Can't I just buy a list?

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Permalink Reply by Judd Lillestrand on May 29, 2008 at 1:26pm

Hi Mark,

This is a great question. You can certainly buy a list, but you cannot use it with VerticalResponse.

Because we are managing the relationships with Internet Service Providers, we are solely permission based marketing. This helps us maintain our whitelisted status and get mail delivered. Feel free to buy a list and send it through another email service provider. It's not against CAN-SPAM.

There was also a post on the VR Marketing Blog regarding renting or buying a list. I think you'll find it helpful. http://blog.verticalresponse.com/verticalresponse_blog/2008/01/the-...

Another option you can take is targeted search engine marketing. We've partnered with MerchEngines.com to provide businesses an easy way to grow their list and attract new prospects. You can find more here: http://www.verticalresponse.com/merchengines/

All the best,

Judd

Permalink Reply by Mark on May 29, 2008 at 1:37pm

Thanks Judd,

But how does one even go about building a list?... I can't be the only small business owner out there who wants to drive business through email marketing and has no clue...need a ten foot sneaker?....I'm your guy - but an email list - No Clue

Thanks

Mark

Permalink Reply by Judd Lillestrand on May 29, 2008 at 1:54pm

This is another great question. There are many ways to build a permission based mailing list. And once you have one, it will be a cost effective way to drive sales and stay in your audience's mind.

First thing to do is place an opt-in form on your website. We have an opt-in form builder that connects to your VR account automatically. I recommend taking a look at our website and see where and where we place opt-in forms (every page!).

Check out the How to Do Everything tutorials: http://www.verticalresponse.com/tutorials/lists/

There are also a lot of great ideas under the Building a List section of the VR Marketing Blog:

http://blog.verticalresponse.com/verticalresponse_blog/building_an_...

It will take some time to grow your list, but it will be well worth the effort!

Judd

Permalink Reply by Adrian Tanner on August 27, 2008 at 7:49am

It is possible to purchase opt in list that have been built from survey data. Is this acceptable to be sent via Vertical Response?

Permalink Reply by Judd Lillestrand on September 1, 2008 at 8:59pm

Hi Adrian,

Thanks for adding to this discussion! Buying a list of any sort is not an acceptable method of obtaining a mailing list to send through VR. Bottom line: recipients of your mailings must know your business and be willing to accept messages from you directly; otherwise, it will be perceived as SPAM and marked as such by recipients.

Check out this video to get a better understanding of VerticalResponse's perspective on delivering email: http://www.verticalresponse.com/tutorials/videos/partners/delivery/

All my best,

Judd

Permalink Reply by Gloria Lafont on September 6, 2008 at 7:55pm

You can rent a list of names and email addresses by industry from a reputable list broker, the way they work is they'll help you create the email blasts and be the ones sending them. You can have an opt-in form, such as the subscription link from VR on it to capture the names and email addresses. The whole thing involves several components to really work and get you results, in fact this is what my business specializes in.

Permalink Reply by Linda Jo on November 21, 2008 at 12:17pm

Hi Mark,

I am also new at this....and wonder if there is a way that some of the exisiting clients that are associated with VR could share their lists - of course for fee - as even tho not competitive.....there is the possibility that I could utilize others list to build my clientel. I just started a WeddingGiftsInc website.
Since there is so many people with the same "starting out" situation and certain tools and resources are required....there should be a way to tap into exisiting lists. If someone was not my competitor - I would not hesitate to share a list with them...I am sure there are other scenarios that may prevent this...but would hope there was a way to atleast get a boost and start the process......versus starting from scratch

Permalink Reply by Chris Ewald on November 21, 2008 at 2:57pm

Hi Linda,

Good questions, but as Judd's post outlines above, you wouldn't be able to email to those lists through VerticalResponse. I recommend that you take so time to review the links in this thread to learn more about list building, and you might want to contact Gloria for some advice (the Lounge member who posted just above your post). Ultimately, the best way to build your list is one customer at a time via an opt-in form on your website; it takes time, but that way all your recipients know you and your business and want to receive emails from you.

Cheers, --Chris.