MailChimp Doubles Their Forever Free Account to 100 Subscribers

Taylor French

13 years ago

Didn't I read somewhere they don't allow mailings for "make money" products or something like that?

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

Didn't I read somewhere they don't allow mailings for "make money" products or something like that?

They don't allow their service to be used for affiliate marketing. Period. As several Warriors have discovered - too late! - to their great cost when they've suddenly lost the lists they were building up there.

You're right, though: their huge list of prohibited uses does also include "Get-rich-quick and work-at-home schemes". I guess "make money" products could be called "work-at-home schemes"?

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Taylor French

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

They don't allow their service to be used for affiliate marketing. Period. As several Warriors have discovered - too late! - to their great cost when they've suddenly lost the lists they were building up there.

You're right, though: their huge list of prohibited uses does also include "Get-rich-quick and work-at-home schemes". I guess "make money" products could be called "work-at-home schemes"?

Ouch. Yeah, if they don't allow affiliate marketing at all, they're pretty much useless. I guess they'd be okay if you were running a non-profit newsletter about knitting or something. :rolleyes:

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Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

I guess they'd be okay if you were running a non-profit newsletter about knitting or something. :rolleyes:

Indeed.

Even a crochet newsletter would be ok, I think (I'm not really too sure what it is, though, but it's different from needlepoint, apparently).
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tecHead

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

Ouch. Yeah, if they don't allow affiliate marketing at all, they're pretty much useless. I guess they'd be okay if you were running a non-profit newsletter about knitting or something. :rolleyes:

Affiliate marketing isn't the only game in town; so I don't see how they can be put in the "useless" category... and as long as you don't use them for that; they pretty much blow the other two big dog eMail list managers out of the water with what they have integrated into their system at pretty much the same pricing structure.

I love them...

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Taylor French

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tecHead

Affiliate marketing isn't the only game in town; so I don't see how they can be put in the "useless" category... and as long as you don't use them for that; they pretty much blow the other two big dog eMail list managers out of the water with what they have integrated into their system at pretty much the same pricing structure.

I love them...

Who doesn't do ANY affiliate marketing whatsoever? Why would you want to be so restricted with such a critical component of your business? Affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to make extra money, even if you mostly promote only your own products. Why leave money on the table?

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tecHead

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

Who doesn't do ANY affiliate marketing whatsoever? Why would you want to be so restricted with such a critical component of your business? Affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to make extra money, even if you mostly promote only your own products. Why leave money on the table?

Never said I don't do it "at all"; but, very sparingly. And if I do, I don't use MC to hit the list... and they're not against you having your "own" affiliate program...

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82ana

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

They don't allow their service to be used for affiliate marketing. Period. As several Warriors have discovered - too late! - to their great cost when they've suddenly lost the lists they were building up there.

You're right, though: their huge list of prohibited uses does also include "Get-rich-quick and work-at-home schemes". I guess "make money" products could be called "work-at-home schemes"?

Mail chimp doesn't allow affiliate marketing?
I just started working on my first campaign with them :/
My products are in the anti aging niche... do they have problems with an kind of affiliate marketing or just get rich schemes?

I joined because I wanted to learn with the free account and because their customer service is awesome. hmmmm are there other options I should be exploring?

Help?

Thanks
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Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by 82ana

Mail chimp doesn't allow affiliate marketing?

Indeed not.

As several have found out to their cost, etc.

Originally Posted by 82ana

I joined because I wanted to learn with the free account ...

You've done well to have "just started", and not invested too much effort/time/hope/energy there, I think.

Here are the terms of use: see under "11.(f) Prohibited Content & Industries".
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DireStraits

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 82ana

Mail chimp doesn't allow affiliate marketing?
I just started working on my first campaign with them :/
My products are in the anti aging niche... do they have problems with an kind of affiliate marketing or just get rich schemes?

I joined because I wanted to learn with the free account and because their customer service is awesome. hmmmm are there other options I should be exploring?

Help?

