How to Start a Mailing List
Mailing list distribution used to be done through the postal service, but e-mail is now the more common form of distribution for mass mailings. Instead of collecting postal addresses to mail your customers fliers or letters, you'll need to collect e-mail addresses so that you can contact them electronically. The most critical issue when you start a mailing list is making sure that your customers know they're opting into a group mailing system so that they won't be angry or offended about receiving unsolicited e-mail on a regular basis. Having them know they're on your mailing list also gives them a chance to divert your mailings from their spam filter.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Collect e-mail addresses from your customers. Possible methods of collecting addresses include having them entered through a website; being given when customers place orders over the phone or in person; requesting them at the end of a newsletter or other mailing; or by offering raffle prizes, coupons or advance notice of sales in exchange for customers' contact information.
-
2
Select a mailing list manager. Premium services such as AWeber often offer expert marketing advice and support in exchange for your money. Zinester offers basic mailing list support service for free, with additional services that make the mailing list easier to organize and handle available for a premium subscription. Free options include Yahoo! Groups and Topica.
-
-
3
Upload or enter your collection of customer e-mail addresses into the mailing list manager you selected. Depending on which list manager you're using, you may be able to import e-mail addresses from your online address book, or you may have to cut and paste them from a word processing program. If you've been hand-writing addresses as you encounter customers or subscribers, you'll have to enter them manually.
-
4
Create the content to be distributed through your mailing list. In most cases this will be done with word processing software, creating a file that can then be uploaded to the list managing software or cut and pasted into a built-in HTML editor in the list manager.
-
5
Distribute your mailing content at the intervals you determined. Include information about how to opt out--or how others can join--with each mailing. Follow through on any promises you may have made to your customers; for example, if you promised weekly coupons, you will need to deliver them.
-
6
Back up your mailing list information. Some mailing list managers, such as Zinester, will do this for you if you're willing to pay a fee. Or you can simply copy the list of e-mail addresses and names into a separate file, burn this onto a CD, and store the CD somewhere safe.
-
1
