MailerLite Review: A No-Code Developer's Perspective

As no-code developers, we tend to focus our attention on the development of our project and less on the marketing aspect of it. Unfortunately, not focusing on marketing is a recipe for disaster. If you build it, they won't come, hopefully, you know that by now, if not, read the last part again and memorize it. You need to do marketing, and email marketing is one of the best ways to get started. 

Where businesses and individuals are vying for attention, email remains one of the most potent channels to connect, engage, and convert. MailerLite, a popular email marketing platform, has carved a niche for itself by offering a blend of simplicity and advanced features suitable for both novices and professionals. As a no-code developer, I understand the importance of tools that strike a balance between power and ease of use. In this review, we'll delve into MailerLite's offerings, examining its strengths, potential areas for improvement, and its fit for various user profiles.

User Experience and Interface

The first interaction with any software often sets the tone for the overall experience. MailerLite impresses right off the bat with its clean, uncluttered interface. The platform clearly understands that an overwhelming UI can deter users, especially those new to email marketing.

Navigating through MailerLite feels intuitive. Its logical structure, combined with clear labeling, ensures that users don't find themselves lost amidst a myriad of options. But don't mistake its simplicity for a lack of depth. While the interface is welcoming for beginners, advanced users will find a suite of powerful tools and features at their disposal, all accessible without having to jump through hoops.

For no-code developers, this balance is crucial. We often juggle multiple projects, clients, and tools. A platform that allows us to set up and execute complex email campaigns without a steep learning curve is invaluable. MailerLite's commitment to user-centric design ensures that it caters to both ends of the user spectrum, from the absolute beginner to the seasoned marketer.

In addition to this, MailerLite's drag-and-drop editor feels familiar as it's similar to the ones we're accustomed to in other no-code tools. It's really simple to use and pleasantly useful as it does what it promises it would do.

Dynamic Content Capabilities

One of the secrets to effective email marketing is personalization. Sending tailored content that resonates with specific segments of your audience can significantly boost engagement and conversion rates. MailerLite's dynamic content feature is designed with this in mind.

With MailerLite, you can customize content blocks based on various recipient criteria. This allows for targeted messaging, ensuring that your subscribers receive content that is most relevant to them. For instance, you can show a specific offer only to subscribers from a particular location or those who have shown interest in a certain product category.

However, while MailerLite's dynamic content capabilities are robust, they do have their limitations. The platform doesn't currently support if/then/else logic, which can be a drawback for those looking to design more intricate personalized campaigns. This means that while you can create diverse content blocks for various audience segments, chaining them together based on multiple conditional factors isn't possible within MailerLite.

For no-code developers aiming to craft advanced personalized campaigns, this limitation might necessitate integrating MailerLite with other tools or platforms that offer more advanced logical operations.

Affordability

In the realm of email marketing, there's a wide range of platforms, each with its own pricing model. For many businesses, especially startups and SMEs, cost-effectiveness is a primary concern. MailerLite shines in this aspect by offering competitive pricing while not compromising on essential features.

Starting with the "Growing Business" plan, users can expect a monthly charge of $10 for 500 contacts. This package provides access to unlimited emails sent every month, dynamic campaigns, templates, and more. For those in need of advanced features like custom HTML editors, promotional pop-ups, AI writing assistant, AI subject line generator, and a wider array of automation triggers, the "Advanced" plan is available, starting at $20 per month.

If you're starting out, they also offer a free plan that allows you to send up to 12,000 emails per month to up to 1,000 subscribers. While this is a free plan, it's impressively powerful as it offers access to their drag-and-drop editor, websites, landing pages, comparative reporting, and automations. 

When you compare MailerLite's offerings with its pricing, it becomes evident that it presents an attractive proposition, especially for new businesses and marketing professionals on a tight budget. The platform provides an affordable gateway into the world of email marketing, allowing users to leverage its powerful features without breaking the bank.

Landing Page and Website Builder

This is a real money-saving feature right here. While MailerLite is an email marketing service, it offers some features that would be of great help to no-coders and founders like you and me. Rather than paying for WordPress hosting and having all the headaches that come with it, or going with a third-party tool that will add to your expenses, MailerLite offers landing pages and websites included in the subscription costs as part of its core features. 

Landing Pages: Starting with MailerLite's landing page builder, users can opt to build from scratch or leverage one of the 30 pre-made landing page templates available on the paid plan. The editing experience mirrors that of the email editor, utilizing drag-and-drop functionality to add and arrange content blocks. This cohesive design approach ensures that users don't have to relearn the platform when switching between email and landing page design.

Key features of the landing page editor include:

If you're on a paid plan, it even includes unlimited domains, unlimited landing pages, and unlimited websites. This is a no-brainer for anyone looking for an affordable option. 

Website Builder: Beyond landing pages, MailerLite's website builder offers the potential to design multi-page websites. While it may not replace a full-fledged CMS like WordPress for larger projects, it's perfect for setting up mini-sites or temporary campaign pages. The only caveat is that every site must be linked to a subscriber group, though this doesn't impact the site's functionality.

