While it doesn’t yet compete with the likes of ActiveCampaign or Drip, I can see that’s where it is going. For instance, it cannot yet do conditional logic inside an automation. But, it is coming. Word is by the end of the year.

By combining FluentCRM with other tools such as WPFusion (read my review) and Uncanny Automator, this is already a VERY capable combo. They are still working on built-in integrations and they are coming fast. But, FluentCRM does support webhooks which would technically allow it to integrate with almost anything. For instance, I would be able to send my leads from ConvertBox into FluentCRM using webhooks.

FluentCRM is currently being launched with a lifetime deal.  This deal is active until October 14th… then they will be going to annual licensing. Development on FluentCRM will be their major focus for 2021 and they’ve already released several updates in just the last few days, so I have no doubt this is going to be a robust tool.

The Benefits Of Managing Your List In House

So, if you were to go this route versus using a remotely hosted service, what are the advantages?

#1 – Save Money (Obviously)

By using a plug-in on your own server for this, you are obviously saving a bunch of money because you’re hosting it yourself. You’re basically going to be paying for the ongoing support of the developers and your email sending service.

Most email SMTP services are pretty cheap. One of the most popular is Amazon SES and they charge 10 cents per 1,000 emails sent. For most people (even with fairly sizable lists), your bill is likely only going to be a few bucks per month.

So, for instance, if you were using GroundHogg PRO and Amazon SES and you sent 50,000 emails per month, your bill would be $45/month ($40 for GroundHogg and $5 for Amazon SES).

In my case, since I secured FluentCRM during the initial launch at a lifetime license price, my only cost is going to be Amazon SES. You can see why I will be happy to ditch Drip once I feel like I can. 🙂 The bill for my email list is literally going to be a few bucks per month.

#2 – Increased Data Security

Keeping your list in house means you’ve removed a point of contact from your software stack and made things simpler. Your email list gets backed up automatically every time your site is backed up. No longer are you reliant on the backups of an external provider and you don’t have to do any weird extra steps to download a backup of your email list.

#3 – Native Integrations

If you’re building your online business on top of WordPress (and that’s sort of the point here), then the idea of “integration” is quite different. And that’s because you’re no longer sending data out to some remote service. It is all right there on your own server.

So, a native WordPress CRM can integrate directly with other WordPress plug-ins. Without data being sent anywhere else. For this reason, you’re going to get much more WordPress-focused stuff such as direct integrations into page builders like Elementor, direct integration with the WordPress user tables, direct integration with all the LMSs, etc.

If you’re building a membership site on WordPress, keeping all the data right there is just…. easier. Plus…

#4 – Better Privacy and GDPR Compliance

It presents an issue for user privacy and legal compliance when you’re sending data to third-party services. You have to account for that in your privacy policy and GDPR compliance.

Plus, if a user does request deletion of their data, that can be tougher when you use add-on services. But, if it is all right there in-house, you can delete it all immediately.

Plus, when a user manages their own data, it is all always be in sync. Because it is one database that controls it all.

#5 – Less Moving Parts, More Portability

So, here’s an interesting thought…

Let’s say you do all the work to build a functioning membership with on WordPress. You’ve set up a great theme, a course environment, the content permissions… the whole nine yards.

Now, you can also build the marketing automations that power the whole thing. And all the emails.

It makes your site into a fully functioning web app. All self-contained.

You can move the app around, back it up, and it all stays together. Typically, if you switch marketing automation platforms, you can bring your list, but not your automations. You have to re-build all that in the new provider. But, if all the automations are part of your website, it all stays together.

If you just built this for a client, you know all the automations will stay intact. There’s no longer any weird thing about making them sign up for a third-party service.

It is like a business in a box. 🙂

It is just… simple.

So, Here’s My Plan

I have purchased FluentCRM.

Right now (and only for a few days), they’re in their initial launch period where you can lock in lifetime access. This is a GREAT opportunity to lock in a very promising solution and save a LOT of money on your email list hosting.

I also own WPFusion and Uncanny Automator. This combo already gives me capabilities that I don’t have with Drip. Not easily anyway. WPFusion is one hell of a plug-in, so I could probably do much with that.

But, one thing I definitely need is the conditional logic of putting IF statements in my automations. I will probably need to wait for that capability before I can make the switch. Word is end of Q4 2020.

In the meantime, I will be testing some things out. My plan is to eventually move my list in-house and cancel my subscription with Drip.

I like Drip a lot. Don’t get me wrong.

But, there’s a certain simplicity and elegance to being able to do this in-house since my business is so WordPress-focused anyway.

Plus, let’s be real…

This is going to save me a buttload of money. Yes, that’s a technical term. 😉

I am grandfathered into an old rate with Drip, but I still pay them a lot of money. About $1,500 per year.

Can I afford it? Of course. I’ve never even winced at the cost since it makes be way more money than I spend. But, still…

Why spend money I don’t have to? I am a strong believer in running an efficient business. I’m very much willing to pay for things I need, but if I can do the same thing using a cheaper option, I’d be stupid not look into it.

The tech is just getting better – and that drives down costs.

Plus, I like to be self-sufficient and not have aspects of my business be overly reliant on external companies.

So, we’ll see when I eventually make this transition. But, this is something that I think holds a lot of promise. GroundHogg is certainly more established, but I firmly believe FluentCRM is going to be a major contender in this space. It is moving fast,