Sendinblue - Detailed Review
Communication Tools
Sendinblue - Product Overview
Primary Function
Sendinblue (Brevo) is designed to help businesses manage their digital marketing campaigns effectively. It integrates email marketing, SMS marketing, live chat, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) into a single platform, making it easier to engage with customers across multiple channels.Target Audience
Sendinblue is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small startups and SMEs to larger organizations. Its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing make it an excellent choice for marketing teams with diverse channel needs and those new to marketing automation.Key Features
Email Marketing
Sendinblue features an intuitive email editor with a drag-and-drop interface and predefined templates, allowing users to create visually appealing emails without coding knowledge. It supports advanced personalization using tags, A/B testing, and automated email campaigns based on specific triggers and events.SMS Marketing
The platform enables businesses to send targeted text messages, promote special offers, and send important reminders. It also supports automated SMS campaigns and provides detailed analytics to track the performance of SMS marketing efforts.Marketing Automation
Sendinblue allows users to create complex automation sequences based on user behavior, preferences, and interactions. This feature helps in delivering targeted content at the right time, improving customer engagement and conversion rates.CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
The CRM function provides a centralized view of customer data, tracks customer interactions, and helps in understanding customer needs better. This feature is crucial for effective management of customer relationships.Segmentation and Personalization
Sendinblue enables contact list segmentation based on specific criteria such as behavior, preferences, and demographic details. This allows for sending targeted and personalized content to different segments of the audience, resulting in higher open and conversion rates.Analytics and Reporting
The platform offers detailed reports for analyzing the performance of email, SMS, and chat campaigns. This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of marketing strategies and making data-driven decisions.Additional Features
Sendinblue also includes features like live chat for real-time customer support, landing pages, and intelligent sending options that use AI to determine the best time to send emails. Overall, Sendinblue (Brevo) is a versatile and accessible platform that simplifies and optimizes digital marketing for businesses of all sizes. Sendinblue - User Interface and Experience
Intuitive Dashboard
The dashboard of Brevo is easy to grasp, even for new users. It features a limited number of menu items in the top navigation, which helps in reducing clutter and making the interface feel more manageable. During the onboarding process, users are asked questions that help create a custom onboarding experience, showing only the features relevant to their initial stated goals.
Organization and Customization
The interface is well-organized, with features listed in a grid format and each feature having an on-off toggle. This allows users to easily control which features are active and visible in the dashboard with a simple click. Users can also add and remove features from the menu to customize it according to their needs and preferences.
Ease of Use
Brevo is known for its ease of use. The platform does not sacrifice intuitiveness for the sake of functionality. The drag-and-drop email editor, for example, is fast and smooth, making it easy to create and edit emails. Although the workflow editor lacks drag-and-drop functionality, it is still logically structured and allows users to create useful sequences with a bit of practice.
Key Features Accessibility
Important features such as the Shared Inbox, chat, and marketing automation are readily accessible. The Shared Inbox unifies all messages, allowing users to respond to customers quickly and keep track of conversation histories. The chat feature can be easily integrated into a website, enabling real-time communication with customers and leads.
User-Friendly Onboarding
Setting up Brevo is straightforward. The free version does not require any payment information, and the email address used for registration becomes the default sending address. The dashboard is well-organized and configured for out-of-the-box usage, making it beginner-friendly while also offering advanced users the freedom to configure it as needed.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience is positive, with a clear and logical design that makes it easy to move through the various interfaces. The platform provides a nice range of features, including email marketing, SMS campaigns, and customer support widgets, all of which contribute to a seamless and efficient user experience.
In summary, Brevo’s user interface is intuitive, easy to use, and highly customizable, making it a user-friendly platform for managing various communication and marketing tasks.
Sendinblue - Key Features and Functionality
Email Marketing Automation
Sendinblue allows you to automate your email marketing campaigns using workflows that can be triggered by specific events or user behaviors. For example, you can set up automated emails to be sent when someone subscribes to your mailing list, makes a purchase, or abandons their shopping cart. This automation saves time and helps in personalizing messages to increase customer interaction and loyalty.
