“Automation” is one such word that is pretty much known by most people in today’s time. It is something that helps save a lot of time and effort in a variety of fields by “automating” repetitive tasks. That being said, the field of marketing is no exception, and marketing automation is something that is being explored by a lot of modern businesses.
The current situation has affected businesses across the globe. It is no news that businesses are trying to get a strong foot back in the market.
This is where marketing automation can be a really important and effective tool, developed by the best software development companies can help businesses get the best value of their marketing investments and the best returns as well. In this article, we will talk about the 10 best marketing automation software in 2021 that every business must know about.
The Importance Of Marketing Automation
With the digital marketing channel constantly growing and becoming more competitive than ever, it is important for marketers to make the best use of their time and resources. This is when marketing automation can be really handy for marketing professionals and any marketing campaign.
Let us take a look at why they are important.
- It saves time.
- It effectively enhances productivity.
- It helps enhance the personalization of your marketing campaigns. Statistics suggest that personalized emails have 6 times higher transaction rates than regular emails. That goes on to speak about how personalization can be useful for your business.
- It helps manage marketing campaigns on various channels seamlessly and in a more streamlined manner.
- It helps establish a single and consistent tone of voice and message for your brand.
- Better ROI is something that is obvious when marketing automation is appropriately adapted and utilized.
The 11 Best Marketing Automation Software in 2021
Welcome to 2021. The era of technology. According to reports, there were over 7,000 marketing automation solutions available in 2019 itself. The options have definitely increased in 2021 and any marketer or entrepreneur looking to choose a marketing automation tool in 2021, must make a wise and efficient choice.
We have made the job easier for you. In the list below we have the 10 best marketing automation tools in 2021. The list has the best tools that can be suitable for a wide range of applications and marketing objectives. Check them out.
Table of Contents
1. HubSpot
HubSpot might just be the most popular marketing automation tool in 2021. It does not only automate and simplify business processes but also helps in the growth of businesses.
It is a full stack of software for sales, marketing, CRM, and customer services and can assist in a number of areas including analytics, reporting, lead generation, product management, and customer feedback management through a single platform.
Key Features
- Analytics/ROI Tracking
- Drip Campaigns
- Landing Pages/Web Forms
- Lead Scoring
- Search and Social Marketing
- Website Visitor Tracking
2. EngageBay
EngageBay is a popular marketing automation software for small businesses. It is the best tool with a full suite of features that not only help marketers manage email campaigns but also provide excellent tools for sales teams. EngageBay also uses a user-friendly WYSIWYG visual builder and templates which make creating workflows, forms, landing pages, popups, and emails quick and easy.
EngageBay also includes a library of landing page templates and email templates that you can edit to match the design of your business or organization. The system simplifies user experience and supports all available marketing channels: push notifications, Facebook Messenger, and email.
Key Features:
- In-depth Analytics
- Sales Automation
- Live Chat
- Help Desk
- Landing Page creator
- Personalized email marketing
- Task & team management
3. Omnisend
Omnisend is a powerful but easy-to-use email & SMS marketing platform that’s dedicated for ecommerce. You can easily design, edit, send and track your email and SMS marketing campaigns. It has a polished drag-and-drop email builder that makes it easy to build newsletters and other emails according to your design. You can also send campaigns based on your subscribers’ timezones.
Even better, its abundant automation features means that you only need to build your email & SMS campaigns once, and set up the rules (there are many pre-built rules already available), and you can communicate with your customers and generate sales automatically.
Other important features include segmentation, which allows for hyper-targeting smaller groups of subscribers, as well as various pop ups that help you collect your subscribers or turn website visitors into buyers.
There’s a great free plan available, which includes all the listed features, plus paid plans starting at $16/month.
4. StealthSeminar: A Powerful Tool for Automated Webinars
StealthSeminar is a leading platform for hosting automated and live webinars, designed to help businesses engage their audience, boost conversions, and scale effectively. With its robust set of features, the platform enables seamless delivery of high-quality webinars while saving time and resources.
