Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Best Direct Mail Services

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best direct mail service is PsPrint.

Direct mail is still a viable marketing strategy. It’s easy to lose sight of this when you’re putting more emphasis on online advertisements, email, and other digital marketing tactics.

But direct mail is an effective and affordable way to drive brand awareness, generate leads, and engage with new customers. It’s an excellent opportunity for both new and established businesses to reach consumers who may not see their digital presence.

In order to have success in this space, you need to find a reliable direct mail service. Direct mail services help you deliver promotional content to consumer and business mailboxes.

A basic direct mail company will print, stamp, and deliver your flyers, postcards, or brochures. Some services take that one step further by providing you with design templates and helping you create a list of viable address.

Use this guide to find the best direct mailing company for your business.

The 8 Best Direct Mail Services of 2020

Even though so many people believe that direct mail is dead, there are still countless direct mail services on the market today. The high number of companies in this space proves that the industry is still alive and thriving.

After extensive research, I’ve narrowed down the best direct mail companies to eight options:

  • PsPrint — Most options for mailable products.
  • PrintingForLess.com — Best direct mail service for EDDM (every door direct mail).
  • Vistaprint — Best for all printing and promotional needs in addition to direct mail.
  • NextDayFlyers — Best direct mail service with next business day printing.
  • Gunderson Direct — Best full-service direct mail marketing agency.
  • PostcardMania — Best for high-volume postcard campaigns.
  • Cactus Mailing — Best direct mail service for brochures.
  • SaasMQL — Best direct mail service for SaaS demand generation.

I’ll give you an in-depth review of the features, benefits, and use cases of each one below.

Best Direct Mail Services Reviews

PsPrint (Most options for mailable products)

• Wide range of products
• Quick turnaround
• Create a mailing list
• Manage everything online
Get Started Now

PsPrint offers a wide range of products available for direct mail. Unlike other services that just offer postcards or flyers, PsPrint will create and mail:

  • Postcards
  • Brochures
  • Greeting cards
  • Invitations
  • Booklets
  • Catalogs
  • Newsletters

Their services include mailing list processing, CASS certification, inkjet addressing, and postal resorting.

PsPrint offers a quick turnaround as well. In just two to five days after it’s done printing, your order can be mailed out.

The entire process can be managed online. Just select your product, upload your artwork, and attach your mailing list. PsPrint will even send you an extra prints that weren’t mailed. The “overs” are free if they fit into one box.

For those of you who don’t have a mailing list, PsPrint will help you create one in less than 15 minutes. Just answer some questions related to your target market based on age, income, zip code, and other details.

PrintingForLess (Best for EDDM)

• Full-service mailing house
• Custom free printing samples
• Free templates & resources
• Used by brands like Zappos
Get Started Now

PrintingForLess.com is a well-known and reliable direct mail service. It’s a one-stop-shop for both printing and mailing needs for businesses.

As a full-service mailing house, PFL has mailing lists and every door direct mail services.

It also offers a wide range of tools like free templates and direct mail tips.

Before you start producing and mailing at scale, PFL will give you custom free printing samples. You can choose from different paper types, weights, coatings, binding options, effects, and other products to see which one is the best for your business.

To request a sample, simply fill out a form online, email PFL, or call their customer support team.

Some standouts of the features, sizes, and options available for direct mail via PFL include:

  • Standard mailing
  • EDDM
  • Variable data imprints
  • Custom size and shape mail
  • Custom window sizes and placement
  • Custom envelop flap sizes and shapes
  • Tabbing and inserting
  • Custom ink, coating, and finishes
  • Standard, premium, and specialty paper

More than 200,000 businesses trust PFL for their needs. The service has been used by popular brands like Zappos, 99designs, Constant Contact, British Airways, and more.

What I like about PrintingForLess.com is that they make a promise that if your mailing and printing aren’t on time, they’ll fully reimburse you for the cost sustained. That gets rid of a lot of the anxiety that can happen around big marketing projects. Getting a quote from them is a snap too. You can either call their 1-800 number, email them, or use the form on their website.

Vistaprint (Best for all printing and promotional needs)

• Postcard mailing service
• Buy targeted mailing lists
• Promotional products
• Wide range of services
Get Started Now

There’s a reason Vistaprint is one of the biggest printing solutions out there: They do it all.

No matter your marketing needs, Vistaprint has you covered. Some popular categories include:

  • Promotional products
  • Labels and stickers
  • Bags and Clothing
  • Signage
  • Trade shows
  • Marketing materials
  • Business cards

Their post card mailing service is also top notch. That means Vistaprint will create and mail these postcards for you. Simply design your card, send them your list of addresses, and Vistaprint will handle the rest. Vistaprint has both standard and oversized postcards.

Don’t have a mailing list? No problem. You can buy a targeted list directly through this platform as well.

I like using Vistaprint because they have so many other products and services. So if you want to get your mailing service from the same provider as your other promotional products and printing needs, you can get it all in one place.

NextDayFlyers (Best for next business day printing)

• Wide range of products
• Rent mailing lists
• Affordable rates
• Fast delivery times
Get Started Now

NextDayFlyers is one of the most popular direct mail services on the market today. They offer a wide range of products at an affordable rate with fast delivery times.

With NextDayFlyers, your company can send:

  • Postcards
  • Brochures
  • Mail rack cards
  • Custom products

NextDayFlyers will store your inventory, verify addresses, presort your products, and send your mail. You can also rent mailing lists for campaigns as well.

Use NextDayFlyers for EDDM (every door direct mail) postcards.

Navigating through this platform is easy. Simply choose the size of your flyer, customize the cardstock, add a gloss or matte coating, and select your quantity. You can create artwork directly on their website or upload your own file.

You’ll see the cost for your direct mail campaign in real-time as you continue to make changes.

As the name implies, NextDayFlyers does offer next business day printing turnaround. Although you will pay a higher price for this premium service. But it’s a great option for time-sensitive offers and campaigns.

Gunderson Direct (Best full-service direct mail marketing agency)

• Full-service marketing agency
• Free consultations
• Fully managed campaigns
• Customized services
Get Started Now

Gunderson Direct is a full-service direct marketing agency.

