Feature Set:  

Benchmark has many valuable features to help you develop, deliver and track your bulk emails. It's easy to import an email you've designed from scratch or modify one of their pre-made templates to fit your marketing campaign. Benchmark has several impressive features to help design, send, and manage your email campaign.

The robust email list managing in Benchmark will help you easily handle your extensive list of contacts. You can import your list from text or MS Excel, or add them individually. Benchmark also helps you keep track of bounced (hard and soft) messages, unsubscribers, and other problematic addresses automatically.

Another great feature of the Benchmark system is their advanced email delivery. Benchmark Email plays by the rules to ensure that your messages are not spam, and are members of a couple of email delivery organizations (ESPC, Return Path) to further optimize your marketing message delivery.

Benchamrk also includes several advanced features to help you further customize your message and take advantage of today’s technology. These features include the ability to create and send surveys, image hosting (up to 500k for free), and customizable templates.

One impressive feature that we were unable to find anywhere else is the ability to send video emails. You can drag and drop video (tutorials, product tours) directly into your email.

Ease of Use:  

Benchmark's web service is very straightforward, and simple to use. The recently streamlined interface is intuitive to follow, and facilitates an easy email marketing campaign from start to finish.

Benchmark includes the ability to build your campaigns at your own pace, but also includes helpful tools and step-by-step instructions to help you get out a timely message. You can also create a campaign in advance, and schedule it to send exactly when you want it to.

Benchmark also makes it easier to send an error free message. With built-in spell checking and WYSIWIG editor, you can be sure that you’re sending exactly what you want. You can even send yourself a test email to preview. Furthermore, Benchmark utilizes universal email formatting, so all your recipients will get an identical message, regardless of what email service they are using.

Email Campaign Creation:  

Benchmark makes creating an email marketing campaign quick and easy. Each part of the campaign, from inputting your mailing list to creating the email, is efficiently organized in tabs.

Once you've organized your list, creating your email is simple. Click on the option to create your message and the service will guide you through the necessary steps to complete your email. If you wish to edit a particular step, you can easily navigate to where you need to be. You have the option of creating a message with a pre-made template, or uploading an HTML file of your own into the program.

We found Benchmark’s templates were adequate and they provided a solid selection in various themes, including cards, newletters, promotions, and even event invitations. We were a bit disappointed that Benchmark charges an additional $5 per month for 20 MB of storage for image hosting. But the incorporation of pictures is pretty easy with drag and drop functionality, simple resizing, and access from any internet-enabled computer.

Overall, the campaign creation was quite good, and includes advanced options to help you customize, organize, and optimize your email marketing.

Campaign Reporting:  

In Benchmark's reporting tab, you'll find all of the reports that are available with this service. The reports include an active campaign summary, click-throughs, contact statistics, email forwarding, surveys and email abuse reporting.

Still no conversion tracking from Benchmark, but they do now include the ability to compare your email messages. You can see how each campaign performed in relationship with others in a side-by-side (our favorite!) comparison.

The tracking and reporting section includes useful stats and records a number of figures to help you evaluate your campaigns. With useful graphs and reports, you can track your campaigns and easily give an account of your success.

Help/Support:  

Benchmark’s support includes invaluable tutorials walking you through several steps of the setup process, a comprehensive FAQ, searchable knowledgebase, live chat, a glossary of terms and some additional articles about spamming and list building.

Benchmark includes a variety of help options to help you learn and use their system. But they also have several valuable resources to help you make the most of your email marketing. This includes tips, detailed how-to articles, and current marketing news and trends.

If you are looking for a great email marketing service, Benchmark is at the top. This service has everything that you’ll need to target your audience, create a compelling email, monitor results and boost your sales. With the recent design overhaul and even more innovative features, Benchmark continues to deliver a comprehensive (not to mention comprehendible) email marketing service at a quality price.