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Constant Contact
Constant Contact
from Wikipedia

Constant Contact, Inc. is an online marketing company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; Loveland, Colorado; Gainesville, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Brisbane, Australia; Waterloo, Canada; and, London, England.

Key Information

The company was founded in 1995 by Randy Parker[4] and was later sold to Endurance International in 2015. As of 2021 it had been acquired by ClearLake Investments.[5]

History

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The company was founded as Roving Software in 1995, taking its present name in 2004.[6]

In May 2008, Constant Contact's first acquisition was e2M Systems, an Event Management System for workshops, seminars and conferences of all sizes.

In May 2010, Constant Contact acquired NutshellMail,[7] a free tool that lets users monitor their social media accounts from their email. As reported by Mashable.com,[8] Constant Contact recently released other social media features, such as Social Stats, which lets users see how often their emails or events have been shared on social media platforms.[citation needed]

On February 16, 2011, Constant Contact acquired social CRM start-up Bantam Live.[9]

In 2012, Constant Contact acquired two companies. On January 19, they announced the acquisition of CardStar, a mobile loyalty application.[10] On June 13, they also acquired digital storefront provider SinglePlatform for approximately $65 million.[11]

In April 2014, Constant Contact announced the launch of Toolkit, an all-in-one online marketing platform that integrates multi-channel marketing options - including email, social, mobile, and Web – to drive customer campaigns of all types. The toolkit offers 15 different campaign types along with real-time reporting metrics.[12] 2014 also saw the launch of Constant Contact's Small Business Innovation Program, an accelerator designed to help entrepreneurs and startups create products and services for small businesses. The program is hosted in the company's 30,000 square foot InnoLoft office space, located in the Waltham, MA headquarters.[13]

In November 2015, Constant Contact was acquired for $1.1 billion by Endurance International.[14]

In February 2021, Clearlake Capital (who acquired Endurance International) announced an investment of $400 million as a joint venture with Siris Capital, and the spin-out of Constant Contact as a standalone business[15]

In August 2021, Constant Contact acquired the marketing automation and CRM system SharpSpring.[16]

In June 2025, Constant Contact acquired Moosend, an email marketing and automation platform based in Athens, Greece, from Sitecore. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Moosend continues to operate its platform and also powers Sitecore’s Send solution for existing and new customers.[17]

Constant Contact's marketing is supported by a network of marketing agencies that offer marketing tools to their clients. Some of the agencies become Certified Solution Providers of Constant Contact, which is a designation that indicates the agency's skill at using Constant Contact and email marketing in general. Among the largest Solution Providers is Solutions for Growth, founded by David Fischer.[citation needed]

Services

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Self-promotion

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In 2007, the company was criticized by blogger Darren Barefoot on the grounds that its current and former employees responded deceptively to negative reviews of its products, services, and business practices. They posted positive comments about the company while concealing their affiliation with Constant Contact.[18][19]

The company spokesperson Kevin Mullins reportedly acknowledged that Constant Contact employees had posted the comments on Barefoot's site, but said "They acted outside our corporate policy. They were disciplined, absolutely. And obviously, we educated them about the proper way to blog and to fully disclose who you are. We believe in being honest and up front about who you are."[20]

References

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from Grokipedia
Constant Contact, Inc. is an American digital marketing company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, that provides email marketing, SMS marketing, event management, and social media tools designed primarily for small businesses and nonprofits. Founded in 1995 as Roving Software Incorporated by Randy Parker, the company initially focused on email marketing solutions to help small businesses compete with larger enterprises. Over the years, Constant Contact expanded its offerings to include a comprehensive suite of digital marketing features, such as contact management, automation, surveys, and e-commerce integrations, serving millions of users worldwide. In 2016, it was acquired by Endurance International Group for $1.1 billion, integrating it into a broader portfolio of web services. Following Clearlake Capital's acquisition of Endurance in 2021, Constant Contact was re-established as a standalone company backed by Clearlake, enabling focused growth in the marketing technology sector. As of 2025, the company continues to innovate with strategic investments and acquisitions, such as the purchase of Moosend to enhance its email automation capabilities, while maintaining offices in multiple countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

