E-marketing - Newsletters

golfman

Hi guys,

I'm just looking to pick your brains regarding the prices of "Email newsletters". Basically, my business is set up, my website is up and running and my database is subsequently growing. I'd like to start hitting my database with a monthly/bi-weekly newsletter like the ones I receive from countless companies so I can keep my databse informed of new offers etc.

I have had 2 quotes from companies directly involved with my website and online booking.

1) €800 to design the template and €300 for every newsletter sent out
2) €700 to design the template and an annual fee of €350

The first one seems completely ridiculous, the second one in comparison seems ok but I still feel it is a bit overpriced. What do you all think? I am just being really tight? Any suggestions?

Much appreciated.

forbairt

Spoilt Child did some nice work on http://www.toddle.com/ which might suit your needs.

golfman

Thanks for that forbairt, I might have a play with that tonight!

forbairt

golfman wrote: »

Thanks for that forbairt, I might have a play with that tonight!

No problem ... I've not played with it as such but the screen shots look impressive.

What it doesn't give you as far as I know ... are fully customizable templates which will cost you a bit.
(getting newsletters right across multiple email clients / web mail clients)

miju

TBH those quotes are both way OTT . Most people could install an open source fully functional mailing list with group management in very little time.

Personall if that was me quoting you I wouldn't charge more than €100

forbairt

miju wrote: »

TBH those quotes are both way OTT . Most people could install an open source fully functional mailing list with group management in very little time.

Personall if that was me quoting you I wouldn't charge more than €100

For a fully customized template ? Graphics and so on ?

I've used this in the past ...

http://www.phplist.com/

you still have to template things... and test ..

miju

yes I mean lets be honest here. I assume the template would be based on your already existant website design which would require not that much re-jigging to a news letter format.

HTML / CSS is quite easily utilised to maintain standard look through all clients. So IMHO I think your being taking for a ride for is essentially very little work for the developers.

I messed around with phpList a while ago but don't like it myself. I use www.listmessenger.com as I find it worth the once of software licensing fee. Easily able to import text based , excel based lists and design / import html page templates and also gives good error / bounce reporting settings too.

The version I'm currently running with ListMessenger Pro currently has some 27,000 subscribers wihout any issues

tvr

Can anyone recommend a open source alternative to Newsweaver?

validis_

I use http://www.campaignmonitor.com/, they also have a nice version for customers called Mailbuild.

Obelisk29

Have you looked at GroupMail from www.infacta.com?

I'm not sure if the free Home edition has templates but the Personal (~$140) certainly does.

It's a great little product and it's Irish.

o29

GetResults

I have used a website www.constantcontact.com and I have found it very easy to use for regular newsletters. It only costs $15 per month for up to 500 email addresses. They give you 2 months free. Highly recommend you check it out.

Till Rolls

GetResults wrote: »

I have used a website www.constantcontact.com and I have found it very easy to use for regular newsletters. It only costs $15 per month for up to 500 email addresses. They give you 2 months free. Highly recommend you check it out.

Thanks i will look in to them

Something-Wkd

You need to go to www.campaginmonitor.com

Mr Clonfadda

What are you paying for? The design or the distribution System? If its the design I'm sure you could find someone to do it for you from home. If you know your market however you are probably the best person to design this yourself.
If its distribution various companies offer online CRM at a monthly subscription at relatively small prices or you can pick up cheap products like ACT for 150+VAT

Cringer

Hi,

I use www.getresponse.com for all my newsletter campaigns. It's a yearly subscription but totally worth it. I've used phplist before which was ok for me, but I wanted something with minimal interaction on my behalf, no issues with the number of emails I could send out (had that problem with phplist) so went with getresponse. After 10,000 subscribers you then pay $5 per month for each 5k more so the more on the list, the more it costs per month, unfortunately.

byrne0f56789

I would definitely recommend Aweber. I use them myself and they are really easy to use and have some great templates. They have great delivery penetration with gmail, hotmail etc. you should check them out. They only cost around €15 a month ($19). Well worth it. Their blog and support is also excellent. You can also do a lot of integration with blog RSS feeds as well.

http://www.aweber.com