| Constant Contact is a popular entry-level Web-based | | | | The newsletter creation process itself is simple. It |
| service for the creation, distribution and management | | | | involves modifying your choice of several newsletter |
| of email newsletters. It is optimized for non-techies | | | | templates with your own content and images. |
| who want a fast, easy answer for low-to-moderate | | | | Constant Contact has worked hard to make this an |
| volume email promotions. Over 200,000 small | | | | easy process. In addition to modifying overall |
| businesses, associations, non-profit organizations and | | | | appearance (background color, font, etc.), you can |
| Realtors are said to be utilizing their online service. | | | | customize the content and look of each template |
| While not "hiccup" free, the service fills a market need. I | | | | section employing tools familiar to any Microsoft Word |
| found Constant Contact to be an affordable answer | | | | user. |
| for small organizations that lack inhouse technical | | | | A word of caution here. There are some quirks. |
| resources, but wish to leverage low-cost email | | | | Sometimes, what you want to happen doesn't happen. |
| marketing to promote their products or services. | | | | For example, I found that font and spacing actions |
| Constant Contact provides easy-to-use tools for | | | | sometimes produced unsought results. Despite an |
| developing attractive email newsletters, managing email | | | | "undo" button, you might just have to close the |
| lists, and handling distribution issues (compliance with | | | | newsletter editing function, then re-open it to eliminate |
| spam laws, bounces, unsubscribes and filters). It also | | | | unintended results. It thus pays to "save' your work |
| provides tracking tools and reports for evaluating | | | | frequently as you go along. But, if you know a little |
| results. Moreover, they have added the ability to set up | | | | HTML, you can open a "code" window and usually |
| autoresponder message for newsletter sign-ups. And | | | | resolve these mishaps in quick fashion. |
| of course, you can also schedule a series of emails to | | | | Here is a hint -- copy any text prepared in a |
| a segment of your contact base in an | | | | word-processing application or copied from a Website |
| autoresponder-like fashion. | | | | to the Microsoft Notepad before inserting it into the |
| Recently, Constant Contact added two optional | | | | Constant Content newsletter template. This will |
| upgrades - the abilities to conduct online surveys (with | | | | remove any underlying formatting code that could |
| results analysis) and manage events. So, if you are | | | | affect your newsletter display. |
| looking for feedback from your customers and | | | | I particularly like their list import capabilities. Constant |
| prospects, now you can conduct a survey as part of | | | | Contact offers a downloadable tool for easily importing |
| your monthly email newsletter. Want to hold a product | | | | selected contacts from Microsoft Outlook. Other lists |
| or service seminar? Now everything - broadcasting | | | | can be imported in.csv,.txt and.xml formats. And your |
| the event, sign-ups, emails to participants, etc. - can be | | | | lists can be segmented for targeted email campaigns. |
| accomplished with Constant Contact. If you have ever | | | | A newsletter sign-up form or button is automatically |
| created and managed an event, you'll realize how | | | | generated for you. All you have to do is copy its |
| powerful this canned capability is. | | | | underlying HTML into one or more pages on your |
| If you are familiar with the features and functionality of | | | | Website to promote your newsletter to site visitors. |
| any word-processing program, then you can easily use | | | | Obviously, you will get more subscribers if you also |
| Constant Contact for your email campaigns. They | | | | offer an incentive, such as a free report or discount, to |
| have a plethora of templates, tutorials, guides and | | | | sign-up for your free newsletter. |
| "step-by-step" screens which ensure that anyone can | | | | But Constant Contact is about more than just sending |
| create email masterpieces. Email pieces can contain | | | | out newsletters. It also allows you to set up email |
| one or more links to landing pages on your Website or | | | | promotional campaigns. For instance, you can modify |
| even PayPal buttons for direct purchases. | | | | their templates to promote events, seasonal specials, |
| Constant Contact makes it easy to sign up for their | | | | or product announcements. These can then be sent to |
| service. They offer a sixty-day free trial without a | | | | targeted segments of your email list(s) along with |
| credit card requirement (for up to one hundred email | | | | embedded coupons or links to special offers. |
| contacts), pricing is attractive (starting at just $15 | | | | In summary, Constant Contact gets "two thumbs up" |
| monthly for up to 500 email contacts, but no limit on | | | | for being an affordable, hassle-free solution for low |
| the number of emails that can be sent each month), | | | | volume emailings (up to a thousand or so contacts). Its |
| there is no software to purchase or install, and no | | | | ease-of-use, extensive functionality, variety of |
| long-term contract is required. | | | | templates and helpful learning resources make |
| As with any Web-based interactive service, however, | | | | Constant Contact an excellent answer for small |
| Constant Contact is recommended only for those who | | | | businesses and real estate professionals. With |
| have a DSL or cable Internet connection. Otherwise, | | | | Constant Contact, you can quickly launch and easily |
| you may be in for a frustrating experience -- it can | | | | manage professional-looking newsletters and other |
| take a while for your newsletter editing inputs to show | | | | email promotions without a steep learning curve or |
| up on the browser screen. | | | | breaking your wallet. |