Mailchimp not to be used for internet marketing?

64 replies
Hi folks,

I just tried to migrate one of my double opt-in email lists to the mailchimp service and received an email from their copmpliance team saying:

"We are a strict permission based newsletter delivery service. Sales prospecting content is is not supported as we aren't willing to shoulder the potential complaint risk typically associated with such content types."

Hmmm....so none of their clients sell via these permission based newsletters? Unlikely.
#internet #mailchimp #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Jillycakes
    I don't use MailChimp myself, but it was my understanding that you can't do any third party marketing (affiliate offers, etc.) through them. I've heard that they only allow you to market your own products and services through your list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leigh Burke
    Hi Jillycakes,

    That would make sense to me. It is a little strange that some of the templates within mailchimp are specifically gearled towards sales prospecting. Such as their 'Amazon books', 'Coupon', 'Products' & 'Retail Postcard'.

    I can understand the need to screen people importing lists into their system to keep out spammers, however I provided more than enough proof (including screenshots from within my legacy system) that my list was double opt-in.

    I spent 3-4 hours researching new providers, and had migrated all my lists and was in the process of setting up campaigns within my account. So just more than a little annoyed by the ultra conservativeness showed by mailchimp.

    Interestingly, my account is still open, I just can't send email at the moment. Perhaps I'll have luck appealing their decision.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leigh Burke
    P.S although I am not sure I like placing my list in the hands of a company that have their finger on the trigger ready to shoot me down any time they receive a spam complaint.
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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    I use mail chimp for my buyers list. I always save it though before I send out a broadcast just in case, lol.

    To get around the affiliate marketing thing I just send them to a presell page on my blog when applicable. MailChimp is super easy to use and has tons of great features. Just they have their moments, lol.

    Good Luck

    P.S. I should add that I also use Imnica, so If MC decides to get weird on me I can import them to Imnica without having to reconfirm. So I won't "lose my list"
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  • Profile picture of the author diegoortiz
    its funny and ironic, mailchimp dosent want affiliate marketing in their shoulders, yet they have an affiliate program
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    • Profile picture of the author Coby
      Originally Posted by diegoortiz View Post

      its funny and ironic, mailchimp dosent want affiliate marketing in their shoulders, yet they have an affiliate program
      And they add YOUR affiliate link to the bottom of each email that links back to their site...

      I guess its a trade-off, lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author diegoortiz
        Originally Posted by Coby View Post

        And they add YOUR affiliate link to the bottom of each email that links back to their site...

        I guess its a trade-off, lol.
        I guess so...
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by Coby View Post

        And they add YOUR affiliate link to the bottom of each email that links back to their site...

        I guess its a trade-off, lol.
        I suppose they need to generate income somehow to pay for their expenses, lol. There'll always be trade-offs when using so-called "free" solutions, and what I find unsettling is that they probably have clauses written into the TOS that give them plenty of leeway for terminating clients for any reason they find suitable.

        It's good that you have Imnica at the ready in case anything unexpected happens. I can see how they could be tightening up on internet marketers in the future, especially if they get a rash of spam complaints related to this activity.
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  • I think they don't mind internet marketing, it's affiliate marketing they don't like. I'd imagine they don't want you simply sticking affiliate links in your email. I would be interested to see if you simply had a link to your webpage in your email which could then redirect your readers to a page on your site which may have affiliate links. I'm not sure if that is breaking any rules.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterkailo
    I don't like their Terms of Service. I stick to Aweber all the way!
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  • Profile picture of the author CheapTrafficDude
    Two Words, TrafficWave I tried about a dozen AR's and the best two were aWeber and TrafficWave although I don't like the pay-as-you-grow structure of aWeber, it's just money out of your prockets for the same job done, while TrafficWave is always the same price. TW will also help you to migrate, not had problems with them. The only thing is, your subscribers will be required to opt-in again.