For 16+ years, this organization has been driving leads for big brands like PayPal, ZipRecruiter, Postmates, AAA, Adobe, Wells Fargo, and Dish Network. They even work with some of the best business loan companies like Lending Club.

The experts at Gunderson Direct have everything you need to know to get the most out of your direct mail campaigns.

Here’s how the process works.

You’ll start with a consultation with the Gunderson Direct team. Based on your needs, they’ll help you create a mailing list using their own database as well as external resources.

Gunderson Direct will manage your entire direct mail campaign from start to finish. They take a creative approach to direct mail and provide detailed reports and analytics for each campaign. These reports will show KPIs, benchmarks, and detail new opportunities for improving performance and ROI.

All of Gunderson Direct’s services are customized. Get in touch with their team to get a unique quote for your business.

PostcardMania (Best for high-volume postcard campaigns)

• Direct, EDDM, & bulk mailing
• Postcard printing & design
• 80+ different industries served
• Trusted by 90,000+ businesses
Get Started Now

More than 90,000 businesses trust PostcardMania for printing and mailing. It’s a top option for high-volume postcard direct mail because of its low prices and bulk discounts.

PostcardMania offers the following services:

  • Postcard printing
  • Postcard design
  • Direct mailing
  • Bulk mailing
  • Mailing lists
  • Every door direct mail (EDDM)

I like PostcardMania because the platform has an extensive resource of designs for businesses in nearly every category. Here’s a sample of the roughly 80 different industries served by PostcardMania:

  • Attorneys
  • Car dealerships
  • Dry cleaning
  • Landscaping
  • Massage therapy
  • Optometry
  • Roofing
  • Restaurants
  • Retail
  • Jewelry
  • Interior design
  • Furniture

The list goes on and on.

PostcardMania has a unique service called Everywhere Small Business. As the name implies, this is a multi-channel marketing effort that includes direct mail. In addition to mail, you’ll also benefit from mail tracking, targeted Facebook follow-up advertisements, Instagram ads, Google follow-ups, and call tracking.

PostcardMania targets the same people who are receiving your promotions in the mail across digital advertising channels. It brings multiple campaigns together for lead generation and brand awareness.

Pricing for high-volume standard-sized postcards starts at just $0.05 per piece. You likely won’t find a better bulk rate in the industry.

Cactus Mailing (Best for brochures)

• Direct mail and call tracking
• Simple and straightforward
• Targeted mailing lists
• Trusted by over 17,000 businesses
Get Started Now

Cactus Mailing is a simple and straightforward direct mail service that’s ideal for small businesses. Some of their top success stories include a 700% return on investment for one business and $150,000+ in new revenue for another.

Overall, Cactus Mailing has helped more than 17,000 businesses increase sales, promote brand awareness, and acquire new customers through direct mail.

Top services include:

  • Direct mail postcards
  • Direct mail brochures
  • Targeted mailing lists
  • Mail piece design
  • Call tracking

Similar to some of the other services on our list, Cactus Mailing also offers “Smart Marketing.” This program includes Google display ads and landing pages in addition to direct mail postcards.

Cactus Mailing has a helpful ROI calculator tool and an extensive design gallery.

Some of the top industries using Cactus Mailing include dentists, restaurants, salons, spas, churches, real estate, retail, fitness, and more.

Another reason to consider Cactus Mailing is because they are always running great specials if you combine more than one service. Contact them today for a quote on your direct mailing needs.

SaasMQL (Best for SaaS demand generation)

• Focused on SaaS businesses
• Send packages to your prospects
• Create leads & opportunities
• Stand out against the competition
Get Started Now

SaasMQL is extremely unique compared to the other direct mail services on our list. I’ll start off right away by saying this company is not for everyone. SaasMQL offers account-based demand generation for SaaS businesses.

If your organization falls into this category, SaasMQL will be a top choice to consider.

In most cases, direct mail isn’t associated with SaaS. But SaasMQL has revolutionized the way that you approach your lead generation strategy. They use direct mail to create leads and opportunities with mid-market and enterprise-level prospects.

Using a direct mail campaign, one of their clients generated more than 50 qualified meetings in less than two months. This generated over $2 million.

How do they do it?

Instead of just sending a flyer or a postcard, SaasMQL sends packages to businesses. This stands out compared to the hundreds of emails, calls, and junk mail these people get on a daily basis. Nobody is going to take a package and just throw it in the garbage.

In addition to direct mail, SaasMQL will help you with other account-based marketing campaigns and analytics. They have everything you need for SaaS demand generation across multiple channels.

How to Choose the Best Direct Mail Service For Your Business

As you can see from this list, each direct mail service is unique. Finding the best one for your business can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for.

This is our methodology for narrowing your choices down. I’ll explain each factor in greater detail below.

Design Options

First impressions are crucial for direct mail campaigns. You want the final product to look clean and beautiful when it arrives in mailboxes.

Find a direct mail service that helps you create a high-quality design. Some services offer industry-specific templates. Other companies let you choose the quality, size, and finish of your products. Designs should be eye-catching and informative as well.

Mailer Types

Certain direct mail services are limited in what they’ll print and mail for you. Just because a company offers a product for custom printing, it doesn’t mean that it’s available for direct mail.

Common mailer types include:

  • Postcards
  • Flyers
  • Invitations
  • Greeting cards
  • Brochures
  • Newsletters
  • Catalogs
  • Booklets
  • Custom products

For some of you, a postcard will be sufficient. But if you’re looking to send more detailed information about your organization, you might want to consider a brochure or catalog.

Although uncommon, companies like SaasMQL even send packages via direct mail for certain business types.

Mailing Lists

Who are you sending your direct mail campaigns to?

Not every business has a mailing list on hand. For those of you who don’t, you’ll want to find a direct mail service that will help you generate a targeted list. Sometimes this is free and part of the service. Other times you’ll need to pay extra to buy or rent a list.

Turnaround Time

Some direct mail campaigns are more time-sensitive than others.

