uk-netmarketing Archive (2011-2015)

If you need help on Interspire let me know.  We run the multiple user 
own branded one and have done some other stuff with it like populate it 
from our CRM system (we use vtiger).  regarding the smtp side of things, 
costs wise it's not bad as you can use any smtp service you want which 
means you can hunt for the best prices.

On 28/02/2012 13:00, John Braithwaite wrote:
> Thanks for all the replies so far... I think it seems to be:
> 1. Hosted/Cloud - Campaign Monitor, Mailchimp, Dotmailer recommended 
> (depending on functionality / cost)
> 2. Licensed (Self-Hosted) - Interspire (though has mixed reviews from 
> what I read - although you can't always trust web reviews, sadly)
> 3. Build - DIY approach
>
> For us, I think I can discount '3' right away.... because it's just 
> too much work for not enough reward to do it properly. I need some of 
> the more advanced functionality so it's not just a merge, but much 
> more than that... per client. Also, the hidden 'cost' in this kind of 
> solution isn't just the development cost, but also if it 
> under-performs for clients, the ongoing maintenance and the additional 
> time taken to produce emailshots. Time in email is probably greater 
> than the cost of sending...
>
> For 1. I am definitely not going to scale up from here, because those 
> charging £500 a month or so, they're aiming at the 'big boys' and for 
> them to pretend that buying emails at virtually 1p a send COST is good 
> value, then they also fail to understand the mechanics of the lower 
> end of the scale. So it'll have to be one of the more budget players 
> with a robust API (which is why Campaign Monitor may be a good option).
>
> For 2. It seems that the only one (Interspire) mentioned has flaws 
> and, though self-hosted has other costs (from SMTP services to 
> customisation), though it probably offers the most scalable solution 
> for a smaller agency. It's worth a dig around, though.
>
> Will let you know if we uncover anything...  thank you for all the 
> responses - again much appreciated!
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
> On 28 Feb 2012, at 10:16, Alasdair Orr wrote:
>
>> Second that - have used Campaign Monitor for years and rate it, 
>> simple, good value, good reporting and list managent - though am 
>> interested if others think otherwise compared to what else is out 
>> there. I suppose it's horses for courses...
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Al
>>
>> -----------------
>> Alasdair Orr
>> Business Development Director
>> SugarShaker - Digital Marketing & Web Development
>>
>> T: 0844 800 7109
>> M: 0797 999 0898
>> E: al at sugarshaker.com <mailto:al at sugarshaker.com>
>> W: www.sugarshaker.com <http://www.sugarshaker.com/>
>>
>> SugarShaker Enterprises Limited registered in England and Wales under 
>> company no. 6578040.
>>
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>>
>>
>> On 27 Feb 2012, at 19:33, Danny Bluestone <Danny at cyber-duck.co.uk 
>> <mailto:Danny at cyber-duck.co.uk>> wrote:
>>
>>> All
>>>
>>> We have moved from Dotmailer to Campaign Monitor 6 months ago and 
>>> have been impressed with Campaign Monitor as a mailing platform. 
>>> Campaign Monitor offer a great user experience, cheaper costs and 
>>> high levels of customer service -- they really do care about every 
>>> email that is inputted into their system! Moving to Campaign Monitor 
>>> was a very good decision for us an agency.
>>>
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Danny Bluestone
>>>
>>> Managing Director
>>>
>>> Cyber-Duck <http://www.cyber-duck.co.uk/>
>>>
>>> *From:*uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com 
>>> <mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com> 
>>> [mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com] 
>>> <mailto:[mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com]> *On Behalf 
>>> Of *Sue Fidler
>>> *Sent:* 27 February 2012 12:09
>>> *To:* uk-netmarketing
>>> *Subject:* Re: [uk-netmarketing] Flexible Email Marketing Solution
>>>
>>> Hi again
>>>
>>> dotMailer haven't raised the prices for 8 years and have actually 
>>> lowered them.. plus they do have a commitment to me personally that 
>>> they will continue to support the system and maintain the services, 
>>> costs and support as is.
>>>
>>> Re the reselling -- I have several agencies who already do that and 
>>> we haven't had any problem, they get direct support and it all seems 
>>> to work fine.
