Email Marketing for Small Business Websites: Best WordPress Plugins and Google Contacts Compared
Email marketing is one of the most practical ways for small businesses to stay in touch with customers, promote services, announce updates, and turn website visitors into repeat buyers.
For WordPress websites, there are several ways to collect email addresses and send newsletters. Some tools work directly inside WordPress, while others connect WordPress to an outside email marketing platform. This article compares Google Contacts, Mailchimp, Brevo, MailPoet, FluentCRM, HubSpot, and The Newsletter Plugin.
Quick Summary
Best simple contact list: Google Contacts
Best beginner platform: Mailchimp
Best free sending limit: Brevo
Best WordPress-native newsletter: MailPoet
Best WordPress CRM: FluentCRM
Best all-in-one CRM: HubSpot
What Email Marketing Does
Email marketing helps you collect subscribers, organize contacts, send newsletters, promote services, follow up with leads, and stay connected with customers.
Important features include forms, list management, templates, unsubscribe links, automation, deliverability, and reporting.
Google Contacts
Google Contacts is not a full email marketing platform or WordPress plugin. It is a contact management tool that works with Gmail.
You can create contact labels, organize people into groups, and import or export contacts using CSV or vCard files.
Best For
- Small personal lists
- Simple Gmail groups
- Manual contact organization
- Exporting contacts to another platform
Google Contacts Limitations
Google Contacts is useful for organizing people, but it is not designed for professional newsletters.
- No newsletter templates
- No marketing automation
- No open or click reports
- No professional unsubscribe system
- No default WordPress signup form integration
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most recognized email marketing platforms. It connects with WordPress through official integrations and plugins such as Mailchimp for WordPress.
Best For
- Beginners
- Small business newsletters
- Signup forms
- Basic marketing campaigns
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
Pros
- Popular and widely supported
- Good templates
- Works with many WordPress plugins
- Easy for beginners
Cons
- Free plan limits have become more restrictive
- Costs can increase as your list grows
- Some automation features require paid plans
Brevo
Brevo, formerly Sendinblue, connects with WordPress and can create signup forms, sync subscribers, and support email marketing tools.
Brevo is attractive for small businesses because its free plan is based on daily sending limits.
Best For
- Regular newsletters
- Transactional email
- Email, SMS, chat, and automation tools
Brevo Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free plan includes daily email sending
- Good WordPress integration
- Contact syncing
- Can support marketing and transactional email
Cons
- Some design and automation tools require paid plans
- Interface may take time to learn
- Daily sending limit may not fit large campaigns
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a well-known email marketing platform for small businesses, nonprofits, local organizations, and service companies. It can be connected to WordPress through forms, integrations, and plugins so website visitors can join an email list.
Best For
- Small businesses
- Local service companies
- Nonprofits and community groups
- Event announcements
- Professional newsletters
Constant Contact Pros and Cons
Pros
- Beginner-friendly email builder
- Good newsletter templates
- Useful list management tools
- Event and promotional email features
- Good option for local businesses and organizations
Cons
- No long-term free plan like some competitors
- Can cost more as your list grows
- Most email work is managed outside WordPress
- Advanced automation may require higher plans
MailPoet
MailPoet is a WordPress-focused email marketing plugin. It lets you build newsletters, manage subscribers, send post notifications, and run email marketing from inside WordPress.
Best For
- WordPress bloggers
- Small business websites
- WooCommerce stores
- Users who want email marketing inside WordPress
MailPoet Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works directly inside WordPress
- Good newsletter builder
- Post notification emails
- WooCommerce email options
- Free plan available for smaller lists
Cons
- Large lists require paid plans
- Heavy use can add workload to WordPress
- Not as broad as large external platforms
FluentCRM
FluentCRM is a self-hosted WordPress CRM and email marketing automation plugin. It lets you manage contacts, create lists and tags, send campaigns, build email sequences, and create automation workflows inside WordPress.
Best For
- CRM features
- Sales funnels
- Automated sequences
- Course, membership, and WooCommerce sites
FluentCRM Pros and Cons
Pros
- CRM and email marketing inside WordPress
- Lists, tags, campaigns, and automations
- Works well with many WordPress tools
- Good for segmentation
Cons
- Requires an email sending service for best deliverability
- More advanced than beginners may need
- Site performance matters because it runs in WordPress
HubSpot WordPress Plugin
HubSpot connects your website with HubSpot CRM, forms, live chat, email marketing, and lead tracking.
It is more than a newsletter tool. It is a full customer relationship and marketing system.
Best For
- CRM
- Lead tracking
- Sales follow-up
- Forms, chat, and email in one system
HubSpot Pros and Cons
Pros
- Powerful CRM
- Forms, email, chat, and tracking
- Good for sales teams
- Strong contact history
Cons
- Can feel complex for simple newsletters
- Advanced tools can become expensive
- May be more than a small website needs
The Newsletter Plugin
The Newsletter Plugin is a WordPress newsletter plugin that helps collect subscribers, create newsletters, and send email campaigns from WordPress.
