Comparing Mike Vs Joy's Newsletter: My Experience After 6 Months

[whiteyteresa]

I can refund you -- shoot me an email with your iContact info if you signed up through my link.

Not to sound stupid but where’s the link located on Joy’s website for icontact ? ? ?

:chef:

 

[PampChefJoy]

Not to sound stupid but where’s the link located on Joy’s website for icontact ? ? ?

:chef:

It's under the info pulldown menu: http://www.tastytidbits.net/?page_id=232

Direct link to the sign up form: Email Marketing & Surveying Software - iContact

 

[c00p]

Ok, I'm still debating/struggling with the expense of iContact and newsletters. I mentioned previously that I seriously don't have to time to see who opens what/when, etc., but for only 500 contacts it's $60/6 months???? That's INSANE to me!!!! I've got waaaaay more contacts that than.......and I understand that if you subscribe to Joy's newsletter (which I really do like) and do iContact through her that you get her newsletter for free, but it's really not free because you are paying that HORRIBLE iContact fee. I'm sorry - I don't want to start a war....but I think that's crazy to pay that much. I do think Joy's newsletter fee WITHOUT iContact is okay.....just that 123by request is still cheaper.

 

[PamperedK]

The reason I like iContact is not because I can look at who opened, but because I can send over 1500 emails at one time. With most email servers, you can only send in groups of 50 or 100. It was a huge waste of my time sitting there and sending emails every 2 minutes. iContact also has cute templates that I use for my team e-news, and the ability to schedule emails to be sent, so if you're going to be on vacation, you can set it up to send your newsletter while you're gone.

 

[c00p]

The reason I like iContact is not because I can look at who opened, but because I can send over 1500 emails at one time. With most email servers, you can only send in groups of 50 or 100. It was a huge waste of my time sitting there and sending emails every 2 minutes. iContact also has cute templates that I use for my team e-news, and the ability to schedule emails to be sent, so if you're going to be on vacation, you can set it up to send your newsletter while you're gone.

Ah, I see. I'm fortunate I guess because my internet provider doesn't limit me and I can send all of mine at once with no problems!! I can also use great templates too and the vaca thingy and send things later as well. So....I guess I don't really need it afterall!!!! Thanks for letting me know what all the big "hooey" was about!!

 

[babywings76]

The other thing with iContact is that it gets through the spam filters. A lot of providers that people use will block e-mails that are sent in mass amounts. I've heard that you should send them in batches of 10 so it doesn't raise the red flag. Having iContact avoids that problem.

 

[wadesgirl]

The other thing with iContact is that it gets through the spam filters. A lot of providers that people use will block e-mails that are sent in mass amounts. I've heard that you should send them in batches of 10 so it doesn't raise the red flag. Having iContact avoids that problem.

This is one of the biggest reasons I love iContact plus Yahoo mail doesn't allow you to send all at once, I was spending sometimes a couple evenings sending out my newsletter. Another thing I like is that you can schedule it to send out in the future. Now when ever Joy posts the newsletter I can get it ready and schedule it for a later date. Plus if you consider it's about $10 a month, it's not that bad to help save time.

 

[c00p]

I am soooooo glad that my email/internet provider doesn't cause problems like this or I would be looking elsewhere!!

 

[pcchefjane]

I am soooooo glad that my email/internet provider doesn't cause problems like this or I would be looking elsewhere!!

You're lucky Andrea! AT&T did not limit either but when someone got the bright idea (NOT) to migrate to Yahoo, it only lets me send out to groups of 75 or less once an HOUR! So if I have my newsletter to go out, I have to send out 3 "batches" to do it. In the meantime, I can't send out any other emails that hour except replies.... It is a real pain! I hate the set-up of Yahoo and it lost 3/4 of my contacts that I am still trying to reconstruct! On AT&T, the main account had a contact list that "floated" to my other 4 accounts... Now I have one account with all the contacts and my PC one with just my PC contacts then one with miscellaneous contacts but still not the whole list I used to have! ARGH! I don't have enough to justify iContact however and definitely don't have the time or patience to check out who opened what and how many times!