History

Founding and early development

Constant Contact traces its origins to 1995, when entrepreneur Randy Parker founded Roving Software Incorporated in an attic in . The initial venture aimed to create software solutions that would enable small businesses to access sophisticated marketing capabilities otherwise reserved for larger enterprises. In its early years, Roving Software concentrated on product development in the emerging field of digital communications. The company launched its inaugural email marketing tool in 2000, targeting small businesses and nonprofits to help them build and maintain customer relationships through affordable, user-friendly email campaigns that rivaled those of corporate giants. This focus addressed a key market gap, emphasizing ease of use and integration for non-technical users. By 2004, as the company's offerings expanded beyond core email functions into broader online marketing services, it underwent a significant from Roving Software to Constant Contact to more accurately reflect its mission and product evolution. Concurrently, the firm established its headquarters in , and opened its first dedicated offices, solidifying its operational base in the region.

Pre-acquisition growth and IPO

Constant Contact went public on October 2, 2007, through an (IPO) on the exchange under the CTCT, raising approximately $107 million to fund further scaling of its operations and product development. The IPO valued the company at around $500 million and marked a significant milestone following its from Roving Software, enabling expanded marketing efforts and infrastructure investments targeted at small businesses. The company experienced substantial revenue growth in the years following its IPO, increasing from $14.7 million in 2005 to $331.7 million by 2014, primarily driven by expansion of its subscriber base among small businesses and nonprofits seeking affordable solutions. This growth reflected the rising adoption of tools, with the company reporting consistent year-over-year increases, such as 16% revenue growth in 2014 alone, supported by enhancements in and . By 2014, Constant Contact served over 600,000 customers, emphasizing its focus on empowering small organizations with easy-to-use platforms for online . To bolster its offerings, Constant Contact pursued strategic acquisitions between 2008 and 2012. In May 2008, it acquired e2M Systems, an software provider that enhanced capabilities for handling workshops and seminars within campaigns. In May 2010, the company bought NutshellMail, a monitoring tool that allowed users to aggregate updates from platforms like and directly in their inboxes. This was followed by the February 2011 acquisition of Bantam Live for $15 million, adding social (CRM) features to unify interactions across and social channels. In January 2012, Constant Contact acquired CardStar, a mobile loyalty card platform that enabled digital storage of customer rewards and punch cards to support in-store marketing. Later that year, in June 2012, it purchased SinglePlatform for $65 million in cash plus potential earnouts up to $100 million total, integrating online menu management and business listing tools to help local businesses improve their digital presence. In 2014, Constant Contact launched Toolkit, an integrated online marketing platform that combined email, social media, and event tools into a single interface supporting 15 campaign types for streamlined multi-channel strategies. The same year, the company introduced the Small Business Innovation Program, a mentorship and resource initiative providing selected startups with funding, office space, and access to marketing expertise to accelerate their growth and product launches.

Ownership under Endurance International Group

In 2015, Endurance International Group (EIG) acquired Constant Contact for $1.1 billion in cash, paying $32 per share for all outstanding common stock, which represented a premium over the prior closing price. The deal, announced on November 2, 2015, and completed on February 9, 2016, resulted in Constant Contact being delisted from NASDAQ and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of EIG. This acquisition integrated Constant Contact's email marketing expertise with EIG's established portfolio of web hosting and domain registration services, such as those offered by Bluehost and Domain.com, enabling cross-selling opportunities for small business customers. Following the acquisition, Constant Contact was incorporated into EIG's broader ecosystem, sharing resources to enhance service offerings for small and medium-sized businesses, including bundled web presence solutions with email marketing tools. However, the integration faced operational challenges, including the layoff of approximately 15% of Constant Contact's staff in early 2016 due to functional overlaps between the two companies, which slowed the pace of product innovation and adaptation during the transition period. Despite these hurdles, the company expanded its office network under EIG ownership, establishing domestic sites in Loveland, Colorado; Gainesville, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Waterloo, Ontario. At the time of acquisition in 2016, Constant Contact had approximately 650,000 customers. Under EIG, the company continued to focus on serving small businesses and nonprofit segments through integrated marketing services. This period emphasized leveraging EIG's infrastructure for global reach, though reported integration issues occasionally constrained rapid innovation in response to market demands. Prior to the acquisition, Constant Contact had pursued growth through acquisitions like SinglePlatform in 2012 to bolster its digital marketing capabilities.

