Hi, I am just getting started with my own VA business and I am trying to figure out the best option for my first client's database. I will be consolidating all of their contacts into one place in order to send marketing emails, newsletters and just day to day database management. I am leaning toward constant contact, but wonder if there may be a less expensive option for them. It's a fitness company, so they will be doing several marketing campaigns, facebook marketing, etc. Thanks for any info you can provide!

Barbara Fletcher

How many contacts do they have? and how much will they possibly grow to?

Constant contact is pretty good, it does its job thats for sure.

For my company however I use Highrise for my CMS and then MailChimp for newsletters.

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Amanda Mock
My Virtual Little Helper

Thank you for that. They have just over 100 right now, but want to grow it to at least 1000 as soon as possible. I have heard of Highrise and mailchimp. I will check them out. Thanks!

I use MailChimp for my email marketing as well and love them...I know that most people who go to Constant Contact do so for the ease of use, templates, etc...but I know html and make my own templates anyway, so this hasn't been a concern for me.

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Christine Wade - Real Estate Virtual Assistant
http://www.eRealtyAssistance.com

I have used Constant Contact before and do like the ease of it. Do you all use separate CRM or do you find the lists in the email marketing program work just as well for that also?

Mailchimp is good for visually appealing newsletters, is free for the first 1000 users and 6000 messages per month. Mailchimp also has great social marketing integration and integrates with Highrise. Highrise is awesome for managing clients contact details, correspondence (such as email inquiries etc...).

I'm also a fan of Aweber and if you are planning on having multiple mailing lists with autoresponders at any time in the future then Aweber outweighs Constant Contact and Mailchimp.

It's important to think long term when choosing a mailing system because moving lists is just a pain in the a**, but if the long term plan is just to mail out the occasional newsletter then I'd say go with Mailchimp.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
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