Best For
- Simple WordPress newsletters
- Blog updates
- Small websites
- Users who want an alternative to MailPoet
Newsletter Plugin Pros and Cons
Pros
- Runs inside WordPress
- Useful for newsletters and subscriber management
- Good for small websites
- Many add-ons available
Cons
- May require paid add-ons for advanced features
- Deliverability depends on sending setup
- Less beginner-friendly than Mailchimp for some users
Email Marketing Tool Comparison
| Tool | Best Use | Works Inside WordPress? | Best For | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Contacts | Contact labels and Gmail groups | No | Very small manual lists | ★★★★★ |
| Mailchimp | Email campaigns and signup forms | Connects to WordPress | Beginners and newsletters | ★★★★★ |
| Constant Contact | Newsletters, promotions, and business marketing | Connects to WordPress | Small businesses, nonprofits, local organizations | ★★★★★ |
| Brevo | Email, SMS, automation, and transactional email | Connects to WordPress | Small businesses and service companies | ★★★★☆ |
| MailPoet | WordPress newsletters | Yes | WordPress blogs and small business websites | ★★★★★ |
| FluentCRM | CRM and marketing automation | Yes | Advanced WordPress users and agencies | ★★★☆☆ |
| HubSpot | CRM, forms, chat, and email marketing | Connects to WordPress | Lead generation and sales-focused businesses | ★★★☆☆ |
| The Newsletter Plugin | Simple WordPress newsletters | Yes | Small sites and bloggers | ★★★★☆ |
Overall Rankings for Small Businesses
- Brevo – Best overall balance of email marketing, automation, deliverability, and pricing.
- MailPoet – Best WordPress-native email marketing solution.
- Constant Contact – Excellent for local businesses, nonprofits, and organizations.
- Mailchimp – Very beginner-friendly with strong brand recognition.
- FluentCRM – Best for advanced WordPress automation and CRM workflows.
- HubSpot – Best full CRM solution for growing businesses.
- The Newsletter Plugin – Good lightweight newsletter option.
- Google Contacts – Useful for contact organization, but not a true email marketing platform.
South Park Web Design Recommendation: For most small business websites, Brevo, MailPoet, or Constant Contact provide the best combination of ease of use, email deliverability, subscriber management, and marketing features.
Which Tool Should a Small Business Use?
For most small business websites, the best choices are Mailchimp, Brevo, or MailPoet.
Choose Mailchimp for a familiar beginner platform, Brevo for strong free sending limits, and MailPoet if you want newsletters inside WordPress.
When Google Contacts Is Enough
Google Contacts is enough if you only need a small contact list and occasionally send manual emails through Gmail.
Once you need signup forms, unsubscribe links, branded newsletters, automation, or reporting, use a dedicated email marketing platform.
Best Choice for WordPress Beginners
MailPoet is often the easiest WordPress-native option because it works inside the WordPress dashboard.
Mailchimp is also beginner-friendly, but most tasks are managed outside WordPress.
Best Choice for Advanced WordPress Sites
FluentCRM is a strong choice for advanced WordPress users who want CRM features, tags, funnels, and automation workflows.
It is useful for WooCommerce stores, memberships, courses, and service businesses with lead follow-up.
Important Compliance Reminder
Business email marketing should include proper permission, a clear unsubscribe option, your business contact information, and a privacy policy.
A professional email platform makes this easier than sending bulk email manually from Gmail.
Deliverability Reminder
Sending email from WordPress without a proper sending service can cause messages to go to spam.
For better deliverability, use a trusted sending service and verify DNS records such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC when available.
Final Recommendation
For most small business websites, Brevo or MailPoet are excellent starting points. Brevo is strong when you want an external platform with email and automation tools. MailPoet is strong when you want newsletters inside WordPress.
Use Google Contacts only for simple contact organization, not full email marketing.
For more advanced automation, choose FluentCRM. For a larger sales and CRM system, choose HubSpot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Contacts for email marketing?
You can use Google Contacts to organize groups and send manual emails through Gmail, but it is not a full email marketing platform. It lacks newsletter templates, automation, reporting, and professional unsubscribe tools.
What is the easiest email marketing tool for WordPress?
MailPoet is one of the easiest options for WordPress users because it runs inside WordPress. Mailchimp is also easy but is managed mostly outside WordPress.
Should I send newsletters from WordPress?
You can send newsletters from WordPress using plugins like MailPoet, FluentCRM, or The Newsletter Plugin. For best deliverability, use a proper email sending service instead of relying only on basic web hosting mail.
Which email marketing tool is best for small business?
Brevo, Mailchimp, and MailPoet are usually the best starting points for small businesses. The right choice depends on whether you want everything inside WordPress or prefer an external email platform.
Meet Your Webmaster
Ron Kraft is the founder of South Park Web Design and specializes in WordPress website design, SEO optimization, ecommerce websites, and website performance improvements for small businesses.
Ron holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and previously worked as a systems engineer specializing in database design and programming.
After retiring from the corporate technology industry, Ron attended Winthrop University to study modern web development technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, and WordPress website development.
His background in engineering, systems analysis, programming, and database design gives South Park Web Design a strong technical advantage compared to many traditional web design companies. Read More.
Areas of Expertise
- WordPress Website Design
- Elementor Development
- SEO Optimization
- Website Speed Optimization
- Ecommerce Websites
- Website Hosting & Migration
- Database Design
- Technical Troubleshooting
- Local SEO
- Conversion-Focused Design
South Park Web Design focuses on creating professional, mobile-friendly websites designed to help businesses improve online visibility, generate leads, and grow online.
Ron combines technical expertise with practical business-focused website strategies to help clients create websites that are both visually professional and optimized for long-term performance.