 

[PamperedK]

I am soooooo glad that my email/internet provider doesn't cause problems like this or I would be looking elsewhere!!

I'm not trying to argue with you or anything, but do you KNOW that everyone is receiving your email? A lot of times, it will send just fine from your end, but it will end up being marked SPAM by the customer's ISP and they'll never see it and you'll never know.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

I think the best thing about iContact is KNOWING without a doubt how many people are actually reading my newsletter. Even if I don't get an order, I can see who is looking at the host special, multiple opens, etc. For the one I sent in March, I'm going to contact those that looked at the April host special for my 24 in 24 booking calls. It helps me to gain some courage as to who I will call.

Even if you can send out multiple e-mails at once, you don't know if the recipient is actually receiving your newsletter or if it's being blocked by their provider.

 

[PamperedK]

And let's say someone looks at recruiting info over and over - you can call and do a 'customer care call' just to touch base.

 

[c00p]

I'm not trying to argue with you or anything, but do you KNOW that everyone is receiving your email? A lot of times, it will send just fine from your end, but it will end up being marked SPAM by the customer's ISP and they'll never see it and you'll never know.

Nope - I don't know. But that's okay, because I get enough response from those that do receive it, so I'm good with it! Besides, $10 a month to know whether or not people are receiving it is still insane to me AND I wouldn't have the time to check on it either!!

 

[PCMelissa]

Nope - I don't know. But that's okay, because I get enough response from those that do receive it, so I'm good with it! Besides, $10 a month to know whether or not people are receiving it is still insane to me AND I wouldn't have the time to check on it either!!

Wow, imagine the response you would have if your newsletters were getting through all thos spam filters!!! You should just try it one month to see, you might get an additional $75 in commission each month (or $65 minus the $10) Wouldn't that make it worth it?

 

[SNC1981]

Wow, Mike's April newsletter design already includes the new Mini-Kit promotion and it was just announced.

 

[redsoxgirl]

I've never looked at Mike's but I love Joy's!!
It's very informative, but to the point!

 

[trps]

How do you get your info from my PC personal site to the icontact?

to send these e-mails.

 

[c00p]

Wow, imagine the response you would have if your newsletters were getting through all thos spam filters!!! You should just try it one month to see, you might get an additional $75 in commission each month (or $65 minus the $10) Wouldn't that make it worth it?

It might be worth it Melissa.....especially when you put it that way! Maybe I will give it a shot.

 

[crissy11]

Ok, I have sent my newsletter out thru icontact. I sent it to 1414 emails addresses. As of right now-three days later only 258 people have opened theirs. What is going on with the other 1100 people???? I have gotten $200 in online orders but I do that anyway when I send out a newsletter so it isn't because of icontact. It seems like it isn't doing any better than my regular way of sending thru my email server.
I had 12 people to unsub, one file a complaint and about 15 to bounce.
I just don't want to pay almost $30 a month and almost 85% are not getting it.
Any suggestions?

 

[PampChefJoy]

Ok, I have sent my newsletter out thru icontact. I sent it to 1414 emails addresses. As of right now-three days later only 258 people have opened theirs. What is going on with the other 1100 people???? I have gotten $200 in online orders but I do that anyway when I send out a newsletter so it isn't because of icontact. It seems like it isn't doing any better than my regular way of sending thru my email server.
I had 12 people to unsub, one file a complaint and about 15 to bounce.
I just don't want to pay almost $30 a month and almost 85% are not getting it.
Any suggestions?

These are actually not uncommon statistics... business average as a whole is 10-30% open rate. Back when I was tracking manually for my Head Chef subscribers, my open rate was between 16-20% on average per month. The click-thru rate is even lower, usually no higher than 5%, usually around 1-2% (that's the % of people actually clicking on a link within the newsletter).

 

[tlag1986]

Crissy you need to understand the 85% you say are not getting it are actually receiving your email just not opening it. What you can do is send those people an email and ask them if they want to continue receiving emails from you or if they would like for you to take them off your list. This may serve as a reminder they wanted your emails. The ones that bounced may have due to their email server or security issue you might send that email to all of them.