If customers and prospects are receiving a mailer after a promotion has expired or come to an end, it’s a huge waste of money. Once printing is complete, mailing turnaround time ranges anywhere from next business day to ten business days.

You can usually pay extra to get your mailers out faster. But it’s better to find a direct mail service that works quickly at no additional cost.

Price and Volume

In most cases, price and volume go hand-in-hand for direct mail campaigns. The more you order, the less you pay per piece.

Make sure you use a direct mailing service that offers transparent pricing. Sometimes companies will draw you in with a low per piece cost, but don’t include the costs for print and postage until the end.

Sometimes you can get see the prices online. But lots of direct mail companies offer custom quotes based on your needs.

Additional Services

It’s rare to see a company that only offers direct mail. Lots of the options on our list include additional services for other marketing campaigns and common business needs.

For some of you, it could be more cost-effective to bundle these offerings with one company. Even if you don’t need them today, it’s something to consider for your future plans.

Conclusion

With so many direct mailing services on the market today, these are the top eight that I’d recommend:

  • PsPrint — Most options for mailable products.
  • PrintingForLess.com — Best direct mail service for EDDM (every door direct mail).
  • Vistaprint — Best for all printing and promotional needs in addition to direct mail.
  • NextDayFlyers — Best direct mail service with next business day printing.
  • Gunderson Direct — Best full-service direct mail marketing agency.
  • PostcardMania — Best for high-volume postcard campaigns.
  • Cactus Mailing — Best direct mail service for brochures.
  • SaasMQL — Best direct mail service for SaaS demand generation.

There’s a service provider on here for every business across all industries. From startups to B2B organizations selling software, direct mail is for everyone.



from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/2UaylzN
via IFTTT

Best WordPress Popup Plugin – (Review Updated For 2020)

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best WordPress popup plugins are Ninja Popups and Getsitecontrol.

Looking for a good way to collect more leads? Or maybe draw in newsletter subscribers? Or maybe you just need some customers to participate in a survey?

A WordPress popup plugin helps get you there.

In fact, the average popup outperforms the average traditional landing page. According to a study from Sumo, the average conversion rate for a website popup is 3.09%. While another study from Impact, the average conversion rate for any website landing page is 2.35%.

I created this guide to help you choose the right popup plugin for your WordPress site. I’ve narrowed down the top seven options.

The 7 Best WordPress Popup Plugin

Let’s dive right in.

1. Ninja Popups

Ninja Popups

Ninja Popups is one of the most popular WordPress popup plugins on the market. I’m not saying you should always follow the crowd, popularity is usually a telling sign when it comes to quality.

Of the reason why Ninja Popups is one of my favorite plugins is because they offer an extensive list of features, the popups are extremely responsive and work well on mobile devices in addition to desktop browsers and it’s easy for anyone to configure this plugin, even if you don’t have any coding experience.

With Ninja Popups, you can customize the design of your popups to match your trending website color schemes. Ninja Popups also lets you customize things like the size of your popups and colors of the buttons. This is important because this plugin also offers A/B testing. You can try different variations of your popups to see which is the most effective and yields the highest conversions. In addition to the A/B tests, Ninja Popups has a detailed analytics page. You can see other KPIs with charts to help you improve your popups. This plugin has page level targeting as well, so you can have different popups for each page on your site depending on your goals.

The regular license for a single website starts at $26, making this plugin extremely affordable. It’s ideal for nearly any type of popup campaign you want to run.

2. Getsitecontrol

Getsitecontrol is a powerful popup plugin for WordPress.

They help you generate leads easily with different widgets.

You’ll also be able to manage all of your widgets in a single, powerful dashboard that lets you manage your popups across multiple different websites. It also allows you to manage the popups’ appearance, target audience, and integrations.

Seamless integrations include Google Analytics, Hubspot, AWeber, ConvertKit, and SendGrid. Rest easy knowing that Getsitecontrol will play nice with your business’s existing workflow.

Along with popups, you’ll also get:

  • Template galleries
  • Mobile popups
  • CSS editor
  • Direct links to widgets
  • Picture and GIF search
  • A/B testing
  • Segmentation
  • Multi-page widgets
  • Unlimited users

Pricing starts at $7 a month that includes 10,000 monthly widget views. Getsitecontrol also comes with a 7-day free trial with no commitment or credit card needed.

3. Popups by OptinMonster

Popups by OptinMonster

OptinMonster is a very popular lead generation software. They also help you with other marketing tactics.

More than 700,000 websites have used OptinMonster for a host of marketing and lead generation solutions. But their WordPress popup plugin Popups by OptinMonster really stands out.

You don’t need highly technical skills to use it. Its drag-and-drop builder is dead simple to use. In addition to popups, this plugin allows you to create other campaigns like:

  • Slide-in forms, or scroll triggered boxes
  • In-line forms
  • Mobile-specific forms
  • Floating headers
  • Footer bars
  • Welcome gates

OptinMonster offers advanced targeting based on personalized behavior for each unique website visitor. This technology is made to trigger popups at the most optimal time to drive conversions. They specialize in popups with exit intent technology. The software can determine when a website visitor is going to leave your page based on their browsing behavior. For example, if they open a new tab, there’s a good chance they are going to navigate to that tab. So that’s a time when an exit intent popup would be triggered. This is great because you don’t want popups to be intrusive to a user’s browsing experience, but you do want to catch visitors before they leave.

OptinMonster claims that this plugin has helped some websites boost conversion rates by up to 785%. While I can’t guarantee you’ll get those same results, I’d definitely say it’s worth a try.

All of the campaigns built with the Popups by OptinMonster plugin are mobile friendly and highly responsive. The plugin integrates with your email marketing software as well. You can run A/B tests with this plugin. And you’ll have access to Google Analytics data for all of your campaigns.

4. Layered Popups

Layered Popups

The Layered Popups plugin lets you create popups that are, you guessed it — layered. Basically, these popups can have multiple layers, which can attract the attention of website visitors and let you get creative. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to implement website popups that are far from boring and separate themselves from the crowd.

