Getting Started with Email Marketing
Review

Solid, practical primer for email marketing beginners, focused on actionable skills, not empty promises.

Easy
  • Last updated 04/09/2025
by Allyson Van Houten

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time examining "Getting Started with Email Marketing," and here's what we discovered. This course, taught by Allyson Van Houten (former Senior Marketing Manager at Mailchimp, now Director of Solutions Marketing at Raptive), delivers exactly what beginners need: a practical foundation in email marketing without the fluff.

The course runs just over an hour, making it digestible for busy professionals. Van Houten structures the content around real-world applications, specifically using Mailchimp as the primary tool. You'll learn how to align email marketing goals with business objectives, understand different email types and their purposes, determine optimal sending frequency, and avoid common pitfalls that tank campaigns.

What sets this course apart? It's the practical focus. Rather than drowning you in theory, Van Houten walks through actual campaign creation, from conception to execution. The course covers essential topics like building subscriber lists, segmenting audiences, writing compelling copy, and analyzing campaign performance.

We noticed the course heavily emphasizes Mailchimp's ecosystem (which makes sense given Van Houten's background). While this provides concrete examples, it does limit the platform-agnostic strategies you might find elsewhere. Still, for someone just starting out, having a specific tool to learn with actually helps reduce overwhelm.

The video-based format works well for this content. Each module builds logically on the previous one, creating a clear learning path from "what is email marketing?" to "here's how to launch your first campaign." Available through Skillshare, you'll need their subscription after the 7-day trial, but at $13.75/month when paid annually, it's reasonable for accessing their entire course library.

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Small business owners starting email marketing, freelancers adding email services, marketing assistants needing quick foundational knowledge, entrepreneurs building their first email list

Instructor

Allyson Van Houten

Marketing Expert and Skillshare Instructor Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Allyson Van Houten is a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience in product management, marketing strategy, and email campaigns. As the Director of Solutions Marketing at Raptive (formerly CafeMedia) since October 2023, she brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous roles at Mailchimp, where she spent over a decade honing her skills in various marketing positions.
Van Houten's career spans over 15 years in the marketing industry. She began her journey at Mohawk as an Interactive Marketing Coordinator, progressing to roles in digital marketing. Her tenure at Mailchimp from 2009 to 2023 saw her evolve from a Marketing Intern to Senior Marketing Manager and Product Manager, showcasing her versatility and growth in the field. Her transition to Raptive as Director of Solutions Marketing marks her latest career milestone.
• Developed and delivered successful product roadmaps at Mailchimp
• Led marketing campaigns and initiatives that contributed to Mailchimp's growth
• Created a popular Skillshare course on email marketing with over 58,000 students
• Obtained a Product Management Certificate from General Assembly in 2016
• Earned a Women in Leadership Certificate from eCornell in 2019
• Instructor for 'Getting Started with Email Marketing' course on Skillshare
• Featured in Skillshare promotional materials for her email marketing course
• Participated in Mailchimp's educational content creation, sharing expertise on email marketing strategies
Allyson Van Houten maintains a professional online profile, primarily focused on her role as a marketing expert. She shares insights on email marketing strategies and best practices through her Skillshare course and professional networks.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration1
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Monthly
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None required, designed for absolute beginners


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, web browser for Skillshare streaming


💸 Hidden Costs

Skillshare subscription after 7-day trial ($165/year), Mailchimp account for practice (free tier available)


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Limited to Skillshare community forums, no direct instructor support

Course content

  • Module 1: Introduction and Course Overview
  • Module 2: Your Assignment and Project Setup
  • Module 3: Email Marketing Overview and Business Alignment
  • Module 4: Setting Campaign Goals and KPIs
  • Module 5: Crafting Email Content That Converts
  • Module 6: Types of Marketing Emails and Their Uses
  • Module 7: Email Frequency and Timing Strategy
  • Module 8: Real Campaign Examples and Analysis
  • Module 9: Building Your Subscriber List Ethically
  • Module 10: Audience Segmentation Strategies
  • Module 11: Writing Compelling Email Copy
  • Module 12: Email Design Best Practices
  • Module 13: Testing, Sending, and Performance Analysis
  • Module 14: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Reception is generally positive, particularly among true beginners. Most learners appreciate Van Houten's clear teaching style and practical approach, though some wish for more current examples and broader platform coverage.

