Kit (formerly ConvertKit) Review
If you’re looking for a way to connect with your audience through email, Kit (formerly known as ConvertKit) might be the perfect solution. Kit is a popular email marketing tool that helps creators, bloggers, and small businesses build and grow their online audience. Unlike many other tools that can be complex and expensive, Kit focuses on making email marketing simple, effective, and affordable. In this review, we'll explore why Kit is a great choice for beginners and experienced marketers alike.
What is Kit (formerly ConvertKit)?
Kit started as ConvertKit in 2013, designed to be an email marketing tool specifically for creators. The idea was simple: to create a platform that helps people like bloggers, YouTubers, and small business owners reach their audience effectively without all the complicated tools. Kit has grown to offer features for everyone, whether you’re just starting out or already have a large following.
Why Choose Kit for Email Marketing?
Email marketing is essential for reaching your audience directly. Social media is great, but algorithms change, and you can’t control how many people see your posts. With email, you get a direct line to your subscribers. Plus, email marketing often has higher engagement rates. Kit is built to make email marketing easy, even for beginners. Here’s why Kit stands out:
- User-Friendly Design: Kit’s interface is simple and clean. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can navigate through the platform easily. Setting up emails, automations, and forms is straightforward, and there are tutorials available to help you get started.
- Designed for Creators: Kit is specifically built with creators in mind. If you’re a blogger, writer, YouTuber, or someone who creates content, you’ll find features that suit your needs perfectly. For example, Kit offers customizable email templates that match your brand’s style.
- Automation Made Easy: Email automation might sound complicated, but Kit makes it simple. With Kit’s automation feature, you can set up automated email sequences, so your subscribers receive emails at the right time without you manually sending them. This is ideal for sending welcome emails, course materials, or a series of informative messages to engage your subscribers over time.
- Affordable Pricing: Kit has flexible pricing options for different budgets, and they even have a free plan for beginners. As your subscriber list grows, you can easily upgrade to a paid plan. Plus, Kit doesn’t charge based on the number of emails you send, which can save you a lot of money compared to other email marketing tools.
- Great Support and Resources: Kit offers excellent customer support. They also have a knowledge base, guides, and webinars to help you make the most of the platform. Their support team is helpful and responsive, so if you ever have questions, they’re there to assist you.
Key Features of Kit
Let’s dive deeper into some of Kit’s most valuable features:
1. Subscriber Management
Kit’s subscriber management system is highly organized. You can tag and segment your subscribers, making it easy to send targeted emails. For example, if you want to send a specific email to people who downloaded a free guide, you can create a tag for that group and only send to them. This targeted approach can lead to higher engagement rates and help you build a closer connection with your subscribers.
2. Visual Automation Builder
Kit’s Visual Automation Builder is a standout feature. It’s like a flowchart that lets you map out your email sequences visually. Whether you’re setting up a simple welcome email or a complex sequence, this tool makes it easy to see how everything flows together. You can add triggers, actions, and conditions to customize the journey for each subscriber, which keeps them engaged with relevant content.
3. Landing Pages and Forms
With Kit, you can create landing pages and opt-in forms without needing a separate website builder. The landing pages are beautifully designed and fully customizable, so you can match them to your brand’s style. This is a great way to capture leads and grow your email list, especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have a website yet.
4. Automated Email Sequences
Automated sequences save you time by automatically delivering emails to subscribers based on their actions. You can create an onboarding series for new subscribers, nurture sequences for building relationships, and even sales sequences for promoting products. Kit’s automation feature is powerful but easy to use, even if you’re new to email marketing.
5. Broadcasts
Sometimes, you want to send a one-time email to your entire list or a specific segment. Kit’s broadcast feature is perfect for this. You can schedule or send it immediately, and it’s a great way to announce updates, promotions, or share valuable content with your audience.
6. Detailed Analytics
Knowing how your emails perform is key to improving your strategy. Kit provides in-depth analytics, so you can see open rates, click rates, and subscriber growth. These insights help you understand what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to fine-tune your content to better engage your audience.
How to Get Started with Kit
Getting started with Kit is easy. Simply sign up, and you’ll be guided through the setup process. The platform offers a smooth onboarding experience, showing you step-by-step how to set up your first email, create a form, and start growing your list. Here are the initial steps:
- Sign Up: Choose between the free plan or a paid plan based on your needs.
- Create Your First Form: Kit will walk you through creating a form to collect emails. You can add this form to your website, blog, or social media.
- Set Up an Automation: Use the Visual Automation Builder to create an email sequence. You can start with a welcome sequence that introduces you and your brand to new subscribers.
- Start Sending Broadcasts: Once you have subscribers, you can start sending regular emails. Kit makes it easy to schedule and customize your emails.
Pros and Cons of Kit
Let’s break down the pros and cons of Kit to help you decide if it’s the right tool for you.
Pros:
- Easy to Use: Kit is straightforward, even for beginners.
- Affordable: With a free plan and affordable upgrades, it’s budget-friendly.
- Automation: Powerful automation features that simplify your marketing efforts.
- Support for Creators: Kit is designed with creators in mind, making it easy to engage with your audience.
- Great Support: Kit’s customer service and educational resources are top-notch.
Cons:
- Limited Advanced Features: While Kit is great for most creators, larger businesses might find it lacks advanced features like CRM integration.
- No Phone Support: Customer support is only available through email and chat.
Who Should Use Kit?
Kit is ideal for creators who want to grow their audience and connect with their followers. If you’re a blogger, YouTuber, or small business owner who wants an easy way to start with email marketing, Kit is an excellent choice. Its tools are designed to help you nurture relationships, share your message, and even sell products through email.
However, if you’re part of a larger business that needs advanced CRM or e-commerce integrations, Kit might not have all the features you’re looking for. But for most creators, freelancers, and small businesses, Kit is more than enough.
Final Thoughts: Is Kit Worth It?
Absolutely! Kit makes email marketing easy, affordable, and effective. Its user-friendly design, powerful automation, and creator-focused features make it one of the best tools on the market for anyone looking to grow their audience. If you want an email marketing tool that will help you build relationships, engage with your audience, and boost your business, Kit is a fantastic option.
You can start with the free plan to test the waters, and as you grow, Kit offers affordable upgrades that keep everything within reach. With excellent support and a simple interface, you’ll feel confident using Kit to connect with your audience. So, if you’re ready to take your email marketing to the next level, give Kit a try – it could be the best decision you make for your business.