This plugin has a visual editor, which makes it easy for anyone to create and make changes to the design of these popups. Layered Popups has several options for display modes as well. These are some of the options for triggering a popup:

  • Exit intent
  • Scrolling
  • Idle pages
  • Once per session
  • Once every specified number of days
  • Every visit
  • HTML element click
  • Specified delays

These options make it easy for you to get more email subscribers without annoying your website visitors.

Layered Popups is also compatible with some of the top email marketing platforms on the market. As a matter of fact, the plugin supports 56 of these email systems, but some of the biggest names include:

  • MailChimp
  • Constant Contact
  • GetResponse
  • AWeber
  • Campaign Monitor
  • Active Campaign

So it’s safe to assume that whatever software you’re using for email is on this list.

When you install Layered Popups to your WordPress site, you’ll have access to more than 150 templates. You can also create an unlimited amount of A/B tests for different elements of your popups. With pricing starting at just $21, this is definitely one of the best WordPress popup plugins available.

5. ConvertPlus

ConvertPlus

The ConvertPlus WordPress plugin is designed for driving conversions with popups. Here’s what the plugin offers

  • Popups, of course
  • Fullscreen popups
  • Top bar information
  • Bottom bar information
  • Slide-ins
  • Sticky boxes

One of my favorite features of ConvertPlus is the template selection. You can take one of the 100+ templates and make slight tweaks to personalize it for your own website content.

ConvertPlus has more than 700 fonts that will make your popups stand out. They offer custom CSS, animations, and background settings as well. You’ll also benefit from real-time analytics for your popups and other campaigns. This information will help you track KPIs like views, clicks, and conversions.

This plugin integrates with email marketing software, as well as other CRM solutions such as:

  • WooCommerce
  • Contact Form 7
  • Zapier
  • WP Registration Form

6. Bloom

Bloom

The Bloom WordPress plugin is designed specifically for email opt-ins. There are six different ways to display these opt-in forms on your website.

  • Automatic popups
  • Automatic fly-ins
  • Inline opt-in forms
  • Below content forms
  • Widget area forms
  • Required opt-in for content unlock

The last option is something that’s unique, and makes this plugin stand apart from other available options. Here’s how it works: Depending on what your website is offering, you can restrict content to the average user. This is a great way to entice opt-ins or registrations. In order for a website visitor to gain access to premium content, they’ll need to opt-in first.

Popups can be triggered based on a number of different actions.

  • Delay based on time
  • Triggered based on scrolling
  • After comment popups
  • Post-purchase popups
  • Inactivity popups

Bloom also works with 16 different email marketing platforms, including:

  • Campaign Monitor
  • AWeber
  • MailChimp
  • GetResponse
  • SalesForce
  • HubSpot
  • iContact
  • ActiveCampaign

Bloom has hundreds of templates for your popups. You can also customize things like the borders and edges of your popups. The color options are virtually unlimited, so you won’t have to worry about finding a color scheme to match your website design.

7. Elementor Pro

Elementor Pro

With Elementor Pro, you can build any type of website popup from scratch. Its jam packed with features that will help any site grow.

You can create popups for specific reasons like:

  • Capturing leads
  • Making announcements
  • Keeping users on the page with exit intent notifications
  • Growing your email list
  • Content lock and upgrades
  • Full screen welcome mats
  • Generate sales by showcasing products and upsells
  • Build login forms

Elementor Pro offers advanced targeting options as well. For example, you can trigger a popup after a specified number of page views or a specified number of sessions. You can even control popups by the device a user is browsing from.

Popups are triggered based on actions such as scrolling, clicks, page loading, inactivity, and exit intent. You can show certain popups on posts with specific tags, authors, or categories. This plugin also offers WooCommerce integration.

You can also hide popups for users who are logged in. That way you won’t be asking for an email address that’s already been added to your subscriber list.

Subscriptions start at $49 per year for Elementor Pro, which is a bargain, in my opinion, considering all of the advanced features you’ll get for that price, plus design elements that are second to none. You can create beautiful popups that are visually appealing and attractive to your audience.

Conclusion

Do popups work? That’s a conversation for another day.

For those of you who are ready to add popups to your website, you’ll need to install a WordPress plugin that will make this process much easier for you.

So what’s the best WordPress popup plugin?

It all depends on what you’re looking for. I’ve narrowed down the top seven options for you to consider.

You’ll want to install a plugin that lets you create the type of popups you want, but also integrates smoothly with any other software you are using.

Some plugins have more templates and custom design features than others. While other popup plugins offer better analytics, A/B tests, and advanced targeting options. You’ll even find some options with all in one features.



from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/2BMJQnw
via IFTTT

Best WordPress Backup Plugin – (Review Updated for 2020)

Want my quick answer? BlogVault and BackupBuddy are the best WordPress backup plugins out there. 

If your website crashes, you need a way to get it up and running ASAP.

That’s why you need a good WordPress backup plugin. Your website could become the victim of user errors, vicious attacks, or malware.

When that happens, expect a hit to your SEO ranking, and damage your relationship with customers and website visitors. On top of rebuilding your website, you’ll also need to run campaigns to improve your online reputation.

Backup plugins help you avoid these situations. It’ll restore all of your WordPress website content if you ever have any problems.

So what’s the best WordPress backup plugin?

6 Best WordPress Backup Plugin

There are tons of options to choose from. The last thing you want is to install a backup plugin as a fail-safe and have it cause more problems. That’s why I narrowed down the list to the six best WordPress backup plugins for you to consider.

Use this guide as a reference to help you find the right one for your website.

1. BlogVault

BlogVault is trusted by 400,000+ websites for their backup needs—and for good reason.

In between its affordable pricing ($7.40 / month) and it’s great features, it’s sure to give you everything you would need out of a WordPress backup plugin.

It’s also incredibly intuitive. Even the newest WP user will be able to learn the ropes quickly.

They also offer easy migration in case you’re changing web hosts.

One other very nice feature is the fact that BlogVault backs up your website even if your website is down. You’ll be able to access any backups via your BlogVault dashboard while you wait for your site to go back up.

