With over 2.5 million users from 500,000 companies, Blinq is one of the market leaders for digital and virtual business cards. In our guide, we explain everything you need to know about Blinq.me.

What is Blinq?

Blinq is one of the world’s leading providers of digital business cards. Through software, individuals, influencers, small business owners, salespeople, or corporations can design their own digital business cards, equip them with exciting features, and share them with customers, fans, and prospects via QR codes, wallets, NFC technology, email signatures, or video call backgrounds.

By simplifying the exchange of digital business cards, the Australian company aims to revolutionize networking in a business context and replace paper business cards that often end up in the trash.

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Who is behind Blinq?

Blinq was founded in 2017 by Jarrod Webb in Melbourne, Australia. Webb still leads the company today as CEO. In addition to the headquarters in Melbourne, Blinq has opened other offices in Sydney (Australia), San Francisco, and New York. There is currently no office in Germany or Europe. However, the service is still available to German customers.

Eight years after its founding, Blinq.me already has 2.5 million users from over 500,000 companies, coming from 189 different countries. Today, 90 percent of the well-known “Fortune 500 Companies” already use Blinq’s digital business cards. According to the company, Blinq cards are expected to surpass the 50 million card shares mark in 2025.

To further drive international expansion and equip the digital business cards with new features, the Australian company successfully completed a Series A funding round in May 2025. A total of 25 million US dollars came from renowned investors such as Touring Capital, Blackbird Ventures, and HubSpot Ventures.

What does Blinq offer?

Since its founding, Blinq’s offering has grown significantly. That’s why we want to introduce the features that impressed us the most in our Blinq test.

1. Digital Business Cards

The central brand element of Blinq is its digital business cards. You can conveniently design your own digital card on your smartphone or computer. You can add a picture of yourself, your contact information, job title, and company logo.

You can also integrate QR codes and links, making it easy to share your business card. Several design templates are available – so you don’t need to be a web designer to create a visually appealing result.

2. Sharing options for your digital business card

Blinq.me is constantly working to ensure you can carry your digital business card with you and share it at any time. These are the available options:

• Integration for Apple Watch and Android Wear: You can easily share your digital business card via smart watch.
• Smartphone widgets for the lock screen: Don’t want to unlock your phone and search for the Blinq app? No problem – use the lock screen widgets for iPhones and Android smartphones.
• Apple Wallet and Google Wallet: You can add an unlimited number of digital business cards to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. They’re always available to you.
• Physical NFC card: If you want to benefit from the advantages of a digital card and still carry a representative card in your wallet, the Blinq NFC Card is the ideal solution. You receive a modern card that lets you share your info in seconds – simply by holding it near your contact’s smartphone.

3. Integrations for emails, video calls, and third-party tools

You can share your digital business card not only via smartphone but also benefit from Blinq in video calls via Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and others. The provider offers professional video call backgrounds with a QR code to your card.

There are also email signatures and integrations with popular CRM and email systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Microsoft, and Google.

4. Help and support

If you ever have questions about Blinq, there are many ways to get help. There’s a company blog with news, how-to guides, FAQs, and a support team for technical issues that you can contact around the clock.

Depending on your subscription model, a personal contact is also available. You can also book a free demo at any time to get a guided tour of the platform and features from a Blinq expert.

Costs and fees: What does Blinq cost?

Blinq offers four different pricing models. The cost structure depends on the number of business cards you need and the feature set you want.

To get an overview and explore the basic features, you can create a free account. Even the paid subscriptions come with free trial periods so you can see if the right functions are included in the package.

These are the four Blinq.me models offered monthly or annually:

• Free (0 USD): With the free version, you can create two digital business cards, link contacts, and share your cards via wallet or QR code. You also get access to Blinq’s email signatures and virtual meeting backgrounds.
• Premium (from 5.89 USD/month): The premium version lets you create five custom business cards, personalize your QR codes, customize card colors, and export your contacts as a CSV file.
• Business (from 4.99 USD/card/month): Blinq Business is for teams, not individuals. The plan starts with at least five cards and lets you centrally design and manage all your team’s business cards. You can also connect third-party tools and CRM software like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Microsoft Entra.
• Enterprise (custom pricing): Starting at 100 digital business cards, Blinq offers custom solutions tailored to your company. You get a dedicated contact, prioritized technical support, in-depth onboarding, and exclusive access to additional tools for managing, designing, and tracking your cards.

By the way: If you choose an annual plan, you save 30 percent. The monthly cancellable plan, on the other hand, gives you flexibility and the chance to try out the tool without committing to a full year.

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Is Blinq a trustworthy provider?

To determine whether a digital business card provider is secure and trustworthy, we evaluated multiple factors in our Blinq test.

Certified security

Blinq places great importance on storing and transmitting your personal data securely. That’s why it relies on regular external audits of its software and hardware infrastructure. The provider is certified under ISO 27001 and 27017 standards and fully meets SOC 2 Type II requirements.

GDPR: Data protection compliance worldwide

Blinq also sets high standards for compliance and data privacy. The service meets the requirements of the Australian Privacy Policy, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Blinq breaks down how your data is handled transparently in a dedicated section.

Protection for companies and users

If you’re a freelancer or company using Blinq, you also benefit from an extensive security system that helps prevent data theft. There’s single sign-on (SSO), two-factor authentication, and regular security training to ensure your data stays safe even under stress.

Our Blinq.me test shows the Australian provider to be a safe and trustworthy company committed to your privacy and data protection.

Blinq experiences: What do customers say?

To assess business software, we rely first on our own experience and then look at what other customers and media outlets say about the marketing tool.

In our test, Blinq convinced us with a fair pricing structure suitable for freelancers, influencers, small businesses, and large corporations. The digital cards are easy to create on PC or smartphone and can be shared in nearly every way imaginable thanks to constant improvements.

As an Australian company still expanding, Blinq remains relatively unknown in Germany despite impressive user numbers. As such, there are still few German user reviews. However, initial feedback is very positive.