    The issue with TW is their forms aren't the "pretty" type like aWeber but I know how to take an aWeber form and slap a TW code on it, I can help ya if it's something you'd be interested in
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    • Profile picture of the author misterkailo
      Originally Posted by CheapTrafficDude View Post

      Two Words, TrafficWave I tried about a dozen AR's and the best two were aWeber and TrafficWave although I don't like the pay-as-you-grow structure of aWeber, it's just money out of your prockets for the same job done, while TrafficWave is always the same price. TW will also help you to migrate, not had problems with them. The only thing is, your subscribers will be required to opt-in again.

      The issue with TW is their forms aren't the "pretty" type like aWeber but I know how to take an aWeber form and slap a TW code on it, I can help ya if it's something you'd be interested in
      Never heard of TW but I'm just sticking to Aweber for the comfort of knowing how everything works there.
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    • Profile picture of the author Viramara
      Originally Posted by CheapTrafficDude View Post

      Two Words, TrafficWave I tried about a dozen AR's and the best two were aWeber and TrafficWave although I don't like the pay-as-you-grow structure of aWeber, it's just money out of your prockets for the same job done, while TrafficWave is always the same price. TW will also help you to migrate, not had problems with them. The only thing is, your subscribers will be required to opt-in again.
      Norabots is unlimited too, lastly I saw they charged $15/month and whether you have 100 or 10000 subscribers they'll still charge $15. I haven't tried Norabots myself but have read a review from a real user, he said it's great.

      Now suppose you use a MailChimp. You redirect your subscribers to an outer webpage with affiliate marketing content in it, will it still violate MC policy?
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Viramara View Post

        You redirect your subscribers to an outer webpage with affiliate marketing content in it, will it still violate MC policy?
        Yes, apparently so.

        You don't have to be using affiliate marketing with MailChimp, to violate their terms of service: you just have to be "a person who does affiliate marketing" (however/wherever/whenever) for them to close your account, as explained in this recent post (and other Warriors have told me the same, also).
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Leigh Burke View Post

    Hmmm....so none of their clients sell via these permission based newsletters? Unlikely.
    MailChimp can't articulate their policy because their policy is inconsistent.

    Basically, if they don't like what you're doing, you lose your account and your lists with it.

    They can't exactly explain what they don't like, but they know it when they see it, and in general they don't like people who sell stuff.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      MailChimp can't articulate their policy because their policy is inconsistent.

      Basically, if they don't like what you're doing, you lose your account and your lists with it.

      They can't exactly explain what they don't like, but they know it when they see it, and in general they don't like people who sell stuff.
      ^^^ This. Exactly.

      Their terms of service are, in my opinion, absolutely ludicrous.

      Under no circumstances would I dream of doing business with them.

      They're among the people in this industry who exist only because there's a huge and unceasing influx of newbies who know no better and are tempted by the word "free", not realising the long-term price they'll pay for eventually being more-or-less "stuck" with an unsafe company who has custody of their business's single greatest asset. :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author superdevo
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        ^^^ This. Exactly.

        Their terms of service are, in my opinion, absolutely ludicrous.

        Under no circumstances would I dream of doing business with them.

        They're among the people in this industry who exist only because there's a huge and unceasing influx of newbies who know no better and are tempted by the word "free", not realising the long-term price they'll pay for eventually being more-or-less "stuck" with an unsafe company who has custody of their business's single greatest asset. :rolleyes:
        If Mailchimp allows you to export your entire list & Aweber let's you import your list.....then how does Mailchimp have "custody of their business's single greatest asset."
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  • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
    True. But then don'taWeber, GetResponse, Imnica Mail <insert your favorite AR here> all have custody of your list? Is the alternative to self host? I tried that....hated it with a passion.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

      True. But then don'taWeber, GetResponse, Imnica Mail <insert your favorite AR here> all have custody of your list?
      Yes, but they don't have absolutely ludicrous terms of service like MailChimp, so that fact doesn't constitute quite such a threat, in their cases. And there isn't a whole group of Warriors who've suddenly lost their accounts and access to their lists without quite knowing what they've done wrong, because of those services. It's rather different, n'est-ce pas?! :p

