You know that feeling when you discover something that just fits? Running Inspire To Thrive, I’ve seen how much small businesses and bloggers need to make every tool count. It’s why I recently chose HubSpot email marketing and wanted to share it with you.
We don’t have time for complicated solutions or money to burn. As much as I love new gadgets, I care most about what works, saves me time, and keeps my audience coming back.
When I set out to improve our email marketing, I wanted more than a basic tool. I needed something affordable that could do more than just send emails. For a while, finding that “right” fit felt like spinning wheels.
But after weighing my options and plenty of trial and error, HubSpot email marketing landed in my toolbox—and now I can’t imagine working without it. At first glance I thought it would be expensive as I’ve known their brand over a decade reading their informative blog posts.
Let’s talk about why this platform ended up being the one for Inspire To Thrive and how it might help YOUR business or blog, too.
Table of Contents
Evaluating Email Marketing Options for Inspire To Thrive
For small businesses and individual bloggers, every dollar and minute matters. When I started looking for an email marketing solution, my checklist was long but necessary. I wanted automation, easy templates, smart analytics, and a price that wouldn’t blow the budget.
Before HubSpot, I tried:
- Mailchimp: Popular, easy to use, but you outgrow the free plan fast.
- ConvertKit: Geared toward creators, but gets expensive with a larger list.
- Constant Contact: Reliable, yet cost creeps up and felt clunky for my needs.
- Encharge: I purchased through a third party person and didn’t have full control.
Each brought promise, but none clicked as the “whole package” for Inspire To Thrive.
Essential Features for Small Business Email Marketing
What does a small business or solo blogger actually need? Here’s my non-negotiable list:
- Simple setup and use: I don’t have time to learn a system inside and out before hitting send.
- Automation: Save hours by scheduling and segmenting.
- Analytics: Know what’s working (or failing) with real-time reports.
- Affordability: Low monthly cost without hidden fees.
- CRM Integration: Connect emails to contacts, notes, and deals in one spot.
Having these features isn’t a luxury. It’s basic survival for anyone juggling content, clients, and campaigns.
Competing Email Marketing Tools: Pros and Cons
Here’s what I found with other platforms during my research:
Mailchimp
- Pros: Friendly UI, robust automations for small lists, free starter option.
- Cons: Prices jump as your list grows, advanced automation gets gated quickly.
ConvertKit
- Pros: Designed for creators, intuitive tagging and segmenting, nice landing pages.
- Cons: Expensive if you have more than 1,000 subscribers, limited built-in CRM.
Constant Contact
- Pros: Solid reliability, phone support, good for events.
- Cons: Older interface, costs more for less advanced features, add-ons add up.
These tools work for plenty of people. But each time, I felt like I had to sacrifice either budget or a feature I needed. That’s why I kept searching for a better fit.
How HubSpot Email Marketing Meets My Business Needs
So why am I sold on HubSpot email marketing for Inspire To Thrive? Because it hit every item on my list, and did it for less than I was paying before.
All-in-One Platform with Free HubSpot CRM
HubSpot surprised me with how unified everything feels. You get email marketing plus a real CRM without bouncing between apps or paying extra. Here’s why that matters:
- One login. All your contacts. No more exporting lists between tools or patching together integrations.
- Automated sync: Every time someone signs up for my emails, their info goes straight into the HubSpot CRM, tagged and ready to go.
- Personalized outreach: I see all past engagement—opens, clicks, even web activity—right when I’m crafting a follow-up.
This connection between email and CRM is like having a second brain for my marketing. I track my clients and leads, send tailored messages, and never lose track of what matters.
Surprising Affordability: $20/Month for Robust Features
The price point actually shocked me. I’d heard HubSpot was pricey, but you can start HubSpot email marketing for only $20/month—and that includes the full HubSpot CRM.
And I was able to test it for 30 days FREE prior to purchasing the $20/month package!
For the features you get, that’s better than anything else I tested.
Included in the $20/month plan:
- Up to 1,000 monthly marketing emails (plenty for most small businesses)
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Basic automations (welcome emails, follow-ups)
- Analytics dashboard (open rates, clicks, bounces)
- CRM with unlimited contacts and deal tracking
HubSpot’s pricing isn’t just simple. It actually stretches further because you don’t need to buy two separate tools or sign up for add-ons to get real value. One flat fee covers it all.
User Experience, Automation, and Reporting
Setting up HubSpot email marketing took less time than brewing my morning coffee. The templates are clean. The drag-and-drop design makes customization simple. Automation is at the heart of it, not an afterthought.
Here’s a workflow I use at Inspire To Thrive:
- A client fills out a consultation form on my site
- They get an instant personalized welcome email, no clicks from me
- Their data enters my CRM, tagged for “Consultation Lead”
- I get notified, so I can follow up quickly—or automate a sequence if I’m away
- HubSpot tracks email opens and link clicks
Within a day I know if a lead is engaged or if I should tweak my approach.
Reporting is equally strong. I check my dashboards to see open rates, clicks, and what content is getting attention. If an email falls flat, I spot it early and adjust.
Customer Service and Support Are Awesome with Hubspot
Hubspot makes customer service simple and stress-free. Their team is friendly and quick to help, giving you clear answers when you need them. If you run into a problem, they respond fast and give you help at no extra charge.
This makes it easy to keep your business running smoothly without surprise costs. When I was unsure of how to do something a customer service rep sent me a video with the step by step process.
The support staff doesn’t just answer questions. They walk you through tricky issues and offer practical advice that you can use right away.
You won’t have to repeat yourself or wait days for a reply. Hubspot takes care of you with attention to detail, whether you need help understanding features or fixing a setup.
Knowing you have reliable support brings peace of mind. If your business depends on solid customer service tools, HubSpot stands out. Their fast support helps you stay on track, saving you time and keeping your customers happy.
Conclusion: HubSpot Email Marketing Made Easy
Adding HubSpot email marketing to Inspire To Thrive wasn’t just about saving on costs, but getting more for less. Now, every email campaign connects with my CRM, and I spend less time tracking down data and more time growing my business.
Top benefits I’ve experienced:
- All-in-one platform with built-in CRM
- Surprisingly low cost at $20/month
- Intuitive interface and quick setup
- Time-saving automation
- Actionable, clear analytics
If you’re a small business owner or blogger tired of juggling tools, or frustrated by creeping costs, take a closer look at HubSpot email marketing. It’s easier to use than you think, more affordable than most big names, and it actually helps you grow.
Ready to move your email marketing up a level? Give HubSpot a try for FREE and see how much simpler it can be to connect, convert, and thrive.
I’m so happy with them that I’ve become an affiliate for HubSpot! (Any links to try it are my affiliate link where I can generate a payout.)