The apps score top ratings in the Google Play Store (4.9 out of 5 stars from nearly 20,000 reviews) and Apple App Store (4.7 out of 5 stars from over 350 reviews). On “GetApp” (4.9/5 from 28 reviews) and software marketplace “G2” (4.8/5 from over 6,000 reviews), user feedback is also excellent.

Conclusion: Who should use digital business cards from Blinq?

Blinq elevates your personal branding to a new, modern level. The digital business cards are easy to create, modern, and packed with the technical features needed by networkers, salespeople, and communicators.

Thanks to the sharing options and integrations with HubSpot, Microsoft, and others, Blinq’s business cards appeal to companies of all sizes – from freelancers to startups to publicly traded corporations. Our Blinq test and user experiences leave a very positive impression.

Try Blinq now

The post Blinq Review: Our Experiences with Testing the Digital Business Cards appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

With over one million customers and messages sent in 190 countries, Manychat is one of the leading providers of chat marketing and messenger marketing software. In our guide, we explain everything you need to know about Manychat.

What is Manychat?

Manychat describes itself as a Customer Conversation Platform – a term that may seem abstract at first. Specifically, Manychat has specialized in making messenger marketing via WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Messenger simple and easy. The focus lies in automating chat marketing.

In concrete terms: Manychat offers a wide range of products for influencers, freelancers, and companies that allow communication via social media and messengers to be automated using “if-then” solutions.

Example: You can set up chatbots that automatically send an Instagram direct message with a link to an e-book when a user leaves a specific comment under an Instagram post. We’ll explain the individual features and how it works in more detail later.

Note: Via our link you can use Manychat PRO completely free of charge for the first month and test all features at your leisure.

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Who is behind Manychat?

Manychat was founded in the summer of 2015 by Mike Yan and Antony Gorin in the USA. They started with the vision that messengers are not only great for private communication but also serve as a contact channel between customers and businesses. Since 2022, Sunny Manivannan has been the CEO of the chat marketing specialist.

In 2025, Manychat has over one million customers worldwide. Businesses send messages via the software in over 190 countries, resulting in over a billion chat conversations each year.

The team consists of over 250 employees across five offices in Barcelona (Spain), Yerevan (Armenia), Austin (USA), São Paulo (Brazil), and Amsterdam (Netherlands). There is currently no branch office in Germany – and no German-language website either.

What does Manychat offer?

Manychat’s offering is extensive. That’s why we’ll briefly introduce the most important features that stood out in our Manychat test.

1. Follower Growth

As a reputable provider, Manychat naturally does not offer illegal follower purchases. Instead, the automatic response to incoming comments and messages helps increase your engagement rate on Instagram.

The Instagram algorithm rewards this with more reach, more recommendations, and faster follower growth. Your quick, automated responses to comments from followers and customers increase the value of your Instagram profile.

2. Conversion Tools from Instagram to Email Subscribers

The second key use case is converting Instagram followers and prospects who send you direct messages into email subscribers. This is achieved through a combination of automated messages and personalized links and offers for new newsletter subscribers who are interested in your products via Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook Messenger.

3. Automatic Follower Requests

While a large number of followers alone isn’t a criterion for social media marketing success, a growing, active community is still a crucial foundation.

Chat automation allows you to encourage users who, for example, ask for a free guide, to follow your Instagram channel via pre-written messages. Once they follow you, the guide is automatically sent.

4. Automatic Chat Messages on Instagram Comments

As an interested customer, there’s nothing worse than getting no or a delayed response to a product question. That’s why it’s essential for influencers, brands, and shop owners to respond to incoming comments and direct messages around the clock.

Since most account owners are not active 24/7, Manychat’s messenger marketing automation helps you instantly reply to potential customers and shows Instagram that you respond quickly – which the algorithm likes.

5. Automatic Link Sending via Instagram DM

Referring users to the “link in bio” is an unpopular method for businesses on Instagram because many interested buyers drop off. This has negative financial consequences.

With Manychat, you can set up chat automations that react to specific trigger words (e.g., “code” or “discount”) and immediately send an appropriate link via Instagram direct message. This significantly increases your Instagram-to-shop conversion rate.

6. Guides and Support

In addition to its wide range of products, Manychat also helps customers build knowledge and get questions answered directly. There are e-books, how-to guides, regular webinars, a blog, and a comprehensive FAQ section.

Direct exchange with other Manychat users is possible through its own community. Especially helpful for knowledge sharing and building your own chat marketing is the YouTube channel, which includes tutorials and explainer videos.

Specialized Offers for Creators, Agencies, and Shop Owners

Since an agency managing client accounts has different needs than an influencer, Manychat has customized its offerings for these three target groups:

• Agencies
• Creators
• Shop Owners

Manychat also helps small clients connect with a certified Manychat agency. In return, there’s an affiliate marketing system that makes referrals especially rewarding.

Costs and Fees: What does Manychat cost?

Manychat’s pricing model is simple and clear. There are three subscription options:

• Free (0 USD): With the free plan, you can use Manychat at no cost. You get access to basic features for Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, and TikTok, and can automate up to 1,000 conversations and segment your contacts into ten groups.
• Pro (from 15 USD/month): Pro subscribers also get access to all WhatsApp, SMS, and email features. All campaigns can be flexibly designed and evaluated using analytics tools. The Manychat branding is removed, you get 24/7 email support, and you can integrate other software tools. Pricing depends on the number of your conversations, ranging from 500 to two million contacts.
• Custom (individual pricing): Large corporations receive a personalized offer with all the features mentioned above. This package includes personal onboarding, strategic advice from a dedicated contact, priority technical support, and access to automation solutions developed by Manychat experts.

Manychat’s subscription plans target all business sizes – from beginner influencers to multi-billion-dollar enterprises looking to take their social media marketing to the next level with chat automation.

The free plan is ideal for newcomers to test the features and look & feel without stress. Via our link you can use Manychat PRO completely free of charge for the first month and test all features at your leisure.

