In the increasingly competitive cannabis industry, combining CannaSpyglass's market insights with email tools like Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Zoho Campaigns can give your business a serious edge. Use data to target the right audience, automate your messaging, and boost engagement. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this strategy helps turn insights into action—and action into sales.

Choosing an Email Marketing Tool: Comparing Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Zoho Campaigns

With countless email marketing platforms out there, picking the right one for your business can feel overwhelming.

Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Zoho Campaigns are three of the most widely used options—each with its own strengths, pricing models, and ideal use cases. Whether you're a small business owner looking for simplicity, a marketer needing advanced automation, or a budget-conscious brand, understanding what sets these tools apart is essential. In this guide, we'll break down each platform's pros, cons, and best-fit scenarios to help you make a smart, strategic choice.

(Looking for our full guide on using CannaSpyglass with HubSpot's email marketing and CRM tools? You can find it here.)

Constant Contact

Constant Contact is an all-in-one digital marketing platform known for its ease of use and multi-channel capabilities. In addition to email, it supports SMS, social media, landing pages, and ecommerce—making it a solid choice for businesses looking to manage campaigns in one place.

Key Email Marketing Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Email Builder – Design professional emails with no coding required.
• Pre-Designed Branded Templates – Auto-generate designs based on your website's branding.
• List Management & Segmentation – Import contacts and target specific groups.
• Automation Tools – Set up drip campaigns and autoresponders.

Pros:

✔️ Beginner-Friendly – Easy to set up and quick to start sending emails. 

✔️ Strong Deliverability – Helps your emails avoid spam folders with email authentication and CAN-SPAM compliance.

✔️ Excellent Customer Support – Offers live chat, phone support, and extensive learning resources.

✔️ Extensive Integration Options – Connects with CRMs, ecommerce platforms, and social media tools.

Cons: 

❌ Higher Costs – More expensive than some alternatives, with plans starting at $12–$80/month and rising as you add features or grow your contact list.

❌ Fewer Customization Options – Template flexibility is more restricted than some competitors.

Best For: Small businesses and organizations seeking a simple, all-in-one marketing platform with strong support and deliverability.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the most recognized email marketing platforms, known for its scalability, automation tools, and user-friendly design. It's a strong choice for businesses looking to grow their email strategy with smart, data-driven features.

Key Email Marketing Features:

• Improved Email Automation – Build workflows for onboarding, cart recovery, and personalized journeys.
• Customizable Templates – Use the drag-and-drop editor or code your own HTML designs.
• AI-Powered Recommendations – Get data-driven suggestions for subject lines, send times, and email content.

Pros:

✔️ User-Friendly Interface – Clean, intuitive dashboard for quick campaign setup and management.

✔️ Robust Automation Features – Sophisticated workflows for customer engagement and lead nurturing.

✔️ Generous Free Plan – Includes key features for small businesses starting out.

✔️ Strong Integration Capabilities – Connects with CRMs, social platforms, ecommerce tools, and more.

Cons:

❌ Can Get Pricey – Plans range from $13–$350/month and increase quickly when adding contacts and features. 

❌ Limited Free Support – Free plan includes email support for only 30 days; chat/phone support is paid-tiers only.

Best For: Growing businesses that want powerful automation, flexibility, and room to scale over time.

Zoho Campaigns

Zoho Campaigns is a budget-friendly email marketing platform packed with features that are especially valuable for businesses already using the Zoho ecosystem. It offers solid automation, list segmentation, and strong CRM integration, delivering great value for the price.

Key Email Marketing Features:

• Zoho Ecosystem Integration – Syncs seamlessly with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps for unified workflows.
• Affordable Automation – Offers drip campaigns, behavior-based triggers, and autoresponders at a lower cost.
• Compliance Tools – Built-in GDPR support, consent tracking, and unsubscribe management.
• Deliverability Support – Includes spam testing, domain authentication (SPF/DKIM), and reputation monitoring.

Pros:

✔️ CRM Integration – Deep connection with Zoho CRM for streamlined marketing and sales alignment.

✔️ Advanced Automation – Powerful workflows without the premium price.

✔️ Built-in Compliance & Deliverability Tools – Supports strong inbox placement and privacy standards.

Cons:

❌ Outdated UI – Interface isn't as sleek or intuitive as competitors.

❌ Limited Third-Party Integrations – Lacks integration with outside tools, including social media.

❌ Pricing Model – While subscriptions start at $3/month, cost increases quickly with added contacts.

Best For: Businesses looking for an entire portfolio of business software rather than just a standalone email marketing tool. 

Step-By-Step Guide to Using CannaSpyglass for Email Marketing

Accurate cannabis data is key to effective marketing and sales. Utilizing CannaSpyglass for email marketing ensures your contact and company records are complete, consistent, and actionable—giving you a clearer view of your customers and prospects.

Plus, with CannaSpyglass' data-as-a-service capabilities, you can engage with the Data Research Team to find new information specific to your goals or organize cannabis data to fit your unique preferences. 

Using CannaSpyglass alongside your email marketing tools allows you to:  

• Enrich email marketing contacts with license data, revenue estimates, location info, and more
• Build hyper-targeted reports and easily import them into your email marketing platform
• Segment and personalize email marketing campaigns to boost engagement and drive conversions

STEP 1 - Export and Organize Your CannaSpyglass Data

The first step in using CannaSpyglass for email marketing is to export and organize your cannabis data. Here's how you can do it:

• Filter Your Data: Use the CannaSpyglass Reports Hub to select your market focus (Operators or Ancillary) and filter for desired criteria (state, license type/status, city/county, etc.)
• Export Your Report: Select the export button and download your .xlsx file. 

