Email to ECF members RE. California

[Oliver]

OK, I want to send an email out to our nearly 20,000 members in the next couple of days.

However, there is a bit of a problem - we can't use the server's email client as this will get ECF spam-banned from the major ISPs.

Instead, we will export the email database to a proper automailer company, but there is a further problem...

Automailer companies insist (rightly) on a double opt-in sign up. Double opt in is what you had to do to sign up to ECF - you put your name and email in the sign up form, then you verify the email.

So, every ECF member will get an email asking them to opt in to receive our newsletter (I don't plan on sending many newsletters - only when urgent campaign updates need to be issued)

I have no idea what proportion will opt in, but what is clear is that we have only one shot at this.

It may be the case that we can put details of the Cali campaign in the opt-in email. If not, it will have to go into the first newsletter (presumably far fewer)

So, if you have any ideas on how we should best go about doing this - please let me know. We need to get it right first time.

Many thanks,

SmokeyJoe

 

[Pocket Aces]

OK, I want to send an email out to our nearly 20,000 members in the next couple of days.

However, there is a bit of a problem - we can't use the server's email client as this will get ECF spam-banned from the major ISPs.

Instead, we will export the email database to a proper automailer company, but there is a further problem...

Automailer companies insist (rightly) on a double opt-in sign up. Double opt in is what you had to do to sign up to ECF - you put your name and email in the sign up form, then you verify the email.

So, every ECF member will get an email asking them to opt in to receive our newsletter (I don't plan on sending many newsletters - only when urgent campaign updates need to be issued)

I have no idea what proportion will opt in, but what is clear is that we have only one shot at this.

It may be the case that we can put details of the Cali campaign in the opt-in email. If not, it will have to go into the first newsletter (presumably far fewer)

So, if you have any ideas on how we should best go about doing this - please let me know. We need to get it right first time.

Many thanks,

SmokeyJoe

SJ,

I hope you can get the Cali campaign into the subject for the opt-in email since time is shorter than you think. Since the bill needs a veto by the 11th which is a Sunday all contact with the Governors office needs to hit by this Friday to have an effect.

Thanks for all your hard work on this!

Frank

 

[Oliver]

Damn - thanks Pocket, I shall try to get this done tomorrow - if possible.

 

[scrooby]

SmokeyJoe
I have tried to sign the petition but it says that it is closed?

 

[Tom09]

SJ,

great project to set up the general infrastructure for sending urgent newsletters. Hope you will succeed to get this done. To motivate opt-in, the intended newsletter focus may well be broader than campaign issues. After all, using e-cigs is still an amazing journey into an unexplored, underdeveloped, unregulated environment. I for one, consider this very forum a part of my personal safety net on this journey. So, I would highly welcome to see this channel for rapid, direct, urgent information in place - and I’ll certainly opt-in.

Since CA‘s time is running very short, however, and possibly emerging problems may not allow to get that opt-in mail out tomorrow, you might also think about putting up some banner or general notice to display on top of the ECF web page. This wouldn’t be the big solution, but such an open call to contact the Governor (urging him to veto SB 400) could still generate some effect.

 

[TheScrye]

I've sent my e-mail to the governor, I wish there was more I could do. If there is, tell me, I'll do what's possible.

 

[rollindonut]

Forgive me but I cannot find the post with the email address information for the governator. It's SB 400? Yes, this should be posted all over the darn place. I just spent all evening writing up my pitch and am now ready to send it in. All that's missing is the address information. Anyone have it?

 

[NascarFan]

Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger! <<link!!!

 

[NascarFan]

That link is under Law and E-cig. Go to 12 days for calif.

 

[Vocalek]

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - Interact
"http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email"

 

[LaceyUnderall]

SJ -

In my experience with dealing with mass email marketing, the first place to start is a product like: Email Marketing Solutions from Constant Contact

Here, you can import your lists and as you have noted, they have to be double opt-in, however, their customer service is excellent and I know you can ask the question you are seeking. I would tell them that you do have a double opt-in to be a member of the forum and that you would like to do a one time initial mailing to all of your subscribers so that they can then, triple opt-in to your mailer. Then, if CC agrees, they can shut off any warning flags that will go up for this one time. From there, you will have a revised list. This does take a few days to do though so with time being of the essence, you might not get California in, but you could certainly get yourself set up for the future.

The other thing to look for in an email/newsletter type service is that you are only charged for the amount of emails on your list that are proper and working. And I know with Constant Contact, they have all of these filters that allow you to eliminate bad addresses. They do charge a monthly fee, but you can pay months in advance, getting a better rate AND you can also integrate into your member sign up a little check box that will automatically set them up in the newsletter list IF they so choose. It also allows for current members to go back and sign up if they missed the email or didn't check the box in the beginning... (There is a catch, you cannot automatically select the box for them, they have to physically check the box themselves or that is not an opt-in, that's an opt-out).

All of that said, a paid service IS the way to go. And from what I remember of Constant Contact, they were very reasonable. (I am not afilliated with them in any way... just a very happy customer back in the 9-5 world of Director of Online Marketing for a company) They can keep you, as you have noted, from being IP blocked, and that is bad news on a multitude of levels.

 

[Kamanjah]

Thanks, SJ. For CA, a link at the top of the forum like your message today about the migration may help get more Veto SB 400 messages to the gov.

It appears Lacey has a good solution. I had the thought of a message at the top of the forum - click here to sign up for our newsletter - might work. You could try that and see what sort of response you get, wouldn't cost anything but time.

 

[LaceyUnderall]

I had the thought of a message at the top of the forum - click here to sign up for our newsletter - might work. You could try that and see what sort of response you get, wouldn't cost anything but time.

That's a great idea.