Looking for the most cost-effective email marketing setup? Some businesses waste $1,200+ on DIY failures or overpay agencies. Here’s the real cost breakdown of three proven email marketing setup approaches with actual numbers, timelines, and ROI data.
What Is Email Marketing Setup?
Email marketing setup involves configuring your email platform, creating automated sequences, designing templates, setting up landing pages, and integrating tracking systems. The setup method you choose impacts your costs, timeline, and long-term performance.
The 3 Email Marketing Setup Options Compared
Option 1: DIY Email Marketing Setup
Cost: $20 – $50/month for software if you list size is under 500
Time: 40-60 hours to launch
Technical Skill Required: High
Ongoing Management: 100% self-managed
DIY means you control everything but also do everything. You’ll spend weeks watching tutorials, building templates, testing automations, and fixing mistakes.
The hidden cost of DIY email marketing setup isn’t the software – it’s your time. At $30/hour, 40 hours equals $1,200 in opportunity cost..
When DIY Email Marketing Setup Works:
You have 2-3 hours daily for email marketing tasks
You enjoy learning marketing technology
You have strong copywriting and design skills
You can troubleshoot technical integration issues
DIY Setup Challenges:
Poor template design leading to high unsubscribe rates
Broken automation sequences that don’t nurture leads effectively
Compliance issues with CAN-SPAM and GDPR regulations
Option 2: Email Marketing Agency Management
Cost: $1,500 – $5,000 setup + $750/month management fee
Setup Time: 2 – 4 weeks
Technical Skill Required: None
Ongoing Management: Meeting and approvals
Agencies deliver exceptional results. Custom strategies, beautiful designs, continuous optimization. You get a full marketing team.
But that excellence comes at a cost. Most agencies require setup fees plus monthly retainers. Great for businesses over $50K/month revenue. Overkill for everyone else.
When Agency Email Marketing Setup Makes Sense:
Monthly revenue exceeds $50K
You want completely hands-off marketing
You can invest $20K+ annually in email marketing
You need ongoing campaign management
Agency Challenges:
High minimum commitments (usually 6 – 12 months)
Less control over daily campaign decisions
Communication delays for urgent changes
Overkill for small businesses with limited budgets
Option 3: Done-For-You Email Marketing Setup
Cost: $79 one-time setup (Limited time offer, was $599) +$30/monthly subscription fee
Time: 7 days
Technical Skill Required: None for setup, basic for management
Ongoing Management: Just sending and monitoring
Done-for-you services like AWeber’s build your entire system, then hand you the keys. Professional setup without ongoing agency fees.
You get templates, automations, and landing pages built specifically for your business. After setup, you just write emails and hit send.
What’s Included in Done-For-You Setup:
Brand-aligned email designs featuring your unique colors
Conversion-optimized landing pages
Professional opt-in forms with strategically configured data fields
Welcome email funnel to nurture new customers
Automation sequences that triggered based on subscriber actions
Newsletter drafts scheduled to deliver weekly
DKIM and DMARC email authentication setup
When Done-For-You Email Marketing Setup Works Best:
You want professional results without professional prices
You can handle basic ongoing tasks
You need to control costs
You value your time
Email Marketing Setup Cost Comparison (First Year)
Let’s compare first-year costs for a small business:
DIY:
Software: $30 x 12 = $360
Your time: 40 hours x $30 = $1,200
Mistakes/rebuilds: $500 (estimated)
Total: $2,060
Agency:
Setup: $2,500
Monthly: $750 x 12 = $9,000
Total: $11,500
Done-For-You:
Setup: $79
Software: $30 x 12 = $360
Total: $439
Email Marketing Setup Quality Comparison
Professional Design and Templates
DIY: Quality varies significantly based on your design skills
Agency: deliver the highest quality – custom strategies, professional copywriting, beautiful designs.
Done-For-You: provides professional templates and proven automations. Not fully custom, but far better than DIY attempts.
Automation Sophistication
Agency: Advanced segmentation, behavioral triggers, complex sequences
Done-For-You: Proven automation templates, essential sequences, basic segmentation
DIY: Often incomplete or broken automation sequences
Email Marketing Setup Timeline Comparison
DIY: 4 – 8 weeks (learning + building)
Agency: 2 – 4 weeks
Done-For-You: 7 days
How to Choose the Right Email Marketing Setup Method
Choose DIY Email Marketing Setup If:
You’re bootstrapped with more time than money
You have 40+ hours available for learning and setup
You enjoy marketing technology and troubleshooting
Budget is extremely limited (under $500 annually)
Choose Done-For-You Email Marketing Setup If:
Monthly revenue between $10K-$50K
You want professional results without premium pricing
You can handle basic ongoing management
You need to launch within 1-2 weeks
You prefer cost control and flexibility
Choose Agency Email Marketing Setup If:
Monthly revenue exceeds $50K
Email marketing already drives significant revenue
You need completely hands-off management
You can invest $15K+ annually in email marketing
You require advanced segmentation and strategy
The Smart Email Marketing Setup Choice
Choose DIY if you’re bootstrapped with more time than money.
Choose agencies if email marketing drives significant revenue already.
Choose done-for-you if you want professional results without the professional price tag.
AWeber’s Done For You service gives you the best of both worlds – professional setup in 7 days for $79, then you manage it yourself.
Start Your 7-Day Email Marketing Setup for $79
The post Email Marketing Setup: DIY vs Done-For-You vs Agency appeared first on AWeber.
