Email Marketing

[hulahoop]

Hi,

Is it just me or I don't think I noticed a forum on email marketing. I am starting out a new site and of course I would have no email list to start with.

Anyhow my questions are:
1) Is it better to buy a list or hire someone to harvest it specifically? Are the lists out there any good?
2) Also what email software or email proxy do you recommend? I know of constant contact and that's it but I don't know if there are any cheaper ones as I intend to send quite a large list if possible.
3) I have seen some sites where you buy a list and you can send it out with their ip so this keeps your own ip safe. But won't gmail, yahoo mail etc be able to track based on your website address as spam or how does this work exactly? What is the best way?

I am looking to have a solid email marketing plan and don't know where to start? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[piatkow]

OK, you are asking how to be a spammer. I had to delete all the responses that I thought of as they breached the forum rules on profanity.

[hulahoop]

so ok if I were to collect my own opt in list - getting my visitors to opt in at my site, what is the type of software to get this done? I have heard of double opt in but I can't figure out what are these software called to install? Any product or service you would recommend? Thanks.

[lorax]

Sign up with an email service like MailChimp or Constant Contact. Follow their instructions and their rules and you'll be able to have an email signup in no time with single or dbl opt in.

[hulahoop]

Thanks lorax. You've been very helpful. I have something good that is free so I think I will be able to build a list - well hopefully.

[jakab]

You can do Email Marketing Easily with the Web based Email Marketing Service Providers.Email-M.Com is providing the lifetime free trail of doing free email marketing.

[Swaraj]

I would also suggest you go out for a Web Based Email marketing service provider as it will reduce the time required to acquire the list from a different vendor and then running behind them to make sure you have got the right prospective list and not a bummer..All the activities will be taken care by the Email Marketing Service Provider, you also benefit by having only one point of contact rather than dealing with 3 different vendors..