Try http://www.listbot.com/. 100% Opt-In. Listbot has shutdown and they are now offering a pay service called List Builder. It is a bit pricey, in my opinion, so I never signed up.
If you find a reliable web service that is free, please post about it!
Sandvet
posted on November 16, 2001 10:26:13 AM new
"Renting" an opt-in list is a fine line to walk. Sure, the list members opted in for mailings from the list owner. But you have to be very careful about how you present your mailings lest you be accused of Spam. If you send an email to a person who doesn't recognize you, you can and most likely WILL be turned into your ISP as a spammer. There are numerous so-called "Safe-Lists" available on the web that will hawk their lists as being double opt-in, spam-proof lists. Just type the term "safe-list" into any search engine and you'll find them. What the list owner won't tell you is it's YOUR IP address (hence YOUR ISP account) that is at risk, not his. After he deposits your money, he could care less if you're accused of SPAM. Many of these so-called "Safe-Lists" were created by using email address extractor software right off of ebaY. This is why ebaY users register and then start receiving tons of Spam.
It takes a little time and effort, but the best source for a mailing list is your own website and emails. If you have a website (and you should), have a little box that gives surfers the option to sign up for a newsletter or be added to your mailing list. Then have a mechanism in place to send the person a return email that has a link that he must click to "double opt-in". There are numerous free list managers available that will do the entire process for you, from adding the users to the list to actually mass emailing the users on the list with your newsletter or offers. All you have to do is paste a small snippet of code (provided by the list manager service) into your web site and you're in business.
You can also use your email signature to invite everyone that you send email to to sign up for your list.
When you do your mailings, remind the user at the top of the page that he is receiving this email/newsletter as an opt-in subscriber. Then immediately provide a link so that he can unsubscribe if he so choses.
Bulk Spam email is very profitable. That's why we see so much of it. But it's also against the law in some states and will get you booted off of most any ISP without a warning or a chance to defend yourself. A double opt-in list of your own is your safest course of action.
An alternative is to purchase an ad in someone else's newsletter. These ads can be very effective at making sales and building your own list. Just make sure that the newsletter is targeted at an audience that would very likely be interested in your offer or you'll be throwing your money away.
posted on November 16, 2001 10:59:52 AM new
It takes a little time and effort, but the best source for a mailing list is your own website and emails. If you have a website (and you should), have a little box that gives surfers the option to sign up for a newsletter or be added to your mailing list. Then have a mechanism in place to send the person a return email that has a link that he must click to "double opt-in". There are numerous free list managers available that will do the entire process for you, from adding the users to the list to actually mass emailing the users on the list with your newsletter or offers. All you have to do is paste a small snippet of code (provided by the list manager service) into your web site and you're in business.
This is what I am talking about exactly. I already have hundreds of requests to be put on a list of mine just from e-mails. I currently do not have a news letter or ad to send out but I am going to. I need to find the service that will take care of the add and removing of the e-mails from the list and do the mailing for me from the list.
The last thing I want is someone else's list, I can have my own just for my customers.
Sandvet, thanks for the tip. Yes they want 299 a year for 10,000 mailings. Like I said I do not mind paying but for what you are getting that sounds a bit high. If I have a list of 5000 people and I wanted to do a weekly flyer that would cost me a bit of cash through them. It has got to be cheaper or free somewhere. I am not afraid of paying, that is business, I just do not want to get raped doing it.
Thanks everyone and keep the suggestions coming in.
posted on November 16, 2001 12:05:24 PM new
Hi again Jim,
Yes, ListBot did exactly what you are describing - free. It was by Microsoft Link Exchange which has undergone so many changes since back then I don't even know what they call themselves now. bCentral, I think? You won't find anything free over there anymore, that is for sure.
Anyway, you peaked my interest in an old subject here so I did some looking around.
Check here http://www.topica.com/. Let me know how it goes.
Sandvet
posted on November 16, 2001 08:34:16 PM new
Do it yourself. It is better for you and your customers in the long run.
The web host for my site has 20 free newsletter/mailing lists included in my package.
Stay away from managed programs owned by other companies.
For example, while I was shopping around for an auction management service I was at the Andale site. With Andale you can set up a mailing list with your account (same as AW storefronts does) You can for a fee RENT a list to advertise your products or services to.
Now think to yourself...........where do these addresses I'll rent come from???
They come from other andale sellers opted-in customers who wanted to be on that sellers list.
Since your addresses are stored on Andale servers.......Andale has access to those address to RENT in mean PIMP them out.
In summary your faithful customers will be pimped out to other Andales sellers or any ramdom spammer for a fee and, they won't be so happy about that.
The exact same thing was going on over at listbot before they shut down.
It happens everywhere when you don't own the space those email addresses are stored on.
Read the fine print at the bottom of most of these organized spam companies newsletters.
"Email is never unsolicited. You have either opted in to recieve this newletter or one of their "PARTNERS" etc. etc. blah, blah, blah
I am sure the above paragraph is quite familiar looking to everyone.
Get a web hosting account that has mailing list capabilities included in the package.
Do it yourself and protect your customer's privacy.
Never use any 3rd party for a mailing list or newsletter program hosted by, managed by, uses the bandwidth of or automates the creation of the lists and accepts the addresses for you.
The web hosting company I use is websitesource.com If you are interested in checking them out PLEASE click their link off my website (main page). I do get refferal credits towards my bill with them. (username lovepotions if it asks)
Great company
Great tech support, by email and telephone.
Unlimited pop3 email addresses
You can also have web based email to log into if you are out of town
20 mailing lists I mentioned earlier
200 megs space
4 gigs of transfer a month
Online control panel for anything you could possibly need to do or manage within your account.
$19.95 a month with discounts for paying quarterly/anually etc.
I have used quite a few different companies over the years and can't say enough about these folks. http://www.lovepotions.com
