Mike vs Joy's newsletter

[crissy11]

I have signed up 6 months with Joy and had problems with getting set up with icontact and they are letting me get a few months of Mike's newsletters. Which you do like better and why?

[tlag1986]

I love Mike's, but I have never used Joy's. I'm sure either one is good, but my preference is Mike's. He has the easy one click option for icontact, that makes it so easy.

[troggt]

This is the first I have heard of Milke's. are there samples out there to see? where to go???

[Dina Atnip]

Is there samples on Mike's? I use Joy and cut and paste to icontact my email will not send out correctly so this is easier for me.

[tlag1986]

Give me your email addresses and I will send you a copy.
pccook4u@<hidden email>

[babywings76]

go to myemaildesigns.com

You can click on the Samples tab and fill in your info, and he'll send you a sample. I do love his one-click that goes with iContact. Really fast and easy.

[mscharf]

I love Mike's, although I have never seen Joy's! He is always prompt, always looks very professional, and someone correct me if I am wrong, he is the only one approved by HO.

[c00p]

Ok, silly question, but what is icontact??? Is this something that I would have to enter my customer's emails into or will it work with my current email program? I have 123 by request and I like the fact that I can just edit and forward onto my contacts.

[tlag1986]

icontact is an emailing program you subscribe to that allows you to see who opens, clicks, or bounces the emails you send. I think it runs around $10 a month for a basic subscription.

[tlag1986]

Mike's costs only $2 each month if a full year is paid. I made it back with my first newsletter I sent out.

[babywings76]

I love Mike's, although I have never seen Joy's! He is always prompt, always looks very professional, and someone correct me if I am wrong, he is the only one approved by HO.

I hadn't heard that before. I don't think HO has officially given anyone their stamp of approval.

[mscharf]

you can just upload your current contacts. The best feature IMO is that you can see who is opening your emails, how many times, and lots of other details. Since I can see if some opens my newsletter several times, I can contact them, they are obviously showing interest!! They might want to host...

[PamperedK]

I like Mike's - the only problem is it's very long. I usually end up delete a bit of content because it's TOO much for me.

[DebbieJ]

I vote for Joy's. Just sent out her outlet email and have over $100 in orders!

[mscharf]

I hadn't heard that before. I don't think HO has officially given anyone their stamp of approval.

I am not sure that it is advertised, but I know he has authorization to use pics and make links to our websites. I do know he gets all images from HO, not a consultant, so he obviously has something approved.
Like I said I am not sure if he is the only one, but my director said he is approved, so we don't have to worry about getting in any trouble!

[DebbieJ]

I am not sure that it is advertised, but I know he has authorization to use pics and make links to our websites. I do know he gets all images from HO, not a consultant, so he obviously has something approved.
Like I said I am not sure if he is the only one, but my director said he is approved, so we don't have to worry about getting in any trouble!

Directors are not HO--I wouldn't take their word as truth.

[mscharf]

Directors are not HO--I wouldn't take their word as truth.

I agree, but I also know that my director is VERY "BY THE BOOK" and would never do anything against the rules.
I inquired to her about some of the other newsletters before I decided and she explained all of this to me, so I went with Mike!
And like I said before, NO COMPLAINTS! I have been very happy and have definately seen the profits from it!

[c00p]

Ok, so you have to pay for the newsletter AND you have to pay for iContact??? Honestly, I don't have time to see who does and doesn't open my emails (and honestly, I could care less!!!), so I don't see that as an advantage for me - but I can see how others do benefit from it.

[ChefBeckyD]

I am not sure that it is advertised, but I know he has authorization to use pics and make links to our websites. I do know he gets all images from HO, not a consultant, so he obviously has something approved.
Like I said I am not sure if he is the only one, but my director said he is approved, so we don't have to worry about getting in any trouble!


Joy gets all of her pics from the PC website - and I'm sure that's how he does it to...not from HO directly. She also has direct links to our websites throughout the newsletters. I checked out Mike's a while back, and it was way too much info. I didn't even finish reading through the sample, so why would my customers?

