20 Best Email Marketing Agencies in Chicago
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Many small, medium, and large businesses have relied on email marketing to increase customer loyalty and brand awareness to date because it is one of the most cost-effective options available in the market.
Email marketing helps businesses promote their products and services easily to keep their customers interested in their business.
Chicago is a beautiful city with a variety of email marketing companies that help customers with highly targeted email campaigns by segmenting their audience according to demographics and behavior to boost brand awareness and customer loyalty.
In this article, find a list of the top email marketing companies in Chicago with a team of dedicated professionals who can understand your business objectives and target audience behavior to create reliable email marketing strategies for making your business stand out of the competition.
An email marketing agency is a specialized firm that helps businesses plan, create, and execute email marketing campaigns. These agencies use targeted strategies to send personalized and engaging emails to a company's subscriber list, aiming to increase brand awareness, drive customer engagement, and boost sales. Services typically include email design, content creation, list management, automation, analytics, and reporting to ensure that campaigns are effective and yield a high return on investment (ROI).
An email marketing agency offers a variety of services to help businesses effectively reach and engage their audience through email campaigns. Here’s what they typically do:
- Strategy Development:
- Create a tailored email marketing strategy based on your business goals, target audience, and industry best practices.
- Email Design:
- Design visually appealing and responsive email templates that align with your brand identity.
- Content Creation:
- Write compelling and relevant email copy, including subject lines, body content, and calls to action.
- List Management:
- Manage your email subscriber list by segmenting it based on demographics, behavior, and preferences to ensure targeted messaging.
- Automation:
- Set up automated email sequences, such as welcome series, cart abandonment emails, and re-engagement campaigns.
- Personalization:
- Use data to personalize emails with the recipient’s name, past purchase history, and other relevant information to increase engagement.
- A/B Testing:
- Conduct A/B tests to determine the most effective email designs, content, and send times.
- Campaign Execution:
- Schedule and send emails according to the strategy, ensuring they reach the right audience at the right time.
- Analytics and Reporting:
- Track and analyze the performance of email campaigns, including open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and ROI.
- Compliance:
- Ensure that all emails comply with legal regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM, and follow best practices for email deliverability.
- Optimization:
- Continuously optimize email campaigns based on performance data to improve engagement and results.
By offering these services, an email marketing agency helps businesses effectively communicate with their audience, build relationships, and drive sales through strategic and well-executed email campaigns.
To better understand the distinction between an email marketing agency and a digital marketing agency, here’s a side-by-side comparison:
Email Marketing Agency vs. Digital Marketing Agency
Email marketing agencies specialize in creating, managing, and optimizing email campaigns to engage subscribers and drive conversions.
Digital marketing agencies offer a broader range of online marketing services to enhance overall digital presence and performance.
| Services | Email Marketing Agencies | Digital Marketing Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| Email Campaign Strategy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Email Design and Content | ✔ | ✔ |
| List Management | ✔ | |
| Automation and Personalization | ✔ | |
| A/B Testing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Campaign Execution | ✔ | |
| Analytics and Reporting | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEO | ✔ | |
| PPC Advertising | ✔ | |
| Social Media Marketing | ✔ | |
| Content Marketing | ✔ | |
| Web Design and Development | ✔ | |
| Influencer Marketing | ✔ |
In summary, while both types of agencies offer email marketing services, email marketing agencies focus exclusively on optimizing email campaigns and subscriber engagement. In contrast, digital marketing agencies provide a comprehensive suite of online marketing services, including SEO, PPC, social media, content marketing, and more, to improve the overall digital presence of a business.
So, you're curious about how much email marketing agencies charge? Let's break it down. The cost can vary widely depending on the type of service you need and the pricing model the agency uses. Here’s a detailed look at the numbers and what you can expect.
Average Cost Per Email
Email marketing agencies typically charge between $250 to $700 per email. This cost usually includes:
- Email Marketing Strategy
- Copywriting
- Design
- Implementation
Popular Pricing Structures
- Per Hour: Rates range from $120 to $250 per hour. This model is less common and can get expensive quickly.
