| Successful online business can't be led without email | | | | doesn't offer that it is important that they offer |
| marketing. Many people know that it is very important | | | | additional service that can be easily integrated with |
| to have a web site but having a web site is only one | | | | their main product. |
| step in creating successful online presence. You have | | | | 3) Scalability - one of the main features of modern |
| to stay in touch with your clients and prospects. You | | | | software is scalability. At this moment you might need |
| need to have a two way communication with your | | | | software that will be able to send 1,000 emails at once |
| clients and prospects and best way to do this is to | | | | but in 3 years your membership base can be 5,000. |
| have an email newsletter. To send emails to your | | | | Will your software be able to handle that? |
| customer you need the right email marketing software. | | | | 4) Creating HTML newsletters - HTML newsletters |
| Choosing your email marketing software is one of the | | | | have better response rates than email newsletters in |
| most important steps you have to take in e-business. | | | | plain-text format so this is also another thing you have |
| What are those necessary steps in choosing email | | | | to consider in choosing your email marketing software. |
| marketing software? | | | | Without sending your email newsletter in HTML you |
| Free or fee-based | | | | won't be able to do email tracking. |
| The first thing you will have to decide in choosing | | | | 5) Integration with existing applications and databases - |
| software for your email campaigns will be whether | | | | your email marketing software has to offer you ability |
| you want to use free or fee based software. Some | | | | to import data from existing applications and |
| people may say: "There is much free software on the | | | | databases like SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Access, |
| Internet. Why would I pay for email marketing | | | | FoxPro and Excel. Also, it is very useful that it can be |
| software?" This is because some people still don't | | | | integrated with popular email clients like MS Outlook. |
| have a habit to buy things on the Internet, especially | | | | 6) International Character Support - Online businesses |
| non-tangible items such are software and services. | | | | have to have a global focus so it is useful that email |
| Many people still don't realize the power of email | | | | marketing software provides support for International |
| marketing so they think that can be satisfied with a | | | | Characters. |
| free service. | | | | 7) Plug-ins and updates - it is very important that the |
| One of the most famous contemporary economists, a | | | | email service provider constantly works on creating |
| Nobel Prize winner Mr. Milton Friedman said that there | | | | useful plug-ins and updates in order to make your |
| is no such thing like free launch. And there is another | | | | work easier and more effective. |
| statement that says "You get what you pay for". I | | | | 8) Technical support -If you are an average Internet |
| usually agree with these two statements. These have | | | | user without technical knowledge you will probably |
| been proven on many examples, especially on the | | | | want to get support for your software. How good is |
| Internet. | | | | your email service provider when it comes to technical |
| You can choose to use free software for email | | | | support? |
| marketing but you will be limited for some more | | | | Desktop email software vs. Hosted ASP |
| advanced options. Some big portals offer free | | | | Now when you know do you want free or fee-based |
| services for creating groups. This is OK, but in this | | | | software and what to look in your email marketing |
| case you will send your email messages without many | | | | software you have to decide do you want to have |
| important features like personalization, email tracking, | | | | desktop email marketing software or so called Hosted |
| sending SMS, using CSV files etc. I don't have to | | | | ASP. Both types have limitations and advantages. You |
| mention that many "free" email marketing software | | | | have to choose the best option for you. |
| providers will include their ads in your email newsletter. I | | | | Desktop email software like Group Mail Plus, one of |
| guess that you don't want that in your business email | | | | the leading desktop email marketing software, has |
| communication. | | | | several very big advantages. The most important is |
| Some other free software like the free version of | | | | that details of your subscribers are kept private and |
| Group Mail will have limitation on the number of | | | | secure on your own computer. Dot com crash is not |
| subscribers per one session. In this case you will be | | | | so far behind us. Imagine that you have several |
| able to send your email newsletter to 100 subscribers | | | | thousand clients and use web based service from a |
| at once and in paid version to unlimited number of | | | | company that will later go out of business. You can |
| subscribers and create unlimited number of lists. | | | | only imagine how that could affect your business and |
| It is recommended that you use fee-based email | | | | credibility! With Group Mail Plus you can manage an |
| marketing software for your business email | | | | unlimited number of groups with unlimited number of |
| campaigns. However, you always have to look for a | | | | recipients in each. You will have a larger initial |
| provider who offers a free trial, as well. | | | | investment than with Hosted ASP which charge a |
| Important features | | | | monthly fee, but you will a full control of your email |
| You have to check if your email service provider | | | | campaigns and after some time of using your |
| offers these several important features. | | | | software you will repay it. |
| 1) Personalization - personalization is one of the most | | | | With Hosted ASP you will usually have a lower initial |
| important things that email marketing software has to | | | | investment. You don't have to buy hardware and |
| provide. With good personalization you will have better | | | | software. However, price is usually determined by the |
| open rates and click-thru rates. Some more advanced | | | | number of emails you send so you will pay more how |
| email marketing software like Group Mail paid version | | | | your membership base gets bigger so this option will |
| offers if-then personalization for users who want to | | | | be much more expensive than a desktop email |
| get the maximum personalization. | | | | marketing software option in the long run. |
| 2) Monitoring - email marketing is popular and useful | | | | You can see that choosing the right email marketing |
| because results can be measured very effectively. | | | | software is very important. You have to bear in mind |
| You have to ask your email service provider if their | | | | that the biggest investment is one that it is paid - twice. |
| product offers ability for detailed reports for open | | | | So, choose your email marketing software wisely. |
| rates, click-thru rates, deliverability...If their main product | | | | |