Re-establishment as independent entity

In 2021, affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group and Siris Capital acquired Endurance International Group, which led to the spin-out of Constant Contact as a standalone private company backed by a $400 million growth equity investment. This re-establishment allowed Constant Contact to operate independently, focusing on its core digital marketing offerings for small businesses. Following independence, Constant Contact expanded internationally, acquiring Vision6 in April 2022 to establish a presence in Brisbane, Australia, and opening a London office in October 2024. Shortly after its , Constant Contact acquired SharpSpring, Inc., a platform, in September 2021 for approximately $240 million to enhance its capabilities. The deal, announced in June 2021, integrated SharpSpring's tools into Constant Contact's ecosystem, supporting broader automation features for its users. In June 2025, Constant Contact further expanded through the acquisition of Moosend, an Athens-based email marketing and automation platform, from Sitecore. This move added advanced automation functionalities and bolstered Constant Contact's presence in Europe. Later that year, on October 7, 2025, Constant Contact secured a new strategic investment from Clearlake Icon Partners VI, a Clearlake-managed fund, to accelerate growth initiatives including acquisitions and product expansion. The investment emphasized developments in AI-driven marketing tools to improve customer experiences and scalability. By 2025, Constant Contact's employee count had grown to approximately 1,100, reflecting its expanding operations.

Products and services

Email marketing platform

Constant Contact's email marketing platform serves as the core offering for small businesses and nonprofits, enabling users to create, send, and track email campaigns through an intuitive interface. Launched as a comprehensive solution for digital outreach, it emphasizes ease of use and deliverability to help users engage audiences effectively without requiring technical expertise. The platform features a drag-and-drop email builder that allows users to design campaigns quickly by selecting and customizing elements such as text, images, and buttons. It includes hundreds of pre-designed, mobile-responsive templates tailored for newsletters, promotional offers, and automated sequences, ensuring compatibility across devices and inboxes. These templates support branding customization, including logos and color schemes, to maintain consistency across communications. List management tools facilitate the organization and growth of email contacts, with features for importing, updating, and segmenting based on criteria like engagement history, , or purchase —available in higher-tier plans. Users can create customizable sign-up forms, including pop-ups and embedded options, to capture leads directly from websites or social channels while adhering to standards. The platform ensures compliance with regulations such as CAN-SPAM and GDPR through built-in unsubscribe mechanisms, like the SafeUnsubscribe® link, and data protection protocols to minimize spam risks and legal issues. Real-time provide detailed insights into campaign performance, tracking metrics including open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and unsubscribes to measure engagement. capabilities allow experimentation with subject lines and content variations, automatically sending the higher-performing version to the remaining audience to optimize results. ROI tracking integrates conversion data to calculate returns, helping users assess the financial impact of campaigns by linking clicks to sales or goals. Pricing is structured in tiers based on monthly contact volume and email sends, with overage fees for exceeding limits. The Lite plan starts at $12 per month (for up to 500 contacts), offering basic sending and one automation template. The Standard plan starts at $35 per month (for up to 500 contacts), adds up to three automation paths and segmentation. The Premium plan starts at $80 per month (for up to 500 contacts), includes advanced reporting, dynamic content, and unlimited users for more complex needs. Prices increase for larger contact volumes (e.g., Standard plan is $75/month for 1,001–2,500 contacts).

Social media and event tools

Constant Contact provides integrated social media management tools that enable users to create, schedule, and publish posts across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. These features allow for seamless content creation in a few clicks, with options to turn email campaigns into social posts and schedule them in advance using a built-in planning interface that functions as a content calendar. Performance metrics, such as engagement rates and reach, are tracked through real-time reporting dashboards available in all pricing plans, helping users measure the impact of their social efforts. The platform's event management capabilities support both in-person and virtual events, such as webinars, by facilitating online registration and RSVP tracking. Users can create customizable registration forms, sell tickets via integrations with payment processors like Stripe or , and manage guest lists through automated email confirmations and reminders. Promotional tools include the generation of event-specific landing pages and posts to drive attendance, with all activities centralized in one interface for easy oversight. A key component is the Multi-Channel Toolkit, launched in April 2014, which offers 15 campaign types that combine ads with other promotional elements for unified tracking across channels. This toolkit has been updated over the years, with enhancements through 2025 including improved multi-channel campaign management for activities like social posts and event promotions. It enables users to monitor overall performance metrics in a single view, ensuring cohesive strategies without switching between tools. Support for mobile access is provided through the Constant Contact app, available on iOS and Android, which allows on-the-go social media posting and basic event monitoring, such as viewing registrations and tracking post performance. Email integration briefly enhances event promotions by embedding registration links directly into invitations sent to contacts.