- Per Project: Common for setting up automated email sequences. Costs can range from $3,000 to $6,000 for a set of automated emails like welcome series, cart abandonment, and post-purchase sequences.
- Retainer Service: Monthly retainer fees range from $2,500 to $7,500, usually covering 10-15 emails per month. Some agencies may also charge a setup fee.
- Revenue Share: Agencies may take a percentage of the revenue generated from email campaigns. This model aligns the agency's success with your revenue growth.
Factors Influencing Pricing
Several factors can influence how much an email marketing agency charges:
Company Size:
- Larger agencies with more resources charge more.
- Smaller agencies or freelancers may offer lower rates but might lack the same level of service.
Email Marketing Software:
- The choice of software can impact costs.
- Popular platforms and their starting prices:
- Klaviyo: $20/month
- Omnisend: $16/month
- Drip: $19/month
- Hubspot: $45/month
- ActiveCampaign: $9/month
- Mailchimp: $9.99/month
Email Campaign Frequency:
- The more emails you send, the higher the cost.
- Each email involves copywriters, designers, editors, and implementation teams.
Email List Size:
- Larger email lists require more management and higher software costs.
- The size of your subscriber list directly impacts the pricing.
Additional Services
Email marketing agencies often provide additional services which can affect pricing:
- Design: Customized email designs as your business grows.
- Other Digital Marketing Services: Social media marketing, full marketing strategy plans, SMS marketing, sales funnel creation, web design, etc.
Summary
Understanding the costs associated with hiring an email marketing agency helps you budget effectively and choose the right agency for your needs. Rates can vary based on the complexity of your project, the expertise of the agency, and your specific goals. By evaluating these factors, you can find an email marketing agency that fits your budget and helps drive your business growth.
Hiring an email marketing agency can provide numerous benefits for your business. Here’s why you should consider it:
Expertise and Experience
Email marketing agencies bring specialized knowledge and years of experience to the table. They understand the best practices for crafting engaging emails, segmenting lists, and optimizing campaigns for maximum effectiveness.
High-Quality Content
Creating compelling email content that resonates with your audience can be challenging. An email marketing agency has skilled copywriters and designers who can produce high-quality, persuasive emails that drive engagement and conversions.
Time and Resource Efficiency
Managing email campaigns can be time-consuming. By outsourcing this task to an agency, you free up your time and resources to focus on other important aspects of your business. The agency handles everything from strategy and design to execution and analysis.
Advanced Tools and Technologies
Email marketing agencies have access to advanced tools and technologies for email automation, personalization, and analytics. These tools can be expensive and complex to use, but agencies can leverage them effectively to improve your campaign performance.
Improved Deliverability
Ensuring that your emails reach the inbox and not the spam folder is crucial. Email marketing agencies are well-versed in deliverability best practices and can help maintain your sender reputation, ensuring your emails reach your subscribers.
Data-Driven Insights
Agencies use data and analytics to track the performance of your email campaigns. They provide detailed reports and insights, helping you understand what’s working and what’s not. This data-driven approach allows for continuous optimization and better results.
Personalization and Segmentation
Personalized and segmented emails perform better than generic ones. An email marketing agency can help you segment your list and personalize your emails based on customer behavior and preferences, leading to higher engagement rates.
Scalability
As your business grows, your email marketing needs will evolve. An email marketing agency can scale your campaigns up or down based on your changing needs, ensuring you always have the right level of support.
Compliance
Email marketing agencies are knowledgeable about legal regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM. They ensure that your campaigns comply with these laws, helping you avoid potential fines and legal issues.
In summary, hiring an email marketing agency provides expertise, high-quality content, efficiency, advanced tools, improved deliverability, data-driven insights, personalization, scalability, and compliance. It’s a smart investment that can significantly enhance your email marketing efforts and drive business growth.
