eMail Marketing

What do I do with an email list?

A best practice for building a website community is to provide your audience with an informative email newsletter on a regular but non-intrusive schedule. As users sign up for the newsletter, you create an email list. There are numerous software applications that can help you manage the list, create newsletters and send them out on a pre-arranged schedule. These are listed below.

Note: Best practice is to obtain an individual’s permission through an opt-in form before sending email. Otherwise, your emails will be considered spam, which is not only annoying to your potential audience, Internet hosts may eventually block your emails. Most email marketing services do not allow spam.

eMail List Resources

AWeber
AWeber is probably the most well-used of the automated email systems for sending out engaging enewsletters, using the features of an autoresponder and creating website sign up forms. It has an affordable pricing structure, has free webinars to explain best practices and provides a free “test drive” so you can check it out before signing up. There’s a test drive sign up form at the bottom of this page.

Campaign Monitor
This software is ideal for those with web design skills. It allows you to brand and resell email campaigns for clients as well as manage their lists and subscribers. Thus, you can earn money each time your clients releases an email campaign. See the Articles and Tips section of their site for a crash course on email marketing.

Emma
Emma seems to be a different kind of email marketing company. They make an effort toward social responsibility and provide special help to nonprofits. From a software perspective, their user interface is uncluttered and it seems easy to create email newsletters with their service.

iContact

An email marketing service for setting up, sending and tracking newsletters, surveys, RSS feeds, autoresponders and other email campaigns. They have a guarantee Internet Service Providers that their customers will not send spam and terminate customers do who spam.

Highrise
Although this software provides a way to track contacts and leads and set up reminders, it can also help you keep track of emails. It is a monthly subscription service.

Inboxed Radio
Podcast and resource for anyone interested in email marketing, from managing email lists, to newsletters to affiliate email marketing. Hear and read it from the experts.

PureResponse
This is an online application that allows you to create and send emails as well as manage email lists and track/analyze data. The development and support teams are UK-based. There is a free trial period.

SpeakUp!
SpeakUp! is an email marketing application for creating professional email campaigns/newsletters. Like the other products in this category, it comes with tools for tracking and reporting. The premium service provides access to a stock image gallery. There is a free trial period.

Tell-A-Friend-King
This software provides another way to build an email list and opt-ins through customer referrals. Free trial.