14 replies to this topic

[bruyndoncx]

Assuming you are sending out regular newsletters to your (elected) customers and/or subscribers, do you use the standard oscommerce newsletters in text or did you install a particular contribution or use another program open source (eg phplist) or closed source like campaign monitor, constant contact or ... ?

What is your experience ? Are you looking to change ? If so, why ?

[eww]

i use the standard osc newsletters, but i did add an "unsubscribe" contribution/link recently that has gotten some use

i also deployed a coupon code into my newsletters that has made no ripples in the water, but previously i did receive some suspected clicks from it (such as users' referrers from a mailbox moments after i sent the mail)

i think the amount of email spam nowadays has made it extremely hard to market via email, people just seem to assume you're spamming them or the message gets filtered and they never end up knowing you sent the letter.

Edited by eww, 15 March 2006, 05:14.

[kitchenniche]

Does someone know of a good "newsletter creator" ?

[mpiscopo]

I use Constant Contact. It is inexpensive and gives me a lot of good information about my campaigns. I export my customer table from the SQL database, open it with Excel and sort by the newsletter field. Then I import this to Constant Contact. I like the features of opt-out/unsubscribe, undeliverable, how many opened their emails, and how many actually clicked. I use an affiliate contribution to map sales generated by the emails.

[mj_superfly]

I recommend DadaMail, which I use for all my clients. You have to be a bit tech savvy to get it working but it's brilliant at what it does and it's completely free.

Edited by Jan Zonjee, 20 December 2009, 07:39.

[Chance]

I have never received a newsletter that I actually wanted, and so I never send them out to my customers.

Most get sent to the spam box, and then all your further communication of actual importance will get sent there too. Couple that with RBL black lists and such, and you will soon find yourself blocked from Gmail, AOL, and other large email providers.

The only communication I send to customers (outside of active order and account sign-up communications) are quarterly coupon offers to inactive accounts. For accounts that are inactive for 90 days, I send a coupon for 10-25% off their next order to bring them back to the shop. I feel that giving the customer something of value, and the fact that I cared enough to bring them back, is a more effective marketing and sales tool than a monthly sales ad.

I custom coded it to provide me with a list of inactive accounts, but I am sure there is a contribution that provides the same functionality.

[bornagainresources]

bruyndoncx, on Mar 15 2006, 01:46 AM, said:

Assuming you are sending out regular newsletters to your (elected) customers and/or subscribers, do you use the standard oscommerce newsletters in text or did you install a particular contribution or use another program open source (eg phplist) or closed source like campaign monitor, constant contact or ... ?

What is your experience ? Are you looking to change ? If so, why ?

I have used both Constant Contact and Vertical Response. Constant Contact has a low monthly fee and Vertical Response charges nothing until you actually send e-mails, then its like a half cent per e-mail. I like either one and the code they provide can be pasted right into my HTML on the sites where I use them. If you wnat to check out http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com, I am currently using Constant Contact and at http://www.shadesofautumn.com I am using Vertical Response.

Edited by bornagainresources, 17 March 2006, 20:38.

[bruyndoncx]

Thank you for all the feedback thusfar.

Thinking of comparing the features of the different solutions, here's an initial list
- is it hosted elsewhere (and associated costs)
- can you personalize messages
- can subscribers choose html/text version
- does it track who has opened email and possibly clicked links
- is it opensource (and php/mysql based)
- can you have people subscribe to multiple newsletters ?
- does it keep an archive of letters sent, accessible to new subscribers ?
- how does/do you integrate with oscommerce for subscribe/unsubscribe ?
- managing bounces

[rsherzad]

Chance, on Mar 17 2006, 09:03 PM, said:

I have never received a newsletter that I actually wanted, and so I never send them out to my customers.

Hi!

You definitely should!
I made the most money with newsletters that I sent out every 10 days with special offers (people love those ;-))

Regarding newsletter software: I have used SuperMailer which kicks a*s! I have tried out lots of software and none of them beat this one: http://int.supermailer.de/
Costs: depending on the version you purchase something between $20 and $72.


R.

[radders]

Active Campaign's 1-2all is worth considering. It is php-based ,costs around $100 and is pretty flexible.

[jon_l]

I've always used the standard osC newsletter feature, it works and I'm more than happy with the results. The response depends on what is in the newsletter, if there is something good then it will result in a lot of people clicking through to my website.

I was planning on moving to an html newsletter, but all of my customers that I spoke to said no - so I didn't.

Jon.

[rose.water]

mpiscopo, on 16 March 2006, 11:22, said:

I use Constant Contact. It is inexpensive and gives me a lot of good information about my campaigns. I export my customer table from the SQL database, open it with Excel and sort by the newsletter field. Then I import this to Constant Contact. I like the features of opt-out/unsubscribe, undeliverable, how many opened their emails, and how many actually clicked. I use an affiliate contribution to map sales generated by the emails.

How can I export the customer database? I'm looking at address_book but it doesn't have their email addresses.

[MailBeez]

rose.water, on 20 December 2009, 02:13, said:

How can I export the customer database? I'm looking at address_book but it doesn't have their email addresses.

Have a look at MailBeez Automatic Trigger Email Campaigns (5min installation):
http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/7425

This modular add-on allows you to build automatic email marketing - very powerful

[eCommerce Developer]

Have you tried MailChimp? This service is free for 500 subscribers.

[audubonstrings]

MailBeez, on 14 June 2010, 09:27, said:

Have a look at MailBeez Automatic Trigger Email Campaigns (5min installation):
http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/7425

This modular add-on allows you to build automatic email marketing - very powerful

I've installed MailBeez. It seems really slick but I have not been able to get it to send email, however.