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How does Manychat work? How to send auto-DMs on Instagram

Most of Manychat’s products focus on automating messenger and chat marketing on Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and TikTok. To implement automation, Manychat uses official APIs provided by the platforms.

So how exactly does your Instagram account automatically send a direct message when a user sends a message or leaves a comment? This is based on so-called “if-then” logic. A specific trigger word initiates an action.

In practice, that means:

If an Instagram user sends you a DM with the keyword “discount,” then Manychat automatically sends a pre-written message like, “Thanks for your interest in our product. Here’s your personal discount code. We appreciate you!”

In this case, the trigger word “discount” initiates the automatic communication. You can also use emojis as triggers. Once the trigger is activated, a pre-defined communication (flow) begins. This flow can be directly and individually customized in Manychat. This allows you to automatically reply to any type of message or comment.

Is Manychat a legitimate provider?

To assess whether a chat marketing provider is secure and legitimate, we include several factors in our Manychat test.

Certified Security

To guarantee the security of your data and all processes, Manychat undergoes regular internal and external audits to meet the highest standards. The provider is ISO/IEC 27001 certified, a “Trusted Cloud Provider” with the Cloud Security Alliance, and meets SOC 2 Type II requirements.

Official Meta Partner

For effective communication on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, it’s essential that your messages reach your audience. While Manychat doesn’t publish delivery rate statistics, it is an official, certified Meta Business Partner. That means it complies with all Meta security and data protection requirements and uses official APIs – offering high reliability for customers.

GDPR and CCPA Compliance

Although based in the US, Manychat meets the strict requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This is achieved by storing all customer data in AWS data centers in Frankfurt, Germany, ensuring it doesn’t leave the EU.

Our test results show that Manychat is a secure and reliable provider for chat marketing and professional messenger communication.

Is Manychat GDPR-compliant?

Yes, Manychat is GDPR-compliant. However, as a user, it is essential to customize the tool to fully meet all requirements.

For example, if personally identifiable information like names or addresses is collected through a messenger chat, an opt-in must be obtained beforehand. Depending on how you use the tool, individual adjustments may be necessary.

Manychat Reviews: What customers are saying

To evaluate a messenger marketing tool, we rely on both our own experience with Manychat and the experiences other users and media outlets have reported.

In our test, Manychat impressed us with a fair pricing structure that can be tailored to individual needs and usage volumes. Setting up a personalized, automated chat system across all major social media platforms and messengers is straightforward and leaves little to be desired.

Other customer reviews on independent comparison platforms are also positive. On “Trustpilot,” Manychat scores 3.5 out of 5 stars from 180 reviews. Criticism is mainly directed at the support available in the free plan. The software itself receives high praise. On “Online Marketing Rockstars” (4.8/5 from four reviews) and “Capterra Germany” (4.6/5 from 72 reviews), the ratings are even better.

Overall, customer experiences show that the features are excellent, though the tool is still not widely known in Germany.

Conclusion: Who is Manychat for?

Our Manychat test has shown that it is an excellent messenger marketing software for businesses and self-employed professionals aiming to elevate their chat marketing.

Since you can use and test the tool for free, there are no annoying subscription traps. The open and flexible setup allows you to build customized messenger communication on Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok with no limits.

Our test and independent customer reviews confirm that the chat marketing software offers suitable plans for all business sizes – from influencers to multi-million-dollar companies.

Note: Via our link you can use Manychat PRO completely free of charge for the first month and test all features at your leisure.

Try it for free now

The post Manychat Review: Chat Marketing via Instagram, WhatsApp & Co. appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

Newsletters have long since evolved beyond traditional email marketing. Today, they are the backbone of million-dollar business models, with entire ecosystems built around their subscribers. This is exactly where BeeHiiv comes in. In our detailed BeeHiiv review, we take a close look at the tool’s features – and share our own first-hand experience with it.

Note: We’ve been using BeeHiiv since January 2025 and have sent out well over 1 million emails with it. Our experience is based on real-world usage. If you want to sign up, you can get a 30-day free trial and 20 percent off your first three months with our link. The discount is applied automatically.

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Overview: What is BeeHiiv?

BeeHiiv is a modern newsletter platform designed especially for content creators – including blogs, magazines, media companies and influencers. It was launched in 2021 by former employees of Morning Brew, a leading U.S. newsletter brand. The focus is clear: empowering people to grow an audience and generate revenue from their content.

At its core, BeeHiiv offers a minimalist yet smart interface that works for beginners and newsletter pros alike. Unlike many traditional email marketing tools, BeeHiiv does not focus on funnels or product promotion. Instead, it emphasizes editorial storytelling, community building, organic growth and newsletter monetization.

BeeHiiv Review: Getting Started

Starting with BeeHiiv is easy. After signing up, you can set up your own subdomain or connect an existing domain. In our BeeHiiv review, this process worked smoothly and only took a few minutes.

The onboarding is intuitive and walks you through your first functional newsletter setup in just a few steps:

• Naming and branding your newsletter
• Customizing layout and colors
• Importing existing subscriber lists (depending on size, this may take up to 30 minutes for verification)
• Creating your first posts, landing pages or embedded forms for your website (this is how we do it – don’t forget to subscribe!)

A big advantage: BeeHiiv allows you to publish your newsletter as articles on the web – great for SEO reach. If you don’t already have a blog, you can connect BeeHiiv to your domain so that your posts appear under “yourdomain.com” rather than “yournewsletter.beehiiv.com”.

BeeHiiv Editor Review: Writing Like in Notion

The editor is where you’ll spend most of your time on BeeHiiv. Its interface is reminiscent of tools like Notion or Medium – minimal distractions and a clean writing experience. However, BeeHiiv offers more advanced features than tools like Substack, which struggle with even basic formatting.