      (Of course everyone should back up their lists anyway, but not everyone does, and even doing so is no guarantee of being able to import the list elsewhere anyway).
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

      True. But then don'taWeber, GetResponse, Imnica Mail <insert your favorite AR here> all have custody of your list?
      Yes, but they don't have a reputation for kicking people off the service at the drop of a hat.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

      True. But then don'taWeber, GetResponse, Imnica Mail <insert your favorite AR here> all have custody of your list? Is the alternative to self host? I tried that....hated it with a passion.
      There's a neat 'halfway house' you can use that gives
      you the benefits of self-hosted, without the hassle of
      managing the deliverability of your own e-mail server...

      Get some self-hosted autoresponder software that allows you
      to send your e-mails via an external SMTP server.

      For example, Interspire will allow you to install their software
      on your server, AND allow you to send e-mail via a reputable
      SMTP server such as smtp.com, authsmtp.com, etc.

      The neat thing with this solution is that you're 100% in control
      of your database and you can change mail servers at will to
      maximize deliverability.

      In contrast, if your list is with AWeber or any other third-party
      autoresponder service they have control of your e-mail database
      and you're tied to the deliverability rates of their servers.

      My lists are the #1 most important asset in my Internet business
      so I like to have them 100% under my control whenever possible.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
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      .

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      • Profile picture of the author wcardinal
        Shaun - Thanks alot for this info. This is the solution I have been looking for. I didn't realize there were services like smtp out there. The whitelisting issue is a big one if you are trying to self-host a mail program yourself. Being blacklisted can happen very easily.

        Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

        There's a neat 'halfway house' you can
        For example, Interspire will allow you to install their software
        on your server, AND allow you to send e-mail via a reputable
        SMTP server such as smtp.com, authsmtp.com, etc.

        The neat thing with this solution is that you're 100% in control
        of your database and you can change mail servers at will to
        maximize deliverability.
        Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author Leigh Burke
    Hi Shaun,

    Can you elaborate in terms of what software you use, and where you have it hosted to ensure best deliverability and a host that allows you to send larger amounts of email from that hosting account?

    Cheers,

    Leigh.
    P.S I had a small win with MailChimp. They allowed me to re-instate one of my smaller lists.

    Also looking at 1shoppingcart.com does anybody have any recent experience with them in terms of deliverability of emails etc?
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  • Profile picture of the author Capitalist_Pig
    I can't find anything in their TOS that says you can't promote 3rd party offers - only that you have to keep your lists for a single interest/purpose.

    In other words, you can't build a list by giving away "make money online" ebooks, then market toll-free service to them. You have to keep it in the same vertical, in essence.

    I've heard some issues with people importing their lists to MailChimp, but they're understandably cautious with mass list imports. Every case I've heard of where the marketer had a solid record of signups was accepted and reactivated without issue.

    I'll stay with MailChimp for now - thought it's always smart to back up your lists.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
      Originally Posted by Capitalist_Pig View Post

      I can't find anything in their TOS that says you can't promote 3rd party offers - only that you have to keep your lists for a single interest/purpose.

      In other words, you can't build a list by giving away "make money online" ebooks, then market toll-free service to them. You have to keep it in the same vertical, in essence.

      I've heard some issues with people importing their lists to MailChimp, but they're understandably cautious with mass list imports. Every case I've heard of where the marketer had a solid record of signups was accepted and reactivated without issue.

      I'll stay with MailChimp for now - thought it's always smart to back up your lists.
      From mailchimps terms:-

      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
      Work from home, Internet Lead-gen, Make money on online opportunities, etc.
      Online trading, day trading tips, or stock market related content
      Gambling services, products or gambling education
      Multi-level marketing
      Affiliate marketing
      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


      Terms of Use | MailChimp

      Rich
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      • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
        Originally Posted by Richard Tunnah View Post

        From mailchimps terms:-

        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
        Work from home, Internet Lead-gen, Make money on online opportunities, etc.
        Online trading, day trading tips, or stock market related content
        Gambling services, products or gambling education
        Multi-level marketing
        Affiliate marketing
        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