Email Construction and Personalization
The platform features a drag-and-drop email builder that makes creating emails simple and hassle-free. You can choose from various predefined templates or design your own emails from scratch. Sendinblue also supports dynamic texts, allowing you to personalize emails with the recipient’s name, product information, and other details. This personalization makes your messages more relevant and engaging.
A/B Testing
Sendinblue includes an A/B testing feature that allows you to compare two different email messages to determine which one performs better. This helps in optimizing your email campaigns for better open rates and engagement. However, it’s noted that A/B testing is currently limited to subject lines and not the content of the newsletters.
Send Time Optimization
This AI-driven feature optimizes the sending time of your emails based on when each contact on your list is most likely to open their emails. Using algorithms that analyze open rates and delivery times, Sendinblue automatically sends emails at the best possible time for each contact, significantly increasing the open rates of your messages.
SMS Marketing
Sendinblue extends its communication capabilities beyond email to include SMS marketing. You can easily dispatch time-sensitive messages such as order confirmations and shipping updates directly to your customers’ mobile devices. The platform also tracks key engagement metrics and real-time deliverability and engagement statistics for your SMS campaigns.
Customer Segmentation
The platform allows you to segment your contacts into different groups based on their behavior, preferences, and demographic details. This segmentation enables you to send targeted content and offers to different segments of your audience, resulting in higher open and conversion rates.
Live Help Now
Sendinblue’s Live Help Now feature allows you to create a live customer support widget for your website or store. This feature enables real-time communication with users on your site, helping you address queries and provide support immediately.
Intelligent Sending
The platform’s intelligent sending feature, powered by AI, ensures that emails are sent at the optimal time for each contact. This feature is particularly useful for large-scale email campaigns, as it maximizes the likelihood of emails being opened.
Integration with AI Tools
Sendinblue can be integrated with AI tools like Eden AI through platforms such as Albato. This integration allows for advanced AI capabilities, such as sentiment analysis of customer feedback, which can then trigger personalized email responses. This enhances customer satisfaction and engagement by addressing concerns with empathy or expressing gratitude for positive feedback.
Analytics and Monitoring
Sendinblue provides comprehensive analytics and monitoring tools to track the performance of your email and SMS campaigns. You can collect key engagement metrics and real-time deliverability and engagement statistics, helping you identify what works and what needs adjustment.
In summary, Sendinblue’s features are designed to streamline and optimize your marketing and communication efforts, leveraging AI to personalize and time your messages effectively, and providing robust analytics to measure and improve your campaigns.
Sendinblue - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Sendinblue offers a wide range of features that can enhance your email marketing campaigns. Here are some positives:Deliverability
Sendinblue has strong deliverability features, including DKIM authentication and a simple setup guide to protect your emails from being marked as spam. It also offers dedicated IP addresses, which can help establish trust with email service providers.Real-Time Stats and Analytics
The platform provides real-time statistics and analytics to monitor deliverability, hard bounces, and engagement, allowing you to adjust your campaigns effectively.Automation and Integration
Sendinblue supports automation workflows, although there are limitations on the number of subscribers for the free and lower-tier plans. Integrations with other tools, such as Eden AI through Albato, can enhance your marketing efforts with AI-driven communication strategies.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, Sendinblue has some notable limitations:Feature Restrictions in Basic Plans
The basic plans lack key features such as A/B testing, advanced statistics, multi-user access, live chat, Facebook ads, and automation for more than 2,000 contacts. These features are only available in the higher-priced Premium or Enterprise tiers, which can be unaffordable for small businesses and startups.Setup Effort
Setting up Sendinblue requires significant time and effort, particularly for larger contact lists and complex automation workflows. This can be a barrier for users who need to onboard employees quickly.Anti-Spam Policy and Email Validation
While Sendinblue has a strong anti-spam policy, it lacks a warning system to prevent uploading junk email addresses. This can lead to issues with email deliverability, such as Gmail flagging test emails as spam threats.Engagement and Factual Accuracy