It doesn't matter what you're trying to promote; if you're doing it through their system as an affiliate, you're breaching their policies. It's simply banned. All of it.

Sorry to hear you've started building a list with them, but it looks like you're going to have to switch to another service ASAP, before your list gets too big and it all comes tumbling down.

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tecHead

13 years ago

Originally Posted by 82ana

Mail chimp doesn't allow affiliate marketing?
I just started working on my first campaign with them :/
My products are in the anti aging niche... do they have problems with an kind of affiliate marketing or just get rich schemes?

I joined because I wanted to learn with the free account and because their customer service is awesome. hmmmm are there other options I should be exploring?

Help?

... allegedly, according to many an affiliate marketer here on the WF, if they find out you're using them for affiliate marketing; they'll shut down your account.

If you're gonna chance it regardless of those warnings, I'd use their "webhooks" system to keep a backup copy of your list off-site.

Otherwise, aWeber or GetResponse... there's some others but, I wouldn't know; as I'm an avid MailChimp user and not going anywhere else.

HTH

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Taylor French

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tecHead

... allegedly, according to many an affiliate marketer here on the WF, if they find out you're using them for affiliate marketing; they'll shut down your account.

If you're gonna chance it regardless of those warnings, I'd use their "webhooks" system to keep a backup copy of your list off-site.

Otherwise, aWeber or GetResponse... there's some others but, I wouldn't know; as I'm an avid MailChimp user and not going anywhere else.

HTH

There's no "allegedly" to it. It's right in their terms:

Affiliate marketing

It's not allowed. It says so here:

MailChimp Terms of Use | MailChimp.com

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tecHead

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

There's no "allegedly" to it. It's right in their terms:

Affiliate marketing

It's not allowed. It says so here:

MailChimp Terms of Use | MailChimp.com

lol, dude... please read what someone writes... the "allegedly" was referencing those that have stated their accounts getting shut down by MC... not in regards to MC's TOS... trust, I've read their TOS very thoroughly.

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Taylor French

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tecHead

lol, dude... please read what someone writes... the "allegedly" was referencing those that have stated their accounts getting shut down by MC... not in regards to MC's TOS... trust, I've read their TOS very thoroughly.

Why would someone lie about their accounts getting shut down? I read your post, it just made no sense. Obviously, people did get their accounts shut down. And if they say it was for affiliate marketing and the terms specifically state it's not allowed, why would you think it wouldn't be true?

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tecHead

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Taylor French

Why would someone lie about their accounts getting shut down? I read your post, it just made no sense. Obviously, people did get their accounts shut down. And if they say it was for affiliate marketing and the terms specifically state it's not allowed, why would you think it wouldn't be true?

lol, ok... maybe it didn't make sense to you <shrug>

I'm also not calling anyone a "liar"; if I were, I'd say something like, "those lyin' *******s said..."... the word was also not meant to offend anyone nor question their integrity... forgive me if I offended you..

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Taylor French

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tecHead

lol, ok... maybe it didn't make sense to you <shrug>

I'm also not calling anyone a "liar"; if I were, I'd say something like, "those lyin' *******s said..."... the word was also not meant to offend anyone nor question their integrity... forgive me if I offended you..

I'm not offended. I just didn't understand why you used the word "allegedly".

If you like MailChimp, that's great for you. I hope it continues to work out for you.

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Jeff Henshaw 13 years ago

They have grown in one year from 85,000 to 450,000 users (hope their servers are hanging in there) their site is ranked pr7.

If you are an affiliate marketer, then use the tried and tested 'big boys on the block'. Even if you are a general Internet marketer, if I were you, I'd still go for the proven reliable options.

If you have been on-line for a few weeks or more and are looking to build a business, then you surely will know the names of the true professional auto responders. I don't need to state them here. Make the right choice, as you will have to live with it.

I'll say no more.