Content is built modularly. In addition to text and image blocks, you can use:

• Calls-to-action – for newsletter subscriptions, product sales or paid subscriptions (BeeHiiv supports paid newsletters)
• Dividers, quotes, boxes and lists
• Tables and formatting tools
• Embedded content from other platforms
• Buttons and link boxes

Our Experience with BeeHiiv’s Delivery and Automation

BeeHiiv truly shines in the email delivery process. You can send posts immediately, schedule them or automate entire sequences like onboarding emails or welcome series. With its planning tool, editorial scheduling is easy – even for teams.

A standout feature in our BeeHiiv review was A/B testing. You can test different subject lines or content variations – and this feature is included even in the free plan. It’s a simple way to find the subject lines with the highest open rates.

And when it comes to deliverability, we had zero issues after sending over 1 million emails – very impressive.

Growth and Community: Referral Programs at the Core

BeeHiiv puts strong emphasis on referral-based growth. Readers can become active promoters of your newsletter by inviting others – and earning rewards in return.

Here’s how it works:

• Each reader gets a unique referral link
• You can set up reward tiers based on the number of referrals
• The system is fully automated and easy to configure

You can also pay per subscriber or use BeeHiiv’s own “Grow” platform (which includes boosts and other formats) to increase your list.

Full transparency: We haven’t personally tested all these growth features. However, BeeHiiv was developed by former Morning Brew staff, who used these exact tools to build a multi-million-dollar newsletter brand.

It’s a great solution for viral projects – including niche newsletters, community formats or newsletter-first startups.

Monetization: Earn Directly From Your Newsletter

BeeHiiv sets itself apart with built-in monetization tools. You can charge for premium newsletters, gated content or exclusive access – all through Stripe.

There’s also a built-in ad network. Under the “Earn” section, you can apply for sponsored posts, display ads and more. You might also receive direct ad offers (we get about two invitations per week – though we haven’t accepted any yet).

Payments are processed through BeeHiiv and Stripe. You can cash out to your wallet – or reinvest in your own newsletter growth. This creates a self-sustaining loop of revenue and marketing.

Analytics and Performance Insights

Understanding your newsletter’s success requires strong analytics – and BeeHiiv delivers. You get detailed reports on opens, clicks, growth, conversions and more. Compared to other platforms, the stats are both clean and meaningful. For deeper analysis, Google Analytics integration is available.

You can also set up exit surveys for unsubscribers – a smart way to gather feedback and improve quality based on real responses.

Design and Templates: Minimalist Yet Flexible

BeeHiiv follows a minimalist design philosophy. The templates are functional, modern and fully customizable. Landing pages, referral programs and opt-in forms can be tailored to your brand. Mobile optimization is built in by default – a major plus.

We tested our BeeHiiv newsletters across multiple devices – and the design held up every time. Still, you should always send yourself a preview before publishing (easy to do via BeeHiiv).

Target Audience: Who Is BeeHiiv Built For?

BeeHiiv isn’t for everyone. Based on our BeeHiiv experience, the platform is best suited for:

• Content creators, bloggers, influencers and niche publishers
• Newsletter-first projects with strong growth potential
• Publishers looking to expand to a new channel
• Entrepreneurs focused on communities or subscription models

BeeHiiv is less suitable for large-scale e-commerce setups, traditional marketing funnels or CRM-heavy use cases.

BeeHiiv Review: Pricing and Plans

BeeHiiv offers three different plans with varying features, pricing and audience sizes. Good to know: You can start for free. If you sign up via this link, you get a 30-day free trial plus 20 percent off your first three months.

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Launch: Start for Free

The free plan is perfect for testing BeeHiiv or running a small newsletter. It already includes many key features:

• Up to 2,500 subscribers
• Unlimited emails
• Up to three publications
• Custom newsletter layout and website
• Access to the referral network
• Basic analytics and API access
• Custom domains, segmentation and tags

This plan gives you a solid foundation to build a professional newsletter – with zero cost or commitment.

Scale: For Serious Projects

At 34.40 US dollars per month (when billed annually), the Scale plan unlocks everything needed for growth, automation and monetization. It includes all Launch features, plus:

• Ad network and boost network
• Paid subscriptions
• Email automations
• Referral programs for audience growth
• BeeHiiv AI for content optimization
• 3D analytics, webhooks & Slack community
• Teams with up to three users
• Forms and surveys
• Access to live support

The Scale plan is ideal for ambitious projects and small teams who want to grow and monetize their newsletter actively.

Max: The Full Pro Experience

The Max plan is built for advanced publishers and media brands. Starting at 76.80 US dollars per month (billed annually), it includes all features from “Scale” – and more:

• Up to 100,000 subscribers (custom tiers available)
• Advanced segmentation and dynamic content
• Dedicated onboarding and priority support
• Multiple publications under one account
• Custom API limits and enterprise integrations
• Priority access to new features

For large editorial teams and established newsletter businesses, Max offers the flexibility and scalability required for long-term success. Even enterprise solutions are available upon request.

BeeHiiv Review: Our Final Verdict

BeeHiiv is one of the most exciting newsletter tools on the market – and rightly so. It combines powerful publishing, intuitive UX, and advanced monetization features in a single, focused platform. We’ve tested it extensively and now use it daily for our own newsletter.

If you’re looking for a modern, scalable solution to grow and monetize your newsletter business, this software is an excellent choice. The tool is especially worthwhile for:

• Solo creators and teams with editorial focus
• Newsletter-first brands
• Anyone looking to build community and recurring revenue

Try BeeHiiv Free Now

Note: We use BeeHiiv ourselves and recommend the platform based on real-world experience. If you sign up via this link, you’ll receive a 30-day free trial and 20 percent off your first three months. Thanks for supporting independent content.

The post BeeHiiv Review: Our BeeHiiv Experience After 1 Million Emails appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

Getresponse has been active in email marketing for over 25 years. The offering now also includes e-commerce solutions and content monetization features. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about the email software Getresponse.

What is Getresponse?

Getresponse describes itself as an “all-in-one marketing software.” Originally launched as a service for email marketing, Getresponse now offers a wide range of marketing services. In addition to sending emails, companies and freelancers can also reach their customers via SMS or web push notifications.