STEP 2 - Import Your CannaSpyglass Data Into Your Email Marketing Tool

After exporting your CannaSpyglass data, you'll want to import this information into your chosen email marketing tool for your sales initiatives and marketing campaigns. To complete this process:

• Prepare Your Data: Ensure your data is clean and formatted correctly, with key fields matching your email marketing tool properties, including names, emails, phone numbers, company names, job titles, and any relevant notes. 
• Import Data into Your Email Marketing Tool: 
  • Constant Contact: On the left side panel, select 'Contacts'> 'All Contacts.' Then select 'Add Contacts' in the top right-hand corner and 'Upload From File'.
  • Mailchimp: On the left side panel, select 'Audience'> 'All Contacts.' Then select 'Add Contacts'> 'Import Contacts' in the top right-hand corner.
  • Zoho Campaigns: From the navigation toolbar on the left panel, select 'Contacts'> 'All Contacts'. Then select 'Import' in the top right-hand corner, then click 'Select File.'
• Map Your Data Fields: Match the column headers in your import file to existing data fields in your email marketing tool. Create custom fields for any new properties you'd like to track. 

**If you'd like to skip the export/import process, contact our sales team to discuss connecting your email marketing tool to our CannaSpyglass data via an extensible API

STEP 3 - Segment Your Audience & Build Email Lists

A strong email list is the backbone of any successful email marketing campaign; the cannabis industry is no exception. Building and segmenting your email lists enables you to deliver targeted, personalized, and relevant content to your contacts, ultimately increasing engagement and sales conversions.

Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Zoho all have segmentation tools to create lists based on various qualifying data points. By creating custom properties for CannaSpyglass data points, you can segment your audience based on various cannabis data points, including:

• License type, such as dispensary, cultivator, or processor
• Multi-license ownership (MSO status)
• Business location, such as state, city, or county
• Contact job title, such as owner, manager, or CEO

You can also segment lists based on data from your email marketing tool's reporting features, though specific analytics may vary by platform. Basic reporting features include:

• Behavioral data, such as user purchase history or landing page activity
• User engagement, such as email opens or clicks

Building and segmenting your contact lists is an essential part of successful email marketing, and one of the biggest mistakes marketers make is sending the same email to everyone. It's important to segment contacts to speak directly to the buyer, focus on their specific needs, and show the value you offer them – driving results for your cannabis business. 

STEP 4 - Personalize Your Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing remains one of the single most effective marketing channels for businesses, including those in the cannabis industry. It allows cannabis businesses to reach out to their target audience directly, build relationships with potential customers, and keep current customers engaged. But, with billions of emails sent every day, it's vital you get to the point quickly and make it abundantly clear how your solution can help. 

That's where personalization comes in. Personalized content will resonate better with your audiences, leading to higher engagement and sales conversion rates. For example, you can create special offers for first-time buyers or provide educational content for those interested in a specific service or product category.

Email Marketing and automation features allow you to send tailored messages to different segments. Though specific features vary by platform, here's how this works:

• Email Campaigns: Design and send customized emails to specific list segments, ensuring the content resonates with their interests and needs.
• Merge Fields: Insert dynamic, personalized elements such as the contact's first name, company name, or location within the subject line or email content.
• Dynamic Content Blocks: Create email templates with dynamic content blocks that change based on contact attributes or behaviors. (For example, display different products or offers based on past purchases or engagement history to increase relevance and drive conversions.)
• Automated Workflows: Set up automated workflows to nurture leads and guide them through the sales funnel. (For example, you can create a series of emails that educate new leads about your products and services.)
• Behavior-Based Triggers: Send personalized follow-up emails based on specific actions the contact takes, such as clicking a link, downloading a resource, or abandoning a cart.
• A/B Testing: Experiment with personalization strategies by testing variations of subject lines, content, CTAs, and send times to identify the most effective approaches for your audience.

STEP 5 - Test, Analyze, and Improve Your Strategies

Regular analysis of your marketing efforts is crucial for continuous improvement. Email marketing tools offer robust analytics and reporting tools to help you measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and marketing activities. Focus on metrics such as email open and click rates, lead conversion rates, and revenue generated. 

Use these insights to refine your strategies, test new approaches, and optimize your efforts for better results!

Driving Success with CannaSpyglass and Email Marketing

Integrating CannaSpyglass data into your email marketing efforts offers a powerful combination for cannabis businesses aiming to enhance their digital presence and sales strategies. With seamless integration, users can leverage CannaSpyglass' comprehensive market data and insights within any email marketing tool of their choosing to streamline operations, target the right audiences, and create more effective, personalized marketing campaigns.

As the most customer-centric and growth-minded cannabis market database in the industry, CannaSpyglass empowers users to curate data reports based on their specific needs and preferences. The application allows for detailed segmentation within the CannaSpyglass database before exporting, enabling businesses to focus on relevant data such as license type, license status, and business size. Subscribers can also request specialized data reports several times a month, selecting fields and attributes like multiple contacts, specific roles, social media links, parent company name, headquarters address, and more.

Implementing the tips and strategies discussed in this article will enable you to broaden your reach with less effort, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – building relationships with your customers and closing sales. Start harnessing the full potential of CannaSpyglass and email marketing today, and watch your business thrive in this competitive market. 

Why CannaSpyglass?

CannaSpyglass offers cannabis data subscription services that provide dependable, on-demand, and exclusive industry analytics. Our insights cover vital data on cannabis cultivation, business statistics, and enterprise information within the rapidly growing cannabis sector. Whether you are an established industry leader seeking business expansion or a lawmaker requiring essential research to inform policy, our up-to-date, cloud-based data can be tailored to your specific interests and regions.