Regards,
Jeff.
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82ana

13 years ago

Just glad I found out in time. Thanks everyone!
How is CampaignMonitor for affiliates? If anyone knows

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webapex

13 years ago

, to
To save you hunting for section f. of their Terms, here it is:

(f) Prohibited Content and Industries
Don't use MailChimp to send anything offensive, to promote anything illegal, or to harass anyone. You may not send:

Pornography or other sexually explicit Emails
Emails offering to sell illegal substances
Emails that violate the CAN-SPAM Law

Also, there are some industries that send certain types of content that result in higher than normal bounce rates and abuse complaints, which in turn jeopardize the deliverability of our entire system. No offense intended, but because we must ensure the highest delivery rates possible for all our customers, we do not allow businesses that offer these types of services, products, or content:

Illegal goods or services
Escort and dating services
Pharmaceutical products
Get-rich-quick or work-at-home schemes
Online trading, day trading tips, or stock market related content
Gambling services, products or gambling education
Multi-level marketing
Affiliate marketing [Prohibits marketing of Affiliate schemes or Practicing it ??]
Credit repair, get-out-of-debt content
Mortgages and/or Loans
Real estate prospecting or listing
Nutritional Supplements, Herbal Supplements or Vitamin Supplements
Pornography or nudity in content
Adult novelty items or references in content
List brokers or List rental services
Marketing or sending commercial email without proper permission

Generally speaking, if you're in an industry that is frequently associated with spam, you know who you are (it's probably why you're reading this far, right?). We make no judgments about your line of business, but we cannot afford to risk our deliverability. In fact, most ESPs like MailChimp will not be able to help you. You will most likely need to look into setting up your own mail servers. The term to search on is "email delivery server." There are many industrial strength MTAs to choose from with built-in delivery and reporting tools for high-volume senders.

----- For comparison Aweber's pertinent clauses -----

Pornography and sex-related merchandising are prohibited on any AWeber Systems server. AWeber Systems will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision.

Customers are prohibited from transmitting on or through any of AWeber Systems' services, any material that is, in AWeber Systems' sole discretion, unlawful, obscene, threatening, abusive, libelous, or hateful...

--

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Alexandre Valois

13 years ago

Originally Posted by webapex

, to
To save you hunting for section f. of their Terms, here it is:

(f) Prohibited Content and Industries
Don't use MailChimp to send anything offensive, to promote anything illegal, or to harass anyone. You may not send:

Pornography or other sexually explicit Emails
Emails offering to sell illegal substances
Emails that violate the CAN-SPAM Law

Also, there are some industries that send certain types of content that result in higher than normal bounce rates and abuse complaints, which in turn jeopardize the deliverability of our entire system. No offense intended, but because we must ensure the highest delivery rates possible for all our customers, we do not allow businesses that offer these types of services, products, or content:

Illegal goods or services
Escort and dating services
Pharmaceutical products
Get-rich-quick or work-at-home schemes
Online trading, day trading tips, or stock market related content
Gambling services, products or gambling education
Multi-level marketing
Affiliate marketing [Prohibits marketing of Affiliate schemes or Practicing it ??]
Credit repair, get-out-of-debt content
Mortgages and/or Loans
Real estate prospecting or listing
Nutritional Supplements, Herbal Supplements or Vitamin Supplements
Pornography or nudity in content
Adult novelty items or references in content
List brokers or List rental services
Marketing or sending commercial email without proper permission

Generally speaking, if you're in an industry that is frequently associated with spam, you know who you are (it's probably why you're reading this far, right?). We make no judgments about your line of business, but we cannot afford to risk our deliverability. In fact, most ESPs like MailChimp will not be able to help you. You will most likely need to look into setting up your own mail servers. The term to search on is "email delivery server." There are many industrial strength MTAs to choose from with built-in delivery and reporting tools for high-volume senders.

----- For comparison Aweber's pertinent clauses -----

Pornography and sex-related merchandising are prohibited on any AWeber Systems server. AWeber Systems will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision.

Customers are prohibited from transmitting on or through any of AWeber Systems' services, any material that is, in AWeber Systems' sole discretion, unlawful, obscene, threatening, abusive, libelous, or hateful...

--

Finally someone who gets it!