In terms of engagement, Sendinblue allows for personalized and dynamic communication through integrations like Eden AI, which can analyze customer feedback and trigger personalized emails based on sentiment analysis. This can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and engagement. However, the accuracy of email deliverability can be affected by the lack of robust email validation processes. For instance, the absence of a warning system for uploading bad email addresses can lead to deliverability issues.Conclusion
Sendinblue is a capable email marketing tool with strong deliverability features and the potential for AI-driven communication through integrations. However, it comes with significant limitations, particularly in its basic plans, and requires considerable setup effort. Addressing these limitations, especially in terms of feature availability and email validation, could further improve its performance and accuracy. Sendinblue - Pricing and Plans
Brevo Pricing Overview
Brevo offers a flexible and comprehensive pricing structure to cater to various business needs, from startups to large enterprises. Here’s a detailed overview of their pricing plans and the features included in each:
Free Plan
- Price: $0 per month
- Email Limit: Up to 300 emails per day
- Features:
- Unlimited contacts
- Basic email template library
- Email personalization (e.g., adding recipients’ first names, birthdays)
- Live chat feature for real-time customer engagement
- Limited marketing automation (up to 2,000 contacts)
- Web push notifications
- Real-time results of email marketing campaigns, though with limited reporting (no heat map, device, and geography reporting)
Lite Plan (also referred to as Starter Plan)
- Price: Starting at $25 per month
- Email Limit: Up to 10,000 emails per month (with no daily sending limit)
- Features:
- Email support
- Advanced statistics
- A/B testing
- Custom branding (removal of Brevo branding)
- Web tracking and basic marketing automation
- Scalable pricing for increasing email limits (e.g., 40,000 emails for $35/month, 60,000 emails for $49/month, etc.)
Premium Plan (also referred to as Business Plan)
- Price: Starting at $65 per month
- Email Limits:
- 20,000 emails for $65/month
- 40,000 emails for $79/month
- 60,000 emails for $94/month
- Up to 1,000,000 emails with increasing prices (e.g., 100,000 emails for $124/month, 150,000 emails for $169/month, etc.)
- Features:
- Everything from the Free and Lite plans
- Advanced marketing automation
- Facebook and retargeting ads
- Landing page templates
- Multi-user access (up to 10 user inboxes)
- Sales CRM for managing customer interactions
- Advanced segmentation tools
- Detailed reports on customer location, devices, and behavior
- Phone support
- Integration with popular apps like Prestashop and Shopify
Enterprise Plan
- Price: Custom pricing (requires contacting the Brevo team)
- Features:
- All features from the other plans
- Priority email sending
- Unlimited inboxes
- Dedicated IP address
- Advanced integrations (e.g., Salesforce, FTP, Google Contacts)
- Email API, SMS API, SMTP relay
- Dedicated customer success manager
- Over 20 landing page templates
- Service level agreement for 99.9% guaranteed platform uptime
Pay-As-You-Go Plan
- Price: Varies based on the number of emails
- Examples include 5,000 emails for $40, 10,000 emails for $74, up to 1,000,000 emails for $1,995
- Features:
- Flexible email credits with no expiry date
- Includes features from the Lite plan
- Suitable for those who need extra emails beyond their monthly plan or prefer not to commit to a monthly subscription
Each plan is designed to accommodate different business needs, ensuring that you can choose the plan that best fits your email marketing requirements.
Sendinblue - Integration and Compatibility
Overview of Brevo
Sendinblue, now known as Brevo, is a versatile marketing automation platform that offers extensive integration capabilities, making it compatible with a wide range of tools and platforms. Here’s a detailed look at how it integrates with other tools and its compatibility across different systems:
API Access and Custom Integrations
Brevo provides a RESTful API that allows developers to integrate the platform with custom applications and systems. This API supports core functionalities such as contact management, email campaigns, and transactional emails. This flexibility is crucial for businesses that need to integrate Brevo with their unique or proprietary systems.
Native Integrations
Brevo offers native integrations with several popular platforms, including CRM systems like Salesforce, e-commerce platforms like Shopify, and content management systems like WordPress. These integrations enable seamless data synchronization and automation of marketing tasks across these platforms.
Zapier Integration
Brevo is also integrated with Zapier, which allows connections with hundreds of other apps and services. This integration significantly expands Brevo’s capabilities, enabling users to automate workflows between Brevo and a wide array of other tools without needing to write code.
