Several clients have approached me requesting mailing lists to use for email and newsletter marketing. Both clients just have business cards only - no created list.

Please suggest the best way to create a usable mailing list. I know how to do in excel only. I am aware it can be done in Access, but don't know this program.

Any suggestions?

Janet

First question:
1> Are you creating it to give to them?
2> If so, go with Excel as they may be more famillure with it than Access.
3> If not, What email program are you using? I use Outlook and create a distribution list with it. Google, Yahoo, and many other email programs also allow you to do this. Then I can send out E-Mail blasts to those on the list. I do it in the fashion of sending it TO: myself and then BCC the email list.

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

I think using Excel is the best method also if it is something you are putting together for a client. The method Andrea mentioned is the exact thing I do in Outlook. If you need any assistance with getting it set up, let me know... I'd be happy to help out.

Robin
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Virtually Robin

Janet;

You mention the clients want to use these lists for emailing -- if that is the case what program will they be emailing and are these mass emails?

The CAN-SPAM Act requires that an address must be given the option to opt out of the future mailings and must not be used again. To effectively due this a true email program should be used such as I Contact. Using Excel makes this very easy as the Excel file can be imported into this type of program and it will eliminate duplicates.

You should check with your clients and get a clear picture of their intentions for these lists and suggest the appropriate program for their use. The forum has many threads regarding I Contact, CAN-SPAM Act and questions relating to this topic.

Good luck,

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Cindy
www.eoseasy.comThe Chrysalis Plan

Ladies,

Thank you for your input. I have been suggesting using Excel for the database since most people know how to use it. Since I have not used a email program yet, I wanted to be sure most email programs such as mail chimp, etc. the excel spreadsheet can be imported to use with the email program.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Janet

I am new to this website, and I am so glad to be here! I have never heard of the CAN-SPAM act. I maintain an email list for a newsletter that I publish monthly. What do I need to do to stay legit? Thanks for info by the way.

Excel is an excellent way to input addresses and can easily upload into Outlook or other programs. I use AWeber for my clients newsletters and emailings and you can input address from Excel and also export reports to AWeber. Many companies now limit how many emails you can send out before you are labeled as a spammer. Be very careful about sending emails for clients from your personal or professional email address. I now exclusively use a double opt-in for clients to protect myself. I maintain email lists ranging from 20 to hundreds. The cost for AWeber is minimal when it is divided between the clients that I support.

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Lisa Olinda of Olinda Services
Keeping you on the path to success!
www.olindaservices.com

Lisa,
Thank you for your comments and introduction to AWeber. I will use a mailing service like mailchimp to avoid being labeled a spammer. I will look at AWeber as another option to use.

Janet

Hey there,

I'm going to "latch" on to and revive this old thread since it basically answers my question.

My client keeps a Guest Book on her counter (she owns a retail store) and I decided to go ahead and put it all into a database for her so that she can use it when she starts to do mailings and such. I started to create an Excel file for it but stopped because I wasn't sure if that was the best tool or not. Now I know, thanks

I still have a few questions:

1. What information (columns) do you usually include in your lists? This is a handwritten Guest Book so some people put two names (i.e. Jack & Jill Hill), some people put a full address, some people put in just the city and state, some give emails and some don't, some even provide phone numbers. Also, how do you usually break out your columns? Do you just have one column for the entire name or do you have one for the first name and one for the last (that kind of thing)? Should I create a master list with all information (for tracking and such) and then another list to be used strictly for emails and newsletters?
2. How does this list keep up-to-date when people subscribe to a newsletter or add themselves to your mailing list ongoing? Does it automatically get updated without you having to do anything through whatever service you're using?
3. What is the etiquette regarding first time mailings? In other words, since these are names she's been collecting for over a year and she hasn't gotten into newsletters yet (she still doesn't even have a website but soon will), should she (I) send out an initial..."Woohoo! We're now online!" sort of email to everyone that provided an email address with a note explaining that we're updating her contact list and if they'd like to keeping receiving notices, please opt in (or something like that). Or is it more appropriate to just scrap the whole thing and start her list from scratch? I don't want to start sending newsletters out of the blue, but I'd also hate for her to lose all of that contact potential.

Well, I think that's it. Sorry for this being so long.

TIA

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase

I would create it in Excel. I believe that it is better if you are going to import later for some reason.