GetResponse and other mailing products

Hi disi,

I have used getresponse for several years and love them. I actually chose them over aweber for a few reasons. (Can't remember all of them right now, but I know it had to do with policies).

Now I'm a paid member of gr - not free - the benefits of being paid are much better than free.

If your list is that good / that confident in you - you shouldn't have *any* problem moving your list.

Here's the issues you have to look at:

If you use an autoresponder that *Doesn't* reconfirm....

Problem 1: how do you know your mailings will even get through? If the person doesn't recognize the address, it could be blocked SERVER side, or they may block it thinking its spam. (Or, it could go straight into the spam folder).

Problem 2: If there's no confirmation, you run the risk of people suddenly accusing you of spam - because they might not recognize the email its coming from.

Getresponse has one of the higher delivery rates (I think aweber is up there too) over most other AR systems.

You wouldn't believe the lists I am on, that half go into the spam folder, or I only receive 1 out of 3 emails from them. (I watch my server logs). The rest get dumped - or you almost forget you've been subscribed, because only a few of their emails ever get through.

I *never* have this problem as a subscriber of any list on GR and Aweber, even with Yahoo. (Believe me these days - Yahoo is starting to block a LOT).

Here's what I suggest (from experience)

Email your list personally. Let them know you need to move your list to a more professional (or off-site hosted) system.

Set up your list (say at gr since I know that one well so I'll use that as examples) - Then when you contact your list, let them know two things:

1) If they opt in directly now and confirm, you'll provide a bonus for them. (i.e., a report) to thank them for assisting you with the move over.

2) Or if they will please watch for the confirmation request that will come, (let them know the exact subject according to when you set up your list, you'll have that information) - then when they confirm, they'll receive your special report as a thank you.

You *might* run into some who won't bother... but if that's the case, do you really want them as subscribers if they aren't active?

Alternately, and this might take a bit of time, (but worth it), once you tackle this (set a deadline for people to reply to get their bonus for example), then perhaps compare your GR list, with your personal existing list.

Remove anyone on your existing list that DID confirm at GR - that way, you can still email the few that didn't move over, but not duplicate the mailings.

Then from there, make sure all new subscribers go to your new forms from GR. (Or aweber, whatever you choose).

I know if you have subscription history (i.e., proof of name, date, time, IP, page they came from, etc), You could actually contact GR's abuse team up front, let them know the move over. They may just import it automatically on your behalf and wave the confirmation requirement.

That I know is possible. (Not that they definitely will - but they might if you have proof - i.e., especially if its a proof of purchase).

These are my suggestions.

Most other lists just do not get through like GR/Aweber.

If I recall correctly, a few reasons why I chose GR were:
- VERY fast support (aweber took a few days to reply to my pre-sales questions)
- GR is cheaper overall. I mail regularly and have not yet ever been charged for extra mailings to the thousands on the lists.

Yes, I have moved over some of my lists. Most confirmed - those who did not, weren't regular buyers.

We're actually about to move another 12,000 over from one of my membership systems because its mailing is just not getting through properly. GR said they'd work with me since I can provide all signup proof.

Just my thoughts from my experience.

(Btw - I *did* do a 30 day trial of aweber and wasn't all that happy - just don't remember all the reasons why since it was about 2 yrs ago).

Amber

I contacted support at GR and they let me transfer my single op-in list with
no confirmation letters sent. No problem. Just email support and start
a conversation about what you want to do. They know you will lose 80% of
your list if they force you to send a 2nd opt-in message.

Thanks to you both ! You really helped me.

what about adding "new" email addresses to GR mailing list? I run a business where people are automatically 'added' to my list when they download my software from my website. Information about adding them to my list is visible for them at my website. Do you think it can be solved with GR also? I can not imagine contacting any new client for confirmation twice(when they just where informed about it on website).

Hi Disi

When they are 'added' to your list to download the software, they will simply get an email from GR saying to click to confirm. Well, depending on the software you use - some of them will work directly with GR.

I use RAP (RapidActionProfits) for stuff like that usually - it does work with GetResponse after I begged Sid to implement alternates to Aweber LOL

Check your system. Most are pretty easy to switch to GR so that your subscribers don't need to join something else.

Amber

I just went to the Get Response homepage. Saw a testimonial by Marlon Sanders. Says he's used them for 3 years. That caught my attention and kind of impressed me.

Since I save almost every email I get I did a search and found there were many very successful marketers using Get Response as well as AWeber.

I believe that DL Guard is another excellent software that is set up to work with Get Response.