 

[crissy11]

But if they gave me their address because they wanted the newsletter than are they not opening it? or are they just not getting it?
That is why I had to stop using Constant Contact. I have soo many addresses it bumps me up to paying $30 a month and most people are not opening it or getting it. I would like to take out those addresses that are consistently not opening it but that is a huge job.
I wish there was a way to filter them out if they don't open for three newsletters in a row or something to that effect. Then I would only pay for those that get it.

 

[crissy11]

Lisa, I sent this before I read your response.

 

[PampChefJoy]

Speaking as a consumer who is on ALOT of mailing lists, there are lots of times I will let a newsletter sit in my inbox for weeks. Especially if I am not interested in buying anything right away...Perhaps the answer is to put a subject line that creates urgency - like "Special Limited Time Offer" or "READ ME NOW before it's too late!" or something like that. Then you would at least get a view...But truly, some of your more devoted customers probably know: 1) that you'll always be there for them and they can contact you anytime and 2) you have great recipes that they'll want to refer to later when they get a chance.Do you send out an Outlet email? I am curious if the open rate is more on the outlet email because people know it's more of a "get them before they're gone" deal.

 

[DebbieJ]

Do you send out an Outlet email? I am curious if the open rate is more on the outlet email because people know it's more of a "get them before they're gone" deal.

My last outlet email title was "MARCH BARGAINS from your PC consultant" and I had a great response.

 

[pamperedlinda]

My last outlet email title was "MARCH BARGAINS from your PC consultant" and I had a great response.

me too - over $300 in sales so far

 

[crystalscookingnow]

It might be worth it Melissa.....especially when you put it that way! Maybe I will give it a shot.

I sent out my 24 in 24 e-mail tonight using iContact. Within 1/2 hour of sending it, my phone was ringing with a lady wanting to book a party with me. I chose to send it to just the people that I knew had looked at my newsletter host special links. B/C I knew that she was looking at the host specials, I included her. I probably wouldn't have included her on my 24 in 24 e-mail if I hadn't had those statistics to look at.

 

[trps]

How do you get your info from my PC personal site to the icontact?

to send these e-mails.

How Do you get the e-mails to icontact? I can only figure to send out from PC list of e-mails. HELP please

 

[babywings76]

How Do you get the e-mails to icontact? I can only figure to send out from PC list of e-mails. HELP please

My director was able to copy and paste the whole page of the PC e-mail into iContact. She just pasted it into a new message, in the HTML box. It came through beautifully for her. But I was unable to get it to work for me. Don't know if it's because I have a Mac or what. I was thinking of calling iContact and seeing if they have any advice. It was someone there, Donna I think it was, who helped my Director.

 

[crissy11]

This is how Donna had me do it.
Address book
Export
Other Address Book
click on Text File, comma seperated value
Save as: name it so you can find it and save it to the desktop
Select fields to export
go to icontact and import from the icon on desktop

 

[jenniferm]

I sent out my 24 in 24 e-mail tonight using iContact. Within 1/2 hour of sending it, my phone was ringing with a lady wanting to book a party with me.

What did your 24 in 24 email say?

 

[PamperedChefLayla]

where can I see Mike's newsletter?

 

[elijahstrust]

I'd love to see the 24 in 24 email too...

 

[caraighan]

DITTO... I'd love to see it too!!!

thanks!

 

[Stampaholic1961]

I started out with Joy's. Then I switched to Mike's because his had direct links to my website & Joy's didn't. Then I saw that Joy's does that now too so I am getting ready to switch back to her. I have never gotten one order from using Mike's. I've felt like it was too long too & have deleted sections before. I am planning on switching very soon. It is definitely a matter of taste & each service keeps improving all the time.

 

[tabailey]

Related to the icontact monthly charges:

To help keep your subsriber numbers down, you can get view each contact's view history. About once a quarter, I goto my contacts and then choose browse contacts. Sort them by date added and work up from the oldest. You clikc on the email address for someone and then click on "Contact history".

If someone has not opened my emails in 12 months, I delete their email from the database. This has really helped keep my subscriber numbers down (and thus the monthly chage) and also helps improve my open percentage since I like to think that only those interested in the info are receiving it.