Compatibility with E-commerce Platforms
Brevo is compatible with various e-commerce platforms, including Magento. The Brevo plugin for Magento ensures that businesses can automate email campaigns based on customer behavior, handle customer order data, and improve overall email marketing efficiency.
Integration with AI Tools
Brevo can be integrated with AI tools using platforms like Latenode. This integration allows for the automation of email campaigns using AI-driven insights, the utilization of chatbots for enhanced customer interaction, and the streamlining of workflows between Brevo and AI tools. These integrations help in personalizing campaigns, reducing manual work, and gaining actionable intelligence through advanced analytics.
WordPress Integrations
Brevo can be integrated with WordPress using plugins like the official Brevo plugin or AcyMailing. These plugins enable the synchronization of users between WordPress and Brevo, allowing for the creation of subscription forms, segmentation of newsletters, automation of email campaigns, and analysis of emailing campaigns directly from WordPress.
Data Transformation and Real-time Event Tracking
While Brevo’s data transformation capabilities are somewhat limited to basic data mapping and field customization, it can be complemented by tools like Census for more complex data transformations and real-time data syncing. Customer.io, for comparison, offers more advanced data handling capabilities, but Brevo’s integrations still provide significant value for most marketing automation needs.
Automation and Workflow Integration
Brevo allows for the creation of automated workflows using tools like WPFunnels. By integrating Brevo with WPFunnels, businesses can set up automation based on different triggers, such as user events like opt-in form submissions or order acceptances. This integration enables the automatic addition of users to specific Brevo lists, facilitating targeted marketing campaigns.
Conclusion
In summary, Brevo’s integration capabilities are extensive and versatile, allowing it to seamlessly connect with a variety of platforms, tools, and services. This compatibility ensures that businesses can automate and optimize their marketing efforts efficiently, leveraging data from multiple sources to enhance customer engagement and overall marketing performance.
Sendinblue - Customer Support and Resources
Support Channels
- Email Support: You can contact Brevo’s support team via email at contact@sendinblue.com for any queries or issues you might have.
- Phone Support: Brevo provides phone support, which can be reached at 1 (844)-744-2639. This option allows you to get immediate assistance over the phone.
- Social Media Support: Brevo also offers support through their social media channels, where you can leave messages or ask questions.
- Knowledge Base: For those who prefer self-service support, Brevo has a comprehensive knowledge base that provides information on various topics and features of the platform.
Additional Resources
- Conversations Platform: Brevo’s Conversations platform includes features like chat, phone, and a universal inbox, which help in managing customer communications efficiently. This platform also integrates AI capabilities to aid in live chats and email management, such as summarizing chats and refining messaging.
- AI-Powered Tools: Brevo includes AI-driven tools like an email writing assistant, subject line generator, and AI-powered chat management. These tools are available in both free and paid plans, making it easier to streamline marketing and customer support tasks.
- Community and Documentation: Brevo likely has a community section and detailed documentation, although specific details are not provided in the sources. However, the knowledge base and help sections are designed to offer extensive support and advice, including video tutorials.
Accessibility
- While Brevo does not offer live chat support, the combination of email, phone, and social media support ensures that users have multiple avenues to get help when needed.
By leveraging these support channels and resources, users of Brevo can effectively manage their customer relationships and resolve any issues that may arise.
Sendinblue - Pros and Cons
Pros of Sendinblue (Now Brevo)
Sendinblue, now rebranded as Brevo, offers several compelling advantages that make it a viable option for email marketing and automation needs.
Affordable Pricing
Brevo is praised for its affordable pricing structure. Users can send a significant number of emails without incurring high costs, especially with the free plan that allows up to 9,000 free emails per month.
Comprehensive Feature Set
Brevo combines multiple platforms into one, including marketing, sales, communication, CRM, and transactional messages. This all-in-one approach streamlines marketing automation, sales pipeline management, and customer data analysis.
User-Friendly Interface
The platform boasts a user-friendly visual interface with a drag-and-drop email editor, making it easy to create professional-looking emails and automated campaigns. The interface is intuitive, with big, easy-to-read fonts and a straightforward campaign setup process.