I vote for Joy too - not only does she provide a newsletter, she provides all kinds of extras that we can use too - like the outlet email, the mini newsletter in the middle of the month, and all of the cool flyers that she creates for bookings, discontinued products, recruiting, etc....
I get so many orders, etc...and also lots of compliments from customers since I started using Joy's service. LOVE it!

[Liquid Sky]

I LOVE Mike's newsletters. Before I picked a subscription I got samples from varies other places and Mike's, by far, is way more professional looking and is packed w/ lots of info...which I like.

[mscharf]

Ok, so you have to pay for the newsletter AND you have to pay for iContact??? Honestly, I don't have time to see who does and doesn't open my emails (and honestly, I could care less!!!), so I don't see that as an advantage for me - but I can see how others do benefit from it.

Mike's newsletter (which also includes a mid-month outlet special/mini letter) is only about $26 for the YEAR! Well worth it, ,IMHO!

IContact is seperate and you pay seperate!

[wadesgirl]

Joy gives you free subscriptions when you sign up for iContact through her website.

[pamperedlinda]

I vote for Joy too - same reasons that everyone else loves her for!

[crissy11]

On icontact you can do an advanced view and actually see what picture the person clicked on. Every picture with Mike's newsletter is linked to your website to the order page so all they have to do is click add to bag.

[PCMelissa]

I say Joys too. I got a sample of Mikes and I don't know, it just did not catch my eye. I have a background in advertising, so I am actually super picky. So it was really important to me that it was professional looking. A lot of my customers are from my advertising profession and I guess Joy's is just more my style.

Good luck. I wouldn't say any is better than the other, just probably more of a style preference.

[PCMelissa]

oh, yes and I get Joys' for FREE cause I signed up for incontact under her. SO how can you beat free!?!!?

[heat123]

Joy gets all of her pics from the PC website - and I'm sure that's how he does it to...not from HO directly. She also has direct links to our websites throughout the newsletters. I checked out Mike's a while back, and it was way too much info. I didn't even finish reading through the sample, so why would my customers?

I vote for Joy too - not only does she provide a newsletter, she provides all kinds of extras that we can use too - like the outlet email, the mini newsletter in the middle of the month, and all of the cool flyers that she creates for bookings, discontinued products, recruiting, etc....
I get so many orders, etc...and also lots of compliments from customers since I started using Joy's service. LOVE it!

Ditto Joy's Tastey Tidbits Service!:thumbup::chef::D

[heather223]

I just switched to Joy's and I love it! I agree that it just more of a style preference. I also wasn't too happy when I started getting emails from Mike just because I mentioned on here that I was looking for a new service. I didn't ask for them,never even went to his website, they just took my email address and starting sending me info- that really rubbed me the wrong way.

[babywings76]

I do love Mike's design and service. The only thing is that sometimes I do fear it is too long. I cut out some of the info I don't feel is necessary, or swap out a photo or something some times. I do LOVE Joy's work though, and am actually looking into subscribing to hers as well. I'm doing her 15 day free trial.

The thing I like about Mike's:
-- one click for iContact, super easy
-- he also does a mid-month shorter newsletter plus an outlet one (shows the current items the moment you retrieve it before you distribute to your customers)
-- very professional looking
-- great customer service

Joy's
--a lot of the same positives as Mike's
--I also love that she's a consultant and so she KNOWS right away the news and excitement of announcements and is quick to put stuff together and share with us

It really is so hard to decide. That's why I'm doing the trial period thing. I'm willing to pay another subscription fee to use hers if I decide I like it better.

[baychef]

I guess as long as we are keeping in contact with our customers, get bookings and orders...it is all personal preference.

123request has been the easiest (and yes, I know of the problems had a few but resolved them). I have subscribed to Mike's and it will take a bit of getting used to the change when I do switch, but it is for one year and we will see as time goes on.

Just glad we have these services and that there are a few to choose from. :chef:If they ever were able to do something through our personal websites, that would be the best for me. Tastefully Simple has some and they look very professional are quick and to the point.