"we do not allow businesses that offer these types of services, products, or content"

MailChimp does not allow affiliate marketing content and products, just as it does not allow make-money scheme and MLM programs due to the high complaint levels of these niches.

I've said this many times but the same hardcore mailchimp basher keep bashing in every thread that spawns about it.

They have nothing against affiliate marketing and you are allowed to promote any product you want, as long as you stick to their approved content guidelines.

Once again proof that the WF is a great source of information, but unfortunately can quickly turn into a great source of uninformed people willing to share their opinion for pennies...

Now go ahead, keep on bashing. I'm too busy enjoying my chimp and social pro features

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DireStraits

13 years ago

Originally Posted by webapex

, to
To save you hunting for section f. of their Terms, here it is:

(f) Prohibited Content and Industries
Don't use MailChimp to send anything offensive, to promote anything illegal, or to harass anyone. You may not send:

Pornography or other sexually explicit Emails
Emails offering to sell illegal substances
Emails that violate the CAN-SPAM Law

Also, there are some industries that send certain types of content that result in higher than normal bounce rates and abuse complaints, which in turn jeopardize the deliverability of our entire system. No offense intended, but because we must ensure the highest delivery rates possible for all our customers, we do not allow businesses that offer these types of services, products, or content:

Illegal goods or services
Escort and dating services
Pharmaceutical products
Get-rich-quick or work-at-home schemes
Online trading, day trading tips, or stock market related content
Gambling services, products or gambling education
Multi-level marketing
Affiliate marketing [Prohibits marketing of Affiliate schemes or Practicing it ??]
Credit repair, get-out-of-debt content
Mortgages and/or Loans
Real estate prospecting or listing
Nutritional Supplements, Herbal Supplements or Vitamin Supplements
Pornography or nudity in content
Adult novelty items or references in content
List brokers or List rental services
Marketing or sending commercial email without proper permission

Generally speaking, if you're in an industry that is frequently associated with spam, you know who you are (it's probably why you're reading this far, right?). We make no judgments about your line of business, but we cannot afford to risk our deliverability. In fact, most ESPs like MailChimp will not be able to help you. You will most likely need to look into setting up your own mail servers. The term to search on is "email delivery server." There are many industrial strength MTAs to choose from with built-in delivery and reporting tools for high-volume senders.

----- For comparison Aweber's pertinent clauses -----

Pornography and sex-related merchandising are prohibited on any AWeber Systems server. AWeber Systems will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision.

Customers are prohibited from transmitting on or through any of AWeber Systems' services, any material that is, in AWeber Systems' sole discretion, unlawful, obscene, threatening, abusive, libelous, or hateful...

--

This is a good point.

It looks like they only prohibit the marketing of affiliate marketing products - not products in other niches which you may be selling as an affiliate (in order words: affiliate marketing as a practise could be allowed).

It is for this reason that I contacted them on 2 separate occasions, slightly bemused at the fact they seemed to be ruling out a good poportion of potential customers who might want to use their services ... and why they seemingly couldn't deal with affiliate marketing when their competitors - GetResponse & Aweber, etc - seemed to be doing just fine?

And yet, both times I asked, with two differently worded emails, I was told it was not something they would allow.

Having said that, I've heard of some people who've been given the "okay", and told exactly what you're proposing (that it's only the marketing of affiliate marketing themed products that are banned - not affiliate marketing itself).

Yet another case of a company's unreliable and inconsistent interpretations of their own Terms of Service, right?

But when they tell me "no", I'm not about to go against their word and start doing affiliate marketing with them, anyway.

Fired off yet ANOTHER email to their "legal department" (if one even exists

), so will see what fruit this bears - just out of interest.

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Shaun OReilly

13 years ago

MailChimp DO allow minor use of affiliate links in outgoing
e-mails.

In fact, ALL of the e-mails that are sent out for their
Forever Free accounts contain affiliate links in the
footer (for MailChimp).

MailChimp's Terms of Service is ambiguous and leads to
a lot of confusion and mis-information.

