Newsletter Software - Anything worthwhile?

[Guard Dog]

Hey guys,

I have been using Constant Contact for quite awhile for the newsletter (very infrequent mailings). The software service is pretty expensive for the amount of use I get out of it. So - I was thinking I should just purchase a software to do this instead of paying a monthly fee based upon the amount of subscribers.

Anyone know a good software for this?

 

[Guard Dog]

Nothing out there worthwhile? Or does everyone just use a service like Constant Contact, iContact, aWeber, ... ?

 

[Engineer]

I've been using Aweber for years -- no complaints.

The problem with the do-it-yourself method is that the deliverability rate won't be as high as it is with a major company like Aweber. Aweber is in contact with major email providers like Yahoo, AT&T, AOL, etc., which frequently block incoming messages that they decide aren't worthy of letting through.

With Jackpot Graphs, I built the alert mailing system myself with PHP and some sort of add-on that I don't remember at the moment. Swifty or something like that. In any case, emails that are sent to Hotmail accounts never make it through -- why, I have no clue. Emails to AT&T accounts also never make it through -- the domain was "blocked for abuse," even though I have never used it for spamming.

There might be a way to get the domain unblocked, but I don't know how to do it. Aweber, though, doesn't have this problem, because they stay in touch with Hotmail, AT&T, and everyone else. Aweber does their part to make sure the messages sent aren't spammy and that the lists comply with the Can-Spam law, and in return, the email providers white-list incoming messages from Aweber.

 

[baldidiot]

I've been hearing a lot about aweber recently - maybe I should give them a go too. Pricing wasn't too bad if I remember from the last time I looked.

 

[Guard Dog]

ok, you may have convinced me.... I'll give aWeber a shot. It is cheaper than Constant Contact now (didn't used to be) and I know the service is top notch.

 

[baldidiot]

Anyone know if you can import lists into Aweber and/or export them?

 

[Engineer]

You can export lists, no problem. But if you import, they require everyone on the list to re-opt-in.

 

[Guard Dog]

You can export lists, no problem. But if you import, they require everyone on the list to re-opt-in.

oh.... interesting. I wonder how that will work with AGD? Maybe that was why I chose Constant Contact I can import there and send out the mailer... once it is sent, the user can opt out. Slightly different procedure.

 

[Engineer]

Import notes

 

[Guard Dog]

If anyone else is interested... I did sign up with aWeber and I am having a vBulletin add-in created so that when a user signs up for the forums they are signed up to the newsletter (if opted in). It should be done in the first week of July. If interested in this, let me know via PM or in this thread. It will be created for vBulletin 4.x only.

 

[baldidiot]

You can export lists, no problem. But if you import, they require everyone on the list to re-opt-in.

Excellent, thanks. I'm not too bothered about importing but I wanted to make sure I can get my lists out if I chose to move on.

 

[baldidiot]

If anyone else is interested... I did sign up with aWeber and I am having a vBulletin add-in created so that when a user signs up for the forums they are signed up to the newsletter (if opted in). It should be done in the first week of July. If interested in this, let me know via PM or in this thread. It will be created for vBulletin 4.x only.

Sure, add me to the list!

Also I just noticed that there's no multi-quote function on the forum, hence the double post. Any chance of adding it?

 

[Guard Dog]

Sure, add me to the list!

Will do!

Also I just noticed that there's no multi-quote function on the forum, hence the double post. Any chance of adding it?

Better?

 

[baldidiot]

Better?

Awesome-o!