Choosing the right email marketing agency can significantly impact your business's success. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you find the best one:
- Identify Your Goals: Determine what you want to achieve with an email marketing agency, such as increasing open rates, improving click-through rates, or boosting overall conversions.
- Set Your Budget: Establish how much you can afford to spend on email marketing services each month. This helps narrow down your options and ensures you find an agency that fits your financial capabilities.
- Research Potential Agencies: Look for reputable email marketing agencies online, read reviews, and ask for recommendations from peers or industry contacts. Create a list of potential agencies to consider.
- Check Their Portfolio: Review the agency’s portfolio to see their past work. Look for diversity in projects and quality in design, creativity, and execution. Make sure they have experience in the areas you need help with.
- Evaluate Their Experience: Ensure the agency has experience in your industry. This ensures they understand your market and target audience, making their strategies more effective.
- Read Client Testimonials: Look at reviews and testimonials from past clients. Pay attention to feedback about their reliability, creativity, and results. This gives you an idea of what to expect.
- Understand Their Services: Make sure the agency offers the services you need, such as strategy development, email design, content creation, list management, automation, and analytics.
- Assess Their Creativity: Look at the originality and innovation in their work. A good email marketing agency should bring fresh ideas and unique solutions to the table.
- Check Their Process: Ask about their process from strategy development to execution and reporting. Ensure it aligns with your expectations and business needs.
- Meet the Team: Get to know the team members who will be working on your project. Assess their expertise, creativity, and how well you communicate with them.
- Request a Proposal: Ask for a detailed proposal outlining their strategies, timelines, and expected outcomes. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect and how they plan to achieve your goals.
- Evaluate Their Tools: Inquire about the tools and technologies they use for email automation, personalization, and analytics. Ensure they have access to the latest and most effective tools.
- Check Their Reporting: Make sure they provide regular updates and reports on your campaigns. These should include detailed analytics and insights to measure performance and inform strategy adjustments.
- Understand Their Pricing Structure: Clarify their pricing model. Whether it’s a monthly retainer, project-based fee, or performance-based pricing, ensure it fits your budget and provides good value.
- Look for Transparency: Ensure the agency is transparent about their processes and results. They should be open to discussing their strategies, sharing insights, and addressing any concerns you may have.
- Schedule a Consultation: Have a consultation call to discuss your needs and expectations. This is a good opportunity to assess their communication style, responsiveness, and enthusiasm for your project.
- Evaluate Their Cultural Fit: Ensure the agency’s values and working style align with yours. A good cultural fit can lead to a more productive and harmonious partnership.
- Ask About Long-Term Strategy: Ensure the agency is committed to long-term optimization and continuous improvement. Ask how they plan to evolve your strategy as your business grows.
- Consider Their Flexibility: Make sure the agency can adapt to your changing needs and provide scalable solutions as your business evolves.
- Review Their Contract: Carefully read the contract terms. Ensure there are no hidden fees and that the terms are favorable to you. Clarify any points before signing.
By following these steps, you can find an email marketing agency that will help you achieve your business objectives and enhance your email marketing efforts.
Relevant Background
- Do you have experience working in our industry?
- Can you provide case studies or examples of your work with similar clients?
Services and Processes
- What specific email marketing services do you offer?
- How do you develop your email marketing strategies?
- Which tools and technologies do you use for email automation, personalization, and analytics?
- Do you offer related services like content creation, list management, or CRM integration?
The Project
- Who will be working on our project, and what are their roles?
- How will you identify the key areas that need improvement in our current email marketing strategy?
- What is your approach to creating and executing email campaigns?
- How do you incorporate data and analytics into your strategy?
Communication and Reporting
- How often will we have meetings to discuss progress and strategy?
- What are your preferred communication channels (email, phone, video calls)?
- How often will we receive performance reports, and what information will be included?
Pricing and Contract
- What is your pricing structure?
- Are there any additional costs we should be aware of?
- Can you provide a detailed proposal outlining your services, timelines, and costs?