You may not like GetResponse for their anti spam policy but Aweber is no different. They will ask you to do the same thing. On many levels, GetResponse is very good, if not better than Aweber. Personally I use both but GetResponse is far better in application and customization. Don't let their anti spam policy scare you. It is better to weed off unproductive email list that you have in your data. Good Luck with your business.

Please, do yourself a favor and visit a site talkwaremedia --- they have the most outstanding email services, with amazing tracking, customer service etc......

TalkWareMedia? Never heard of them.

Very interesting suggestion. I will check them out as well. I always like to have a few options when it comes to direct response marketing, especially when dealing with several businesses with different email needs.

Mucho Gracias to you, NV Marketing.

You are definitely going to lose people if you ask to reconfirm but it my opinion aweber is so essential to a business that It is worth it to simply start a new list. You can always just tell your list to reconfirm because you are upgrading to a better service and then whoever does move, wipe them from your old list and use both.

On a 3 year old list you'd be surprised how few of those people are either getting or responding to your list. Its soooo worth getting involved with a CAN SPAM act compliant autoresponder.

You may want to consider I- contact. and make sure your emails are delivered. You can also track what messages are opened and have a better tracking of your emails.You can also important contacts from all your different capture pages.

Im very satisfied with Interspire Email Marketer. They have both a hosted and server version.

I have had great success with GetResponse. Great company.

Another good option is my own company, TrafficWave.net LLC

Email Marketing with AutoResponders

We work with clients switching from competitors to allow a one-time import without re-confirmation.

looks like I submitted this twice!

Sorry, folks.

I've heard many good reports for trafficwave too - congrats Brian

Several of my members use your system and swear by it.

Guess you have to decide what you're looking for. I'm about to tackle this same issue.

One of my sites has over 10,000 members, some who registered several years ago. Most are still active, but there's always a chunk that bounce - while I'm asking them to add themselves to our outside autoresponder, at some point I'm going to have to take the whole list and bring it in. Gonna be a pain to get reconfirms I do admit Unless GR will load it for me. (I currently use the members system itself to mail but I know Yahoo blocks half of it which drives me BONKERS)

Otherwise - Brian I just might be coming your way too

Amber

Hey Disi,

I use GetResponse and Aweber for different businesses....both are great, but Aweber is a bit more userfriendly. If your looking for your own script or need to import large lists, such as if you're using CoReg, I use AutoresponsePlus for this.

It does work good, the only problem with hosting it yourself is deliverability issues, so if you go this route, plan on changing your hosting and/or ip every so often.

Take Care

That's great news. Looking forward to having you on board.

Your comment about yahoo addresses brings up an interesting point. Large providers like yahoo and others will use multiple mail servers. Your message may be delayed on one or the other for any number of possible reasons.

We manage multiple test accounts across a variety of platforms to check for things like this, as well.

Your mail not reaching one of the addresses may be nothing more than a backlog on that particular server, different filter settings on that account, or some sort of problem with the server feeding that particular account.

@ trafficwave
PLS Advice
I just acquire an email hosting account that I intend to use with an email marketing software I had purchased before. But I am skeptic that all my email may not get delivered as I will be uploading large file from a coreg. Most email marketing company like aweber don't accept coreg leads. So I am a bit in dilemma. I wanna know if your trafficwave does accept coreg lead or any other form of leads. Does the emails get sent via your server or will i need to set up my server before i could send my emails. Pls your advice will be valuable.
thanks

For a variety of reasons, we will not allow the importing of purchased, harvested, or coreg leads.

There is good reason for the reputable autoresponder companies to not allow these leads to be imported. Most of them are simply junk addresses that will bounce. The others will result in inevitable spam complaints.

AutoResponders and true lead generation / followup should not be confused with bulk mailing.

Do yourself a big favor and avoid what you are planning.

Kiosk hosting is Evolving into GVO.

$44.95/month package will get Reseller Hosting, Built-In Aweber-like Autoresponder, Video Hosting and tools and a 10-Seat Conference Room.

Depends on what tools you now have and whether the package is attractive to you at that price.

Another consideration is the Affiliate Compensation plan which could easily make the package free with just (5) referrals remaining active or (2) referrals a month.

John

Here's a suggestion for keeping your list in tact. I bought an auto responder called, FollowUpExpert, not expensive at all and it's setup right on my computer. I use GetResponse to build my list, but I wanted something else to be able to send a more personal msg, like thanking them for visiting my website.
Hope this will help.