[epub] Re: Software to handle lists

["Coach Maria" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

MMMMM  Since Joe Reinbold, isn't tooting is horn <g> I will.  He runs an
excellent ezine, and I am honored to be both a long term subscriber.. and
contributor.  That said...

Joe said "One thing that you need to evaluate when you are looking at a list
service to use is the size of the messages that you are allowed to send in
order to get their cheapest rate. Let's say that they advertise that you can
get a rate of $1.00 per 1000 for all messages up to 10k or less.  Based on
my experience, 10k isn't a very big ezine."

This is very, very important.  My ezine, which is HTML and has every picture
optimized, is very hard to keep at 20K.  I usually  end up going over
that...

When you produce an HTML ezine it is, IMO,  imperative to place it on your
website for readers to read. For AOL users but also for library users, and
others who may receive an attachment - or receive a link on the top of the
page, then lots of "goobly gook" or =20  below it.  Hitting a link that you
provide your subscribers is a much better option for these users.   Also,
again for AOL users, they may experience problems with HTML links.  One
suggestion that I received from my readers, is to use the full links vs.
putting "tap here".

Another alternative my readers seem to be enjoying is the ezine I do right
in Outlook, but it has colors, bold, etc.  No pictures.  This is called a
simple HTML ezine.  It takes up much less space and so far, hasn't been
received by anyone as an attachment.  So simple HTML ezines are another
option for folks.

Why do HTML at all?  MMM That is the question.  I had two text only "tips
lists" for almost 2 years.  Subscriber base was 130 when I decided to go to
HTML in 10/00. Now I have 1025 subscribers. For me, using HTML was a matter
of choice... and also had to do with who my ideal client is.  When I went to
HTML, I wrote to all my AOL users with suggestions and letting them know
about the link I was going to place on the top of each ezine.  I also
requested (at the time) the availabilty of AOL 6.0 which was the first AOL
program to even accept HTML.  I ended up helping lots of people upgrade,
answer questions and they were very happy that I was trying to do something
considerate for them - Some even opened free email accounts for not only my
ezine, but all their ezines, too.

And once in a while, I write to my new AOL users to give them options of
registering with topica and requesting text only, upgrading their AOL, etc.
And it's appreciate by 99.9%

One thing I will note, that in the ezine class I teach, only 1 out of 6
people are first designing HTML ezines.  Most of them are doing text only.
Some have told me they don't have the gumption to design it themselves,
learn HTML, or pay someone to do it, etc.  Others have told me that they
don't need something so fancy.   Still others have said.. keep it simple...
for them!

Recently I viewed a subscribe box that gave these options (or close to them)

AOL Users Only
Text Only
HTML
Ezine With Pictures

If your first ezine is unreadable, come back here and change your
subscription to Text Only.

Pretty interesting subscription box <g>

Best of success,
Maria Marsala

Business and Life Coach-Consultant
http://www.coachmaria.com <http://www.coachmaria.com/>
P.S. Thinking about starting a business? Download
our free ebook now. www.coachmaria.com/ebook/download.html

<http://playstream-real.com:8080/ramgen/thomasleonard/mariamarsala86767.rm>
Hear a message from Maria


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