There are many different platforms available for online marketing. Choosing the right one for your business can seem overwhelming. This is why we have put together a quick review comparing the best online marketing platforms for 2020. Keep reading for more information on each product.

What Is Marketing Automation?

Marketing automation is the use of software to collect and analyze data from different platforms like email, social media and website traffic. You can use marketing automation to send out scheduled emails, post on social media or even design a landing page for a potential customer.

The advantage of marketing automation is that you can set up automated tasks to send out regular emails or post on social media. The disadvantage is that you need to set up at least a small team to use it effectively. Also, marketing automation requires a lot of training to understand how it works and how to use it most effectively.

Why Should You Try Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

If you’re looking for an all-in-one marketing platform, Salesforce Marketing Cloud is the best option for you. Launched in 2015, this cloud-based software provides you with all the tools you need to run marketing campaigns. With Marketing Cloud, you can create automated marketing emails, design landing pages, track website traffic and analyze the performance of your campaigns all from one place.

What makes this software special is that it marries simplicity with sophistication. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can send automated emails, schedule social media posts, and track opens, clicks and conversions for each of your campaigns. You don’t need to be a coder or a tech pro to make use of Marketing Cloud. The platform is highly customizable and comes with thousands of pre-made templates and templates you can download and use to build your own marketing campaigns.

Other Recommended Marketing Solutions

There are several other companies that offer marketing automation, but if you’re new to the subject, it might be best to choose one of the above. However, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use solution that has a large community, you should consider trying HubSpot.

With HubSpot, you can set up automated email campaigns, schedule social media posts, and analyze the performance of your marketing campaigns all from one place. What makes this software special is that it marries simplicity with sophistication. Just a few clicks of the mouse and you can create engaging emails, eye-catching landing pages, and track the performance of your social media posts.

What Is Google Marketing Platform?

If you’re looking for a free option, you can’t go wrong with Google Marketing Platform. Launched in 2018, this is a software as a service solution that allows you to create email campaigns, run Google AdWords ads, and analyze the performance of your campaigns all from one place.

What makes Google Marketing Platform different is that there is no complex setup required. Simply sign up, choose a username and password, and you’re good to go. You don’t need to have a tech background to use this software. Everything is easy to understand and set up. Plus, you get 10 days of free usage before you have to pay for the service. After that, you only have to pay $5 per month.

Pricing For Each Platform

Each of the platforms above have free plans available, but if you want to save money, you should choose a paid plan. Here are the pricing tiers for each product:

• Marketing Cloud: $5/mo. Plus $100 per month for 10 mailboxes.
• Google Marketing Platform: Free (no charges after the first 10 days). Plus $5 per month for 10 mailboxes.
• Pardot: $5 per month for 10,000 emails / mo. Plus $2.95 per month for each additional 100 emails.
• Hootsuite: Free. Plus $2.95 per month for each additional 100 subscribers.
• XOOPS: Free. Plus £2.75 per month for each additional 250 subscribers.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for your marketing needs, you should opt for Marketing Cloud or Google Marketing Platform. These two solutions provide you with everything you need to grow your business. Plus, you don’t need to be running ads to use them. Simply go to their websites and enter your email address to create your free account. You’ll see a welcome email from them within a few minutes.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to save money, it’s best to choose Pardot, Hootsuite or XOOPS. These are the cheapest of the bunch, but you should understand that you’re limited in what they can offer. For example, Pardot and Hootsuite don’t have the ability to perform automated email campaigns the way Marketing Cloud and Google Marketing Platform can.

Final Takeaway

If you’re wondering which one of these email marketing platforms is the best for your business, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, go for Marketing Cloud or Google Marketing Platform. If you’re looking to save money, choose Pardot, Hootsuite or XOOPS.