Need Opt-in Email experts

[skincareguy]

Okay, here is our deal. We get decent organic traffic, not great, but it is growing. We fully utilize the PPC big three for ourmain keywords. We get good revenue (for us) and are growing modestly well. I am now looking to step down on the gas pedal a bit and see if we can accelerate the growth curve a bit in 2008.

We are going to launch a blog, and go deep into 2.0 culture. But one area I don't want to overlook is finding a good (honest) email list broker/provider who can send emails out to their opt-in/double opt-in lists that have been properly filtered for our demographic. We have tried a few in the past with Z-E-R-O results. I feel like I have been ripped off on these occasions. These services refuse to let me 'seed' some test email addresses of mine to verify delivery so I wasn't even sure I could verify the emails were sent out!

So I am open to any suggestions reroviders/services/etc. Thanks for your feedback!!

[theengel]

I never did put a lot of stock into renting lists. I think you'll find that most of the emails they send out already have a reputation for spam, and go to the appropriate folder.

The best way to do it is to build your own list. If you want to get more opt-ins, try advertising in some of the other big lists with the kind of audience you want. For example, let's say you start a newsletter for basket weavers. Find a good, reputable company with a crafts newsletter (it has to be a newsletter that people will actually read) and see if you can pay for a whole article about your new site/newsletter.

Even if the list you advertised in has only 500 subscribers, you're going to get a much higher response than if you had blasted your new email out to 5000 people from a rented list.

Most of those names originate from the "fill out this survey and get a free ipod" sites, which never deliver the promised product, but always deliver a ton of spam.

Let's call it what it is...any email coming from these lists is spam. Don't associate yourself with it.

[arthurakay]

Rented lists are always a bad way to go... the odds are that none of the people on that list want your email and will mark it as SPAM. Thus, your campaign will backfire and your future email-marketing efforts are hurt.

You should definitely ONLY mail to your own double-opt-in mailing list to be sure that your sending reputation is safe.

My highest recommendation would be to speak with a third-party Online Marketing company who can maximize your budget. It's tempting to do things in-house when you have a good idea of how things work, but why not pay a professional to do it 24 hours a day? You will see ROI grow even if you spend more on the online marketing. As the old saying goes, "You gotta spend money to make money."

Check out Fathom SEO (SEO Services, Search Engine Optimization, Cleveland) - they offer fantastic results, but are on the higher priced side. There are other companies as well, but I've only worked with Fathom.

[LifeofEgypt]

Give away something of value and collect the email adderess. It still works and helps you build a responsive targeted list. Long live opt-in email.

[rondo]

I agree building your own lists is the best way to go.

Andrew

[dharrison]

Hi skincareguy

If you are launching a blog, you are better off using RSS Feeds / email alerts of new posts. FeedBurner can provide both options along with a few other extras
but if you have a feed already at your blog (eg if using blogger) then RSSFWD - RSS Straight into your email inbox. A service by Blue Sky Factory. is also pretty straightforward.

I would only build up your own opt-in list if you are going to be sending out newsletters, bulletins etc by email. if you do choose this route then be sure to leave opt-out details at the bottom of every newsletter you send out as in most countries this is legislation.

HTH