By Sean Tinney August 19, 2025
$79 for complete email marketing setup sounds too good to be true. Let’s do the math.
When you purchase a managed email marketing service like AWeber’s Done-For-You, you’re not just buying templates – you’re purchasing a complete system that would cost thousands to build yourself.
The Hidden Cost of DIY Email Marketing
Here’s a realistic breakdown of the hours most business owners spend on DIY email marketing.
Time Investment Breakdown
DIY email marketing requires significant time investment:
- Template design and customization: 10 hours
- Automation workflow setup: 5 hours
- Landing page creation: 5 hours
- Testing, debugging, and optimization: 10 hours
- Learning curve: 20 hours
Total time investment: 50 hours minimum
Financial Reality Check
At a conservative baseline of $15/hour, that’s a $750 investment.
If your time is worth even $50/hour, that’s a $2,500 investment—before accounting for mistakes or do-overs.
Plus the mistakes. The rebuilds. The abandoned attempts.
DIY isn’t free. It can be expensive in the currency that matters most – time.
What Outsourced Email Marketing Actually Delivers
Let’s take AWeber’s Done-For-You email marketing service as an example:
Professional Email Templates – $500 Value
Professional designers charge $300 – $500 for custom email templates. AWeber’s Done-For-You includes branded templates that look like you hired a pro designer, complete with your colors, fonts, and messaging.
High-Converting Landing Pages – $800 Value
Two conversion-optimized landing pages from a developer cost $400 each minimum. You get branded templates designed to match professional agency quality.
Email Automation Setup – $400 Value
Marketing consultants charge $100/hour for automation setup. AWeber configures a welcome funnel and behavioral workflow that typically takes 4+ hours to build.
Technical Integration Support – $200 Value
Technical setup usually requires expensive help. We guide you through every connection.
30-Day Revision Period – $600 Value
Marketing agencies charge $150/hour for campaign adjustments. You get unlimited edits and optimizations for a full month.
Total Value: $2,500
AWeber Done-For-You: $79
Your Savings: $2,421
ROI Calculation for Outsourced Email Marketing
Conservative Revenue Projection
Let’s be conservative with your outsourced email marketing results. Assume AWeber’s Done-For-You generates just 2 new customers monthly:
Monthly calculation:
- New customers: 2
- Average customer value: $100
- Monthly revenue gain: $200
- Annual revenue gain: $2,400
ROI analysis:
- Investment: $79
- Annual return: $2,400
- Return on investment: 3,037%
Most businesses see significantly better results. Industry data shows email marketing averages $42 return per dollar spent.
Time Savings: DIY vs. Outsourced Email Marketing
Without Done-For-You (DIY Timeline):
- Week 1: Research platforms (10 hours)
- Week 2: Learn the system (10 hours)
- Week 3: Build templates (10 hours)
- Week 4: Create automations (5 hours)
- Week 5: Design landing pages (5 hours)
- Week 6: Test and fix issues (10 hours)
Total DIY time: 50 hours over 6 weeks
With AWeber’s Done-For-You:
- Day 1: Submit questionnaire (10 minutes)
- Day 7: Review and launch (30 minutes)
Total managed service time: 40 minutes over 1 week
Time saved: 49 hours and 20 minutes
Opportunity Cost Analysis
Those 50 hours you’d spend on DIY email marketing? Here’s what else you could accomplish:
- Serve 15 additional clients
- Create new products or services
- Build strategic partnerships
- Improve business operations
- Enjoy actual time off
Every hour spent learning an email platform is an hour not growing your business. When you outsource email marketing, you focus on what generates revenue while professionals handle the technical setup.
Common Objections to Outsourced Email Marketing
“I Can Figure It Out Myself”
You absolutely can. But should you? Your expertise is growing your business, not mastering email platform technical details. When you outsource email marketing, you leverage professional expertise while focusing on revenue-generating activities.
“Templates Won’t Match My Brand”
AWeber’s Done-For-You uses your exact logo, brand colors, fonts, and messaging preferences. Templates are fully customized to your brand guidelines, not generic one-size-fits-all designs.
“I Need Something Super Specific”
That’s exactly what the 30-day revision period covers. AWeber adjusts workflows, templates, and automations until they match your specific business requirements perfectly.
“It Seems Too Cheap to Be Quality”
It’s affordable because we’ve systemized the process. We’re not reinventing – we’re applying proven frameworks efficiently.
When Outsourced Email Marketing Isn’t Worth It
Let’s be honest. Managed email marketing isn’t for everyone.
Skip outsourced email marketing if you:
- Already have email marketing running successfully
- Genuinely enjoy learning new platforms
- Need complex, multi-department workflows
- Have more time than money
- Have in-house marketing staff dedicated to email campaigns
But if you’re stuck at starting? If email marketing feels overwhelming? If you’ve been “meaning to set it up” for months?
Outsourced email marketing through AWeber’s Done-For-You is worth every penny of that $79 investment.
The Bottom Line on Managed Email Marketing
Is outsourced email marketing worth it?
If your time is worth more than $1.32/hour, yes. If you want professional results without agency prices, yes. If you’ve been procrastinating email marketing, absolutely yes.
AWeber’s Done-For-You costs less than a nice dinner out but delivers a complete email marketing system that generates revenue for years. When you outsource email marketing properly, you get professional setup, proven templates, and strategic automation—all configured to your business in just one week.
Ready to stop DIY struggles and start generating revenue?
Get AWeber’s Done-For-You setup now – it’s the best $79 investment in your business growth.