What does mailchimp do that Hubspot cannot

[#1]

I am trying to eliminate so many programs.  Is there an alternative to Mailchimp and/or can Hubspot do the same type of group emails as Mailchimp?  

Any suggestions on alternatives to mailchimp or another approach?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Q: What does mailchimp do that Hubspot cannot

Short A: You're comparing 'apples' to 'orange' (literally). haha

Longer A:

Ok.First of all comparing MailChimp to HubSpot is like comparing Batman to Superman. Both may be superheros, but only Superman has native intrinsic abilities with or without his costume.

MailChimp is a newsletter email service provider (ESP) turned ESP turned pseudo marketing platform turned pseudo ecommerce marketing platform with absolutely zero CRM capability.

Like Batman, MailChimp has a great 'costume' -- their excellent marketing as a do-it-yourself (DIY) email automation platform AND their newly updated drag-n-drop email designer. Also, like Batman, MailChimp has cool tools -- multiple lists, groups, and segments.

However, HubSpot is some 'other world isht' -- a fully mature marketing automation platform currently evolving into a fully integrated ecommerce marketing platform which also includes a native CRM with soon-to-be-functional conversational marketing capability. (cite: Shopify native integration and Motion.ai chatbot functionality announced at INBOUND17)

- see '5 Reasons Not To Use HubSpot ...' (opens new tab)

Like Superman, HubSpot has a great 'costume' -- their prolific inbound content marketing machine. Also, like Superman, HubSpot has cooler tools -- native smart lists which are auto-updated based on criteria you set giving you 'x-ray vision' into your CRM, and workflows which allow you to basically 'program' the automation around nearly anything you can dream of (within reason) -- sorta like making the Earth spin faster to travel through time.

Bottom line?

When stripped of their costumes, MailChimp (like Batman) is absolutely no match for HubSpot.

In fact, it's not even a fair comparison. We're talking humans compared to aliens who gain superhuman strength simply being in the presence of a yellow Sun -- aka: HubSpotters! haha

Recommendation:

Make two lists ...

-- one for awesome email service providers trying to become marketing automation platforms (with zero CRM capability).

-- one for fully mature marketing automation platforms with native CRM capability and super human strength built-in.

Then decide which will best serve your needs because the costs of both purchasing and operating each are dramatically different.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your research.

Help answer your question? If so, remember to accept this solution now.

Best,
Frank

Author, the Perfect HubSpot Series

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MFrankJohnson.com | Connect on LinkedIn

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[#3]

Haha, great write up @MFrankJohnson, agree with all of it. Two different tools for two different jobs. 

[#4]

Thanks @Phil_Vallender. I'm sure I lost credibility with a client or two by taking sides in the Batman vs Superman saga, but I gotta be true to my roots. Superman might as well've had an 'NYC' emblem on his chest.  LOL

[#5]

Fantastic write up - thanks for sharing! @QuickTrick let us know if you have any follow up questions 

@shearn, @bradmin, @Josh, @coachcourt, @MMunroe, @Champion, @ndwilliams3, @KatieSchieder I thought you'd all find @MFrankJohnson's interesting. 

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Thanks @roisinkirby ... appreciate the support.

[Unfortunately now have to hire someone to help with all the Batman-hater hate-mail. haha]

[#7]

Thank you for the great reply @MFrankJohnson .   I guess the pinpoint question would be, Is there a service that does it all?

For a small business, we get nickel and dimed to death and it would be supercalifragilistic to do everything in one place.

Mailchimp's response times leave a lot to be desired when you have to get it done and get on with the do list!

[#8 · Accepted solution]

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Help the Community by marking it as SOLVED

Q: Is there a service that does it all?

Short A: Dunno @QuickTrick ... Doubt it.

Longer A:

It's tough deciding which digital marketing platform(s) to use. But considering the total cost of operation and unforeseen costs to switch it's worth researching.

MailChimp is a good platform. He11, they send more emails monthly than there are stars in the sky (over 20 Billion with a 'B'). haha And they publish some of the only public-facing email performance stats in the industry (by industry).
- see 'Email Marketing Benchmarks'

Not to mention their Mandrill transactional email product line and their smart-as-he11 data science leader - John Foreman (author of Data Smart). And their teriffic growth story.
- see 'How MailChimp Makes $400M Revenue'

That being said, is MailChimp ex·pi·a·li·do·cious? Can MailChimp do it all? No.

Dunno any platform that can. Dunno if that's even a reasonable ask.

Our View @MFJLabs
Every business who captures leads from the general public should do so in some sort of CRM ... which MailChimp and WordPress are not (even in their dreams).

HubSpot CRM isn't the most powerful CRM as CRMs go. And certainly not as customizable as something like say Salesforce. BUT (with emphasis) most small businesses don't need a highly customizable CRM which makes HubSpot perfect for their CRM needs.

Add to that sales tools and a marketing suite that Don Draper (from Mad Men) wudda killed for and you've got a winning trifecta.

Think of HubSpot Marketing like MailChimp automation workflows on steroids. But again, as @Phil_Vallender succinctly pointed out above, "Two different tools for two different jobs."

Hope that helps. 

 

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Please tag @MFJLabs if you'd like me to respond.

The sticky part comes when CRM users start asking, "How do we email blast all these leads?" which is precisely the wrong question.

[#9]

That does answer my questions.  Thank you!  You are clear concise and the perfect avenger in my book!!

[#10]

I guess MailChimp is free (at least for relatively small databases) so that's a pretty big difference.