Multi-Channel Support
Brevo allows you to reach your audience through various channels, including email, SMS, WhatsApp, and push notifications. Additionally, it features a meetings tool for scheduling and hosting meetings directly from the platform.
Automation Capabilities
The marketing automation feature enables users to create custom workflows that automate a wide range of actions, such as sending welcome emails, organizing contacts, and setting up double opt-in and unsubscribe options. This automation helps in speeding up lead generation, engaging the audience, and increasing eCommerce conversions.
WordPress Integration and Multilingual Support
Brevo integrates seamlessly with WordPress and offers multilingual support, making it versatile for different types of users and businesses.
Cons of Sendinblue (Now Brevo)
Despite its advantages, Brevo also has some significant drawbacks.
Basic Plans Lack Key Features
The basic plans, such as the Lite and Essential plans, lack several key features like A/B testing, advanced statistics, multi-user access, live chat, and Facebook ads. These features are only available in the higher-priced Premium and Enterprise tiers.
Deliverability Issues
Brevo has been criticized for its email deliverability. Studies have shown that Brevo emails are more likely to be marked as spam compared to industry benchmarks, and the inboxing score is lower than ideal. Although there have been improvements, deliverability remains a concern.
Customer Support Limitations
Customer support is limited based on the pricing tier. Free and lower-tier users have limited or no access to support, while phone support is only available on the Business plan and above. This can be frustrating for users who need immediate assistance.
Steep Learning Curve
Setting up Brevo requires a significant amount of time and effort, especially for larger contact lists. The automation workflows can be complex, and employees may need to be slowly onboarded to use the platform efficiently.
Limited Free Plan Features
While the free plan is generous in terms of the number of emails you can send, it lacks many of the key features that are available in the paid plans. This can limit the functionality for users who are just starting out or have limited budgets.
By considering these pros and cons, you can make an informed decision about whether Brevo is the right fit for your email marketing and automation needs.
Sendinblue - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing Sendinblue (now known as Brevo) with other communication tools in the email marketing and AI-driven product category, there are several key points and alternatives to consider.
Unique Features of Brevo (Sendinblue)
Brevo stands out for its affordable pricing model, which charges per email rather than per contact. This makes it particularly appealing for businesses with large contact lists but who send targeted emails. Here are some of its unique features:- Email Marketing Automation: Brevo offers advanced automation features, including workflow automation and transactional email services.
- No Cap on Contacts: Unlike some competitors, Brevo does not cap the number of contacts you can have, even on its free plan.
- SMS Integration: Brevo allows you to include SMS as part of your marketing strategy, which is not always available in other email marketing tools.
- Reliable Deliverability: Brevo is known for its secure and reliable email delivery, which is crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation.
Potential Alternatives
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a well-known alternative that offers a free plan with an easy-to-use email editor. However, it charges per contact, which can be more expensive for businesses with large lists. Here are some key differences:- Pricing: Mailchimp charges per contact, whereas Brevo charges per email sent.
- Ecommerce and Social Reports: Mailchimp provides detailed ecommerce and social reports, which Brevo does not.
- Landing Page Builder: Mailchimp offers a free landing page builder, a feature Brevo lacks.
EngageBay
EngageBay is another comprehensive alternative that combines marketing, sales, and customer support features. Here’s what it offers:- All-in-One Suite: EngageBay includes CRM, sales, and service tools, making it a more holistic solution for businesses.
- Predictive Lead Scoring: It features predictive lead scoring and workflow automation, which can be beneficial for lead nurturing and conversion.
- Social Media Management: EngageBay also includes social media management tools, which can help integrate your marketing efforts across multiple channels.
Omnisend
Omnisend is a highly automated tool suitable for ecommerce businesses. Here are its key features:- Dynamic Messaging: Omnisend offers dynamic messaging, which is ideal for ecommerce businesses looking to personalize their marketing campaigns.
- A/B Testing: It allows for A/B testing of email campaigns, helping you optimize your marketing strategies.
- Real-Time Reporting: Omnisend provides real-time reporting and campaign performance analysis, which can help in making data-driven decisions.
