CSR: MailChimp

For about 2 months now, YMX has been using an e-mail marketing service for our now weekly newsletter.

Location:
www.mailchimp.com (based in Atlanta, Georgia)

Description:
For those who don’t know how things like this work… an e-mail marketing service is the way that e-mail marketers get stuff into your mailbox in a mass kind of way. Way back in the day you could just send out messages via your e-mail out box… but that’s not working anymore. There was simply too much spam and ISP’s started blocking that kind of mail. So places like MailChimp popped up on the market who are extremely diligent in helping companies of all sizes get their wanted, not-spam, newsletters out to customers who actually have requested it. (By definition, that’s how something isn’t spam.) How MailChimp works is that they give you all the code for embedding your opt-in form onto your site (see our example) and then set-up a process where the person who says they want the newsletter "double opt’s in" to make sure they really want it. This makes your e-mail campaign 100% legal in the United States. If someone double opt’s than you cannot be sued by them as being a spammer.

But MailChimp also offers two fantastic features. 1. The stats are unreal. 2. They have some smokin’ good looking templates for users.

Service:
First off, they have live assistance via instant message. Mega-kudos for that. next, they don’t have a nasty hierarchy for getting your stuff fixed. You talk to Dan or Jennifer directly, they are the experts. More than that, they do an incredible job of following up. I had a small issue this week and Jennifer was completely honest… she didn’t know the answer. But within an hour she sent me an e-mail, explained everything, and made sure I was 100% satisfied. One other thing that makes me give them my highest ranking is that they are not done learning. They are making a huge effort to learn from their users by actually leaving their offices and doing site visits. How cool is that for an online company?

Cost:
As you would expect, a super professional service with great customer service isn’t free. But it isn’t expensive either. They have two main options… you can buy credits to send your mail… like $.03/message or you can pay a monthly fee and send up to 8 messages per month. (This is what YMX does.) But we’re getting all of this, which really equals no hassle, for only $15/month. (Go here and click on "pricing") That’s the perfect cost for a small business or church.

Rating:
This is a first for me. But great/personable customer service, a powerful tool for any small business or church, and a reasonable, grow with you, price forces me to declare MailChimp my first ever Superior. It doesn’t get any better than MailChimp. They are best in class.