How to Choose the Right Email Tool
The best email marketing tool depends on your situation:
Taproom vs. distribution focus matters. Taproom-focused breweries need event and visit automation. Distribution-heavy breweries may need e-commerce integration.
List size impacts cost. Calculate pricing at your expected subscriber count. Some tools charge by contacts, others by emails sent.
Mug club complexity. If you run a membership program, look for good segmentation and automation features.
What Actually Works for Breweries
After talking to many brewery owners about email marketing:
New release emails drive traffic. Announce new beers to your list before social media. Your email subscribers are your most loyal customers.
Event reminders fill taprooms. A simple reminder email the day before an event significantly increases attendance.
Mug club communication matters. Regular member updates and timely renewal reminders directly impact retention rates.
Getting Started
Pick a tool from this list. Then:
- Import your customer list from your POS or mug club records
- Set up a monthly newsletter template
- Create an automated welcome sequence for new signups
- Build a new release announcement template you can reuse
Start with consistency and expand your automation over time.