Question
Greetings! I need recommendations on mailing list managers. I'll define that as a place to store the email addys (currently I use excel), a facility to take a message, preferably and html message and mail it to everyone on the list with their email address appearing in the TO line of the address.
Icing on the cake would be giving them the ability to add themselves automatically to the list or remove themselves automatically.
I've used the free version of Worldcast for while but it seems a little buggy. Once it addressed the TO line not to the person receiving the mail but to a different person on the list, then it ran fine for months, and this last time it decided not to put the recipeint in the TO line.
I'd appreciate recommendations and have a moderate level of technical ability--I want something that works and is easy without too large a learning curve.
Thanks in advance!
Dee
Answer
Lots out there (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...etter+software), but I can't personally recommend one, as I don't use one.
Answer
Kathleen thanks so much for the reply. I have looked at the stuff that comes up under google and there is so much my head aches! I've had a recommendation for Dada Mail and Mailman but was hoping someone here had used one of those two or a had a better recommendation. Both of those seem to me like they require quite a bit of knowledge on the server that I may not have.
I'll keep watching and hoping that others see the post. Eons ago I remember maybe imosh and a few other folks talking about this subject but can't find anything in the archives.
I need to communicate, online, with my customers and previous customers once a month or at least that is what I do with the current mailing list -- mail my local customers to remind them of a monthly event that I host, let them know what the prizes are, the theme, anything else special.
I'd like to expand that into an opt in newsletter for national my national customers; but I want something that has good opt in/opt out features so I don't get tagged as a spammer.
Thanks again!
Dee -- the seemingly very verbose
Answer
Hi Dee!
Last post before I head off to bed.
Was THIS the thread?
From a 'quicky read' of the thread, Bravenet was recommended.
You might also email CobaltLady (Mike) to see which service he recommends.
Good luck!
Answer
Kathleen that is not the thread I remember but thanks so much for the additional info! I'll email Mike and get his feedback and have signed up for the free version just to get on there and read and find out what it is about.
Thanks again!
Dee
Answer
Kathleen:
I downloaded DadaMail and will let you know how I like it. I am working with the free version which has some type of advertising in it but I want to make sure it is what I want before I spend the $50 -- not after.
Dee
Answer
I use Constant Contact. Tried the 60 day trial and was so impressed that I simply continued on with them.
http://www.constantcontact.com/features/index.jsp
Answer
OK here's the scoop. I looked at Constant Contact as Shanne suggested and found that I could work with it BUT since I have over 2000 on my mailing list already and couldn't identify a subset of less than 100 people to work with my first import of the mailing list pushed me out of the supposed 60 free trial. My "free trial" lasted about 25 hours. It's 60 days or until your list reaches 100.
That said, I downloaded Dada Mail and went through the config process. When I tried to do the CHMOD to set permissions on some of the files my server said I wasn't permitted to do that and when I issued the command that should have brought the system up it told me I had a config error. Since it was after 5 support was offline. I believe the config error is the chmod problem.....or it is all the same problem.
Bottom line is that I paid $30 to Constant Contact and have already processed my first campaign with them. I'm anxiously awaiting the results on their reports screen. I can drop them at any point, since I went month to month for now. I included a couple of promo items and if even one person on the list purchases one of those items I'll make my money back.
Tomorrow I'll find the support folks at my isp and see if I can get Dada Mail straightened out so that I can at least see the system and test it out.
I like a number of the extras that CC offers including list members abililty to set a gift reminder up for themselves, the ability to add paypal purchaseable items directly to my newsletters, and their data collection routines.
I'll update you after I get a look at Dada.
One thing I don't care for and a suggestion that I am going to make to CC is this: I always place a copy of my mailings online and I had a devil of a time reconfiguring the html that their system generated. I should be able to do a simple copy. So I'm going to ask them to provide a copy that can be cut and pasted to a web page that retains proper formatting.
Thanks for the suggestions and help!
Dee
Answer
Thanks for the info Dee. I look forward to hearing how things work out for you. So far my mailing list needs are minimal, but by September I hope to have a major campaign underway. I look forward to your update on this as I will no doubt run into similar problems when I try to get into high gear! (I always, do it seems! So it's a great bonus for me to have you post this info here!)
Answer
Shanne:
I have to say that for all the grousing I did at having to spend $30/month for my list size I have been so blown away by the tracking and stats that I love it!
The stats and info they return on who openned the item, the links they followed, specifics on why some of the bounces occurred, info on who clicked the forward to a friend link.....it is incredibly detailed. I'm almost speechless and that is pretty hard to do.
They have really won me over fast. I've got a number of good friends that received the mailing in the process of reviewing the mailing from the customer side.
Anyway, Constant Contact ROCKS!
Dee