| Today I am going to discuss about three different | | | | features that competitive autoresponders has. |
| autoresponders for three different needs. The need | | | | Have you decided which autoresponder to use after |
| in this case, is the ability to build a mailing list that will | | | | reading the some of the features above? I hope you |
| be receiving your latest blog posts using an | | | | have decided to go with either MailChimp or AWeber. |
| autoresponder. Also known as RSS-to-email | | | | Is MailChimp Good Enough? |
| newsletters. Although I mentioned three different | | | | If you decided to go with MailChimp, please read on |
| needs, the only difference between them is the | | | | and understand what I am about to tell you. Yes, |
| varying level of use. Different autoresponders have | | | | MailChimp is great if you are starting out but you will |
| different features and I hope I will be able to | | | | soon realize that you are paying just as much as |
| suggest the right one for you. | | | | AWeber in the end. If you are going with MailChimp, |
| The Three Autoresponders | | | | you will pay nothing if the number of subscribers you |
| Which autoresponders to use will depend on how | | | | have is 500 or less. For AWeber, you will have to |
| you would like to communicate with your mailing list. | | | | start paying $19 per month even if you have less |
| The assumption here is that you have just started a | | | | than 500 subscribers. So, is MailChimp a better deal? |
| blog and you would like to use an autoresponder to | | | | If you have 500 or less subscribers, MailChimp is a |
| build your mailing list. | | | | very good deal. But that is not your target, is it? |
| FeedBurner | | | | You'll soon realize that you will pay slightly more |
| Technically speaking, FeedBurner is not an | | | | compared to AWeber once the number of |
| autoresponder. The advantage of FeedBurner is that | | | | subscribers goes above 500. |
| you can create an RSS-to-email service for free. To | | | | Consider This |
| the best of my knowledge, FeedBurner remains free | | | | I was very attracted to MailChimp at first. So much |
| no matter how big the number of subscribers you | | | | so that I almost switch over to them. At the time of |
| have. It does not have other capabilities such as | | | | this writing, MailChimp lacks one feature that I |
| email broadcast and follow-up autoresponder. This is | | | | needed. Automation capability. What if you feel |
| a good idea if all you want to do is send an email | | | | business savvy one day and you need features from |
| version of your blog. | | | | AWeber that you don't have with Mail Chimp? Easy, |
| MailChimp | | | | just send an email broadcast to your subscribers on |
| MailChimp is an autoresponder service where you can | | | | MailChimp telling them to opt-in to your new AWeber |
| set RSS-to-email newsletters for your blog. MailChimp | | | | mailing list. |
| is not only limited to the service that I have just | | | | Will it work? Highly unlikely. You will lose about 80% |
| mentioned as all good autoresponder service will also | | | | of those subscribers and you can't force their |
| offer email broadcast and follow-up autoresponder. It | | | | particulars into AWeber because they will not be |
| is a paid service and you can start a mailing list for | | | | your subscribers unless they have confirmed their |
| free as long as you have 500 or less subscribers. This | | | | subscription. This is the CAN-SPAM Act requirement. |
| is a better idea if you wish to send an email version | | | | Cut To The Chase |
| of you blog plus occasionally send email broadcast | | | | You have to do this right from the start. Famous |
| and also set up a follow-up autoresponder. | | | | blogger like John Chow regretted his decision for not |
| AWeber | | | | building his mailing list when he started his blog. He |
| AWeber is one of the most well known email | | | | regretted even more for not using AWeber when he |
| marketing company that offers email broadcast, | | | | did decide to start. |
| follow-up autoresponders and of course, RSS-to-email | | | | Still think you should use MailChimp? I respect your |
| service. Price starts at $19 per month (if you are | | | | decision. For those of you who have decided to go |
| paying monthly and you can save more by paying | | | | with the AWeber, you can open an account and pay |
| quarterly or yearly). Unlike MailChimp, AWeber does | | | | only $1 for the first month. I'm not sure how long this |
| not offer a free account. This is your best option if | | | | offer will last so sign up with AWeber today before |
| you are looking forward to monetize your blog now | | | | it's too late. |
| (or in the future) by getting some of the best | | | | |