BlogVault

BlogVault also creates multiple backup copies of your website, allowing you to upload them into a third-party storage site like Google Drive or DropBox for even more protection against lost data. And with daily automatic backups, you’re sure to have the most up-to-date backups as possible.

Recovering your website is a snap too. With just one click, you’ll be able to restore your backed up website and return it to what it was the day before the hack or loss of information occurs.

BlogVault allows you to add sites to their service to. You’ll be able to manage all of your website backups on one dashboard, and generate reports and analytics for each one.

Pricing for BlogVault starts at $7.4 / month and includes real-time backups, a 90-day backup archive, and one site. Try BlogVault now.

2. BackupBuddy

Backup Buddy
The BackupBuddy WordPress plugin has been around for nearly a decade. Other backup plugins on the market only backup your database, but BackupBuddy covers the entire WordPress installation.

  • Website pages
  • Posts
  • Comments
  • Widgets
  • Users
  • Database
  • Core files
  • Custom posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Images
  • Videos
  • Plugin files
  • Settings
  • Themes

All of these components will be backed up with this plugin. The files are backed up and stored off-site in a location that’s safe and secure. Each time a backup is completed, you can download a zip file to have another copy on your hard drive. You can also send backups to remote storage locations such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and BackupBuddy Stash.

If you ever have a problem and need to recover content, BackupBuddy makes it easy to quickly restore your entire WordPress site.

While this plugin can back up nearly every element of your WordPress site, that doesn’t mean you have to do so. For one reason or another, you may only want to backup certain components, like a database or specific files. You can completely customize the backups to fit your needs.

Another reason why BackupBuddy is a top choice is because you can schedule automatic backups, so you won’t have to remember to do this manually.

BackupBuddy is extremely helpful when it comes to user error as well. If you accidentally delete a post, you can restore the content in just a few clicks.

If you ever need to change domains or hosts for your WordPress site, the BackupBuddy plugin will help you do so with ease. The WordPress migration tool makes this plugin a popular choice for developers who create custom websites for clients on a temporary domain before moving the site over to a domain that’s live.

BackupBuddy also runs malware scans, which can potentially identify any problems before they happen.

All of these features make BackupBuddy one of the best WordPress backup plugins available.

3. VaultPress

VaultPress
For those of you who are looking for backups, migrations, and security features all in one plugin, VaultPress is a clear choice. In fact, it’s built by Automattic, the same team that builds WordPress itself.

It’s so good, we use VaultPress on Quick Sprout and have since 2011.

Once you install this plugin, you can easily set up automated backups. Everything is stored in a digital off-site vault. In addition to backups, you can use VaultPress for site migrations, file repairs, and restores.

VaultPress also has a calendar view option, making it easy to locate, view, and restore content from previous backups. But the dashboard of VaultPress is different from what you’re used to with other WordPress plugins. This minor navigation flaw doesn’t affect the performance and usage of the plugin itself.

I also like the built-in security features. The file scanning and spam defense will help you identify and eliminate malware, spammers, viruses, and other security vulnerabilities. The added security reduces the chances that you’ll actually have to use the restore functions due to an outside threat, but it’s nice to have the backups available just to be safe.

Pricing plans for VaultPress start at $39 per year, so it’s a cost-effective way to back up your WordPress website.

4. UpdraftPlus

UpdraftPlus
Over two million active websites have installed UpdraftPlus as a WordPress backup.

UpdraftPlus gets my vote of confidence because it’s so easy to use. Even if you don’t have much technical experience, the interface is very straightforward. The simplicity allows you to backup and restore content in just a click or two.

The free version of UpdraftPlus lets you run full backups, manual backups, and scheduled backups. You can also back up and restore your plugins, themes, and database with the free version.

Automatic backup options range anywhere from hourly to monthly. If you want to manually manage UpdraftPlus, you’ll clearly see the restore, clone, and migrate options in addition to the backup buttons. You can access all of your current backups directly from the dashboard. It’s easy for you to restore or delete older versions that you no longer need.

Like other backup plugins, UpdraftPlus gives you remote storage options to places such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and many more.

UpdraftPlus is fast. So it uses up fewer server resources. This is a great feature for those of you who are using shared web hosting services.

It’s comforting knowing that there are free WordPress backup plugins out there with so much functionality. With that said, you can upgrade to a premium plan that’s extremely affordable, starting at $42 per year to get these additional features and reports:

  • Incremental backups
  • Migrator
  • Multisite/multi-network compatible
  • Backs up non WP files and databases to multiple remote destinations
  • OneDrive, BackBlaze, Azure, SFTP storage destinations
  • Database encryption
  • Advanced reporting
  • Dedicated expert support

The incremental backup feature is one of the best reasons to upgrade this plugin. Instead of having to back up your entire site when you make a change, such as adding an image, this option only backs up those new files.

If you have any issues with this plugin, the customer support team is exceptional.

You can tell that UpdraftPlus is a reliable plugin just by the sheer number of active installs on other websites. The plugin wouldn’t be so popular if all of those people had problems.

5. Duplicator

Duplicator

With over one million active installations, Duplicator is another popular choice. As the name implies, the primary function of this plugin is to migrate, move, or clone a WordPress website between domains. This can be accomplished without any downtime, which can’t be said for other plugins out there. You can also use Duplicator to transfer your WordPress website between hosts.

This plugin lets you duplicate a live website to a staging area, or duplicate your staging area to a live site. Duplicator allows you to execute a full migration in WordPress without having to import and export SQL scripts.

This plugin is a great option, but I can’t say I’d recommend it to beginners. It’s definitely better for those of you who have some technical knowledge. Don’t get me wrong; you don’t need to be a coding expert, but you should have a basic understanding of how things work before you attempt to use the Duplicator plugin on your website.

It’s great for developers who are tired of manually configuring themes and sets of plugins each time they build a new site. You can just do this once and bundle it with Duplicator, then just use that as your template by migrating it over to different locations for each client.

Here’s how it works: All of your website content, plugins, themes, and database get bundled into a zip file, which is referred to as a “package” by Duplicator.

In addition to these features, you can also benefit from scheduled backups by upgrading to Duplicator Pro. The pricing is pretty affordable; it starts at $79 per year.