Tara

 

[PamperedK]

Related to the icontact monthly charges:

To help keep your subsriber numbers down, you can get view each contact's view history. About once a quarter, I goto my contacts and then choose browse contacts. Sort them by date added and work up from the oldest. You clikc on the email address for someone and then click on "Contact history".

If someone has not opened my emails in 12 months, I delete their email from the database. This has really helped keep my subscriber numbers down (and thus the monthly chage) and also helps improve my open percentage since I like to think that only those interested in the info are receiving it.

Tara

Good idea, thanks! I was thinking of doing that but I kind of like the idea of someone seeing my name each month just in case they need something in the future...but 12 months seems like long enough...

 

[PampChefJoy]

Related to the icontact monthly charges:

To help keep your subsriber numbers down, you can get view each contact's view history. About once a quarter, I goto my contacts and then choose browse contacts. Sort them by date added and work up from the oldest. You clikc on the email address for someone and then click on "Contact history".

If someone has not opened my emails in 12 months, I delete their email from the database. This has really helped keep my subscriber numbers down (and thus the monthly chage) and also helps improve my open percentage since I like to think that only those interested in the info are receiving it.

Tara

Along those lines, you could also segment those "non-readers" into their own contact list and make the subject line "Read this for a free gift" and offer them a Season's Best or something for responding/reading to the end... Would be worth the S/B and postage to get someone reading again.

 

[PampChefJoy]

I started out with Joy's. Then I switched to Mike's because his had direct links to my website & Joy's didn't. Then I saw that Joy's does that now too so I am getting ready to switch back to her. I have never gotten one order from using Mike's. I've felt like it was too long too & have deleted sections before. I am planning on switching very soon. It is definitely a matter of taste & each service keeps improving all the time.

Just wanted to clarify that I do NOT direct link to any pages within your PWS... only to the main PWS page itself (.biz/xxx). I have tried to link directly to product pages before and it has redirected people to the wrong consultant's website. I'm not 100% certain this was an error on my part coding, but I'd rather not take the chance that one of my subscribers loses a sale. HO asks that we only direct the main page of our PWS so that's what I do.

 

[jenniferm]

. I have tried to link directly to product pages before and it has redirected people to the wrong consultant's website. I'm not 100% certain this was an error on my part coding, but I'd rather not take the chance that one of my subscribers loses a sale. HO asks that we only direct the main page of our PWS so that's what I do.

It was not an error...that is what has happened with other consultants I talked to. That is why home office asks that the links only go to the main page.

 

[Jolie_Paradoxe]

OOOHHH....had no idea this was available! Thanks! Just signed up for a trial period

 

[tastefullyyours]

There is another emailing service that I use that is cheaper than icontact or constant contact. It's http://www.newslettersbyemailinc.com

Someone mentioned they paid $30 for 1400 contacts, on NBE it would cost $21 for up to 1500 contacts. It's really more affordable. I haven't tried to send Joy's or Mike's newsletter using NBE because I use the templates on the site to write my own right now.

 

[Kjurich]

where can I see Mike's newsletter?

I know this is old but anyone know where I can see a sample of this

 

[esavvymom]

I know this is old but anyone know where I can see a sample of this

i think normally you can request one on his website, but right now, that website is down. I don't have an easy way to forward it (gets all garbled when I do).

but when it does come back online- myemaildesigns.com

 

[babywings76]

I know this is old but anyone know where I can see a sample of this

I can email you my Nov. issue. Just be warned that the links aren't working right now because his site is down. What's your e-mail address?

 

[Kjurich]

I can email you my Nov. issue. Just be warned that the links aren't working right now because his site is down. What's your e-mail address?

[email protected]

 

[Kjurich]

thank you!!!

 

[babywings76]

[email protected]

Just sent it to you.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Count me in the Joy Club ... I love her newsletter and the best part is I can personalize it the way I want it. This is why I oped for Joy and not the cookie cutter garbage from HO.

 

[higoobs]

Just checked out Mikes newsletter sample. Anyone knows the link to Joy's so i can compare?
[email protected]