NotifyVisitors
NotifyVisitors is another alternative that offers an omnichannel marketing experience. Here’s what it brings to the table:- Omnichannel Marketing: It supports email, SMS, push notifications, WhatsApp, and more, providing a seamless marketing experience across multiple touchpoints.
- Advanced Segmentation: NotifyVisitors features advanced segmentation and real-time analytics, allowing for highly personalized and optimized campaigns.
- Triggered Campaigns: It allows you to set triggers for automated campaigns, ensuring the right message reaches the right person at the right time.
AI-Driven Features
While Brevo itself may not be heavily AI-driven, some of its alternatives and other tools in the market are leveraging AI to enhance their capabilities:- ChatGPT: Though not an email marketing tool per se, ChatGPT can be used to generate content and automate repetitive communication tasks, which can be integrated with email marketing strategies.
- Grammarly and Otter.ai: These tools, while not email marketing platforms, can enhance communication efficiency through real-time grammar checks, tone adjustments, and transcription services, which can be useful in crafting and optimizing email content.
Sendinblue - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Brevo (Sendinblue)
What are the different pricing plans offered by Brevo (Sendinblue)?
Brevo offers four main pricing plans: Free, Lite, Premium, and Enterprise. The Free plan is free and allows up to 300 emails per day. The Lite plan costs $25 per month for up to 10,000 emails. The Premium plan starts at $65 per month for up to 20,000 emails and includes additional features like marketing automation and phone support. The Enterprise plan is quote-based and designed for large teams with custom email volumes and priority support.What features are included in the Brevo Free plan?
The Brevo Free plan allows you to send up to 300 emails per day with unlimited contacts. It includes basic email templates, email personalization, live chat integration, and limited reporting. However, it does not include advanced features like heat map reporting, device, and geography reporting. It also includes Sendinblue branding in all your emails.How does the Brevo Premium plan differ from the Lite plan?
The Brevo Premium plan includes all the features from the Lite plan but adds several advanced features. These include marketing automation, Facebook and retargeting ads, landing page templates, multi-user access, and phone support. The Premium plan also offers detailed reports on customer location, devices, and behavior, and it integrates with popular apps like Prestashop and Shopify. The email volume starts at 20,000 emails per month for $65.What is the Enterprise plan, and how does it work?
The Enterprise plan is designed for large teams and allows you to customize your email volume. It includes all features from the other plans, plus priority email sending, unlimited inboxes, a dedicated IP address, and a dedicated customer success manager. You need to contact the Brevo team to get a quote for this plan. It also includes advanced integrations with tools like Salesforce and FTP, and it offers a service level agreement for 99.9% platform uptime.Can I send more emails than my plan allows?
Yes, Brevo offers a pay-as-you-go option that allows you to purchase additional email credits beyond your monthly plan. This plan includes various packages such as 5,000 emails for $40, 10,000 emails for $74, and so on, with no expiry date for the email credits.Are there any limits on the number of contacts I can have?
No, there are no limits on the number of contacts you can have on any Brevo plan. You can add unlimited email subscribers to your account without additional costs.What kind of customer support does Brevo offer?
Brevo offers different levels of customer support depending on the plan. The Free and Lite plans include email support, while the Premium plan adds phone support. The Enterprise plan provides a dedicated customer success manager and priority support.Can I use Brevo for SMS and chat marketing as well?
Yes, Brevo is an all-in-one platform that includes features for email, SMS, and chat marketing. You can manage your customer relationships via these multiple channels, and the platform also supports integrations with other tools for comprehensive marketing efforts.How does Brevo handle reporting and analytics?
Brevo provides detailed reporting and analytics, especially in the Premium and Enterprise plans. These include real-time tracking of email campaigns, open rates, click-through rates, geography and device reporting, and heat map reporting. The Free plan has limited reporting capabilities.Can multiple users access my Brevo account?
Yes, the Premium and Enterprise plans offer multi-user access. The Premium plan allows up to 10 user inboxes, while the Enterprise plan offers unlimited inboxes.How does Brevo ensure data compliance and security?
Brevo ensures GDPR compliance and offers mobile-friendly features. The Enterprise plan also includes a service level agreement for 99.9% platform uptime, ensuring high reliability and security.