Backups can be stored locally, or in remote locations. You can also set up email notifications for updates on the status of your backups.

I’d say this WordPress plugin is more suitable for developers who have the need for migrations and things of that nature. So if that’s what you’re looking for, Duplicator can fulfill the requirements. It’s great for developers who are tired of manually configuring themes and sets of plugins each time they build a new site. You can do this once and bundle it with Duplicator, then just use that as your template by migrating it over to a different locations for each client.

But if you just want a basic backup plugin, you’ll probably be better off with one of the other choices on our list.

6. WP Time Capsule

WP Time Capsule
WP Time Capsule seamlessly integrates with your cloud storage applications. This WordPress backup plugin is definitely one of the easiest options available. So unlike other options that we’ve seen, even a novice user can handle all of the features. Once the plugin is installed and set up, it’s pretty hands-off moving forward.

After you install this plugin, the first thing you’ll need to do is connect it with one of the cloud storage locations:

  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Amazon S3
  • Wasabi

Once that happens, the plugin will automatically start creating your first backup.

Next, you just simply have to set your backup schedule and the WP Time Capsule plugin will take care of the rest.

Another great feature of the WP Time Capsule is the calendar view option. This is extremely helpful if you want to restore content from a specific date.

WP Time Capsule Backups

As you can see, this is very straightforward. All you have to do is click on the date, and decide if you want to view or restore files from your selection.

Since WP Time Capsule backs up your site incrementally, you won’t have multiple copies of files. This means less disk space will be used. WP Time Capsule doesn’t create zip files either, so fewer server resources are used compared to other backup methods.

If you want a backup plugin that’s simple, straightforward, user-friendly, and easy to use, WP Time Capsule is a top choice to consider.

Conclusion

What’s the best WordPress backup plugin?

I narrowed down the top six options for you to consider. Each of these plugins is slightly different from the others, so what’s best for your site will depend on what you’re looking for.

For those of you who want to go with a popular choice for WordPress backups, then you should take a closer look at BackupBuddy and BlogVault.

If you’re a developer, a bit more tech-savvy, and plan to use a backup plugin for cloning, migrations, and moving content between servers, you’ll want to consider Duplicator.

Maybe you just want a simple backup plugin that’s easy to use, has automatic backups, and stores content in your personal remote storage accounts. In this case, you’ll want to go with WP Time Capsule.

If you want added security functionality in addition to WordPress backups, VaultPress has what you’re looking for.



from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/2YKYGXl
via IFTTT

The Best VOIP Phone Systems For Your Business

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best VoIP phone systems for most small businesses are Nextiva, RingCentral, or Ooma VoIP.

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone systems are great for remote workers and other employees on the go.

With dozens of VoIP phone services on the market, choosing one can be tough. Luckily, we’ve done all of the research and heavy lifting for you.

Below are in-depth reviews of each one, as well as pricing, features, and anything else that should be taken into consideration.

Let’s jump in.

Top 10 Best VoIP Phone Systems in 2020

These are the 10 best VoIP phone systems on the market today:

  1. Nextiva
  2. RingCentral
  3. Ooma
  4. Phone.com
  5. Grasshopper
  6. 8×8
  7. Vonage
  8. Jive
  9. 1-VoIP
  10. Mitel

Keep reading for more in-depth reviews of each service.

Nextiva

Starting at $19.95 per month
Affordable enterprise-level plans
Unlimited calls
Free local & toll-free number
Get Started for Free

Nextiva offers a wide range of great services. In addition to its VoIP phone services, the company provides sales and service CRM software.

Some of the top Nextiva features include:

  • Nextiva desktop and mobile app
  • Text messaging
  • Auto attendant
  • Voicemail to email
  • Unlimited calling
  • Call queuing

While Nextiva is definitely a viable option for small businesses, they also offer exceptional plans for enterprises and call centers. It’s used by big national brands like Taco Bell, Stanley Steamer, and DirectBuy, and Ashley HomeStore.

Nextiva

The plans from Nextiva can be segmented into two main categories: small business and enterprise.

Like most VoIP phone services, the rates vary based on the number of users you have and the length of your contract. Nextiva has month-to-month and annual rates.

Overall Nextiva is easy to use and provides high-quality customer service. From small businesses to enterprises, Nextiva is a top choice consider.

Try Nextiva for free and see if it is the best choice for your business today.


RingCentral

Starting at $19.99 per month
100 toll-free minutes per month
On-demand call recording
Small to enterprise solutions
Get Started Now

RingCentral is the best overall VoIP phone system. Hands down.

Their features and services offers any business what you need for your VoIP needs.

The best part: No new hardware. To get started, you can easily use your existing phone number and phones to do calls over the Internet.

You can also access your business line from anywhere. You can use the phone service from any device. It’s probably the fastest and easiest way to get a business phone number on your current cellphone. Set up your RingCentral account and install the app:

RingCentral Mobile App

In addition to traditional phone calls, RingCentral offers a wide range of business phone needs. You can have access to messaging and video conferencing as well. In fact, RingCentral also ranked first on our list of the best video conferencing services.

Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one calling solution, or VoIP phones only, RingCentral has you covered.

RingCentral

Pricing for a phone plan starts at $29.99 per month per user. But that’s for a month-to-month contract. You can save 33% with the annual rate.

If you have 20 or more users, you’ll need to upgrade to an all-in-one plan, which starts at $24.99 per month per user with an annual contract.

RingCentral is a perfect VoIP solution for any business.


Ooma

Flat $19.95/user per month
Keep your number
Unlimited calling
No contracts, cancel any time
Get Started Now

Ooma VoIP is best for smaller businesses and startups. They give you the option of keeping your existing number or getting a new one.

The best part: set up is lightning fast. In fact, you can set everything up in less than 15 minutes.