Client Relationship
- How do you ensure your work aligns with our business goals and brand values?
- Can you provide references from current or past clients?
- What is your process for handling feedback and revisions?
Long-Term Strategy
- How do you plan for long-term optimization and continuous improvement?
- What do you see as the most significant opportunities for improving our email marketing efforts?
By asking these key questions, you can ensure that you choose an email marketing agency that aligns with your goals, has a proven track record, and can deliver the results you’re looking for.
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Our Rating Guidelines
Ranked: The Best Email Marketing Agencies In Chicago
We've shortlisted the best ones for you and made it easy to only contact AAA or AA-rated agencies.
However, before you decide to go with anyone I recommend 2 things:
Either use our agency finder above. Use our expertise and let us help you find the ideal agency for you, from our worldwide contact database.
Or, if you are sure you'd like a local agency, set up meetings with the highly-rated agencies on this list, and test them for clear expectations from you/clear customer qualifications, clear onboarding process, clear long-term focused objectives, and clear communication.
And most important, don't fall for short-term hacks some poor quality agencies try to sell you on.
Look for long-term strategy, protecting your brand and clear timelines.
1. Digital Marketers Chicago
Founded Year: 2018
Website: digitalmarketerschicago.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Digital Marketers Chicago is a top email marketing agency in Chicago, engaging your customers with high-quality emails and newsletters to increase their customer loyalty and brand awareness.
The company develops email marketing campaigns according to your business objectives and target audience behavior to promote your products and services through personalized emails. They provide email creation, template and campaign management, tracking the performance of email campaigns, and reporting to provide a higher ROI.
Case Studies: Pending submission
2. 222 Digital Marketing
Founded Year: 2017
Website: 222digitalmarketing.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: 222 Digital Marketing is a leading email marketing agency in Chicago, providing email marketing campaigns to potential customers from different parts of the world according to your business objectives.
They can advertise your products and services by providing personalized emails to the customers and converting them into paying consumers. The company has a team of experts who use the latest tools and strategies to develop email marketing campaigns to engage with your customers and increase conversion rates.
Case Studies: Pending submission
3. DOE Media
Founded Year: 2018
Website: doe.media
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: DOE Media is a popular email marketing agency in Chicago elevating your email marketing strategies with the help of their dedicated team of experts who can provide customized campaigns according to your target audience behavior and demographics.
The company caters to the needs of brands of all sizes with precision segmenting, engaging behavioral content, and captivating email designs. They help you capture more leads, engage your audience, and increase revenue with expert email marketing services.
Case Studies: Pending submission
4. Umbrella Local
Founded Year: 1997
Website: umbrellalocal.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Umbrella Local is a professional email marketing agency in Chicago that provides trusted and effective email marketing campaigns for small and large businesses to attract the target audience's attention.
The company will create the segmented list, deliver it, and provide reporting to boost conversion rates and customer engagement. They can help you grow a business through personalized emails.
Case Studies: Pending submission
5. Wpromote
Founded Year: 2001
Website: wpromote.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Wpromote is a skilled email marketing agency in Chicago, helping businesses create the best customer experience through email marketing campaigns at cost-effective prices.
The company has a team of certified experts who can segment your audience and send personalized emails to promote your products and services. They ensure that meaningful email campaigns are created for your business to boost brand visibility among your target audience.
Case Studies: Pending submission
6. Loop Marketing
Founded Year: 2009
Website: theloopmarketing.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Loop Marketing is a premier email marketing agency in Chicago, making sure that your emails stand out from the crowd and attract the attention of your target audience.
They create engaging email marketing campaigns to promote your products and services to the audience directly through personalized emails and newsletters. The company helps in nurturing qualified leads and developing customer engagement through your email marketing funnel.
Case Studies: Pending submission
7. 97 Switch
Founded Year: 2013
Website: 97switch.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: 97 Switch is a renowned email marketing agency in Chicago that helps small and large businesses with email marketing services at cost-effective prices.