CRM and automation features

Constant Contact offers CRM through its Lead Gen & CRM product, a separate subscription that provides a centralized contact database designed to store and manage customer information, enabling users to organize contacts through tagging for easy categorization and segmentation. The system incorporates lead scoring, which assigns points to leads based on their provided details, behaviors, and alignment with target criteria, helping prioritize high-potential prospects for sales follow-up. Behavioral tracking monitors interactions such as email opens, clicks, and website visits to inform personalized nurturing strategies and improve conversion rates. The platform's automation workflows leverage if/then logic to create conditional paths in visual builders, allowing for tailored sequences like drip campaigns that deliver timed series of emails to nurture leads over time. series automate introductory messages upon list sign-ups, fostering initial engagement, while abandoned cart recoveries trigger reminders—such as emails sent six hours after cart abandonment—to recapture potential sales, particularly for users. These workflows integrate directly with the CRM to update contact records based on responses and actions. The 2025 acquisition of Moosend enhanced these capabilities by introducing advanced options, such as dynamic content based on user data, to boost relevance and loyalty. It also added for automation paths to optimize performance through comparative analysis and expanded integrations, including seamless syncing with platforms like for automated order-based triggers. Reporting dashboards offer cross-tool insights into performance, including subscriber growth metrics, unsubscribe rates, and engagement levels categorized as most engaged, somewhat engaged, least engaged, or everyone else, providing engagement scores to guide strategy refinements. Social event data, such as RSVPs from integrated tools, feeds into the CRM to enrich behavioral profiles.

Corporate affairs

Ownership and investments

Constant Contact operated as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol CTCT from its initial public offering in October 2007 until its acquisition in 2016. During this period, the company established itself as a key player in email marketing, with shares reflecting steady growth in the small business sector. In November 2015, Endurance International Group announced the acquisition of Constant Contact for approximately $1.1 billion in cash, which was completed in February 2016, taking it private and integrating it as a subsidiary within Endurance's portfolio of web services. This transition marked the end of its public status, with Constant Contact operating under Endurance's ownership until 2021, during which it contributed to the parent's broader digital marketing offerings. In February 2021, affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group and Siris Capital Group acquired Endurance International Group and facilitated the spin-out of Constant Contact as an independent private entity, backed by a $400 million investment to support its operations and growth initiatives. In February 2024, Siris Capital Group sold its 50% ownership stake, solidifying Clearlake Capital's primary ownership. This re-establishment allowed Constant Contact to focus on its core email and digital marketing tools outside of Endurance's structure. In October 2025, provided an additional strategic investment of an undisclosed amount to Constant Contact, aimed at accelerating , market expansion, and overall growth in the marketing technology sector. In June 2025, Constant Contact acquired Moosend to bolster its capabilities. As of November 2025, Constant Contact remains privately held, with no publicly traded shares, under the primary ownership of and its affiliates.

Financial performance

Constant Contact achieved its peak public financial performance in 2014, recording annual revenue of $331.7 million, a 14.7% increase from $289.1 million in 2013. That year, the company reported a net income of $14.3 million and employed 1,235 people. Following its acquisition by Endurance International Group in 2016 and subsequent spin-out as an independent entity backed by Clearlake Capital in 2021, Constant Contact's financial metrics shifted to private reporting, enabling a financial reset amid streamlined operations. By 2025, the company's estimated annual revenue reached $124.3 million, reflecting post-spin-out efficiencies and moderated growth compared to its public era peak. Key growth drivers included expansion of the subscriber base to nearly 500,000 customers worldwide as of October 2025. This underscores the company's focus on recurring subscription revenue from small and medium-sized businesses. In 2025, strategic investments, including a new strategic investment from Clearlake Capital through its vehicle Clearlake Icon Partners VI, bolstered Constant Contact's capacity for scaling operations and product enhancements, contributing to accelerated topline growth from roughly 2% at the time of the 2021 spin-out to approximately 7% by late 2025.