Some of the top small business features of Ooma VoIP include:

  • Free mobile app
  • Virtual receptionist
  • SMS messaging
  • Spam call blocking
  • Call recording
  • Multi ring
  • Company directory
  • Custom extensions

Ooma gives you a great rate with no long-term contract. There are two main business phone plans offered by this provider:

  • Ooma Office — $19.95 per month per user
  • Ooma Office Pro — $24.95 per month per user

Ooma

The Office Pro plan is worth the extra $5. This plan comes with the most advanced features like call recording, call blocking, and voicemail transcription.

For small businesses looking for an all-in-one solution, you can use Ooma to build your own system from scratch. This will include hardware, separate conference phones, and a physical fax machine if needed.

If you’ve got a small company with five or ten employees, Ooma VoIP is a top choice for you to consider.


Phone.com

Starting at $9.99 per month
50+ standard features included
E911 dialing options
Premium feature addons
Get Started Now

If you’re on a budget, Phone.com has some of the most cost-effective VoIP phone plans on the market today.

There are definitely cheaper plans offered elsewhere, but none that I would recommend. Phone.com gives you the most bang for your buck.

Phone.com

Here’s a brief overview of the pay-per-minute plans and pricing. All rates are for annual contracts.

Base — $9.99 per month

  • 300 minutes per month
  • Unlimited user extensions
  • 1 local or toll-free number
  • 5,000 SMS messages
  • 40+ standard features

Plus — $14.99 per month

  • 500 minutes per month
  • Unlimited user extensions
  • 2 local or toll-free numbers
  • 10,000 SMS messages
  • Automated voicemail to text
  • Premium hold music

Base — $29.99 per month

  • 1,000 monthly minutes
  • Unlimited user extensions
  • 3 local or toll-free numbers
  • 20,000 SMS messages
  • 300 call recording minutes
  • Call analytics
  • HD video conferencing

While the plans are affordable, they are definitely limited. If you’re going to exceed those monthly minute restrictions, you can consider switching to a Phone.com unlimited plan.

The unlimited plans start at $24.99, $32.99, and $49.99 per month, respectively. They are nearly identical to the plans listed above, except you’ll get unlimited monthly minutes.


Grasshopper

Starting at $26 per month
VoIP and Wifi calling
No calling limits
24/7 live support
Get Started Now

For those of you who need a business VoIP system for calls on the go, Grasshopper will be a top choice to consider.

Lots of VoIP phone services have a mobile app, but Grasshopper really stands out from the crowd. You’ll be able to use Grasshopper with your existing phone; no additional devices are required.

Grasshopper

The setup process is extremely simple.

Just choose the app (Grasshopper or Grasshopper Connect) based on your business needs. Then select a number (toll-free, vanity, local, current number) and download the app. Then you can start calling and texting using your number right away.

You can try using Grasshopper for free with a 7-day trial. No credit card required.

Assuming you’re happy with the service (which I’m sure you will), here’s an overview of the paid plans and pricing:

Grasshopper Solo

  • $29 per month ($26 with annual contract)
  • 1 number
  • 3 extensions

Grasshopper Partner

  • $49 per month ($44 with annual contract)
  • 3 numbers
  • 6 extensions

Grasshopper Small Business

  • $89 per month ($80 with annual contract)
  • 5 numbers
  • Unlimited extensions

Grasshopper Connect

  • $39 per month ($35 with annual contract)
  • 1 number
  • Email, text, and phone integration

As you can see, the Grasshopper plans are perfect for smaller organizations, startups, and solo entrepreneurs. The fact that you can sign up and use your VoIP phone service without any additional hardware is a huge bonus.


8×8

Starts at $12 per month per user
Unlimited US & Canada calls
International calling capabilities
Compare Quotes

8×8 has more than one million business users across the globe. It’s trusted by international brands like McDonald’s, Regus, and NetSuite.

They offer a wide range of phone services, including VoIP phones, contact centers, and video conferencing. I’d recommend 8×8 to small and medium-sized organizations that need international calling capabilities.

8x8

Here’s an overview of the small business pricing plans for all-in-one communications.

8×8 Express — $12 per month per user

  • Unlimited calling in the US and Canada
  • Auto attendant
  • HD secure voice
  • Voicemail
  • Team messaging
  • HD audio and video meetings with screen sharing
  • Mobile and desktop apps

X Series X2 — $25 per month per user

  • Unlimited calling within 14 countries
  • Advanced caller ID, call forwarding, and call queues
  • Voicemail transcription
  • Single sign on and CRM integration
  • Call recording
  • Unlimited Internet fax
  • Cross-platform team messaging

X Series X4 — $45 per month per user

  • Unlimited calling within 47 countries
  • All X2 features
  • Operator switchboard
  • Analytics and call quality reporting

X Series X6 — $115 per month user

  • Unlimited calling within 47 countries
  • 4,000 minutes of contact center calling zone within 47 countries
  • Skills-based routing
  • Interactive voice response
  • Queued and web callback
  • Post call surveys
  • Native CRM
  • Contact center reports and analytics

If your organization has more than 100 users, you can contact the 8×8 sales team for a quote on an enterprise VoIP phone solution.


Vonage

50+ communication features
Compatible with Vonage Meetings
Simple to set up and scale
Compare Quotes

In terms of flexibility and product offerings, Vonage is second to none for business VoIP plans. They offer a wide range of communication packages, including:

  • Business phone systems
  • Office phone systems
  • Contact center solutions
  • Mobility
  • Conferencing
  • Marketing automation
  • Phones, accessories, and other hardware

Vonage integrates with popular tools and technology like G Suite, Salesforce, Office 365, Slack, and HubSpot.

Vonage

Another unique standout of Vonage is that the company offers industry-specific solutions as well as services based on business needs. For example, they have tools for accounting, law firms, healthcare, retail, real estate, and more.

The company also has tools for things like reducing communication costs, starting a call center, recording employee calls, or connecting virtual teams.

For VoIP phone plans, Vonage has three main plans; Mobile, Premium, and Advanced.

The rates vary based on how many lines you need, so there’s a wide range of prices offered. To give you some perspective, here are the rates of each plan for businesses who need 20+ lines:

 

  • Mobile — $14.99 per month per line
  • Premium — $24.99 per month per line
  • Advanced — $34.99 per month per line

If you need four lines or less, those rates would jump to $19.99, $29.99, and $39.99, respectively.