The company uses a diverse range of email formats and strategies to enthrall audiences and improve email conversion rates. They have a team of email marketing experts who can develop email campaigns according to your audience's interests and business objectives.
Case Studies: Pending submission
8. Digital Authority Partners
Founded Year: 2016
Website: digitalauthority.me
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Digital Authority Partners is a prominent email marketing agency in Chicago, communicating with your audience directly using one of the most effective email marketing services.
The company has decades of experience sending personalized emails directly to your customer’s inboxes to promote your products and services. They can customize the emails according to your business objectives to increase conversion rates and customer engagement.
Case Studies: Pending submission
9. Connections Marketing
Founded Year: 2009
Website: connectionsmarketing.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Connections Marketing is a credible email marketing agency in Chicago, boosting conversions and brand awareness with responsive emails designed specifically for your brand.
The company helps businesses build trust and engagement through email marketing campaigns built for their target audience. They have a team of email marketers who are familiar with your brand objectives, competitors, and target audience behavior. They send personalized emails directly to your inbox to promote your brand.
Case Studies: Pending submission
10. Logical Media Group
Founded Year: 1999
Website: logicalmediagroup.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Logical Media Group is an excellent email marketing agency in Chicago. It develops effective email marketing strategies for small and large businesses to increase their potential customers, sales, and revenue.
Their team of email strategists can develop and implement email campaigns according to your target audience's behavior and demographics to boost customer engagement and brand awareness. They provide detailed reporting on email marketing campaigns and email marketing automation to test and optimize for the best results.
Case Studies: Pending submission
11. 1Digital Agency
Founded Year: 2012
Website: 1digitalagency.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: 1Digital Agency is a reputed email marketing agency in Chicago, helping small and large businesses capture leads and engage existing customers with effective email marketing campaigns.
They align your email marketing messaging to previous user behavior to drive clicks, engagements, and sales. Their email marketing services include audience segmentation, email automation, analysis, integration, customization, and curated content email development.
Case Studies: Pending submission
12. Rise Interactive
Founded Year: 2004
Website: riseinteractive.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Rise Interactive is a reliable email marketing agency in Chicago that delivers personalized messages to increase brand engagement and ensure maximum return for small, midsize, or large businesses.
Their email marketing services include strategy development, customized creative emails, platform selection and implementation, and campaign execution and measurement. The company has a team of email strategists who can improve customer experiences by prioritizing your audience when sending personalized emails.
Case Studies: Pending submission
13. LocaliQ
Founded Year: 2018
Website: localiq.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: LicaliQ is a distinguished email marketing agency in Chicago that provides targeted email marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and attract existing customers to promote your products and services.
The company has a team of email marketing experts who can develop strategic email campaigns according to your business objectives and target audience behavior to boost conversion rates and website traffic.
They can develop personalized emails according to the segmented audience and report the performance of these campaigns to optimize them to get the best return on your investment.
Case Studies: Pending submission
14. HyperLocal
Founded Year: 2013
Website: hyperlocalplatform.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: HyperLocal is a dependable email marketing agency in Chicago that designs beautiful outbound email campaigns to increase brand awareness and attract existing customers.
They develop personalized emails that keep your customers engaged and informed about your products and services. The company excels in dealing with segmenting the audience and developing email strategies using the latest methods for getting the best measurable results for your business.
Case Studies: Pending submission
15. Simplified Solutions
Founded Year: 2013
Website: simplifiedsolutions.biz
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Simplified Solutions is a well-known email marketing agency in Chicago that designs engaging email marketing campaigns to deliver higher brand awareness and click-through rates.
The company develops automated nurture campaigns, monthly newsletters, targeted e-commerce specials, and event promotions to increase customer engagement.
Case Studies: Pending submission
16. Click5 Interactive
Founded Year: 2012
Website: click5interactive.com
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Click5 Interactive is an esteemed email marketing agency in Chicago with a dedicated team of marketing experts who can develop email marketing strategies according to your business needs to showcase your products and services to the target audience.