StealthSeminar is ideal for businesses, educators, and marketers looking to harness the power of webinars without the constant need for live hosting. It offers a wide range of tools for pre-recorded presentations, live interactions, and hybrid events, ensuring flexibility and customization for various needs.
Key Features of StealthSeminar:
- Automated Webinars: Host pre-recorded webinars that simulate live sessions for audience engagement.
- Live Webinars: Conduct real-time webinars with interactive features.
- Hybrid Webinars: Blend pre-recorded and live content for a customized experience.
- Evergreen Webinars: Schedule recurring sessions to maximize audience reach.
- Customizable Branding: Personalize webinar pages to align with your brand identity.
- Advanced Analytics: Gain insights into attendee behavior, engagement, and conversion metrics.
- Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with tools like CRM systems, email marketing platforms, and payment gateways.
- Reliable Streaming: Enjoy high-quality video and audio delivery with minimal disruptions.
- Interactive Features: Engage your audience with polls, Q&A, and chat options.
- On-Demand Support: Access customer support and training resources for smooth operations.
StealthSeminar empowers users to deliver professional and impactful webinars with ease, helping to drive engagement, leads, and revenue.
5. GetResponse
This is a very useful automation tool for multi-channel marketing campaigns. The platform is great for beginners and it is simple and easy to use, offering versatility and taking care of most omnichannel marketing needs through a feature-rich interface and a range of smart and convenient integrations.
With features like autoresponder, split testing, and webinar hosting, it is handy for a range of marketing purposes.
Key Features
- Multiple languages
- Autoresponder
- Split testing
6. SendinBlue
From a simple email marketing tool, SendinBlue has transformed into a comprehensive marketing platform that enables expanded automation, and a range of other features like improved template design, built-in CRM, and a lot more.
It helps offer a more personalized experience to your customers and helps businesses grow their audience base through better engagement.
Key Features
- Personalized email messages, group contacts, etc.
- Custom sign-out forms
- Retargeting
- Transactional email
- CRM
- SMS Marketing
7. ActiveCampaign
With great online support and endless marketing features, this one is the perfect choice for small businesses and marketers learning the ropes. ActiveCampaign is undoubtedly one of the finest email marketing automation software out there.
With features like segmentation, auto-responses, third-party integrations, personalized email templates, and a lot more you can completely customize the email marketing campaign for your target audience.
Key Features
- Online support and live chat support
- Auto-addition of contacts from CRM, eCommerce, etc.
8. SharpSpring
SharpSpring is a powerful and effective marketing automation tool that comes at an affordable price. It is great for marketing campaigns with varied needs and objectives as the platform offers a range of features that include reporting, analytics, campaign tracking, CRM and sales automation, behavior-based emails, blog building, and a lot more.
Key Features
- A/B Testing
- Customizable CTAs
- Dynamic Content
9. Infusionsoft (Keap)
Now known as Keap, this is another great tool for small and medium businesses. With a range of email marketing options and CRM activities, the software can help you increase your revenue, enhance customer acquisition rate, and can also be handy for lead management.
It helps small and medium businesses through advanced automated marketing and technological services.
Key Features
- Client information centralization
- Client management including appointments, quotes, payments, invoices, and emails.
10. Marketo
Marketo is a comprehensive digital solution for all kinds and sizes of businesses. From lead generation to sales engagement, customer marketing, and customer experience, the platform can be useful and convenient to manage it all through a single platform.
There is a range of very useful and convenient features that make it an all-in-one marketing automation solution. These features include Analytics/ROI Tracking, Lead Scoring, Segmentation, Drip Campaigns, Landing Pages/Web Forms, Website Visitor Tracking, and a lot more.
Key Features
- Analytics
- Drip Campaigns
- Landing Pages/Web Forms
- Lead Scoring
- Segmentation
11. Mailchimp
A long-time champion in the field of email marketing, Mailchimp continues to be one of the best marketing automation tools even in 2021. It now offers special opportunities for e-commerce businesses, with facilities to create online stores. It is a multichannel marketing platform.