Moreover, Getresponse has gradually built an ecosystem around email marketing: It starts with intuitive newsletter tools, includes autoresponders and A/B tests, and extends to creating landing pages, automated campaign communication, and a webinar software. These features can be used to showcase products or run training sessions. We break down these features for you in detail later in the text.

Try Getresponse free for 30 days

Who is behind Getresponse?

Getresponse started in 1997 as a one-man project by Simon Grabowski in a small Polish town with an initial autoresponder. Three years later, the first “intelligent autoresponder” was introduced. In 2007, the first email templates followed, and by 2010 the company, based in Gdańsk, Poland, already employed 100 people.

By 2013, Getresponse had 300,000 customers across all continents. New tools followed continuously, such as signup forms, analytics for perfect timing, a conversion funnel, and a website builder in 2021. Since 2023, AI has also been integrated into Getresponse’s tools.

In 2025, Getresponse has over 350,000 customers using its email marketing solution. These benefit from a delivery rate of 99 percent in over 160 countries worldwide. On paid plans, average list growth in the first month is 100 percent.

What does Getresponse offer?

Getresponse’s offerings have grown significantly over the past three decades. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the most important areas.

1. Lead generation

The first core area of Getresponse is the integrated lead generation software. This tool helps you build a customer list and convert website visitors or customers into newsletter subscribers with ease.

Helpful tools such as the website builder and customizable signup forms assist in the process. Artificial intelligence supports you in many areas.

Creating your newsletter is user-friendly thanks to the drag-and-drop interface. With the conversion funnel generator, you can guide your customer’s journey and optimize communication through automation.

For example, users who abandon their checkout process can automatically be reminded via email to complete their order.

2. Customer retention

Building a customer base is crucial – but retaining customers and converting prospects into buyers is just as essential.

To support this, Getresponse offers tools like SMS reminders, web push notifications, and autoresponders. Automating marketing processes saves businesses valuable time and allows them to use their resources elsewhere.

3. E-commerce solutions

If you run an online shop or sell products online, you likely use shop software. Getresponse can be integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Prestashop, Magento, WooCommerce (WordPress), BigCommerce, and Shoper in just one click.

This gives you the ability to analyze and segment your customer data. With these insights, you can tailor your marketing campaigns more precisely.

The tool helps you design ads (Online Ad Maker), create product recommendations (AI Product Recommendations), and build custom banners and pop-ups (Popup Generator). Shop owners get an all-in-one solution to optimize their store and increase revenue.

4. Content monetization

Bloggers, content creators, and media companies often rely on their content and expertise rather than selling physical products.

Getresponse offers valuable tools for this target group as well. Premium newsletters, paid online courses, or webinars help publishers monetize their content.

As a comprehensive provider, Getresponse eliminates the need to coordinate multiple platforms and service providers. This simplifies internal operations and provides a single point of contact in case of issues – making everyday life easier for publishers and content creators.

5. Knowledge base and support

Getresponse rounds out its extensive offering with a rich knowledge base. In addition to a marketing blog full of useful articles, there are countless free guides (such as a checklist for starting a newsletter), a webinar library, and API documentation for integrating the software with your website.

If you still need help, there is a large support area and a customer service team available 24/7.

Pricing: What does Getresponse cost?

Getresponse pricing is based on the size of your list – that is, the number of newsletter subscribers. The minimum list size is 1,000 users. You can choose from tiers of 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, and 100,000 subscribers. For more than 100,000 subscribers, only the Enterprise plan is available.

So, what plans are available? You can register here for free and try all features for 30 days. This is a great way for companies and content creators to test whether a paid subscription is worth it.

Getresponse offers these four plans on a monthly or yearly basis:

• Starter (from 16 euros per month): Includes features like AI tools, templates for the newsletter editor and landing pages, unlimited autoresponders, and custom automation workflows.
• Marketer (from 54 euros per month): Adds unlimited marketing automation and e-commerce features like abandoned cart recovery, promo codes, a sales funnel, and unlimited web push notifications.
• Creator (from 62 euros per month): Adds content monetization tools such as course editor, paid newsletters, website builder, and webinar features. Also removes all transaction fees.
• Enterprise (custom pricing): For features like a dedicated IP, personal account manager, Single Sign-On (SSO), or SMS marketing, Getresponse offers a custom-tailored Enterprise package.

By the way: Choosing the annual plan saves you 18 percent. The monthly plan, on the other hand, gives you maximum flexibility.

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Is Getresponse a trustworthy provider?

To determine whether Getresponse is safe and reliable, we need to consider several factors commonly used to evaluate service providers.

GDPR compliant

Complying with legal regulations is especially important in email marketing. For German businesses and content creators, it is crucial that tools comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Getresponse is GDPR-compliant and helps you set up all processes accordingly.

Very high delivery rate

Email marketing only works if your emails actually reach the recipients. Getresponse boasts a delivery rate of 99 percent in over 160 countries. You can be confident that your messages will get through. Every day, Getresponse delivers over 109 million emails worldwide.

24/7 support

If questions or problems arise, fast support is key. Getresponse offers exactly that. According to the company, you’ll get a response in the live chat – available around the clock – within 60 seconds.

Live chat support is offered in English and Polish. Email support is available 24/7 in Polish, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian. As a customer, you’ll get fast and reliable help.

Flexible subscription plans

Long-term contracts with limited flexibility are often a red flag. Not so with Getresponse: Monthly cancelable plans offer full flexibility. If you opt for a yearly subscription, you get a discount in return.

In conclusion, Getresponse is a safe and reliable provider for your email marketing – backed by numerous awards for its tools and customer service.

Is Getresponse GDPR compliant?

For companies engaging in email or SMS communication with customers, GDPR compliance is crucial. That’s not a problem with Getresponse: All services can be used in full compliance with GDPR.

To support GDPR-compliant email setup, the company has even created a dedicated help page with instructions.

