Consistent with our overall policy of
keeping it simple, we have included uncomplicated
explanations of how all this stuff works
and why you should even bother using it
in the first place.
For those of you with an interest in
delving deeper into the subject, we
have provided additional
technical notes and helpful
hints, as well as references
to other sites, where you can gorge
yourself on all kinds of related content.
1. What
are the advantages of outsourcing
e-mail list management ?
2. I
currently maintain information
updates, subject briefs and the
like on my web site in pdf format.
How can I convert these files
for distribution as e-mail newsletters
?
3. Is
there a limit to the size of the
file I may distribute as an e-mail
newsletter ?
4. I’m
really interested in trying out
your service, but I think my list
may be too small. Can I sign up
for newsletter, informational
or promotional e-mail distributions
for lists of fewer than 1,000
names ?
5. We
have created the copy for our
newsletter, but we need help with
graphics, layout and design. Do
you provide these kinds of services
as well ?
6. We
have been considering the use
of direct mail to reach our subscribers.
Can you describe the benefits
of distributing our information
using your e-mail hosting service
instead ?
7.
I would like to try your service,
but I am not interested in making
a long-term commitment before
I’m sure this is the solution
for my business. Is there any
way I can sign up for a limited
time period ?
8. Okay,
we’re convinced. What do
we need to do to sign up for your
service ?
1. What are
the advantages of outsourcing e-mail
list management?
Aside from the obvious value of consistent
and timely delivery, real-time updating
and not having to manage the process
yourself, or get in line with other
projects awaiting handling by your IT
department, we have listed in tabular
form below a concise summary of the
benefits of having us do it, versus
doing it yourself:
HAVE US DO IT |
DO IT YOURSELF |
|
Privacy of
recipients guaranteed |
Names
of all recipients on list
may be viewable, providing
access to your list |
Reliable
delivery (automatic retries
over multiple days) |
Re-sending
undeliverable or bounced
e-mails is manual process,
resulting in possible duplicates |
24/7 guaranteed Internet
access for mail delivery
|
Dependent
on your Internet connection
always working |
Dedicated service, designed
for e-mail distribution
and tracking |
Ties
up your computer, preventing
other tasks |
Avoids blocking of legitimate
e-mail distribution lists
|
Blocking
of traditional e-mail, distributed
as blind copies, by anti-spamming
filters |
Automated delivery for specified
future date(s) |
No
scheduled delivery capability |
Register and tally acknowledged
receipt of e-mail by recipient |
Not
available |
High volume rapid delivery,
in excess of 100,000 message
per hour |
May
require literally days to
deliver the same volume,
if at all possible. |
Management
of your subscriber list
automatically - adding and
deleting names, plus suspending
transmission of undeliverable
messages. |
Hours
of manual work grooming,
merging and purging mailing
lists. |
|
Back to
top
2. I currently
maintain information updates, subject
briefs and the like on my Web site in
pdf format. How can I convert these
files for distribution as e-mail newsletters
?
Typically documents are rendered in
the native format of the program which
is used for their creation, before being
converted to pdf format. In order to
convert a newly created document to
html format for e-mail distribution,
click on the “Save As” function
and save the document either as a Web
Page or html file.
Back to
top
3. Is there
a limit to the size of the file I may
distribute as an e-mail newsletter ?
U.S. Host Office does not impose
any file size limitation on the
newsletters which you distribute
and there are no surcharges based
on file size. However, we do recommend
that you consider your subscribers
and the type of connection they
may have to the Internet. Individual
broadband users – i.e.,
those with DSL and cable modem
connections - and those with access
to corporate networks, generally
have few restrictions on the size
of files they are able to receive.
However, users with dial-up access
may experience delays in receiving
files in excess of 50 kb.
Back to
top
4. I’m
really interested in trying out your
service, but I think my list may be
too small. Can I sign up for newsletter,
informational or promotional e-mail
distributions for lists of fewer than
1,000 names ?
Since our service
is so scalable, you sign up just for
what you use – with a nominal
charge, based on a minimum of 1,000
names, or fraction thereof. For a one-time
set-up charge of $50 and a service fee
of $30 per month (for a minimum of 3
months) you can begin distributing for
$1 per thousand names, per month. So,
for example, if you have a list of 500
names to which you would like to distribute
your information 3 times a month for
3 months, your total costs would amount
to $142 (i.e., $50 one time set-up charge
+ $30 x 3 months service fee + $2 distribution
charge for 1,500 e-mails). Click
here
if you’d like to sign up now.
Back to
top
5. We have
created the copy for our newsletter,
but we need help with graphics, layout
and design. Do you provide these kind
of services as well ?
Ours is a soup-to-nuts e-marketing
operation. If you have the copy and
would like assistance with design
services, we’re here to help
– with flat rate or custom quote
offerings. If you want to render your
documents in text or HTML, we can support
either. Should you need help with writing
copy, we’ve got that too.
And if you’re interested in creating
and/or hosting
a web page in connection with your
e-marketing efforts, we provide these
services as well.
Back to
top
6. We have
been considering the use of direct mail
to reach our subscribers. Can you describe
the benefits of distributing our information
using your e-mail hosting service instead
?
Even with a minimal list of just 1,000
names, postage alone, at 37¢ an
envelope would amount to $ 370 for a
single mailing. Now add in the costs
of printing, stationery, etc. and your
mailing costs could easily rise to thousands
of dollars. Need we say more ?
Back to
top
7. I would
like to try your service, but I am not
interested in making a long-term commitment
before I’m sure this is the solution
for my business. Is there any way I
can sign up for a limited time period
?
The minimum subscription period is
for 3 months, with the $50 set-up charge
and $30/month service fee payable in
advance. Monthly distribution charges,
based on the number of e-mails sent,
are billed at the close of the month
in which they are incurred. And, if
you sign
up now, as an introductory
offer, we’ll waive the $30 service
fee for the 4th month . That’s
one extra month of service free
!
Back to
top
8. Okay, we’re
convinced. What do we need to do to
sign up for your service ?
Just follow the simple steps below
and you’ll be up and running on
our hosting and distribution service
in no time at all. You will need access
to the Internet and a Web browser -
either Internet Explorer or Netscape,
version 5.x or higher.
Step 1: Complete the Mailing
List Customer Order Form (be certain
to sign up for all the services you
are interested in)
Step 2: On acceptance of your application
we will e-mail you a user name and temporary
password.
Step 3: Access your Web browser and
log on to http://login.ushostoffice.net,
and enter your log-in name and password.
(It is advisable to change your password
when logging in for the first time.)
Step 4: Click on the link that says,
“Import your e-mail contact
list”. (Note: E-mail addresses
can be exported from most spreadsheet
or contact management, or PIF
programs which support comma delineated
files, or one contact per line.
We will automatically scan for
and delete duplicate entries on
your e-mail distribution.)
Step 5: Follow the instructions
on the log-in page and paste the
text of your message into the
box provided. (Note: Only plain
text formats such as ascii and
csv, or html code are supported.
Do not import text from word processing
programs such as Word or WordPerfect.
It is best if you create your
text in a program such as Notepad
or import existing html code.)
Step 6: Run a test of the service
by sending e-mail to yourself.
Step 7: Return to the log-in above
and set your newsletter mailing list
options.
Back to
top