The platform enables marketers and businesses to bring together audience data, marketing channels, and insights from a single integrated platform.
Key Features
- Built-in audience management
- Digital ads
- Social posts
12. Zoho Campaigns
Through seamless integration with Zoho’s long list of SMB software products, Zoho Campaigns offers you the ability to create an arsenal of tools that you need. It is great for automation and tracking but comes at a slightly steep price.
When it comes to email marketing, the platform offers comprehensive features ranging from the creation of responsive designs to customized messages, automated workflows, and easy connections with new customers.
Key Features
- API for email marketing
- Email deliverability guidelines
- Blogs and forums
- Feature updates
- E-books
13. Salesforce Pardot
Another excellent marketing automation software, this tool is just perfect for larger marketing campaigns and bigger businesses. It is a known name in market automation and email marketing.
It comes with an intuitive design and some really versatile and useful features that offer endless integration options and AI-powered analytics.
Key Features
- WebForms
- Lead Scoring
- Website Visitor Tracking
14. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a powerful marketing automation platform designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. By leveraging customer data, Klaviyo empowers brands to create personalized, data-driven marketing campaigns that drive engagement, increase sales, and build long-lasting customer relationships.
This platform seamlessly integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, making it a top choice for businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies. Klaviyo’s advanced analytics and automation tools enable businesses to deliver the right message to the right customer at the right time.
Key Features of Klaviyo:
- Email and SMS Marketing: Easily design and send personalized email and SMS campaigns to engage your audience.
- Customer Segmentation: Create dynamic audience segments based on behavior, purchase history, and demographics.
- Pre-Built Automation Workflows: Leverage workflows for welcome series, abandoned carts, post-purchase follow-ups, and more.
- Deep Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with eCommerce platforms and third-party tools for enriched data and functionality.
- Advanced Analytics: Access in-depth analytics to track performance and optimize campaigns in real time.
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: Design emails and workflows without coding using the intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
- Product Recommendations: Personalize recommendations based on customer preferences and browsing behavior.
- A/B Testing: Test subject lines, content, and send times to maximize campaign effectiveness.
- Scalable Pricing: Flexible pricing plans that grow with your business needs.
Klaviyo is the go-to solution for businesses that want to take their customer engagement to the next level through precise targeting and personalized communication. Whether you’re a small business or a growing enterprise, Klaviyo provides the tools to connect with your audience in meaningful ways.
Choosing the Right Platform
When you spend a substantial amount of time solving your clients' problems, you recognize the benefits of automation. Yet, there’s a difference between software that automates the work of a consultant versus what you’d use as a stylist (as an example). Consultants usually work on projects, requiring special software for long-term project management. Various platforms are available, like those on this list compiled by Accelo, that will let you create a template and automate it for future use, provide analytics, invoice clients, and more!
Choosing the right automation platform depends on the specific needs of your business and how you interact with clients. For example, consultants may need features like project tracking, time management, and client communication integration, while stylists may require appointment scheduling, payment processing, and customer feedback tools. It’s crucial to assess the features of each platform and align them with your operational requirements to maximize efficiency.
Another factor to consider is scalability. As your business grows, your automation needs may change, and the software you choose should be able to scale with you. Whether you're handling more clients, expanding to new regions, or adding additional services, the right automation platform will evolve with your business, making it easier to streamline processes and maintain high-quality service.
Final Thoughts
Automation for your marketing campaign is definitely something you should put thoughts into! If you are a marketer or an entrepreneur, then marketing automation tools can be the perfect way to streamline and scale your marketing efforts. With these 10 best marketing automation tools in 2021, any business can take its marketing campaign and efforts to the next level and get the best ROI.
Harikrishna Kundariya, a marketer, developer, IoT, ChatBot & Blockchain savvy, designer, co-founder, Director of eSparkBiz Technologies . His 10+ experience enables him to provide digital solutions to new start-ups based on IoT and ChatBot.