Theoretically, you know now what to expect when purchasing a bulk email software.
In this section we nominate at least one example for each cathegory:
Hosted email softwares
These programs are web hosted, also known as ASPs, with packages usualy available for a monthly fee.
- The free, advertising supported ASP from Yahoo, YahooGroups. This is a best option for announcements and discussion lists. I am currently subscribed with two Yahoo Groups, one that functions as a discussion list and the other one as a weekly newsletter. The subscription is based on email-invites (kinf of a double opt-in) and possibility of spam accusations practically inexistent.
- If you need Merchant Services integration where the recipient can receive an email with a buy now button and is integrated with your merchant processor, then you can click here for more information.
- One ASP that used to be free, and is now available for $25/month (send max. 10.000 e-mails/month) is ListBuilder from Microsoft Small Business Center.
Features: single or double opt-in, HTML templates, personalizing emails, campaign tracking, targeting options.
- IntelliContactPro is a paying web-based email software, with programs ranging from $9.95 monthly (up to 500 subscribers) through $959.00 monthly (up to 250.000 subscribers).
Features: Personalization with mail merge, message scheduling, forward option, surveying, readers track (open rates and clich-thrus), bounceback handling, automatic management for opt-ins and opt-outs, newsletter editing.
- Among the most popular bulk email softwares is Constant Contact, preferred by 10% of the responders in a survey provided by Web Marketing Today (May, 2004). On their website, prices are displayed for up to 25.000 subscribers ($150/month).
Features: 75 templates for newsletter or the possibility to create your own, HTML, text and AOL support, personalization, advanced list management, campaign tracking and comparative metrics. They include a free version for under 50 subscribers. Their prices are slightly higher when compared to IntelliContactPro, for example.
- In the same survey, Lyris had 4% of the market. However, the study included market shares for all their email-related softwares. Services begin at $50 per month, they offer limited mail merge, and price extra for link tracking.
Desktop email softwares
This type of bulk email software must be installed on your desktop computer. Providers charge a one-time license.
- A very interesting solution for your emailing campaigns seems to be the multiple Editor's Choice awarded WorldMerge from Colorado Soft; when others price their softwares at hundreds dollars, this one will cost you only $49.
Features: Mail list size: 100K (max. 100.000 recipients), allows 20 attachments for each message, unlimited mailing projects and database fields, HTML editing. No database convertion or import required.
- WorldCast from Fairlogic Systems is also available at $49.
Features: imports and exports to many database types, has an email validator, a crash recovery system, multi-threaded sending, HTML editor and spell checker.
- A complete desktop email software is Corey Rudl's Mailloop
features: opt-in, bounce management, mail merge, attachments, autoresponder, HTML and text message display, email extractor. Available for $397.
I'll also nominate a list of spam tools, it is your responsibility whether you'll choose them or not:
- Desktop Server 2000
- DirectMail, Mach10 and Emerge, all from Earthonline
- Mass Mailer Software
CGI email softwares
This type of programs can be installed on the CGI directory of your server, a kind of in-house hosted software. Some are available for free: