Resources Hub » Comparisons » Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Campaign Monitor
Table of Contents

Introduction

With so many available options for an email service provider, it can be hard to find the best one for your organization’s specific needs. We know marketers are busy and email marketing may be a very small piece of your day-to-day, which is why we’ve rounded up a side-by-side comparison of one of the most frequent questions we get asked: What’s the difference between Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Campaign Monitor?

Salesforce isn’t a new name in the CRM game. They’re the most widely-used CRM platform for brands looking to have a single source of truth in contact management that can easily integrate with other platforms (like an ESP). In fact, many brands use them in tandem just for that purpose. But in addition to their CRM functionality, Salesforce Marketing Cloud includes a long list of marketing automation tools and that’s what we’ll be comparing today.

It can be overwhelming to distill all of the features and information provided by each platform, but thankfully, when it comes to these two products, there are distinct differences to focus on that you can compare to your company’s unique needs.

Take a look as we walk you through the crucial key points and help you make the decision that’s best for you:

Chapter 1

Feature Comparison: Salesforce vs. Campaign Monitor

Feature comparison chart for Salesforce vs. Campaign Monitor

Deciding Between Salesforce and Campaign Monitor

Key Benefits: Salesforce vs. Campaign Monitor

Each product was created with a specific marketer in mind. Which one are you?

 

1. The big picture

Salesforce: When comparing these two products, we don’t get very far before discovering that Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Campaign Monitor were created with different goals and customers in mind. On the Salesforce Marketing Cloud side, it was made to meet the varied and unique needs of high-tech and sophisticated marketing teams and is classified as an enterprise-level Email Service Provider, or ESP.

It presents itself as a “connected marketing solution for personalized devices across devices and channels,” and the program can expand and grow with your needs, as long as you have an expert developer on your team to set it up.

Campaign Monitor: On the other hand, Campaign Monitor is an Email Service Provider created specifically for any skill level of marketer looking for an easy-to-use platform for sending emails your subscribers will look forward to.

With drag-and-drop design features as well as advanced tools for automation, segmentation, and personalization, Campaign Monitor allows brands to maximize their time and budget while still sending professional emails that convert.

2. The power of email marketing

While the digital marketing industry is always evolving and moving toward bigger, better, and faster, email marketing has proved its worth as the single most important marketing channel for companies looking to engage their audience and see an increase in ROI and conversions. And we’ve got the facts to prove it:

  • 59% of marketers say email is their biggest source of ROI. (Emma)
  • Email marketing drives $44 for every $1 spent. (Campaign Monitor)

Not only does email marketing deliver the biggest bang for your buck, but it’s also incredibly simple to get started, regardless of prior design, copywriting, or marketing experience. Campaign Monitor caters to brands looking to work smarter and more efficiently, including marketers who are just getting started, wear an endless amount of hats, or feel spread too thin between responsibilities.

We believe choosing an ESP should make your job easier, not harder.

3. On customer journeys

Salesforce: When it comes to customer journeys, Salesforce is a powerful tool that can help with big-picture campaign planning, as well as help you execute your strategy amongst multiple channels. Salesforce also enables you to send 1:1 personalized messages to your customers across channels.

Campaign Monitor: Using best practice customer email journeys and automation tactics, Campaign Monitor empowers users to meet their subscribers exactly where they are, building genuine relationships that contribute to increased engagement and conversions. With all of the functionality you need to create a personalized customer journey within minutes and send scheduled timely emails, we’re ready to make the most of your subscriber list.

4. On investment

Salesforce: When it comes to comparing Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Campaign Monitor, one of the most significant differences is price. While Salesforce comes with a wide array of technical features, you also pay for what you get through a quote created specifically for your business. Ideally, you should have a large marketing and IT team with dedicated resources for implementing Salesforce Marketing Cloud or a significant budget for their professional services team to help you use it.

Campaign Monitor: On the other hand, Campaign Monitor has both sales-led and self-service models to make your transition to the ESP as seamless as possible. Additionally, you’ll only pay for features you use, ensuring that your investment is always connected to your success as a business owner or marketer. While still providing robust email marketing services, Campaign Monitor requires much less of a time and resource investment, allowing a small marketing team to get up and running as quickly as possible and without involving their IT team.

Chapter 7

Best fit for you: Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Campaign Monitor

For advanced marketers looking to make a significant investment in a multi-channel marketing plan, Salesforce Marketing Cloud could be a good solution. However, marketers rarely use all of the features in a marketing platform this robust, either due to lack of prior knowledge, training, or time. If you’re looking for a simple an effective solution to email marketing, Salesforce may be more than you need to get the job done.

But for email marketers looking to scale their growth and treat their customers to a memorable inbox experience, Campaign Monitor equips you with tools for testing, personalization, and automation, allowing you to maximize ROI and business relationships. Combined with helpful support and trusted deliverability, Campaign Monitor is the best option for taking the next step in driving email engagement and revenue while remaining smart about your company’s budget.

Are you a Salesforce user looking to switch? It’s simple to switch from Salesforce to Campaign Monitor. If you’re ready to walk toward confidence in email marketing, reach out and we’ll help you easily migrate your account.

Unlock your email potential. Explore everything Campaign Monitor has to offer, and only pay once you start sending campaigns. Try it for free
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