Any search for 'email marketing' will yield a bewildering set of results and you may begin to wonder where the differences really lie. At Mailvivo whilst firmly believing we offer a solution that can pretty much cater for every need, we also understand that we are not the solution for everyone. A decision to invest in any solution should be carefully researched because that company should be more than just a provider but demonstrate the commitment of a partner.

Broadcast email platforms have been around for a long time. They are used to send simple email messages, often on a pay-per-send pricing model, and typically require 'Email HTML' knowledge to work as intended. Either running on the desktop or inside the web browser, these type of providers are being usurped by better, more sophisticated solutions that still retain ease-of-use.

Fully managed or part-managed campaign solutions are also available. These providers will either run the entire campaign or part of one for you, typically feeding the results back via a spreadsheet. Although ideal for those with little time and deep pockets, these type of service providers are not placing the control in the hands of their clients. In some cases this may be a good thing ;-) but for the majority of businesses operating in today's on-demand 'software-as-a-service' environment it is not good enough.

We live in the world of 'cloud computing', a world where businesses should expect scalable self-service solutions delivered over the Internet without having to invest in a costly technical infrastructure. Mailvivo is that type of platform but not all platforms are born equal. We take care of compex issues like email deliverability and authentication without you having to invest any effort in solving or understanding the problem.

Most people gravitate towards price as a major component in their decision for choosing an outsourced solution. The on-demand model lends itself to reasonably priced business applications delivered online inside the web browser. However, in today's world of faceless technology the human touch is often lost. Creating value through people is a solid business philosophy not lost on us here at Mailvivo. Every client gets their own UK-based email consultant, skilled to advise, instruct and understand - not a helpdesk agent.

We would advise you to consider whether the provider you are looking at has the ability to support your email marketing beyond the click. That is to say once a subscriber has clicked on your email, what next? Mailvivo provides easily implemented landing pages, based on best practice, to deliver designs that not only look good but also work well in terms of capturing and tracking a response from your interested recipients. Failure to properly integrate a landing page strategy into an email marketing program is not an option for a successful marketer.

If you are looking at a competitor's solution and would like to compare it against what we have for you here at Mailvivo then simply give me a call on 0845 6443730. I do not go in for high-pressure sales talk, preferring to listen to requirements and offer genuine advice.

answer provided by Mark Gooding, Business Development Director @ mailvivo