Leadership and operations

Constant Contact's leadership has emphasized expertise in marketing and product innovation since 2021, when Frank Vella was appointed CEO to guide the company's growth as an independent digital marketing platform. Vella, a software industry veteran, has overseen strategic expansions, including the integration of SharpSpring's CRM capabilities following its 2021 acquisition, which enhanced the product suite for small businesses. In 2023, Russ Morton joined as Chief Product Officer, bringing experience in developing customer-centric marketing tools to drive platform enhancements. More recently, in July 2025, Smita Wadhawan was named Chief Marketing Officer, leveraging her 15 years of experience in small and medium-sized business (SMB) marketing to strengthen customer acquisition and brand strategies. The company operates on a global scale with approximately 1,100 employees distributed across seven offices, localized support for its international base. Headquartered in , Constant Contact maintains additional U.S. locations in Boston, Massachusetts; ; and , alongside international offices in Brisbane, Australia; , Canada; and London, United Kingdom. This distributed supports efficient operations and rapid response to SMB needs worldwide. To aid small businesses in leveraging its tools effectively, Constant Contact employs a dedicated team that provides customized campaign setup, design assistance, and training programs. These services focus on simplifying for non-experts, including email template creation, automation configuration, and performance optimization, helping users achieve measurable results without in-house expertise. Constant Contact fosters operational sustainability through flexible remote and hybrid work policies, allowing employees to balance office collaboration with home-based productivity across its global footprint. The company also prioritizes diversity and inclusion, cultivating an inclusive culture where employees feel supported and valued, aligning with its mission to empower diverse small businesses.

Marketing and reception

Self-promotion practices

In 2007, Constant Contact faced criticism for deceptive self-promotion practices when employees and affiliates posted fake positive comments on blogs and forums without disclosure, a tactic identified as astroturfing by blogger Darren Barefoot. Barefoot discovered this after investigating suspicious comments on his 2006 blog post criticizing the company's unsolicited emails; IP addresses traced the comments from May 2007 to Constant Contact's corporate network, including posts by individuals posing as independent users to defend the company against negative feedback. The company acknowledged that several employees had violated company policy by posting undisclosed comments. Involved staff were disciplined, and a spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to honesty and transparency in online interactions.

Industry impact and recognition

Constant Contact has significantly influenced the small business marketing sector by pioneering affordable email marketing tools since its founding in 1995, providing accessible digital solutions to over 600,000 small businesses and nonprofits worldwide for more than 25 years. This democratization of email and digital marketing has enabled startups, nonprofits, and resource-limited organizations to compete effectively in online spaces, fostering growth through targeted campaigns without the need for expensive agencies. The company's annual Small Business Now reports have become influential benchmarks for understanding SMB trends, with the 2025 edition highlighting the rise of social-first marketing among new entrepreneurs, where 63% prioritize as their primary channel and 73% attribute revenue growth to paid and organic social efforts. This study, based on surveys of over 1,300 SMB decision-makers, underscores Constant Contact's role in guiding businesses toward technology-driven strategies, including AI integration planned by 72% of respondents for 2025. Additionally, Constant Contact received a Stevie Award in the 2025 American Business Awards for excellence in sales and customer service, recognizing its contributions to SMB . Through strategic integrations, Constant Contact enhances its ecosystem by partnering with major platforms, including seamless connections with Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics for automated contact syncing and workflow efficiency, as well as Gmail for mass email capabilities within Google Workspace environments. These collaborations streamline operations for small businesses, allowing synchronized data flow between marketing and productivity tools to support scalable growth. Constant Contact contributes to marketing education by offering free live and on-demand webinars, seminars, and resources focused on digital best practices, with daily onboarding sessions covering email creation and contact management to build skills among millions of users annually. This initiative, including an extensive on-demand library, empowers SMBs and nonprofits with practical knowledge on topics like AI automation and social media strategies, amplifying their long-term industry impact.

References

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