Based on the pricing structure and wide range of product offerings, Vonage is the perfect VoIP phone solution for growing businesses.


Jive

Lots of all-inclusive features
Call recording & monitoring
Custom greeting & hold music
Compare Quotes

Jive is an affordable VoIP phone service with arguably the most extensive feature list on the market today. It’s tough to get Jive’s offerings at a better price point elsewhere.

The platform has solutions for small businesses, mid-market, and enterprise, as well as products for voice, video, contact centers, and more.

Jive

But for now, we’ll just stick to the VoIP phone features:

  • Auto attendants
  • Custom greetings
  • Time-baed routing
  • Virtual fax
  • Voicemail to email
  • Fax to email
  • Hold music
  • Call recording
  • Call queues
  • Call analytics
  • Desktop integration
  • Conference bridge

The list is seemingly a mile long. In fact, there are over 80 different VoIP phone service features available with Jive. The best part? Features are all-inclusive with all Jive plans.

Pricing is based on the number of users you have, and ranges between $19.95 and $29.95 per month, per user. No long-term contracts or annual commitments. All plans are available month-to-month.

If you need a phone plan with 100+ users, contact Jive for a custom quote.


1-VoIP

40+ standard features
Pay for what you use plans
Cost-effective & flexible
Compare Quotes

1-VoIP has been providing phone services for 10 years. On average, business customers switching to 1-VoIP save 53% compared to their current plan, which makes this provider one of the most cost-effective options on the list.

Some of the top 1-VoIP business features include:

  • Call recording
  • Hold music
  • Virtual fax
  • Auto attendant
  • Hours of operation
  • Queues
  • Extension transfers

While 1-VoIP does have some traditional plans, I’d recommend the metered pricing option. This will be the best choice for businesses that only want to pay for what they use.

1-VoIP

If you’re a low-volume caller, the base rate is $14.97 per month for each extension. From there, you’ll pay just $0.02 per minute.

The package comes with all features included. There are no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees either.


Mitel

Starting at $20.99 per month
Industry leader in reliability
Runs on Google Cloud
Compare Quotes

Mitel offers a VoIP phone service that runs on Google Cloud. So you know that you’re getting support from an industry leader in reliability, scalability, and security.

It has a modern interface that’s extremely easy to use. You’ll benefit from real-time management and a seamless experience across all of your devices.

Mitel is an all-in-one solution for communication, collaboration, and contact center services. It’s used by well-known names like Netflix, Smile Doctors, and Rewards Network.

Mitel

Here’s a brief overview of the plans and pricing:

Essentials — Starting at $20.99 per month per user

  • Unlimited minutes
  • 8-party audio conferencing
  • Instant messaging
  • Mobile apps
  • Outlook and G Suite integration

Premier — Starting at $26.59 per month per user

  • Unlimited minutes
  • 25-party audio conferencing
  • Salesforce CRM integration
  • Voicemail transcription
  • On-demand call recording

Elite — Starting at $38.49 per month per user

  • Unlimited minutes
  • 100-party audio conferencing
  • Constant call recording
  • Archiving
  • Operator

As you can see, Mitel has the ability to meet the needs of multiple business types and sizes. It’s a top solution for anyone who wants to take advantage of Google’s Cloud reliability.

What Is a VoIP Phone System?

VoIP stands for “voice over Internet protocol.” Instead of a traditional phone line, VoIP systems use the internet.

Incoming calls from a non-VoIP number can be converted to a VoIP line. You’ll receive calls from anyone regardless of their phone system.

VoIP phone systems have been growing in popularity for businesses over the past few years. That’s because these services are simple, cost-effective, and offer complete flexibility.

How to Choose the Best VOIP Phone Service For Your Business

Compare Quotes From The Best VOIP Phone Services

Get matched up with a VOIP phone service that fits your specific needs.

Compare Quotes

 

Now that you’ve had a chance to see some of the top VoIP phone services on the market today, it’s time to choose one for your business.

This is the methodology that we used to narrow our options. We recommend that you do the same for your business.

Hardware Requirements

Not every VoIP phone service is created equally. Some will allow you to use your existing hardware, while others will require you to get specific devices.

There are even VoIP business plans with no hardware requirements. You can simply make and receive calls directly from the mobile app.

It all depends on the needs of your business. A solo entrepreneur and an enterprise-grade calling center will obviously have different hardware preferences.

Pricing

For the most part, VoIP business plans are priced based on the number of users or lines you have. The more lines you need, the lower the per-user cost will be.

Some services charge you per-user, some give you unlimited minutes, and others provide minute restrictions based on your plan.

It’s important that you find a price point that’s within your budget, while still meeting your needs. If you’re a low-volume caller that only makes and receives two or three calls per day, you probably won’t need an unlimited plan.

You should also consider the length of your contract. Some companies force you to sign an annual contract to get the best rate, while others bill month-to-month.

Setup and Ease of Use

In theory, VoIP phone services are supposed to be easier than a traditional business landline. So avoid companies that have a lengthy setup process and complex functionality.

You can usually request a demo or free trial to test out a service before you commit.

See what the company’s existing customers say about the products and services by reading third-party reviews.

Features

It’s easy to get drawn toward a VoIP phone service with an extensive feature list. But with that said, you might not need every feature under the sun.

While some of these will definitely be useful, think about which ones you actually want or need. There’s no reason to pay extra for features you’ll never use. Feature lists are always a top selling point, but focus in on the features that will help your business.

Some services provide features all-inclusive, and others offer features based on your package.

Conclusion

If your business is ready to make the switch to a VoIP phone service, then the options above are the top ten that I’d recommend.

Overall my top 3 favorites are Nextiva, Ooma VoIP, and RingCentral. Compare them all to find the best for you.

No matter how big or small your business is, I’m confident that the perfect VoIP phone for your company can be found on this list.

Compare Quotes From The Best VOIP Phone Services

Get matched up with a VOIP phone service that fits your specific needs.

Compare Quotes


from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/3cPX9nZ
via IFTTT