Unlike many others, I've actually contacted the Compliance
Department of MailChimp on numerous occassions and have
been told that the use of affiliate links IS permitted - in a
narrow set of circumstances.

If you're a hardcore, dedicated affiliate marketer focused
only on promoting other businesses - then DO NOT use
MailChimp - they do not want you.

However, if you primarily promote your own products and
services and sometimes recommend other products and
services via affiliate links - then that IS allowed with
MailChimp.

Yes - it's ambiguous.

Yes - it's confusing.

Take a step back and think about why MailChimp don't
want hardcore affiliate marketers or work-at-home lists
in the first place.

These types of lists are notorious for having higher than
normal spam complaints which affect the reputation and
deliverability of MailChimp's servers.

AWeber, GetResponse, iContact, etc., all accept hardcore
affiliate marketers and work-at-home lists and more. What
do you think that does to the reputation of their servers
and the deliverability they get (vs. their claims)?

Stay within the admittedly ambiguous rules of MailChimp
and benefit from their excellent deliverability rates.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

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CDarklock

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly

However, if you primarily promote your own products and services and sometimes recommend other products and services via affiliate links - then that IS allowed with MailChimp.

And yet, when I asked them whether this was permitted on their service, they replied that it most certainly was not... and disabled my account.

So while you may be doing just fine on MailChimp and have their blessing to do what you do, it sounds an awful lot like what got me kicked off their service for even asking whether I could do it.

I am aware that some people are getting away with affiliate promotions on MailChimp without ever asking. I am also aware that some people have asked and been told that limited affiliate promotions are okay.

But a lot of people have gotten the same response I did, too.

It's not just ambiguous and confusing. It's inconsistent. I can't, in good faith, recommend inconsistent services to other people.

If you want to risk it on MailChimp, hey, lots of people do and they get by just fine. Some slip under the radar, others get a big thumbs-up from the management and Bob's their uncle. But be aware that it's a risk, and that you're risking everyone on your list disappearing without warning or provocation or any way to recover. I, personally, find that risk unacceptable.

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Shaun OReilly

13 years ago

Did you contact the General Support people at MailChimp
or their Compliance Department who are specifically tasked
with enforcing their Terms of Service?

I contacted their Compliance Department more than once
and have their approval to use affiliate links in the narrow
set of circumstances that they have given me.

I've done my best to mitigate the risk for myself and my
offline clients.

I treat my lists right anyways so therefore tend not to get
high complaint rates.

It's a choice everyone must make for themselves. Assess
the risk - pros and cons - then make a decision.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

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DireStraits

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly

Did you contact the General Support people at MailChimp
or their Compliance Department who are specifically tasked
with enforcing their Terms of Service?

I contacted their Compliance Department more than once
and have their approval to use affiliate links in the narrow
set of circumstances that they have given me.

I've done my best to mitigate the risk for myself and my
offline clients.

I treat my lists right anyways so therefore tend not to get
high complaint rates.

It's a choice everyone must make for themselves. Assess
the risk - pros and cons - then make a decision.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

Pleh. I don't like all this uncertainty and "narrow set of circumstances" malarky.

Even if I were given the "okay", under these "narrow set of circumstances", I'd be worried that every autoresponder message I wrote, or every email broadcast I sent, would somehow be in violation of their apparently nonsensical and inconsistent interpretations of their own terms.

I wasn't planning on using them, anyway - I'm using GetResponse now and Aweber later (for diversity and risk-mitigation

) - but it'd have been nice to have received some solid input from them so as to be able to give more concrete information/advice if and when these sorts of questions/issues pop up in other threads in the future.

As it stands, right now, the advice will still be "AVOID! (for affiliate marketing)".

It's a real shame, because I really love their interface, and they have some brilliant features. If they weren't so strict about all this, I'd have happily used them.

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paulie888 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

It's not just ambiguous and confusing. It's inconsistent. I can't, in good faith, recommend inconsistent services to other people.