>>>
>>> Best Regards
>>>
>>> /Sue/
>>>
>>> /sue at suefidler.com/ <mailto:sue at suefidler.com>
>>>
>>> /07889 350285/
>>>
>>> //
>>>
>>> *Website, Social Media, Email and EFundraising*
>>>
>>> *Copywriting and Site Building, Database Development*
>>>
>>> *Mentoring, Development, Strategy and Delivery*
>>>
>>> **
>>>
>>> *We are*
>>>
>>> <image001.gif>
>>>
>>> _www.suefidler.com <http://www.suefidler.com/>_
>>>
>>> _www.charityemail.co.uk <http://www.charityemail.co.uk/>_
>>>
>>>
>>> /Sue Fidler Associates is a trading name of Sue Fidler Ltd Co. Reg. 
>>> No. 05921302 Registered in England and Wales
>>> Registered Office: 38/9 Bucklersbury, Hitchin, SG5 1BG VAT No. 
>>> 888323679/
>>>
>>> *From:*uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com 
>>> <mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com> 
>>> [mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com 
>>> <mailto:uk-netmarketing-bounces at mm.chinwag.com>] *On Behalf Of *John 
>>> Braithwaite
>>> *Sent:* 25 February 2012 12:22
>>> *To:* uk-netmarketing
>>> *Subject:* Re: [uk-netmarketing] Flexible Email Marketing Solution
>>>
>>> Thanks Sam, Sue, Mark
>>>
>>> Very interesting... all thoughts I've had... Sam, I'd name and shame 
>>> privately, but not on the list, but the system I currently use, for 
>>> example, charges me about £2,000 a year before I sneeze, then a 
>>> decent amount per email, and then on top of that various costs for 
>>> testing, accounts, reporting, access and so on.
>>>
>>> The two issues I have is:
>>>
>>> 1. It just isn't very good - for example I just sent 50,000 emails 
>>> that took A DAY (yes, 24 hours) to send - I didn't set any 
>>> throttling etc. That's just how long it took. And the UI is really 
>>> mediocre and clunky. And if I want the full API I'd need to spend 
>>> even more...
>>>
>>> 2. I just can't grow my email business. Every other area of the 
>>> business is growing and offering value to clients - PPC, MVT, Build, 
>>> Mobile and so on - but the clumsy email supplier is difficult to 
>>> sell - a monthly fee is fine, but then you get everything else on 
>>> top. I just can't scale my business and would have to sell 'at cost' 
>>> to pick up some clients. So why bother? So, that's why I'm looking 
>>> around.
>>>
>>> Specifically on the responses:
>>>
>>> - Sue, interesting, although I am always concerned with resellers 
>>> that they may end up in the unfortunate position of raising prices 
>>> because DotMailer chooses to do so. Not only that, but because I 
>>> also sometimes resell - then I'd be white labelling a white label of 
>>> another service... I think at least two tiers too many ;-)
>>>
>>> - Mark, I am seriously considering that, main issue is resource and 
>>> cost to setup in the first place to get everything in place to serve 
>>> clients: automations, customisation, subject line testing, re-sends 
>>> to non opens, unsubscription management, form plugin / immediate 
>>> access, wrappers and so on... sure if it was just 'here's the email 
>>> (from, say, Dreamweaver templates), here's the list (uploaded), 
>>> send' then that would be a relatively simple one, but actually for 
>>> what I do it's a pain.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> On 25 Feb 2012, at 10:19, Sam Michel wrote:
>>>
>>> Hiya John,
>>>
>>> Oooo, good question. I've wrestled with this a fair bit over the 
>>> last few years. Last time I had a good look around, we plumped for 
>>> the ease of interface over back-end functionality. It's not quite 
>>> the same as we don't have clients using the system.
>>>
>>> We've ended up using Mailchimp and then extending a fair bit 
>>> (triggered emails, user integration, scheduled emails, 
>>> auto-generated templates) using their API, which so far (touches 
>>> server gently) has proved very robust.
>>>
>>> The UI has proved simple enough that when we staffed up for Social 
>>> Media Week recently, all of our contract team were able to get the 
>>> hang of it, very quickly, and able to generate newsletters/email 
>>> shots, which for me, proved its worth. I have a hunch that if I did 
>>> a cost comparison of a more sophisticated system and increased 
>>> return vs. cost of staff training/production resource, this solution 
>>> would win. For us.
