Bulk emailing

[Nemo]

I would like to email my past guests but what system should I use? I am a PIMS user combined with Outlook currently. Is there a programme out there that I can use that makes it quick and easy? I remember reading one or two threads in the past, but couldn't find anything that up to date.

[Hells Bells]

I've used Mailchimp in the past to do bulk emails, but I can sync it with my online booking system.

[enid]

I use mailchimp

[Windy]

I use PHPlist, but you need to install it on your own web site.

It's available on Fantastico install.

[Nemo]

Yet another reason to get my wordpress site going! I'm going on a wordpress course next week, thanks to MG, so I hope that will give me the kick start I need!

[Gwion]

Mailchimp gets my vote too

[Nemo]

Just an update to this thread. I have gone with mailchimp (for speed mainly!) and have been really pleased with the results. It took me an afternoon to read through and then create a suitable email but the result is good and I really like the fact that you get a report telling you exactly what is happening with the emails once sent.

[kendalcottages]

Hi Nemo

Would you mind mailing me a copy? ( stay at kendalcottages dot com)

This is really something I think I should be looking at as well...

[Holiday Ray]

I've just sent my first Newsletter (Happy New Year to previous guests) using mailchimp (Don't know why but I keep thinking it's 'chimpmail' )

I've not used excel spreadsheets before, so couldn't figure out how to 'import a file' either using excel, or .txt file, which is the other accepted file format, so spent an hour manually creating a subscriber list (very tedious).

I also intend sending a different Newsletter to previous 'enquirers' and there will obviously be a LOT more of those (unfortunately) and it will take me forever to do this manually each time I want to send a Newsletter.
Could anyone point me in the right direction as to how to load information into excel, so as to be able to import the file, or alternatively - how do I create a plain text doc ?

Nemo, I'd be interested to know how your first Newsletter with mailchimp went

[Nemo]

Not sure TBH! Better than the industry average anyway, according to mailchimp. About one third were opened, two thirds not. My click through rate to my website was 11.1%. However, I have not had any direct contact from a past guest as a result. Seeds sown for the future maybe?

I did import from excel, but can't remember how - just followed instructions!

[Holiday Ray]

Thanks nemo,

Only two days since I sent the Newsletter and so far -

open rate = 50%

click rate to our website = diddly - zilch - 0 -nuthin

ah well, there's time yet and as you say nemo -

"Seeds sown for the future maybe" ?

[Nemo]

Open rate sounds great. The difference between us is me sending before and you after Christmas I would think, as now is peak time for thoughts of holidays.

[Holiday Ray]

Yes, probably so

I did receive an email reply from the 'Autotweet' that was sent out.
The reply was - words to the effect

"Sorry, I didn't understand the txt of your tweet"

I didn't actually want to send out an 'Auto tweet', as I didn't have the time/inclination to complete the form, but as I couldn't figure out how 'not to send it', I just let it go with the Newsletter anyway.
So it went out with the standard template 'hieroglyphics -gobbledy gook' txt in there. No wonder the poor sole couldn't understand it

We live and learn !

[Windy]

I was encouraged to give mail chimp a try today by the positive comments here. It is much easier to use than phpmail and the reporting sounds great.

I like the fact that it has easy templates to set up professional looking emails too.

I hope the results are as good as Nemo's

Hey! We could have an LMH competition

PS if anyone is interested you can see the template I put together here :

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=fc7 ... e647c694e6

[Nemo]

Great email Windy.

Competition? - Nah, don't think so; you boys will just be in it to win it won't you?

Keep us posted though - I wish I'd waited until now, as I could really do with a bookings pep up. After going silly last week, it's all gone quiet.