From its humble beginnings in 2006, Pardot has grown into a giant. Pardot has remained a distinct product even since being acquired by Salesforce in 2013, and it has become one of the premiere choices in B2B marketing automation technology.
Since its launch in 2006, Pardot has grown into a major player in the marketing automation industry. Even after being acquired by Salesforce in 2013, Pardot has maintained its position as a leading B2B marketing automation platform, offering businesses powerful tools for lead scoring and lead nurturing.
However, while Pardot is an excellent solution, some businesses may find gaps in its functionality. Here are three areas where B2B marketers may seek additional strengths:
- Lack of built-in CRM functionality
- Limited social, mobile, and other marketing automation tools
- Restricted external integrations
Given the competitive nature of the marketing automation space, it’s always worth evaluating alternatives. While Pardot remains a strong choice, let’s explore other platforms that may better suit your business needs.
Addendum - You should never put all your eggs in one basket and, as it turns out, you shouldn't put all your data with one automation platform. Since writing this piece, Pardot has been offline for 3 days over the last week, with the worst on Friday exposing their data for 15 hours! In the meantime, take a look at some automation alternatives below that may prove a better fit for your company.
HubSpot: A Strong Pardot Alternative for Integrated Capabilities
HubSpot is one of the top competitors in the marketing automation landscape. Unlike Pardot, HubSpot offers a built-in CRM that seamlessly integrates sales and marketing automation. If you’re looking for a system that enhances contact engagement tracking, personalized email campaigns, and lead management, HubSpot is a great alternative.
Key Features of HubSpot:
- A free CRM that syncs with marketing automation tools
- Email tracking and lead engagement analytics
- Built-in form builder to capture website leads
- Seamless integration with Salesforce and other external tools
You could also consider: SharpSpring
Among its many strengths, SharpSpring also includes comprehensive CRM tools integrated directly into their marketing automation platform, all for a very reasonably monthly budget.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: A Feature-Rich Alternative to Pardot
If your focus is on multi-channel marketing, Salesforce Marketing Cloud offers a broader range of tools than Pardot. While Pardot is designed for B2B lead nurturing, Salesforce Marketing Cloud provides:- Advanced social media automation tools
- Email, mobile, and web personalization
- AI-driven audience segmentation
- Journey-based campaign automation
If you want an automation platform that includes social media, mobile engagement, and a robust suite of marketing automation tools, Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a strong alternative.
You could also consider: Agora Pulse.
If you want to focus on automating your social media presence with tremendous precision, Agora Pulse focuses on this area.
Oracle Eloqua: A Pardot Alternative for External Integration
For companies that rely on multiple tools and platforms, Oracle Eloqua is a powerful marketing automation solution with extensive integration capabilities. Eloqua’s Cloud Connector architecture allows seamless integration with:- Salesforce CRM
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM
- Third-party analytics and lead management tools
Why Choose Oracle Eloqua Over Pardot?
Oracle Eloqua incorporates an amazing Cloud Connector architecture that makes your own and third-party tools easier to incorporate and use. The Oracle Eloqua platform has prebuilt connections with software like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and more, so you can augment your B2B marketing platform without any extra headache.
- Deep integration with external tools and data sources
- Campaign Canvas for creating automated workflows
- Dynamic lead scoring and behavioral tracking
Zoho Campaigns is an emerging marketing automation platform with a wide range of integrated features, including email automation, survey creation, and webinar hosting.
Choosing the Right Marketing Automation Platform
While Pardot is a well-rounded solution, every business has unique needs. If your focus is on CRM integration, HubSpot is a strong alternative. If you need multi-channel marketing automation, Salesforce Marketing Cloud may be a better fit. And if external integrations are a priority, Oracle Eloqua is a top choice.
Your marketing automation platform should align with your business strategy and simplify your workflow. If you’re looking for expert guidance, Demodia is here to help!