Getresponse reviews: What do customers say?

To evaluate a newsletter tool, we rely first on our own experience and then look at what other customers and media have to say.

In our test, Getresponse impresses with a comprehensive product portfolio that leaves nothing to be desired. With over 25 years of experience, Getresponse is a reliable email marketing provider that knows the industry inside and out. Especially for beginners, the tiered pricing and subscription models are fair – offering good value even for smaller businesses and creators.

Independent review platforms also rate Getresponse highly. On Trustpilot, the platform has 4.0 out of 5.0 stars based on over 750 reviews. In the Online Marketing Rockstars comparison (4.4 out of 5.0 based on 234 reviews) and on Capterra (4.2 out of 5.0 based on 514 reviews), the tool also scores top marks.

Conclusion: Who is Getresponse for?

With Getresponse, you get a powerful and flexible email marketing tool starting at just 16 euros per month. You can create newsletters with ease, benefit from AI support, and expand the features to suit your needs.

From small creators building a new distribution channel to large online shops with tens of thousands of customers – Getresponse appeals to all kinds of users. If you’d like to try Getresponse, you can register here and use all features free for 30 days.

Try Getresponse for free

The post Getresponse Review: All Your Questions About the Email Software Answered appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

With over 500,000 customers, Brevo is one of the leading providers of email marketing and newsletter software. In our guide, we explain everything you need to know about Brevo – from features to pricing models.

Note: We have tested Brevo and Newsletter2Go (which has since merged into Brevo) for nearly 10 years and used them for various projects. Our review is based on firsthand experience with over four million emails sent through the platform. If you want to sign up for Brevo, you can do so here for free.

What is Brevo?

Brevo is an all-in-one platform for digital marketing and customer relationship management (CRM). It allows businesses and freelancers to manage their communication and sales strategies from one central location.

The main focus is on marketing tools for direct communication with customers, subscribers, and prospects. These include integrated tools for email marketing as well as SMS and WhatsApp campaigns.

Its second core area – the sales platform – helps optimize communication specifically for selling products. This is particularly useful for online shop owners. You can set up pipelines, schedule meetings, and manage all customer data clearly and efficiently.

We’ll explain all the features and tools in more detail later on.

Try Brevo for free

Who is behind Brevo?

Brevo was founded in 2012 by French entrepreneur Armand Thiberge in Paris under the name Sendinblue. His goal was to build an intuitive customer relationship management solution. In 2018, Brevo integrated the German newsletter provider Newsletter2Go and expanded operations from Berlin.

Today, 500,000 companies in 180 countries use the email marketing software – including market leaders like Ebay, Doctolib, and Louis Vuitton. Brevo employs over 850 people worldwide. In 2023, the company surpassed the milestone of 100 million US dollars in revenue for the first time.

In our test, Brevo impresses with a deliverability rate of over 99 percent and integration with 75 external partners.

What does Brevo offer?

Since its founding, Brevo’s product portfolio has grown significantly. Here are the most important areas and features.

1. Marketing Platform

Brevo’s first and core offering is the so-called Marketing Platform. This includes all tools for push communication with your customers, subscribers, and leads – such as:

• Email
• SMS
• WhatsApp
• Landing pages
• Mobile wallets
• Push notifications for websites and apps

A drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily design newsletters using over 50 free templates. Campaigns can be automated in various ways – all in compliance with GDPR. Artificial intelligence (AI) has also been integrated into the Marketing Platform.

For direct customer communication – such as product questions – Brevo also offers live chat, a chatbot, and scheduling tools for online meetings and calls. (These are officially part of the Conversations Platform.)

2. Sales Platform

Brevo’s second core area is the Sales Platform. It’s designed to support sales professionals and shop owners in selling their products more effectively.

You can build sales pipelines, automate sales emails, manage a shared inbox, generate reports, and use built-in tools for calls and meeting scheduling.

The Loyalty Platform adds further value by enabling the creation of loyalty programs – strengthening customer retention, increasing purchase frequency, and boosting average cart value.

3. Customer Data Platform and Integrations

Brevo also continues to expand its range of technical services. You can import databases or create status reports. There’s a multi-table data model and multiple APIs for integrating external providers.

According to Brevo, over 75 software partners can be connected to the platform, making it easy for businesses to manage all digital activities in one place.

4. Help and Support

If you have questions or run into issues, Brevo offers a comprehensive knowledge base. You’ll find a blog, events, e-books, webinars, and a community for exchanging ideas with other users.

If that’s not enough, there’s the Brevo Bot as a first-level support tool. A detailed FAQ also helps solve common problems.

Depending on your subscription model, customer support is available via contact form, email, phone, or even through a dedicated account manager.

Pricing: How much does Brevo cost?

Brevo allows businesses to test its platform in a limited way for free. The free Brevo trial includes a daily limit of 300 emails, customizable email templates, the drag-and-drop editor, and access to WhatsApp and SMS campaigns.

The Starter Plan (from €6.33 per month) and the Business Plan (from €13.50 per month) let you tailor the service to your needs. Both start with 5,000 emails per month and are scalable.

• The Starter plan removes the daily sending limit, the Brevo logo, includes 24/7 email support, and basic reporting.
• The Business plan adds A/B testing, multiple users, send-time optimization using AI, automation, and phone support.

For personalized onboarding, premium support, and enterprise-level security, there’s a custom Enterprise plan with exclusive features and advanced integrations.

By the way: Annual billing saves you 10 percent compared to monthly billing. Monthly plans offer greater flexibility.

Try Brevo for free

Is Brevo a trustworthy provider?

To determine if a newsletter provider is secure and reliable, we evaluated several factors in our Brevo test.

GDPR-compliant

Businesses that contact customers via email, SMS, or WhatsApp must comply with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Brevo meets all GDPR requirements and offers customizable forms, consent tools, and data request management. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.

Very high deliverability

Effective communication depends on emails actually reaching the inbox. Brevo scores highly with a 99 percent deliverability rate.