        Terms of Use | MailChimp

        Rich
        I had a client with a list on Mailchimp and he failed to realize his line of work fell under one of the categories you just listed.
        However I know a lot of people getting away with sending affiliate links through their list who have seemingly perfectly TOS friendly accounts. The only thing one can do is just explain their list too valuable to leave in mailchimp's hands...
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Capitalist_Pig View Post

      I can't find anything in their TOS that says you can't promote 3rd party offers
      With respect, Mr. CP, you haven't looked very far: their entire TOS comprise only one page, and it's there in black and white. Affiliate marketing is expressly prohibited.

      Failure to appreciate this is among the reasons why so many Warriors have suddenly lost their MailChimp lists, and why there are so many threads in this and in other forums warning others involved in any one of a huge list of industries and activities not to entrust their lists to MailChimp.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Murphy
    @Capitalist_Pig,

    Terms of Use | MailChimp

    Part 1, 10. F.

    This section has a bullet list of prohibited categories, and Affiliate Marketing is listed there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    I should add here since I mentioned that I use MC for my buyers list that I don't use the "free" version... My buyers list isn't that big so its fairly cheap to host them and I use MC mostly for a "place holder" b/c DPD (my delivery company) integrates with MC so buyers are added automatically... DPD does not integrate with Imnica yet or I could just kick MC out, lol.

    Aweber is boss, but I left them after they got hacked the last time. Problem with being boss is everyone knows it and who are they gonna go after?

    I still get spam emails from the Aweber hack (I know because I get them in email addresses that were never used for anything but receiving my AR messages (for testing) and were never given out anywhere else. So I know my subs and you folks too are still getting the Viagara spam emails from Aweber getting hacked.
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  • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
    From that list it really makes me wonder why MC are in business. Supplements, for weight loss or muscle gain DO work, but only as part of the overall plan. And affiliate products do work so long as you've done your research, actually bought the product to test it and can then truly recommend it. Moot point though, I use Imnica Mail. Stop thinking cheap, start thinking value. Remember that You can start for free with Get Response OR you can start at $9 with Imnica. Either way they both work, as does aWeber.
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

      From that list it really makes me wonder why MC are in business. Supplements, for weight loss or muscle gain DO work, but only as part of the overall plan. And affiliate products do work so long as you've done your research, actually bought the product to test it and can then truly recommend it.
      MailChimp are in the business of getting e-mail delivered
      into inboxes for large and small companies and individuals
      too.

      Some market sectors such as weight loss, home business
      opportunites, etc are associated with higher level of spam
      complaints and this can reduce overall deliverability rates
      for e-mail servers.

      MailChimp have a very strict requirements on who can (and
      who can't) send e-mail via their servers. This helps them to
      maintain very high deliverability rates.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
      Signature

      .

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      • Profile picture of the author AronD
        What if I just write an email that says:
        "Hey, check my new blog post, where I review XY...", and I put my affiliate link in that blog post.
        This counts as notifying about new content, not affiliate marketing isn't it?
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by AronD View Post

          What if I just write an email that says:
          "Hey, check my new blog post, where I review XY...", and I put my affiliate link in that blog post.
          This counts as notifying about new content, not affiliate marketing isn't it?
          It would perhaps be a bit bizarre for an outgoing email with a link to a blog which includes affiliate links to be classified itself as "affiliate marketing", but don't you think you need to ask MailChimp themselves this question (if you actually want to do business with them and entrust your lists to them after reading this and 30 other threads about them here), rather than canvassing the opinions of a self-selected group of forum members?! Who knows? Maybe if that's your "main business", they would consider you to be engaging in "affiliate marketing"? You're pretty unlikely to find this out reliably, either way, by asking here, though, surely? :confused:
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          • Profile picture of the author AronD
            Dear Alexa,
            My primary intention with the post was to give an idea on how to use MailChimp for affiliate marketing, but as I see, the way I stated it didn't make this clear, sorry for that.

