Email Newsletters are still all the rage. Sometimes, on a bad day, I just wish they would go away.
It’s probably because I’m over email newsletter systems; most of them just don’t work well and cross-browser and email client testing can be such a hassle.
But, it’s still a significant part of how we communicate to our congregation, partners, and organization. I don’t see it going away anytime soon.
So the only logical choice is making sure we have the most robust emailing system available. We’ve been using one such system, Constant Contact, and it’s done an ok job so far, but we’re always on the lookout for other systems to either compare or contrast feature sets and functionalities.
Do you have any recommendations? What does your ministry use?
January 28th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Right now we are using the e-mail reporting through Shelby. This keeps us from having to export and maintain two databases. One good feature is ShelbyCommunicator which allows you to send e-mails and automatically recognizes empty e-mail fields and will then output a label list for snail mail purposes. We don’t send out snail mail, but it’s a good feature. I can run it and let our ministries know who they need to request e-mails from (i.e. key leadership). It’s not the greatest, but it meets the current need.
February 18th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
We use this great little (pretty) service called Mad Mimi (http://madmimi.com/) it’s actually FUN to use and is really simple. I think it’s revolutionized they way we approach newsletters. Really you should go check it out.
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 am
I am someone who lives in Ohio but visits your site very often. What is the problem you are having with Constant Contact?
If you could please respond to: borojevich@hotmail.com that would be great.
I have done many email newsletters with constant contact, but many internet people I know with big lists go with Aweber.
I have also corresponded with the author of “Email marketing for dummies” - He is something high up in Constant Contact - but he is accessible if you are having big problems with that and want to continue to use.
Some of the other “smaller” email marketing companies have issues with delivery.
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:11 am
John:
One more question: do you have a system of “capturing” email addresses from people like me? People who are out of state, but visit your site to watch messages, see what’s new, etc?
I didn’t look thoroughly at your home page to see how you “capture” emails for your site, but you can have a pop up that appears and then as people sign up, it also has them check categories of interest - I am sure you have seen this on other sites, but it “presorts” people for your newsletters.
I guess I am thinking that people like me who are out of state are the ones who you would keep abreast of new things and are also the ones who you might want to send things about “strategic partners”, etc.
I am just wondering if you have a separate “marketing” strategy for those who are not local?
I visit your site often, but if I didn’t pursue you guys, I don’t think you are necessarily reaching out to me?
again, I can be emailed at: borojevich@hotmail.com
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
John:
hey, just one more comment on email marketing. If you use a system like Aweber, you can have a series of email messages that are sent out according to when the person signs up.
For instance, I can say: send this one 1 day after sign up, this one 3 days after sign up, this one 7 days after sign up. These are called “broadcasts”.
If you only send a newsletter and your newsletter goes out on the 27th, I might sign up on the 2nd of the month and not hear from you until the 27th.
Plus, I never get the info that you sent out on your other 35 newsletters since I missed them.
hope this makes sense
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
thanks!
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:04 am
We’ve used MailChimp at http://firsthattiesburg.com for over a year and love it for our email newsletter. Very easy to use. Good support