I find it so hard to believe that anyone (newbies included) would want to assume the risks that are associated with any free autoresponder service, but it seems like my assumption has turned out to be false as we see threads like this pop up all the time, championing the cause of the free autoresponder.

To anyone reading this, the inconsistency and risks associated with a free autoresponder account are just not worth it. Period. How can you possibly entrust your valuable list to a free autoresponder service of any kind when they have next to no incentive (you're not paying them even a dime for this) to provide you with reliable and dependable service?

There's going to be a catch somewhere, and by the time you realize it, it's usually too late. And when you try to switch over to a paid autoresponder, you'll find out how much of a hassle it is to transfer lists (and that it comes with the attendant risk of losing a large chunk of your subscribers in the process).

Paul
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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois

They have nothing against affiliate marketing

I'm going to be really interested to see whether you have the grace to reconsider this interesting statement, Alexandre, after reading Caliban's experience above ("And yet, when I asked them whether this was permitted on their service, they replied that it most certainly was not... and disabled my account.")

I'm well aware that people can use words with slightly different meanings, that there can be interpretations and subtleties involved, that there can be ambiguities and inconsistencies, and so on.

But even allowing for all that, I hope and trust you'll agree that it's a very long way indeed from "They have nothing against affiliate marketing" to "And yet, when I asked them whether this was permitted on their service, they replied that it most certainly was not... and disabled my account."

There are at least 3 of us in this thread alone (Caliban, Michael and myself - as well as several others in several other different threads here) who have been in contact with MailChimp about this exact point, have taken the trouble to discuss this with them, and have as a result decided not to use their service (or in at least one case been forcibly prevented from using it).

However much it may suit your purpose to describe us (as above) as "MailChimp bashers", we're not stupid people.

I recognise that (for completely mysterious reasons best known to yourself) you disagree with our conclusions on the subject - apparently even with Caliban who had his account closed down just for asking a question!!!

Attempting - as you did - to dismiss our perspective as being that of "MailChimp Bashers" is not only downright offensive: it's also entirely inaccurate, extremely unwise and potentially highly misleading to others.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois

My experience was the same as Shaun when I contacted their compliance department to ask about this and carefully took the time to explain and lay out my business model to them, and got their blessing to promote affiliate products.

Their terms, however, as they laid it out for were:

- A) Content must fit within policy (no bad markets)
- B) The list must be built upon my own brand / product / service (therefore no quick niche blogs and slapped together 5 day courses to grab leads to milk)
- C) It must be clear with each affiliate mailing that I recommend and endorse a product that is not mine, and am contacting them on the basis of the relationship built in B)

That does not change the fact that attempting - as you did - to dismiss our perspective as being that of "MailChimp Bashers" is not only downright offensive: it's also entirely inaccurate, extremely unwise and potentially highly misleading to others.

For Heaven's sake, man, what's the matter with you? Are you calling Caliban a liar here, or what?

Warriors will doubtless draw their own conclusions about the way in which you have chosen to drag the conversation down to the level of giving personal offense. Kindly have the decency to acknowledge what so many people are telling you. I'm sure we're all looking forward to seeing your apology for and retraction of that ludicrous allegation.

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Alexandre Valois

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I'm going to be really interested to see whether you have the grace to reconsider this interesting statement, Alexandre, after reading Caliban's experience above ("And yet, when I asked them whether this was permitted on their service, they replied that it most certainly was not... and disabled my account.")

I'm well aware that people can use words with slightly different meanings, that there can be interpretations and subtleties involved, that there can be ambiguities and inconsistencies, and so on.

But even allowing for all that, I hope and trust you'll agree that it's a very long way indeed from "They have nothing against affiliate marketing" to "And yet, when I asked them whether this was permitted on their service, they replied that it most certainly was not... and disabled my account."

There are at least 3 of us in this thread alone (Caliban, Michael and myself - as well as several others in several other different threads here) who have been in contact with MailChimp about this exact point, have taken the trouble to discuss this with them, and have as a result decided not to use their service (or in at least one case been forcibly prevented from using it).

However much it may suit your purpose to describe us (as above) as "MailChimp bashers", we're not stupid people.

