Bulk email tech advice anyone?

[Target]

Hi folks

Can anyone help me with some advice on the technical issues surrounding regular bulk emails (all opt-in, not spam), relating in particular to servers and software?

If so, can we correspond by PM please? (I will explain why)

Thanks in advance

 

[DuaneJackson]

Is there anything specific you want to know? I don't want to get into a PM dialogue, but I'm happy to help here if I can.

 

[Target]

Well, my main concern is whether sending regular, relatively large numbers (up to 1000 at a time) of emails will cause problems with my ISP (Virgin). Again, I stress these will be to opted-in recipients.

Also, the bulk email software I've shortlisted has two different versions with the following attributes:

Avoid overloading the slow mail servers by periodic pause - included with v2, but not v1

IIS SMTP Service Delivery Mode - included with v2, but not v1

Maximum number of worker threads - 512 for v2, 10 for v1

Maximum number of SMTP servers - unlimited for v2, 3 for v1

Direct delivery with backup SMTP servers (Mixed Delivery Mode) - comes with both versions.

Now, I have to admit I simply don't understand what some of these features do and whether I need them.

Hope that makes it clearer!

T

 

[DuaneJackson]

If you use 'Direct Delivery', then my understanding is that the emails wont actually go via your ISPs server, it'll instead go direct to the relevant server of the recipient.

There are some issues with this though, especially if your IP is dynamic. Basically you increase the possibility of your email being flagged as spam.

If you use this option then the other optios wont mean too much.

Hope that helps

 

[garyk]

I think you will only have a problem sending large amounts in a short timescale so being able to queue emails or as the software says put pauses in between every 200 emails will probably help.

Gary

 

[Marke[T]hink]

Target,

Have you consider using online email marketing service? You can buy bulk email messages and not using your ISP. I think you can negotiate your rate plus you don't have to worry about the version(s).

I used one in my previous job and it is very easy, + come with the report as well.

Hope this help,
Faizi

 

[Target]

Thanks all for your input, folks.

Duane, I've checked with my ISP (Virgin), and they have no problem with this quantity of emails, as long as they're not spam (which they won't be) and I don't save them all in my outbox (which I won't). What determines whether my IP is dynamic?

Garyk, I suspect then it's probably worth paying for the version with the 'pause' option?

Markethink, I definitely want to avoid the online option, as I don't want to have to pay a subscription based on volume usage. What attracted me to Kmailer is that it is a one-off cost, regardless of volume.

Have I interpreted your comments correctly? Please correct me if not...!

Thanks again

T