They use targeted email campaigns to improve website traffic and convert it into potential customers.
Case Studies: Pending submission
17. Wizspeed
Founded Year: 2021
Website: wizspeed.com
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Wizspeed is a top-notch email marketing agency in Chicago offering professional email marketing services for small and large businesses to showcase their brand products and services to the right audience through targeted emails directly to their inbox.
They have a team of experienced marketing specialists who can develop personalized emails according to your audience behavior and demographics to increase customer engagement and conversion rates.
Case Studies: Pending submission
18. Omeda
Founded Year: 1978
Website: omeda.com
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Omeda is an established email marketing agency in Chicago that seamlessly activates your audience through personalized email marketing campaigns.
They help businesses connect with the right audience at the right time by segmenting the audience according to a democratic and behavior-based approach and sending personalized emails to increase brand awareness. The company can help build customer loyalty and trust through their automated email marketing services and campaigns.
Case Studies: Pending submission
19. Blue Magnet Interactive
Founded Year: 2007
Website: bluemagnetinteractive.com
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Blue Magnet Interactive is a unique email marketing agency in Chicago that provides customized email marketing campaigns for boosting your website traffic and brand awareness.
The company creates email campaigns to boost conversion rates and customer engagement by promoting their products and services through personalized emails. Their creative email marketers use targeted email marketing campaigns to boost trust and loyalty among the target audience.
Case Studies: Pending submission
20. Social Media 312
Founded Year: 2019
Website: socialmedia312.com
Reputation Score: A
About the agency: Social Media 312 is a vibrant email marketing agency in Chicago that helps businesses skyrocket revenue by attracting potential customers through personalized emails directly sent to their inbox.
The company specializes in creating engaging and informative emails to promote your products and services and increase brand awareness among the targeted audience. They provide result-oriented email marketing campaigns that drive sales and user engagement.
Case Studies: Pending submission
Conclusion
Email marketing is a valuable investment for businesses to promote their products and services and build a huge customer base by keeping their existing customers interested in their brand, boosting brand loyalty and trust.
Working with an email marketing agency can help in developing targeted email campaigns at cost-effective prices and generating sales and revenue for your business. Choose a reputed email marketing agency from our list to generate qualified leads and keep your existing customers engaged with your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is email marketing?
Email marketing effectively connects your targeted audience and gives you the best return on investment. Businesses can reach their current and potential customers and keep them updated with the latest deals and news through emails.
A personalized and targeted email marketing campaign is important for increasing brand awareness and driving conversions.
How can email marketing help my business?
Targeted email marketing services for your business can help effectively remarket to existing leads, keeping current customers engaged and interested. Emails can be automated and customized for lead generation, conversions, and engagements.
Email marketing campaigns with custom email templates, targeted copy, and advanced segmentation can help grow your business.
What will an email marketing agency do?
An email marketing agency has a team of email marketing specialists who can develop targeted email campaigns to boost your online presence and website traffic.
The company uses email marketing services to promote your products and services to the right audience at the right time. They send promotional materials through personalized emails to increase customer engagement.
What are the benefits of email marketing services?
Email marketing services are one of the most common tools used by small and large businesses to attract potential customers from different parts of the world. It helps brands reach out to a wider audience by directly showcasing their products and services through personalized emails.
This is a cost-effective option because it takes only a minimum budget to post emails to your targeted audience to gain their attention.
Businesses can directly promote their products, discount offers, services, and business messages through emails with direct communication. It is easy to personalize email marketing campaigns, making it perfect for small, medium, and large businesses.
Is email marketing effective?
Email marketing is one of the oldest marketing techniques still going strong for boosting brand awareness, customer loyalty, and trust for small and large businesses all around the world.
Targeting customers by sending emails directly to their mail and communicating about your brand's products and services to spike their interest in making purchases is easy. This is one of the most common and effective options for businesses to increase customer engagement and website traffic at cost-effective prices.