Can anyone advise on Email marketing with optional double opt-in?

[Mylocalguide]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone in your suberb network can help me with some advice? I am seeking an affordable Email marketing solution with optional double opt-in subscription. It also needs to be able to offer either a low cost design option for a tailored email template, or be able to upload some company specific imagery for the header.
It also needs to be simple to use, with user friendly instructions and have technical support from a real person (we have limited technical abilities in house!). The web server we currently use is rather limited in terms of php and database capabilities, so I think a hosted solution will be the best option for now. We prefer to use an Australian company if possible....but perhaps my wishlist is too long?!!!! Thanks for any assistance you can offer. Warm Regards, Claire.

[kathiemt]

You can get 1shoppingcart.com for $29USD a month for this. If you want other things like shoppingcarts then there are higher fees. But if you simply want to use it for broadcast emails, and autoresponders, as well as building a database online, then 1SC would work well for you. I've been using it for a few years. Tech support is in the US and you can call them on the phone but I find they usually respond to my queries within 24 hours on their ticketing system.

[MissieK]

I use multimediART - creative web solutions for web design, development, coding, graphics, hosting and more for the Business Mums Magazine site & it's set up with a double opt in. Depending on the number of emails you send out it could be around $10 a month.

Melissa

[Robert Gerrish]

I must say I have always heard great things about Email Marketing Software, Email Newsletters and Autoresponders by AWeber Sadly due to the size of our list we cannot simply move from one list server to another. The service we have is good although we have not used their design function.

[petercrocker]

Hi Clare,

If you're after an Australian business, I've done some work with the people at www.peoplelogic.com.au in the past and they've always impressed me with their email newsletter product and service - seems to cover the points you mention so might be worth a look.

Another company (US based) that caught my eye is is www.myemma.com. Now, I have to say I've never actually dealt with them at all but as a marketing person I've long admired their website copy and design!

Good luck with it.

[kathiemt]

You could try Heather Maloney at eNudge - email marketing, direct email marketing, sms marketing, opt in email marketing, targeted email marketing, targeted sms marketing. I've been with 1shoppingcart.com for quite sometime but have looked at shifting over to Heather. I have definitely shifted my shopping cart and affliate program to her as it's easier to use.

[Paul_N]

I've been using Aweber for about 18 months now & find it easy to use, has some good standard templates & you can import your own logo, pictures etc. If you can use the basic editors on this forum, you can use Aweber & make some great looking emails.

The only problem with it, is that you can't import your own current list. But with a clever IT guy, there are ways round this!!

It definitely has the double opt in you are looking for & since we started using them, our bounce rate has drastically reduced - something you need to take into account with any email service you select. It's no good having a "cheap" service, if they haven't done the work to make sure they are not blacklisted by a lot of ISP's.

I think I pay about US$50 a quarter. You can get more info at www.aweber.com

Hope this helps.

Paul

[kathiemt]

Originally Posted by Paul_N

I've been using Aweber for about 18 months now & find it easy to use, has some good standard templates & you can import your own logo, pictures etc. If you can use the basic editors on this forum, you can use Aweber & make some great looking emails.

The only problem with it, is that you can't import your own current list. But with a clever IT guy, there are ways round this!!

Paul

Why can't you import your current list? That must be a deterrent for those how have existing lists. 1shoppingcart insists on sending out a message to tell everyone you've just been added to a list which is annoying if people have already opted in elsewhere but they're trying to prevent spammers.

[Paul_N]

Good point Kathie. Sorry, I meant exactly as you say. You can import any list, but then you have to get those existing subscribers on that list to opt in again & if you've ever tried to do this, it can be hard! You can end up loosing a significant number of your subscribers if they have to opt in again to your list.

I know this is going to be very dependent on the quality of your list in the first place, the number of people on the list & exactly what it is that you are selling or promoting, but I can guarantee that with any sizable list, you will loose subscribers.

Paul

[kathiemt]

One of my clients lost 50% of her list because people wouldn't click on the link to confirm - it's an inconvenience to them when they've already signed up previously. I spent something like 40 nights consecutively keying people back in via a form we had on a page on her website to get them back in.