            I also have to tell, that I, myself, use my mailing list to notify subscribers about new blog posts and products that I produce, but I also had plans of promoting other quality products in a way that I described it (writing a review on my blog, and promoting that post to my subscribers). I just wanted to share this method that I use, with those who are using MailChimp.

            Cheers
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    • Profile picture of the author Alan Ashwood
      Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

      From that list it really makes me wonder why MC are in business. Supplements, for weight loss or muscle gain DO work, but only as part of the overall plan. And affiliate products do work so long as you've done your research, actually bought the product to test it and can then truly recommend it. Moot point though, I use Imnica Mail. Stop thinking cheap, start thinking value. Remember that You can start for free with Get Response OR you can start at $9 with Imnica. Either way they both work, as does aWeber.
      What about newbies who have little or no funds, and can't spend month after month while they build lists? I used to be a Mailchimp customer due to it's free service up to 2000 names. However, once I started venturing into affiliate marketing, I switched to ListWire, another free service owned by Gary Ambrose.
      It may lack some of the bells and whistles of the big boys, but it works very well (once you've got our head round setting it up), and I don't object to a Listwire ad on my opt-in form if it's saving me £30 a month.
      I will look at some of the srvices I've not heard of such as Imnica. It helps to have a back up plan if life goes pear shaped.
      Signature
      Now where did I put that pencil?

      Time for a cuppa.
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  • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
    Thanks Shaun! Still though I gotta wonder, when aWeber and the big guns don't have this restriction. That certainly doesn't make them bad. And in my eyes to simply assume that (as they are inferring) anyone that promotes jazz like that deserves a banning, well, that's JPW - Just Plain Wrong.

    But then again, I'm not considering doing business with them any time soon, just stating my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dean Jackson
    This Mailchimp thing is a dead horse... they don't like marketers... period!

    I'd stay away and stick to the classics. Either GetResponse or Aweber - pick one and move onto something that will make you money .

    I say that because whenever I sign up to something, there are always 2-3 "top" picks that I check out reviews for and do due diligence - but on the flip side, one important thing everyone should learn is to make decisions quickly and stick with them without wandering if the "grass is greener".

    Take care,
    Dean
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Customer support at MailChimp told me outright that even if you engage in affiliate marketing without using their service to email about it, if they find out, they will terminate your account.

      Their TOS does not say those that use our service to affiliate market - it says those who engage in affiliate marketing.

      The same thing goes for anything on their list of prohibited activities or niches.
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      • Profile picture of the author Leslie B
        Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

        Customer support at MailChimp told me outright that even if you engage in affiliate marketing without using their service to email about it, if they find out, they will terminate your account.

        Their TOS does not say those that use our service to affiliate market - it says those who engage in affiliate marketing.

        The same thing goes for anything on their list of prohibited activities or niches.
        This exactly is why they closed my account on the same day I opened it. I wasn't planning on mailing affiliate marketing stuff, but my main site had one, yes ONE, affiliate banner on it and my account got closed before I could use it. Of course, they wouldn't have found out if I hadn't contacted them for another reason, but still.

        Leslie
        Signature
        Taking it one day at a time!
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

        Customer support at MailChimp told me outright that even if you engage in affiliate marketing without using their service to email about it, if they find out, they will terminate your account.

        Their TOS does not say those that use our service to affiliate market - it says those who engage in affiliate marketing.

        The same thing goes for anything on their list of prohibited activities or niches.

        Incredible, those are some pretty harsh terms. For anyone starting out in IM who wants to take the 'free' route, you have been warned! Is it really worth all that risk just to use a free autoresponder that might boot you without notice the moment they find out you do any kind of affiliate marketing?

        If you're really that strapped for cash, use Getresponse - I believe you can use the service for free until you get past the 100 subscriber mark.

