I’m switching to aWeber

April 25, 2009 by Johnny
Filed under: Email marketing 

So let’s be clear that I’m not saying that aWeber is better than iContact, since I do recommend both. I just seem to have crossed that line that divides an ideal iContact user from an ideal aWeber user.

This means I will have to migrate my list from iContact over to aWeber. When I move the lists, aWeber will send an email to all of my subscribers asking if they still want to be on the list. If they do, they will have to re-opt in. You typically lose half of your list this way. And it’s a kick in the gut, because you got all comfortable thinking about how many people liked you, and then only half of those people come back and you’re like, “Oh. Shit. I guess only half of those people liked me.”

So let’s also be clear that if you think you will EVER require aWeber, just start with it now to avoid all of this.

Anyway, I’m making the switch because I’m getting too many lists, requiring too much customization, and quickly running out of room on my plan. Because:

- iContact calls one person on one list a “subscriber.” So if johnny@theeconomyisnthappening.com is on three of my lists, he counts as three subscribers.

- aWeber calls one email address a subscriber, regardless of how many lists that address is on. So in the above example, that is only ONE aWeber subscriber.

Each of my webinars requires a different mailing list. Plus, I have my main mailing list (you join this when you download my e-book) and, of course, my The Economy Isn’t Happening email list. Which is the coolest among them.

So I’m switching.

I still think iContact is the best choice for people who have ONE main list, especially if they don’t have that list in any sort of automated mailing service now and just want to USE IT without requiring everyone to re-opt in, as aWeber would make you do.

But for me, looks like I graduated to aWeber. Hooray me.

 

 

 

RELATED POSTS:

  1. aWeber vs. iContact, and why you need a mailing list.
  2. How to set up your mailing list, add subscribers, and add forms
  3. How to create and use forms to add people to your mailing list

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Comments

5 Comments on I’m switching to aWeber

  1. Wendy Cholbi on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 6:36 pm

    2. Were you already using double opt-in on your iContact list?

    If not, you’re right about being kinda screwed in importing your list.

    But if you were, AWeber will let you import your list WITHOUT making your people re-opt-in. They don’t advertise this (I guess they would get inundated if they did), and you have to pick up the phone and actually call them and explain the situation, and you have to PROVE that the people you’re importing have already double-opted-in on some other system (the way you do this is by actually giving the AWeber rep your iContact password so they can see with real human eyes that you’re telling the truth). But if you do all this, you can get your entire list imported with no re-opting-in. Technically they temporarily turn off the forced double-opt-in for a limited number of subscribers.

    I’ve done this before, for myself and for clients. AWeber’s customer service generally rocks, so I’m sure they can walk you through it. Provided that you were making people double opt-in in iContact, that is.

  2. Johnny on Wed, 29th Apr 2009 7:35 pm

    3. This is a fantastic tip and I did NOT know it! I’d heard legends but never had them confirmed.

    However, I did NOT do the double-opt-in on my lists… regrettably.

    I’m going to put up your comment as a new post. It’s great info!

  3. N.C. Winters on Mon, 4th May 2009 4:27 pm

    4. I’ve been using iContact for awhile now with no problems, but will keep the multiple contact info in mind and look into AWeber, which I had never heard of. Only have the one list to worry about for now (Art Lovers), but have been thinking of adding a few more: Art Lovers With Dogs, Art Lovers Who Macramé and BDSM Art Lovers.

    Thanks for the tip. BTW, I already know which list you’d go on, so no changing it now.

  4. Johnny on Tue, 5th May 2009 12:53 am

    5. I love the leather, baby.

    If you ever do switch to aWeber, you’d BETTER FUCKING USE MY AFFILIATE LINK to do it. If not, I’ll dress up in my artsy gimp suit and then where will you be?

  5. My Internet love affair with Johnny B. Truant continues! | Your Web Coaches on Wed, 13th May 2009 1:06 pm

    6. [...] then Johnny won my heart (again!) by taking a comment I wrote on his post about why he’s switching to AWeber and essentially making it a guest post on his blog (go read it if you want to know how you [...]

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