>>>
>>> We also looked at the more SMTP-focused solutions like Sendgrid, 
>>> which I think would work well for more fixed solutions.
>>>
>>> I'm particularly keen to see how the likes of dotMailer, Constant 
>>> Contact, Lyris evolve and build in access, management and CRM of 
>>> social channels with email. Any pointers/observations v. welcome.
>>>
>>>
>>> Toodle Pip
>>>
>>> Sam
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Sam Michel, CEO - e: sam at chinwag.com <mailto:sam at chinwag.com>
>>> t: +44 (0)20 7183 2923 f: +44 (0)20 7099 4011
>>> Chinwag - http://chinwag.com <http://chinwag.com/>
>>> Twitter - http://twitter.com/toodlepip
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> - Social Media Week LDN 2012 (13-17 Feb) - http://chw.ag/smwldn
>>>
>>> - Chinwag Jobs - http://jobs.chinwag.com <http://jobs.chinwag.com/>
>>> - Digital Missions - http://digital-mission.org 
>>> <http://digital-mission.org/>
>>> - Sam @ Chinwag: http://chinwag.com/blogs/sammichel
>>> - Sam @ Toodlepip: http://www.toodlepip.co.uk 
>>> <http://www.toodlepip.co.uk/>
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> On 24 February 2012 17:50, John Braithwaite <john at ergodigital.com 
>>> <mailto:john at ergodigital.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi All
>>>
>>> I've seen a good number of email systems in my time and, generally 
>>> speaking, they seem to fit into the 'light and plug and play' (i.e. 
>>> Mailchimp) and the 'all inclusive' (i.e. DotMailer).
>>>
>>> I really just want one email system which can do both... the light 
>>> ones often don't have API access, are a little too basic, can't do 
>>> automations etc. (but actually, generally have better editors / UI 
>>> then that bigger systems).... the heavy ones have loads of bells and 
>>> whistles but at a large price...
>>>
>>> So, I'll be open with you, I get stuck. Smaller clients I 
>>> essentially have to deal with 'wot they got' and have no chance of 
>>> converting them (with small budgets and list sizes) to a larger 
>>> system... so I end up dealing with a multitude of suppliers and all 
>>> their little foibles (and, don't they have a few ;-)
>>>
>>> I suppose I perhaps want the impossible - a more fully featured and 
>>> flexible system where I can get smaller clients on as well as 
>>> servicing the larger ones.
>>>
>>> Anyone got any suggestions? Please, just thoughts to the list and no 
>>> direct sales pitches.
>>>
>>> John Braithwaite
>>> Ergo Digital Ltd - Giving You Many Happy Returns!
>>>
>>> 01962 605 000 (new number!)
>>> 07977 272752
>>>
>>> W: www.ergodigital.com <http://www.ergodigital.com/> (new website!)
>>> E: john at ergodigital.com <mailto:john at ergodigital.com>
>>> T: twitter.com/johnnymb <http://twitter.com/johnnymb>
>>> L: linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite 
>>> <http://linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite>
>>>
>>> Latest Blog:
>>> 'Make sure you choose the right mobile website'
>>> http://ergodigital.com/create-the-right-mobile-website
>>>
>>> Office: 2nd Floor, Pinewood, West Ham Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 
>>> RG22 5EE
>>>
>>>
>>> ~~ Chinwag Jobs: Find your perfect new job or next team member ~~
>>>
>>> Chinwag Jobs is the leading specialist recruitment website for digital
>>> roles in the UK. Used by major companies such as BBC, Electronic
>>> Arts, Kingston University as well as the majority of recruitment
>>> agencies who place staff in the sector.
>>>
>>> Take a look through our listings or register to advertise your
>>> own vacancies today.
>>>
>>> >> CHINWAG JOBS: http://jobs.chinwag.com <http://jobs.chinwag.com/>
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> You're subscribed to uk-netmarketing to change your options or
>>> unsubscribe: https://mm.chinwag.com/options/uk-netmarketing
>>>
>>> uk-netmarketing discussion list is powered by http://chinwag.com 
>>> <http://chinwag.com/>
>>>
>>> ~~ Chinwag Jobs: Find your perfect new job or next team member ~~
>>>
>>> Chinwag Jobs is the leading specialist recruitment website for digital
>>> roles in the UK. Used by major companies such as BBC, Electronic
>>> Arts, Kingston University as well as the majority of recruitment
>>> agencies who place staff in the sector.