        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    I prefer aweber but mailchimp is a good alternative if u looking for something for free to start.
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    Blogger at RicherOrNot.com (Make Money online blog but also promoting ethical internet marketing)

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    • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
      Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

      I prefer aweber but mailchimp is a good alternative if u looking for something for free to start.
      After this entire thread, you still think so? GetResponse gives you a free account with up to 500 leads. And don't care if you're a marketer. Sheesh.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by cypherslock View Post

        After this entire thread, you still think so? GetResponse gives you a free account with up to 500 leads. And don't care if you're a marketer. Sheesh.
        Unfortunately, Getresponse is not that generous. Your account is only free for up to 100 subscribers - and you can only send out a maximum of 500 emails per month, meaning that you can probably only email your subscribers a couple of times each month (can't broadcast once a day if you have 100 subscribers or close to it, for those of you who are thinking of doing this).

        Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

      Customer support at MailChimp told me outright that even if you engage in affiliate marketing without using their service to email about it, if they find out, they will terminate your account.
      Thanks, Tina. This just about says it all, doesn't it?

      Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

      I prefer aweber but mailchimp is a good alternative if u looking for something for free to start.
      A "good" alternative?! Do you really imagine so, Fazal?

      I can't help wondering, in that case, how just unreasonable and ludicrous a service would have to be for you to say that even if you were looking for something free to start, it was still a really bad one to use? Just wondering, because there are other free ones, you know? I wouldn't touch them with a barge-pole, myself, because I wouldn't be willing to entrust the safe-keeping of my business's greatest asset to them, given their business model, but they're still a far better bet than MailChimp.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    awerber is by far the best...do not go from cheaper alternatives.

    U are beggin for must heartache.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Barboza
    What about Icontact? It seems to be very good for affiliate marketing. I have seen lots of top internet marketers using it
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  • Profile picture of the author neojr
    I use Mailchimp and am happy with it.

    However, I'm not an affiliate, I advertise only my own products.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joewriter
    Hi
    I tried to use it some while ago but I could not tell how good it was for the job since I got an alternative.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bojan_Djordjevic
    Does this also goes for Amazon links? I was intending to put my blog RSS imported for my readers, but I occasionally put in Amazon affiliate links in there, so should I worry about anything?
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    • Profile picture of the author Leslie B
      Originally Posted by Bojan_Djordjevic View Post

      Does this also goes for Amazon links? I was intending to put my blog RSS imported for my readers, but I occasionally put in Amazon affiliate links in there, so should I worry about anything?
      No affiliate marketing means: no affiliate marketing. So, I'm pretty sure it'll go for Amazon affiliate links too. You could ask, but they'll close your account instead of answering

      Leslie
      Signature
      Taking it one day at a time!
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by Leslie B View Post

        No affiliate marketing means: no affiliate marketing. So, I'm pretty sure it'll go for Amazon affiliate links too. You could ask, but they'll close your account instead of answering

        Leslie
        I'd feel very uncomfortable using Mailchimp for any internet marketing purposes, because you're going to want to promote affiliate offers with your autoresponder sooner or later, and you'll get in trouble for doing this.

        Unless you're a hardcore product creator who pumps out products like crazy and/or offers services of your own (that you want to promote to your list), I simply don't see the point in using Mailchimp.

        Paul
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        >>> Features Jason Fladlien, John S. Rhodes, Justin Brooke, Sean I. Mitchell, Reed Floren and Brad Gosse! <<<
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    • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
      Originally Posted by Bojan_Djordjevic View Post

      Does this also goes for Amazon links? I was intending to put my blog RSS imported for my readers, but I occasionally put in Amazon affiliate links in there, so should I worry about anything?
      Not sure but I always think - if in doubt don't. I think mailchimp's status on things like this is a really grey so its hard to tell.


      On the whole issue with paid vs free auto responders here's my take...

      I think if you have a great opt-in offer, give lots of info as you seamlessly plug your affiliates your list really should pay for itself every month or lead onto offers that pay for it. If you have a crappy month (which we all do) then you just double it up next month.

      I was just looking at my Aweber affiliate and I've actually paid for quite a few months of service with that affiliate money. Something to think about.

