Leasing Targeted Email Lists

Warriors,

After receiving an email earlier disclosing the ability to 'lease' a targeted email list, I began to explore that option, and since have been awestruck trying to determine, is it an effective method?

Naturally, there comes a time whereby we have to spend money advertising. I have been reluctant, and have studied all the 'free' traffic methods my brain can handle...from SEO, article spinning, and submissions, to offline techniques.

Recently, I began weighing out the cost of doing an offline offer, whereby I would print some 3"x 5" mini-promo cards, and have my teenagers help me physically hand them out....with one motive, get them to the squeeze page, and convert 1% into sales. (Mind you, I haven't tried it yet...so I could essentially do far worse...or way better)

By demand, I agreed to pay the kids (bribery) 50% commissions on their pooled sales (if any), and figured this would get them interested in tracking ctr, tracking opt-ins, sales, and seeing 'what the hell' Dad's been working on, and talking about doing...and get the family involved doing it! (Two of them work part-time @ min wage!)

I've heard people getting a great response to this method, as it brings a personal element into play, can lead to conversation, and in-turn could land some decent traffic/sales. Plus, it breaks up the monotony of banging away on the qwerty all day, while the wife and kids remain clueless about how it all works! (That and they think I am crazy!)

My goal was to print 5,000 3x5 cards for $500, and hopefully catch 40-50 sales (1% conversion) on a $97 product offer. Then if it works, rinse and repeat a few times per month. Maybe split-test some offers, squeeze pages, etc...

But, today I got an email stating; I can email a 'targeted list' of 1,000,000 people who have recently opted-in for a similar product or inquiry for $800....hmmmm

Breaking it down, I am still going to do the offline 'hand-out' as I call out...but I started looking at costs.

At .10 per card, 5,000 quality 3x5 post cards will run $500

If I were to hit my "target" of 1% conversion overall the 50 sales x $100 would be $5,000 ($4,500 gain before paying the kids)

But, if I emailed 1 Million targeted people seeking my product, I could quite possibly:

A.) Get at least a few thousand opt-ins to my list, drop a free report with some aff links, and likely pay for itself in a short time (even if $0 sales were to happen)

B.) Hopefully...it'll convert 1/1000th of 1% into buyers = $10,000 (No kids, No Passing Out Cards)

I guess the question is; am I dreaming to think 1/1000th of a million emails will actually buy a $100 or $97 program?

1% of 1 Million emails would = 10,000 sales. I certainly don't imagine that 10k people will buy a $100 product...(as that would =$1,000,000 raked) and would seem too easy! (*especially for an $800 investment)

But logically, if it converted even 1/1000th of 1% that would be 100 sales from a million emails @ $100 per sale = $10,000 (w/No kids to pay...and still be a successful investment.)

Which route (if either) would you choose?

PS- I did find other sites offering email mailing lists of 1 Million subscribers far cheaper (like $179 for 2 Million mailings x2), but something tells me the $800 offer is more credible, and from what appears a reliable source. *Initially, the offer was $50 per 1,000 emails sent, min order of $500. I negotiated it, and got 1M targeted emails down to $800. <---is that good...I dunno?

Help...I don't wanna hang myself, either option is a tough spend right now with school just kicking off, but I have the video squeeze page in place, the offer is set up on a redirect after opt-in, and the funnel seems tight...as is the sales copy.

Feels like a "Risky Business" moment, where sometimes you just gotta say WTF!

My wife says let's do it...but if it flops, I'll be in the dog house (again!)

Any insight you may share or if you have had prior experiences with the above methods is greatly appreciated and welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Art