>>>
>>> Take a look through our listings or register to advertise your
>>> own vacancies today.
>>>
>>>     CHINWAG JOBS: http://jobs.chinwag.com <http://jobs.chinwag.com/>
>>>
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> You're subscribed to uk-netmarketing to change your options or
>>> unsubscribe: https://mm.chinwag.com/options/uk-netmarketing
>>>
>>> uk-netmarketing discussion list is powered by http://chinwag.com 
>>> <http://chinwag.com/>
>>>
>>> John Braithwaite
>>> Ergo Digital Ltd - Giving You Many Happy Returns!
>>>
>>> 01962 605 000 (new number!)
>>> 07977 272752
>>>
>>> W: www.ergodigital.com <http://www.ergodigital.com/> (new website!)
>>> E: john at ergodigital.com <mailto:john at ergodigital.com>
>>> T: twitter.com/johnnymb <http://twitter.com/johnnymb>
>>> L: linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite 
>>> <http://linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite>
>>>
>>> Latest Blog:
>>> 'Make sure you choose the right mobile website'
>>> http://ergodigital.com/create-the-right-mobile-website
>>>
>>> Office: 2nd Floor, Pinewood, West Ham Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 
>>> RG22 5EE
>>>
>>> ~~ Chinwag Jobs: Find your perfect new job or next team member ~~
>>>
>>> Chinwag Jobs is the leading specialist recruitment website for digital
>>> roles in the UK. Used by major companies such as BBC, Electronic
>>> Arts, Kingston University as well as the majority of recruitment
>>> agencies who place staff in the sector.
>>>
>>> Take a look through our listings or register to advertise your
>>> own vacancies today.
>>>
>>>>> CHINWAG JOBS: http://jobs.chinwag.com <http://jobs.chinwag.com/>
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> You're subscribed to uk-netmarketing to change your options or
>>> unsubscribe: https://mm.chinwag.com/options/uk-netmarketing
>>>
>>> uk-netmarketing discussion list is powered by http://chinwag.com 
>>> <http://chinwag.com/>
>> ~~ Chinwag Jobs: Find your perfect new job or next team member ~~
>>
>> Chinwag Jobs is the leading specialist recruitment website for digital
>> roles in the UK. Used by major companies such as BBC, Electronic
>> Arts, Kingston University as well as the majority of recruitment
>> agencies who place staff in the sector.
>>
>> Take a look through our listings or register to advertise your
>> own vacancies today.
>>
>>>> CHINWAG JOBS: http://jobs.chinwag.com
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> You're subscribed to uk-netmarketing to change your options or
>> unsubscribe: https://mm.chinwag.com/options/uk-netmarketing
>>
>> uk-netmarketing discussion list is powered by http://chinwag.com
>
> John Braithwaite
> Ergo Digital Ltd - Giving You Many Happy Returns!
>
> 01962 605 000 (new number!)
> 07977 272752
>
> W: www.ergodigital.com <http://www.ergodigital.com> (new website!)
> E: john at ergodigital.com <mailto:john at ergodigital.com>
> T: twitter.com/johnnymb <http://twitter.com/johnnymb>
> L: linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite 
> <http://linkedin.com/in/johnmbraithwaite>
>
> Latest Blog:
> 'Make sure you choose the right mobile website'
> http://ergodigital.com/create-the-right-mobile-website
>
> Office: 2nd Floor, Pinewood, West Ham Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 
> RG22 5EE
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ~~ Chinwag Jobs: Find your perfect new job or next team member ~~
>
> Chinwag Jobs is the leading specialist recruitment website for digital
> roles in the UK. Used by major companies such as BBC, Electronic
> Arts, Kingston University as well as the majority of recruitment
> agencies who place staff in the sector.
>
> Take a look through our listings or register to advertise your
> own vacancies today.
>
>>> CHINWAG JOBS: http://jobs.chinwag.com
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> You're subscribed to uk-netmarketing to change your options or
> unsubscribe: https://mm.chinwag.com/options/uk-netmarketing
>
> uk-netmarketing discussion list is powered by http://chinwag.com
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