[wadesgirl]

I do love Mike's design and service. The only thing is that sometimes I do fear it is too long. I cut out some of the info I don't feel is necessary, or swap out a photo or something some times. I do LOVE Joy's work though, and am actually looking into subscribing to hers as well. I'm doing her 15 day free trial.

The thing I like about Mike's:
-- one click for iContact, super easy
-- he also does a mid-month shorter newsletter plus an outlet one (shows the current items the moment you retrieve it before you distribute to your customers)
-- very professional looking
-- great customer service

Joy's
--a lot of the same positives as Mike's
--I also love that she's a consultant and so she KNOWS right away the news and excitement of announcements and is quick to put stuff together and share with us

It really is so hard to decide. That's why I'm doing the trial period thing. I'm willing to pay another subscription fee to use hers if I decide I like it better.
Joy also does a few different newsletters a month plus other fliers and postcards to print. I like Tasty Tidbits because instead of waiting for an email to be sent out, you can log on any time and pull up any newsletter. No more searching your inbox for the last newsletter.

[babywings76]

Joy also does a few different newsletters a month plus other fliers and postcards to print. I like Tasty Tidbits because instead of waiting for an email to be sent out, you can log on any time and pull up any newsletter. No more searching your inbox for the last newsletter.

You can go online anytime and log in and retrieve Mike's newsletters as well.

[Nanisu]

I use both--Mike one month, Joy the next. Mike's is VERY easy to use and very professional, Joy's is lots of good info. I honestly prefer Mike's--I get lots of good feedback from it from my customers. I was one of his first subscribers and he's very good. But Joy is one of us....

[caraighan]

I love Mike's, but I have never used Joy's. I'm sure either one is good, but my preference is Mike's. He has the easy one click option for icontact, that makes it so easy.

I used to use Joy's and now I use Mike's. I like Mike's a lot better.

I just signed up with iContact through Mike's. I've only used iContact a couple of times. The jury's still out on iContact!!! LOL I think I just have to get used to it!

[caraighan]

Joy gives you free subscriptions when you sign up for iContact through her website.

Mike does too! He gives you 3 free months. Plus, right now there's a $10 discount when you upgrade to a paid iContact account. I'm not sure if it's from Mike or from iContact. I know that I got it in the email from Mike, though.

[caraighan]

Joy also does a few different newsletters a month plus other fliers and postcards to print. I like Tasty Tidbits because instead of waiting for an email to be sent out, you can log on any time and pull up any newsletter. No more searching your inbox for the last newsletter.

You can do that with Mike's too. I just go to the website and log in.

[babywings76]

hijack...

And then there's always the times you send these newsletters out and you get people to unsubscribe. :( (Just sent out my outlet e-mail and had someone unsub. just now)

[pamperedlinda]

wow - this is starting to get rather competative here - anyone keeping score?

[Liquid Sky]

wow - this is starting to get rather competative here - anyone keeping score?

LOL! Both newsletter subscriptions are a major asset to our businesses and it really does come down to preference. :)

[lauradahl]

LOL! Both newsletter subscriptions are a major asset to our businesses and it really does come down to preference. :)

I agree! It's good to have a choice and all of us will have different reasons why we prefer one over the other. Until now, I did not know about Mike's. I have used Joy's and had TREMENDOUS response and sales so I am sticking with it. Why mess with a good thing? I suggest checking both of them out and then deciding for yourself which you like best. I do use Joy's flyers and the newsletters and I appreciate the fact that I can go there anytime and get what I want...my mailbox is not all jammed with stuff I may not want/use.
Joy is also easily accessible. She is here so much and hears about our needs...she's so on top of it....like I saw here before...she is one of us as a consultant.

[cookingwith_tara]

I use Mike's and love love love it. I, too, have taken away or added to the newsletter as needed. I've not tried Joy's since I was satisfied with Mike's.

But, I agree with others. We all have a difference in preferences and our opinion in professionalism.

I'm glad there are 'options' and we're not stuck with only one 'type' of newsletter that we can't change or make our own. So, I'm thankful for both.

