Sending Mass Emails

[YodaMan81]

I have a list of all of our customers. From time to time we would like to send them mass emails telling them of our updates and any notifications that we might have for them. How can I do that with the click of a button? Right now the information is stored in an Excel file but it takes a while to cut and paste the addresses.
As long as it is not too expensive, I am willing to perhaps even purchase a program that will be able to send out emails with just the click of a button. Thanks.

 

[carrr]

You don't indicate what email program you use, so it's rather difficult to guess, but it should be as simple as a one-shot building of a mail list, then simple select it each time you want to send the mailing.
However, did your customers ask to receive emails from your company, or are you about to become a spammer?

 

[philote]

What e-mail client are you using? With Outlook you can create a Distribution List where you can enter all your users' e-mail addresses once. Then each time you send an e-mail to everyone, you just have to pick the distribution list to send to and it'll go to everyone.

Kevin
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[WizyWyg]

More importantly:

Do you have confirmation from each of those customers about emailing them? Without written consent or an email from the specifically stating they want to receive your messages, your mailing can and will be considered spam.

 

[YodaMan81]

Ok I am not trying to start a spamming business. So yea I just need their email addresses just incase we need to tell them about a business update that will affect the way they do business with us. At most it would once every 6 months or so. But the list isnt going to be getting smaller you know.
I do have Outlook, but I was just wondering if there is a way to move all the names I have now without having to type them over again. I have a list of over 600 already in excel.

 

[philote]

Try saving it as a comma separated value (csv) file and then go to File->Import and Export...->Import from another program or file in Outlook. Then follow the instructions Outlook gives you.

Kevin
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[WizyWyg]

Yoda, you didn't answer my question. DO YOU have EXPLICIT confirmation from EACH OF THOSE 600 email addresses to email them at all?

 

[YodaMan81]

To tell you the truth I dont know. But to be honest I wouldnt think so.
I dont see how it makes sense though. We are doing business with them, I dont think it would spamming if we email them to tell them something that would affect the way they do business with us.
But then again it might be......so on that note I shall be looking up the law on spamming and will get back to you guys.

 

[WizyWyg]

To tell you the truth I dont know. But to be honest I wouldnt think so.
I dont see how it makes sense though. We are doing business with them, I dont think it would spamming if we email them to tell them something that would affect the way they do business with us.
But then again it might be......so on that note I shall be looking up the law on spamming and will get back to you guys.

I suggest a cold call to your customers or better yet, send out a flyer to them informing that you will be starting an email mailling list and if they are interested in joining your list, they should email the address you print on that flyer.

The only laws you'd be breaking is the contractual law you have with your ISP (unless you are in Washington or California who have spam laws that state you must have confirmation ); which 99% of them state that you will not send mass emails to recipients who did not specifically ask for it.

Best to play safe; snail mail them or call them first to get permission.