This is achieved through sender reputation control, dedicated IPs for high-volume senders, and automatic hard bounce exclusion.

Certified security

Brevo prioritizes data protection and IT security. All servers are located in the European Union, ensuring that your customers’ data never leaves the EU.

Data is encrypted and external audits are conducted regularly. Brevo is ISO 27001:2013 certified, confirming its commitment to security.

Our test results show Brevo is a safe and reliable email marketing provider – supported by multiple awards for its software and as an employer.

Is Brevo GDPR-compliant?

Yes, Brevo’s products are GDPR-compliant. In a dedicated help section, the company explains in detail:

1. how it ensures GDPR compliance and where customer data is stored,
2. how to collect user consent legally and which rules apply to signup forms,
3. how to set up a proper data processing agreement (DPA).

Brevo reviews: What do customers say?

To evaluate a newsletter tool, we rely on our own experience with Brevo and look at feedback from other customers and media outlets.

In our test, Brevo impressed us with fair pricing and flexible features for email, SMS, WhatsApp, and push notification campaigns.

Reviews on independent platforms are also very positive. On Trustpilot, Brevo scores 4.4 out of 5 stars based on over 6,000 ratings. On Capterra (4.6 out of 5 from nearly 3,000 reviews) and EmailTooltester (4.5 out of 5), it performs very well too.

Conclusion: Who should use Brevo?

Brevo lets you start a newsletter project for free and scale it based on your needs using flexible plans – with no subscription traps. Thanks to templates, an intuitive interface, and AI integration, no technical or design skills are needed to create effective newsletters and marketing campaigns.

Our Brevo test and independent user reviews confirm: this newsletter software offers the right plan for all business sizes – from startups to multimillion-dollar companies.

Try Brevo for free

The post Brevo Review: Our Experience After Sending Over 4 Million Emails appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

More salary through the use of AI? That is definitely possible. According to a study, your salary can be up to 25 percent higher on average for many AI-related jobs.

The changes in the labor market due to advances in artificial intelligence are not yet foreseeable in the long term. Many studies and surveys repeatedly state that AI will either cost masses of jobs or create numerous new ones.

However, the consulting firm PwC has now looked at a completely different aspect in a new study. It looked at the extent to which salaries are already changing as a result of the use of AI.

More salary through the use of AI?

For the study, PwC analyzed more than 500 million job advertisements from 15 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. These included job advertisements for accountants, lawyers and app programmers.

The difference in salary for AI-related jobs was astonishing. In the USA, for example, this averaged 25 percent.

According to the study, jobs that require skills in the field of AI are paid up to 25 percent more than comparable jobs in the same field. In the UK, the figure was 14 percent, in Canada eleven percent.

“Countries and sectors where there is a high demand for AI skills tend to have higher pay premiums, particularly where there is a shortage of skilled professionals,” explains Mehdi Sahneh, Senior Economist at PwC UK.

A sales manager in the US whose job requires AI skills can expect a 43 percent higher salary. Accountants in Canada receive a 17 percent higher salary if the job advertisement includes AI. Lawyers in the UK can expect a 27 percent increase if they are familiar with AI.

More and more jobs require AI skills

Jobs that use artificial intelligence are no longer a rarity. According to the PwC report, the number of these jobs in the countries surveyed grew 3.5 times faster than the total number of jobs between 2012 and 2023.

Employees literally have to keep at it. According to PwC chief economist Barret Kupelian, “the skills required by employers in occupations affected by AI are changing around 25 percent faster”.

As AI continues to take off, this trend is likely to intensify, creating new professions and simultaneously reducing demand for some skills that can be performed more efficiently with AI.

This is not just a clear plus for employees. Labor productivity is also increasing in industries where AI is used to perform certain tasks. According to the report, growth here is 4.8 times faster than in other sectors.

AI could close important gaps in the labor markets, as PwC economist Mehdi Sahneh explains further. “AI could be the missing piece in the UK’s productivity puzzle and give the economy, wages and living standards a boost.”

The post AI can give you up to 25 percent more salary – says study appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

Apple has released an emergency update for the iPhone with iOS 17.5.1. The reason: The previous version iOS 17.5 contains a bug that causes previously deleted photos with corrupted data to reappear in the “Photos” media library.

Apple recently released iOS 17.5, a comprehensive feature update for the iPhone. The problem: A bug had crept into the new version that caused photos with corrupted data to reappear in the “Photos” media library even though they had already been deleted.

iOS 17.5.1 : “important bug fixes”

With iOS 17.5.1, Apple has therefore released a kind of emergency update. According to the iPhone company, it contains “important bug fixes”. The reason for this is again a “corrupted database”, which leads to a “rare problem”.

However, the company has so far remained tight-lipped about the details. It is not yet clear whether the new update fixes the actual error or merely ensures that photos that have already been deleted no longer appear in the media library.

It is also questionable how the data protection glitch will affect older iOS versions. Meanwhile, photo synchronization via iCloud does not appear to be the cause of the problem. This is because both users with iCloud photos and users who store their photos locally on the iPhone are reporting the error.

Install iPhone update

iOS 17.5.1 has been available for free download since May 21, 2024. Apple traditionally recommends prompt installation. The iPhone update is available for all models from the iPhone XS upwards. The version can be downloaded via the device settings under “General” and “Software update“.

With iPadOS 17.5.1, Apple has also presented a new update for the iPad. The new software is available for all devices from the second-generation iPad Pro (12.9-inch), the third-generation iPad Pro (10.5-inch), the first-generation iPad Pro (11-inch) and the third-generation iPad Air. This also applies to the normal sixth-generation iPad and the fifth-generation iPad Mini.

The post iOS 17.5.1: Apple releases emergency update – due to data protection glitch appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

Current research suggests that hydropower plants emit tons of methane into our atmosphere every year. However, some start-ups have a solution to the problem.