I recognise that (for completely mysterious reasons best known to yourself) you disagree with our conclusions on the subject - apparently even with Caliban who had his account closed down just for asking a question!!!

Attempting - as you did - to dismiss our perspective as being that of "MailChimp Bashers" is not only downright offensive: it's also entirely inaccurate, extremely unwise and potentially highly misleading to others.

Alexa,

As explained previously, I contacted their compliance department and laid-out my request clearly, and got a clear answer back.

I have since had many contacts with them since I started using their service, both by e-mail and by phone, and their support people have always been a charm.

Thanks

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Shaun OReilly 13 years ago

MailChimp have over 500,000 users so you're bound to
get some horror stories and people who have been unjustly
treated and are rightly PO'd.

AWeber and other companies have their own disgruntled
customers too - some fair and some not fair.

All I can say is that I proactively contacted the Compliance
Department of MailChimp - in advance of moving any of
my lists there - to get the lay of the land.

If you're a hardcore affiliate marketer or you're in a market
that gets you high compliant rates - then avoid MailChimp.

However, if you're a responsible list owner who mainly sells
your own product then contact MailChimp's Compliance
Department in advance before making your moves.

I've got a Plan B (and Plan C) anyways.

If it goes 'tits up' I can import my lists into iContact (without
re-confirmation) and still get high deliverability.

In the early days - I discounted the idea of using MailChimp
because I wrongly saw it as a cheapo, free service. It's not.
They've got a free and paid side and the functionality they
have is impressive.

They've actually got some cool technology over at MailChimp
such as being able to split-test broadcasts AND autoresponder
follow-up series too. Their API and documentation is great also.

And their Social Pro feature is neat for social media.

Make an informed choice - either way.

(But don't go on hearsay or take advice from some people
who haven't even tried the service).

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun
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- Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly
  
  MailChimp have over 500,000 users so you're bound to get some horror stories and people who unjustly treated
  and rightly PO'd.
  
  I appreciate that, Shaun.
  
  It just saddens me very much when intelligent, sensitive, practically minded people with experience of the subject being discussed are apparently unable to give voice to their experiences without having their perspectives immediately dismissed as being a "MailChimp basher" (not your words, of course!!).
  
  That's just plain insulting, and it's a great shame for a conversation here of potential value to others with decisions to make about their businesses to be dragged down to that level.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  smartlazy Banned 13 years ago
  
  I'm confused. I'm tempted to try Mailchimp but since some people say that it's anti-affiliate marketing, I'm having second thoughts.
  
  Thanks
  
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Alexandre Valois

13 years ago

My experience was the same as Shaun when I contacted their compliance department to ask about this and carefully took the time to explain and lay out my business model to them, and got their blessing to promote affiliate products.

Their terms, however, as they laid it out for were:

- A) Content must fit within policy (no bad markets)
- B) The list must be built upon my own brand / product / service (therefore no quick niche blogs and slapped together 5 day courses to grab leads to milk)
- C) It must be clear with each affiliate mailing that I recommend and endorse a product that is not mine, and am contacting them on the basis of the relationship built in B)

Thanks

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Bicycle Cat

13 years ago

I've been using MailChimp without any problems regarding affiliate marketing. Like Shaun said, there are bound to be plenty of horror stories due to the sheer amount of users with MailChimp.

Thanks

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tecHead

13 years ago

ITS SIMPLE.. NEVER, never, ever, ever, eva, eva, eva, eva rely solely on the opinions, experiences, paths.. whatever they wanna call them... of other people; (no matter HOW much you respect them -- no matter HOW good they are -- no matter HOW many people they've helped); PERIOD.

ALWAYS investigate and do your due diligence yourself in regards to your business. Because your experience will be UNIQUE to your business. PERIOD.

Either follow this rule OR run your business with an understood, self inflicted and inconsistency inducing environment of ambiguity. PERIOD.

(in other words; contact their compliance department for yourself and see what they tell you)

HTH
PLP,
tecHead

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