      I totally get saving money but I also know putting money in your biz can achieve greater profits if done well.

      I'm not sure if having additional ads in free services is a good thing when you want the focus on what you're selling not what they're selling. If its working for you - great, but if you're finding you could make more, test out a paid sub with either a free monthly trial and or a tiny fee for the first month.

      V
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    • Profile picture of the author RevSEO
      Why not stick with Aweber?

      I've had the best results with Aweber and highly recommend it. Why risk building out and developing your AR when they are already giving you crap this early in the game?

      That's a sure sign of your future with MailChimp....
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  • Profile picture of the author redrabbitt67
    I've just put up a website to sell my own PLR products but I'll probably include affiliate links to other sites until I build up my inventory. I was thinking of using Mailchimp, but I see that's prohibited on Mailchimp, and I don't want problems from the gitgo.

    Are affiliate links allowed with aweber?
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    • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
      Originally Posted by redrabbitt67 View Post

      I've just put up a website to sell my own PLR products but I'll probably include affiliate links to other sites until I build up my inventory. I was thinking of using Mailchimp, but I see that's prohibited on Mailchimp, and I don't want problems from the gitgo.

      Are affiliate links allowed with aweber?
      Yes aweber is used by a lot of Im'ers and affiliate links are allowed. They obviously have a TOS but their service is geared towards business owners who need/want to sell things.

      And I tell you another reason why I like them so much (others may have their own take) - I had a really complex opt-in to put on a client's site once and I could not get my head around it. Generally their opt-in is just copy and paste code but this required different options and people to funnel into different lists. May not be complex to some but it was to me.
      One of Aweber's tech support more or less held my hand through it.

      If you do sign up make sure you're ready to rock and roll with all your traffic, offer and auto responders so you make the most out of your $1 first month sign up.

      V
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    I'm wondering, does the name "MailChimp" show up anywhere on your emails?...if so, that would be another reason not to use them. :-)
    _____
    Bruce
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  • I've had a similar problem.

    They also require double opt-in..

    For one of my sites we wanted to use them so we created a custom API script to integrate with the site. This allowed us to do single opt-in with them.

    I guess they figure you must be legit if you write your own code.

    I stick with iContact if you wanna import leads..
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    It's getting harder and harder these days to mail via autoresponders, all it takes is a few complaints, even from folks who have signed up to your mailing list (and don't remember) for you to get in trouble with your host or ISP or both
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  • Profile picture of the author Dwight Anthony
    I'd go with aweber if you can, great support. A little pricey but you should be able to cover if you're a decent marketer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brankica
    I use MC and I am about to switch to Aweber. I know that MC can just "not like" your e-mail and just cancel your account, it happened to a lot of people.

    I never sent an affiliate link in the mail, and my mailing is usually consisted of informing people about new stuff on my blog where there are aff links.

    However I receive an email sent from MC where the person has a "recommended sponsors" section, with direct affiliate links, about 5 of them, in every email and using the free version of MC.

    I asked MC about this and they said "we can't discuss other people's lists" and "maybe it escaped our filters". Seriously? It has been escaping for months then!!!

    Also they told me no affiliate links are allowed and it is non negotiable.

    I asked them on another occasion if aff links are allowed and in what manner and the response was that I CAN include aff links in the email as long as that is not the sole purpose of the email.

    So as an example, I used a post on my blog where I recommend a service (Fotolia) and asked them if I was telling my readers that I have this new post and tell them where it is, would I be able to also include my Fotolia aff link in the email, since that would not be the main purpose of the e-mail. The main purpose would be telling them about the post.

    They said yes.

    They themselves have no clue what they are talking about and obviously don't have strict rules. If they like you you can do what ever you want.

    For me that is unprofessional, and as soon as I figure out how to move my list the easy way, I am going to Aweber.
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  • Profile picture of the author andynathan
    I use mailchimp for some of my clients, but have told all of them that they barred me for having 1 or 2 complaints on a list of 1500 people. In order to get my account off the suspension I had to go through double opt-in with every single person again.
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