that there is only 1 choice for credit card payment and it not anything any of the other software I use has.

Ask an event planner to help modify the registration segments of the site. There are a few small features that would make this software heads and shoulders above everyone else's on the market.

Pros

Having utilized a variety of registration / communication systems through the years this one is my preference. It allows me to communicate effectively, track who has and hasn't seen the information and provide a stable registration system for my events.

Cons

There are definitely some glitches in the registration process. I would like to see an option for registrants to be able to log-back in and add guests or adjust their own reservations. It's also a problem when we sell "Tables" for an event that there is no way for them to enter the attendee names at a later date.

Overall, a good service that is above the rest of the email marketing software that is available.

Pros

Constant Contact is easy to use and intuitive. You are able to create beautiful emails with ease, as well as customize email templates to suite your marketing needs.

Cons

Constant Contact is often glitchy. While you are in the email editor, it will sometimes revert back to a previously saved version. It is also often difficult to format your emails the way you would like them i.e. picture placement, text wrapping, etc.

Pros

This was the first mass email system our company used. Testing it was pretty easy, getting acquainted with the features and implementing was fine.

Cons

I thought the user interface left a lot to be desired. When testing other platforms we settled on one that I thought offered much of the same functionality but whose look/"feel" I preferred.

It's an easy platform for basic campaigns.

Pros

The templates are easy to use and there are plenty of them. Reports are great, easy to read. Customer service is easy to get a hold of and very helpful.

Cons

Functionality is challenging. Have to use Chrome's incognito to manipulate font and hyperlinks. Also hard to do editing when the "hover" boxes are in the way of what is being typed.

Pros

The product is easy to use and provides a simple wysiwyget interface. The log in is simple and the speed of the servers is great. The autosave feature is also a good component.

Cons

The system could be more diverse in uploading contacts via CVS... Allowing small business to write their own APIs on legacy systems like ACT 11 would be ideal

Overall much better than the expensive contract that we are stuck with for 24 months.

Pros

Wonderful, helpful staff walked me through everything.
Easy to navigate
Easy to keep and sort contacts

Cons

Not sure how to get more open rates
Would like a bit more flexibility in the style or look of the templates

Overall unimpressed.

Pros

No exceptional features stand out about this software. I like that they send the updated subscriber/unsubsribers report to my inbox. The emails I have scheduled do go out on time. The templates look professional.

Cons

I hate how Constant Contact logs me out all the time. Sometimes it is difficult to format newsletters. Sometimes something simple like changing the font just won't change or work probably, which is very annoying. Changing a font should be simple.