❝Work emails are paid; most of them at least are. So, can I use Gmail for email marketing instead?❞ one of my friends asked at the university reunion.
❝Well, you can use it! I mean, there are no real laws to stop you!❞ I said.
But the question kept spinning in my mind for the whole night… 💭
It is an important question, you know? Although you may think it is not important and even stupid to ask. Technically, you can do email marketing with any kind of email, work email, Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, or whatever!
Email marketing is still alive and kicking, and every business needs it. However, since work emails are paid, start-ups may consider using Gmail to send their cold emails.
Is this wise? Does it work? Keep reading to the very end to find out. 👀
Pros and Cons of Using Gmail for Email Marketing
Gmail is a very tempting option for smaller companies with a tight budget for lead generation. It has a perfect UI/UX, is easy to work with compared to work email platforms, and, last but not least, it is free! However, just as many other perfect things in this world, there are some flaws.
✔️ Pros of Using Gmail for Email Marketing
First, let’s mention some advantages of using Gmail for email marketing. These pros can include:
1. Cost-Effective Solution
Gmail is free, making it a cost-effective option for start-ups and small businesses. For email marketing, you do not need to pay an annual subscription fee with Gmail, and it actually might work when you have limited customers or a short email list!
2. Familiar Interface
You won’t need a tutorial to use Gmail! Yes, some work emails require a tutorial due to their complex interface. However, Gmail’s simple UI makes it ideal for those with minimal tech information or are new to email marketing.
3. Integration with Google Ecosystem
Gmail integrates seamlessly with Google Sheets and Google Contacts, simplifying tasks like managing email lists. For example, you can use Google Sheets to organize your mailing list and then transfer contacts into Gmail for mail merges.
⛔ Cons of Using Gmail for Email Marketing
Now, let’s face the reality. Every good thing will end somehow, and Gmail is no exception. The cons can include:
1. Sending Limitations
Gmail allows you to send 500 emails per day. This may seem like a lot, but it does not really work for huge email campaigns.
Although I must mention that even paid emails have limitations. But the number of emails that you can send with emails like Google Workspace (2000/day) and Outlook (10,000 per day) is much higher than Gmail.
2. Lack of Features
Basic work email like Webmail, Workspace, or Microsoft 365 typically offer professional email features like custom domains, security features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), phishing protection, and data encryption, shared calendars, task management, and centralized document storage, which streamline teamwork and improve productivity features that Gmail lacks.
3. Lower Open Rate
Well, people do not take the @gmail domain that seriously. That is natural, somehow. Who takes a personal email seriously when it is trying to sell you something? I would not. The risk of fraud is closer than you think. You are not my friend, I don’t know you or your company, and you did not even bother paying for a work email? So, you are probably going to my spam folder.
How to Use Gmail for Email Marketing
Now, let’s see how to use Gmail for email marketing. This section will explain how to run an email campaign with your Gmail.
1. Install MailKing Extension.
I have chosen Mailking as the tool for email marketing with Gmail. Mailking connects directly with Gmail and allows you to easily create your campaign without using email marketing services.
Install the Mailking extension in your Chrome browser, as shown above. To do this, find the Mailking website and add the extension.
After installing this plugin, you will be redirected to your Gmail page. Log in to your Gmail account or create one if you don’t have it. There, click on the Campaigns option.
2. Create a New Campaign.
As shown below, if you want to create a campaign for the first time, click “New Campaign” to create it.
Then, choose a name for your campaign as shown.
3. Select Campaign Recipients.
As you can see in the picture below, in this section, you have to select your audience to whom you want to send the email. You can do this in the following four ways:
- Import a list in CSV or Excel file format.
- Import from Google Contacts.
- Import from Google Sheet.
- Manually enter a list of emails.
4. Select the template for the Email.
As shown below, Mailking has some email templates that you can choose from among them for free. You can also create a new email template for yourself from scratch.
5. Create Your Message and Finally Send the Email.
Now, you can send the email to your audience in the format you chose in the previous step. After finishing this work and before sending the email, click on the “Save as draft” option. You can also schedule the time you want the emails to be sent.
Legal Compliance When Using Gmail for Marketing Emails
Legal compliance is one of the challenges you may face with Gmail in email marketing. Gmail naturally does not have built-in compliance features, and what regulates email marketing are laws like the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States, GDPR in Europe, and CASL in Canada.
So, in this situation, you must manually ensure your email campaigns meet legal requirements. To do this, you can use the tricks I mention below:
1. Include an Unsubscribe Option
To comply with the laws, you must give the recipients the option of unsubscribing. Yes, I can hear you nagging about how hard it was to get these people to subscribe to your small website’s newsletter, but believe me, people report you easily if they feel you are spamming them even for a second. Giving them such an option will increase their trust and make them feel safe.
2. Gather Consent Before Sending
Under GDPR and other laws, you are to gather your recipients’ explicit consent before sending marketing emails. Make sure the recipients are interested in receiving your emails.
💡 Using services like CUFinder is suggested. This platform allows you to find email lists based on your ideal customer profile (ICP). These people are happy to receive your marketing emails because what you have to offer is relevant to them and not considered spam.
Best Practices for Gmail Email Marketing
Wow! Didn’t think that you would come this far! Ok, now that you insist on using Gmail in email marketing this much, let me tell you some tricks to maximize the effectiveness of your campaigns.
1. Segment Your Audience
Well, you know that Gmail does not have a segmentation feature, right? You are to do this manually using Google Sheets. For instance, create separate lists for new subscribers, existing customers, and inactive users. This will help you send personalized emails to people interested in what you are offering.
2. Keep Emails Simple and Focused
Since Gmail email templates are limited, try to focus on the design of your emails, and don’t go sideways! I mean, stick to the point and do not write long texts. Also, don’t forget that CTA. Make sure to make it clear and concise. Use bullet points and short paragraphs.
3. Monitor Performance with Available Tools
I know, I know, you chose Gmail to save your budget, but you still need to use measuring tools to assess your campaign’s performance. You can use extensions like Mailtrack or measure your click-through rate with Google Analytics. Guess what? They are free to some extent, at least!
Is Gmail a Good Choice for Your Email Marketing Needs?
Let’s conclude. Can I use Gmail for email marketing? You can. It seems like a real option, especially if you just started your company, don’t want to spend money for some reason, etc., but my honest opinion is, DON’T. 🚫
When you go further into campaigns and email marketing, its limitations get you in trouble. Even if your budget is tight, prioritize a dedicated email marketing platform.
These platforms offer advanced features, better deliverability, and compliance support, making them ideal for scaling your marketing efforts. It can be a bit hard to convince people that you are the real you when you start your email marketing with Gmail and change to a work email after a while.
FAQs
1. Is Gmail an email marketing platform?
No, Gmail is not an email platform but is designed as a personal and business email service. It lacks features like automation, segmentation, analytics, and compliance tools in email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Sendinblue, or HubSpot.
2. What email should I use for email marketing?
Your best options are paid email platforms that let you customize the domain (e.g., Karenmax@cufinder.com). People trust you easier with an email that has a unique feature.
3. Can you use Gmail like Mailchimp?
Not really. Gmail can be used for email marketing in small companies, yet it can never replace MailChimp. Gmail is Okay for small outreach efforts, while MailChimp is designed for managing large-scale campaigns.
Bad
Okay
Good
Amazing