Praised points

  • Clear, concise instruction that doesn't overwhelm beginners
  • Practical Mailchimp walkthrough with real examples
  • Balanced approach between strategy and hands-on tactics

Criticisms

  • Basic content depth leaves intermediate marketers wanting more
  • Mailchimp-centric approach limits broader email marketing perspectives
  • Dated examples don't reflect current email marketing trends

Testimonials

"Allyson explains everything in a way that makes email marketing less intimidating!"

"Perfect for my small business needs, got my first campaign out within days."

"Wish it covered more than just Mailchimp, but solid intro course."

"The practical examples really helped me understand the concepts."

"Good value for free trial, but needed more advanced content after a month."

Social insights

Reddit discussions position this course as a decent starting point for newcomers. Users in marketing forums frequently mention it as part of their learning journey, though they emphasize you'll need additional resources for advanced strategies. The consensus? Good for foundations, but don't stop here.

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

Claims to teach email marketing basics using Mailchimp, which it delivers. No exaggerated promises about becoming an expert or earning specific income.

Price History

Consistently offered through Skillshare's subscription model

Upsell Practices

No course-specific upsells. Skillshare promotes other courses on their platform

Student Success

Users report successfully launching first campaigns, though no tracked metrics on long-term success

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Skillshare provides reliable streaming with good UX, though some users report occasional buffering issues

Content Accessibility

Stream-only while subscription active, no downloads for offline viewing

Mobile Compatibility

Full mobile app support for iOS and Android

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection (2+ Mbps), modern browser or mobile device

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

No significant complaints beyond content being basic for experienced users. Some learners mention wanting more up-to-date examples, but no reports of misleading content or broken promises.

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Refund policy issues

Skillshare's standard 7-day trial applies. No course-specific refund issues reported.

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Marketing practices

Transparent about skill level and outcomes. No income claims or unrealistic promises detected. The course description accurately reflects the beginner-focused content.

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Community feedback

Generally positive with realistic expectations. Main concern is content freshness, not legitimacy.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

For a free trial or $13.75/month subscription, you're getting solid beginner content from a credible instructor. The hour-long format respects your time while covering essentials. Compare this to paid email marketing courses running $200-500, and the value becomes clear for beginners.

Conclusion

We found "Getting Started with Email Marketing" to be a legitimate, well-structured introduction to email marketing fundamentals. Allyson Van Houten's industry experience shines through in her practical approach, making complex concepts accessible to beginners. The course delivers exactly what it promises: a foundation for launching your first email campaigns.

However, we must note its limitations. The Mailchimp-centric approach, while helpful for specificity, doesn't prepare you for other platforms. The content, though solid, lacks the depth intermediate marketers need. And without recent updates, some strategies feel dated in today's privacy-focused, AI-enhanced marketing landscape.

For beginners with zero email marketing experience, especially those planning to use Mailchimp, this course offers excellent value through Skillshare's affordable subscription. Just understand you'll need additional resources as you advance. Think of it as your first step, not your final destination, in mastering email marketing.

FAQs about this course

Allyson Van Houten, former Senior Marketing Manager at Mailchimp (2009-2020), currently Director of Solutions Marketing at Raptive.

Free during Skillshare's 7-day trial, then $165/year ($13.75/month) for continued access.

Absolutely. No prior experience required, and the content assumes you're starting from zero.

The course focuses primarily on Mailchimp, though basic principles apply to other email service providers.

Some examples feel dated, but core email marketing principles remain relevant and applicable.

Skillshare provides a completion certificate, though it's not an industry-recognized credential.

Support limited to Skillshare community forums, no direct instructor assistance available.

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Getting Started with Email Marketing screenshot
Getting Started with Email Marketing Review
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Total score: 7,8/10 ⭐
  • Duration1
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date07/2025
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessMonthly
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Getting Started with Email Marketing Review