As part of the energy transition, the use of hydroelectric power plants has become established alongside solar and wind power. However, hydroelectric dams, which we need for hydropower generation, have also proven to be a source of methane emissions.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Dams release the gas when water flows through the turbines. The methane escapes from dissolved organic material that decomposes at the bottom of reservoirs.

Some start-ups such as Bluemethane are currently developing technologies to capture this methane and use it as an energy source. This could reduce methane emissions and at the same time provide a new source of energy. This is because methane from water reservoirs can be used as biogas to generate electricity or converted into “green” natural gas.

Hydropower plants release methane

The process of methane release begins as soon as microbes decompose the organic material on the ground in the absence of oxygen. This produces methane, which dissolves in the water. When the water flows through the turbines of the dams, it is heavily mixed.

The gas then escapes into the atmosphere due to the forces at work. These methane emissions contribute to climate change, as methane is responsible for around 30 percent of global warming since the industrial revolution.

Bluemethane is therefore currently working on a technology that captures methane bubbles before they reach the surface of the water. According to the company, the system can be integrated into existing infrastructures such as sewage treatment plants and dams.

The technology uses gravity to keep energy consumption to a minimum. One example is the KivuWatt project on Lake Kivu. This is a deep lake on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methane from reservoirs could become a valuable source of energy

The lake contains large quantities of methane, which is released by geological activity below the surface. The region is now using this methane to generate energy and, consequently, electricity. The commercialization of the technologies could be particularly beneficial in countries with high hydropower use.

At the same time, Bluemethane is working on measuring methane in 20 hydropower reservoirs worldwide to identify the best locations for using the system.

The capture and use of methane from hydropower plants thus offers a double opportunity. On the one hand, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of a new, renewable energy source. The technologies could thus make an important contribution to combating climate change and at the same time bring economic benefits.

The post Hydropower plants cause massive methane emissions – but there is a solution appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

The chatbot ChatGPT is entering the next round. The company OpenAI has now presented the latest version, GPT-4o. It can now even interact with its users in real time using a human voice.

The introduction of ChatGPT has created a real boom in the field of artificial intelligence. The chatbot from OpenAI has now been given a new version, GPT-4o.

This can “process audio, image and text information in real time”, according to the company’s website. This also means that ChatGPT can now have real conversations with people.

GPT-4o is the new version of ChatGPT

With the new version GPT-4o (“o” stands for “omni”), OpenAI wants to make the interaction between humans and computers “much more natural”. Users can now add any combination of text, audio files, images and videos to the input. GPT-4o can also combine text, audio and images as required for the output.

The new ChatGPT version is particularly fast. A response to an audio input takes just 232 milliseconds. According to OpenAI, this corresponds to the human reaction time and thus enables actual conversations between humans and machines.

Previous versions of ChatGPT required significantly more time. The average latency time for conversations with GPT-3.5 was 2.8 seconds and 5.4 seconds with GPT-4.

In sample videos, OpenAI shows the possible applications for the new version of ChatGPT. Here, for example, a math problem is solved. However, GPT-4o does not simply give the solution, but provides advice on the possible calculation path.

The input works via smartphone camera, which can be used to transmit the task to ChatGPT. Questions about the calculation method are then asked verbally and ChatGPT also answers them.

New version to remain free of charge

The announcement that GPT-4o will also be available to non-paying users may come as a surprise to many. Until now, OpenAI had only made many additional functions available for the paid subscription.

This does not apply to GPT-4o. However, Plus users receive a message limit that is up to five times higher for the new version of ChatGPT.

GPT-4o is also available for developers in the API as a text and image model. According to OpenAI, GPT-4o is twice as fast, half as expensive and has five times higher rate limits than GPT-4 Turbo.

The post GPT-4o: All information about the new ChatGPT version of OpenAI appeared first on BASIC thinking International.

The production of batteries for electric cars does not necessarily contribute to the climate-friendly balance of the vehicles. However, the ecological footprint of e-car batteries could improve significantly if they were produced in Europe.

The number of electric cars registered in Germany passed the million mark for the first time at the end of 2022. As of January 2024, there are now around 1.4 million electrically powered vehicles registered in Germany.

This figure is set to increase significantly by 2030. According to the German government’s plans, there should be a total of 15 million fully electric vehicles on German roads by then.

In order to actually achieve this goal, the production of batteries for electric cars must also be boosted. However, production at European locations is not yet able to keep up with this volume.

Batteries for e-cars from the EU

The number of lithium-ion batteries expected to be needed by 2030 still differs significantly from the number that Europe will be able to produce itself by then. According to an analysis by the non-profit organization Transport & Environment Germany, Europe can currently only cover 47 percent – and therefore not even half – of the demand.

The proportion has increased – a year ago it was only a third. But T&E Germany still sees a need for action here. “Batteries and the raw materials needed to produce them are the new oil. In order to fully exploit the benefits for the climate and the industry, European heads of state and government must act together and with a clear focus,” explains Managing Director Sebastian Bock.

Strict sustainability standards are particularly important to drive forward production in Europe. This could also significantly improve the CO2 footprint for batteries, for example.

Less CO2 emissions from battery production

If the EU were to import its non-self-produced requirements for batteries for e-cars from China, for example, this would have a significant impact on the CO2 footprint of the batteries. As T&E has calculated, production in Europe could reduce the emissions generated during the manufacture of a battery by 37 percent.

The difference is even more significant if renewable energies are used in the manufacturing process. This is because the savings potential is then even more than 60 percent.

According to this, production in Europe that covers the demand for batteries for electric cars by 2030 would save an estimated 133 million tons of CO2. That would be equivalent to the Czech Republic’s annual emissions.

EU must present strict standards for the production of batteries for electric cars

T&E is a non-profit organization that says it is focused on the decarbonization of transport in Europe by 2050. It is calling for clearer guidelines at EU level. The EU must introduce “more ambitious regulations for electric vehicles”.

T&E includes strict sustainability standards for batteries so that production within Europe can prevail. But better financing instruments are also crucial here.

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