[kam]

Yes, I also use Mike's and I LOVE it too! It is just a matter of preference.

I just delete out the sections of Mike's I don't want to use before I forward it.

I just subscribe to the regular newsletter and send it myself through my email.

[tlag1986]

I do believe it is all just a preference. I understand each consultants loyalty to their newsletter service, but like it has already been said we have more than one option to choose from. For that I am grateful.
We hear a great deal about Joy's since she is a consultant and uses this site, and from what I've seen she does a great job. We all need to be grateful to our newsletter originators for all the work they do for us, and for a nominal fee.

[whiteyteresa]

Joy gives you free subscriptions when you sign up for iContact through her website.


I wish I would have known this yesterday or even looked more at her website because I just resigned up for her newsletter last night because

I JUST LOVE JOYS NEWSLETTER

I could have gotten something free - RATS

:chef:

[pcchefjane]

I clicked on the link to Mike's once and it was so complicated (and I am pretty computer-savvy) that I just closed it. I love Joy's and as everyone has said, it is a preference... If Joy is out there, I think she could answer about her prices... I think whatever you sign up for (6 months or a year) through iContact gives you that much time free on her site. I was told by someone at my church that LONG newsletters don't get people to read them. I did take the recipes off Joy's last month and put them on my website. Haven't heard from anyone that they noticed them, so who knows? I know her Outlet QuickBites have netted me sales! She is the bomb as far as I'm concerned!

Just to answer the comment that Mike's is "authorized by HO", when Joy was going through all the mess with HO, they told her there was not an "authorized newsletter service" so if he is claiming that, he isn't telling the truth. Don't you know HO would tell us that information if he was the "only authorized person"?

[PampChefJoy]

I wish I would have known this yesterday or even looked more at her website because I just resigned up for her newsletter last night because

I JUST LOVE JOYS NEWSLETTER

I could have gotten something free - RATS

:chef:

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

[PampChefJoy]

Hey all - I'm trying SO hard to stay out of this thread because I have a vested interest (haha) in what's being said... but I did want to say thank you to everyone for the kind words.

It's nice to see everyone (on all sides) so passionate about the service providers they choose. I guess we're doing something right, huh? :)

[crissy11]

Hello Joy, I like you both. I started this thread and have paid for 6 months of your newsletter and since I had trouble exporting my addresses into icontact they are giving me a couple of months free of Mikes newsletter. I think I will just use both. I can't decide. I will switch up monthly newsletters and outlet newsletter with you both. Thank you soo much for all that you do.

[whiteyteresa]

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

Thanks Joy, I will try it tonight or tomorrow morning - I am having a few personal problems here at home - I kicked my husband out last night and my thinking isn't good and I don't want mess up when trying this.

Thanks again Joy

:chef:

[babywings76]

I clicked on the link to Mike's once and it was so complicated (and I am pretty computer-savvy) that I just closed it. I love Joy's and as everyone has said, it is a preference... If Joy is out there, I think she could answer about her prices... I think whatever you sign up for (6 months or a year) through iContact gives you that much time free on her site. I was told by someone at my church that LONG newsletters don't get people to read them. I did take the recipes off Joy's last month and put them on my website. Haven't heard from anyone that they noticed them, so who knows? I know her Outlet QuickBites have netted me sales! She is the bomb as far as I'm concerned!

Just to answer the comment that Mike's is "authorized by HO", when Joy was going through all the mess with HO, they told her there was not an "authorized newsletter service" so if he is claiming that, he isn't telling the truth. Don't you know HO would tell us that information if he was the "only authorized person"?

No, he does not claim that. Someone posted that their director said he was, but that's not true. No one has their official approval.

[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: iContact - your sending solution! » Tasty Tidbits (http://www.tastytidbits.net/?page_id=232)

Direct link to the sign up form: Email Marketing & Surveying Software - iContact (http://www.icontact.com/a.pl/170267)

[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 :D

[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 Newsletters by Email, Inc. » Home (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.