In the hands of a no-code developer, these tools can be potent. Whether it's rapidly deploying a landing page for a new product or setting up a mini-site for an event, MailerLite provides the flexibility and ease of use to get the job done efficiently.

Forms and Automation

In the world of email marketing, capturing leads efficiently and nurturing them through automation is paramount. MailerLite's form and automation capabilities are robust tools in this regard. The best part is that you can connect MailerLite with FlutterFlow, Bubble, or most other no-code tools using their API and create automations that would take ages to replicate manually.

Forms: MailerLite offers advanced form functionalities, eliminating the need for separate pop-up software. While you could replicate this functionality using your favorite no-code tools and just add an API call to it to send the data to MailerLite, if you want to get things done efficiently and save on workflow units, looking at you, Bubble, this might be the best way to do it.

Whether you're looking to embed a subscription form on your website or deploy a timed pop-up to capture leads, MailerLite has you covered. Additionally, these forms come with several triggers, allowing you to define when and how they appear to your visitors.

For a no-code developer, this means the ability to set up advanced campaigns where a visitor filling out a form can be seamlessly entered into a tailored email sequence designed to guide them down the sales funnel.

Automation: Automation in MailerLite goes hand-in-hand with forms. Once a user interacts with a form, a series of automated actions can be set into motion. Whether it's sending a welcome email, segmenting the user based on their preferences, or enrolling them in a specific campaign, MailerLite's automation ensures that each subscriber receives personalized attention. If you're willing to spend the time to learn, MailerLite automations can be as complex automations as you need them to be. They're all built using an intuitive builder, easy to use, yet powerful.

For the price point, the level of automation and form capabilities MailerLite offers is impressive. It empowers businesses to set up sophisticated email campaigns without the need for extensive manual intervention.

MailerLite's API: A No-Code Developer's Dream

In today's interconnected digital ecosystem, the ability for tools to "talk" to each other is paramount. As I have mentioned before, for no-code developers, a simple and well-documented API can be the difference between a seamless integration and hours of troubleshooting.

MailerLite understands this and offers a straightforward API that allows users to integrate their email marketing efforts with other tools and platforms such as Bubble, FlutterFlow, and Webflow. While having an API is not special, most email marketing services offer it, here's why MailerLite stands out:

For those in the no-code space, this API simplicity translates to flexibility. It means that MailerLite can easily become a part of a larger digital strategy, working in tandem with other tools to create a cohesive user experience.

Deliverability

Arguably, the most well-crafted email campaign is of little value if it doesn't reach its intended recipients. Deliverability, or the likelihood of your emails landing in the subscriber's inbox instead of the spam folder, is a critical metric for any email marketing platform.

MailerLite takes pride in its deliverability rates. In various tests, it has often secured top spots, demonstrating the platform's commitment to ensuring that your emails reach their destination. This success can be attributed to several factors, including:

For a no-code developer, the confidence that your email campaigns will achieve maximum reach without manual intervention is invaluable. With MailerLite's focus on deliverability, you can rest assured that your efforts are not in vain and that your messages are reaching your audience as intended.

Comparison with Other Platforms

Choosing the right email marketing platform often involves comparing several options to determine which best meets your needs. MailerLite, while powerful, exists in a competitive landscape with other notable platforms. Here's how it stacks up:

MailerLite vs. ActiveCampaign: While both platforms offer robust email marketing tools, ActiveCampaign stands out for its advanced automations and integrated CRM. Its logic and sequencing options surpass MailerLite's offerings. However, MailerLite's user interface is more intuitive, making it a more accessible choice for beginners. Also, MailerLite offers much better pricing and it's friendlier to beginners. 

MailerLite vs. GetResponse: GetResponse offers a broader suite of pro options, including Conversion Funnels and advanced design tools. It also supports multiple languages, giving it an edge for international users. However, MailerLite's simplicity and affordability make it a compelling choice for small businesses and bloggers.

MailerLite vs. Mailchimp: Both platforms are popular choices in the email marketing domain. While Mailchimp offers a broader set of features, especially in analytics and reporting, MailerLite's user-friendly interface and competitive pricing give it an edge for users looking for a straightforward solution.

For no-code developers, the choice between these platforms might boil down to specific needs. If advanced automation, an integrated CRM, and logic are critical, ActiveCampaign might be the way to go. For those prioritizing ease of use and affordability, MailerLite offers a compelling package.

In the vast sea of email marketing platforms, MailerLite emerges as a formidable contender. It offers a harmonious blend of user-friendly design, robust features, and competitive pricing. Its commitment to ensuring emails reach their intended recipients, coupled with tools that empower businesses to craft personalized campaigns, makes it a top choice for many.

For no-code developers, MailerLite presents an opportunity to harness the power of email marketing without the complexities often associated with other platforms. Whether you're a startup looking to dip your toes into the world of email marketing or a seasoned professional seeking an efficient tool, MailerLite stands ready to deliver. Also, regardless of whether you go with a free plan or one of the premium plans, I know MailerLite has everything you need to get your project going. 

In the end, while MailerLite might not have every bell and whistle that some competitors boast, its focus on core functionalities, simplicity, and affordability makes it a standout option in the email marketing realm.