Sending hundreds of PERSONAL emails to past customers - FAST & SIMPLY

[NowAndThen]

An idea that works - apologies if anyone has already posted similar, but here's my humble offering.

Using your email signature as your email message
(NOT your Forum signature)
(I use Outlook Express here as the email client - you'll need to adapt the steps and commands if you use a different client)
Here's how, step-by-step:

Step 1:
In Outlook Express, select Tools>Options>Signature>New.
Ensure the Box "Add signatures to all outgoing messages" is cleared.
Select the Text option.
In the text entry box adjacent, carefully type your message as you wish it to appear, including the full web address of
any links you wish to include (eg. your Store). See Example (1) below - but please use your own wording!
Rename the default signature title to something appropriate (eg: eBid Promotion).
When finished, click Apply and then OK.
(If you're not happy with your message later, you can always return and edit this 'signature').



Step 2:
Now in Outlook Express, go to Create Mail.
Complete the Recipient and Subject fields. (If you wish to use the CC field to send to multiple recipients, you will
not be able to personalise the greeting. In addition, the list of recipients may be visible to each of them).
"I would suggest that anyone choosing to use this method uses the option for BCC (Blind carbon copy) and NOT CC (carbon copy). CC will show all the email addresses of everyone you mail to, to everyone you mail to. This may well annoy a lot of people who do not like their addresses being added to a ready made list that spammers would love." Added comment courtesy of Damian, Demand & Supply.
To access the BCC list, click on the 'little book' next to CC on your Create Mail page, and you will get a multi-pane layout where you can copy intended recipients directly from your Address Book to the BCC List.

See Example (2) below.



Step 3: (optional)
If you wish to add a background or pattern, to be posh! - go to Format>Apply Stationery>(Select)>
See Example (3) below.



Step 4:
In your Message Pane, type only a Personal Greeting and Name, followed by a carriage return.
Then go to Insert>Signature (selecting the correct signature, if there is more than one listed).
See Example (4) below.



Step 5: (Nearly there)
Your signature will now show as the body of your message ...
See Example (5) below.



Now your email is ready to send.
To send further emails, start from Step 2 (omitting Step 3 if you don't want it).
With a little practise, you should be able to send up to 3 emails a minute or more!

I hope this simple solution will help those not too computer savvy like myself to be able
to promote eBid and their Store(s) at the same time, without too much effort.

[NowAndThen]

Comments, criticisms and suggestions to #1 are welcome - I would like to know if anyone will find it useful or if it's a white elephant.

[PoppyGrove]

You've stumbled over the same idea that I had when I was so chuffed at being able to sort out my forum sig link, I got carried away and added the details to my e.mail sig link.

If 2 of us have independantly come up with the same idea - it must be a good one. Well done for being able to do the 'how to do' thread. That is beyond my pc knowledge.

It goes out with every e.mail I send out.

Although - you have reminded me that I do need to finish my 'mailing list' so I thank you for that.

[damian_steele]

This idea has been suggested on multiple occasions before - a search of this forum will turn up numerous threads mentioning it. It really would benefit new users to spend a decent amount of time going through old threads to get all sorts of hints, tips and pointers.

However, as has been said, it has been well presented here and will, I am sure, help those who were not sure of how to go about it.

[NowAndThen]

[quote=BabsnRay;791407]You've stumbled over the same idea that I had when I was so chuffed at being able to sort out my forum sig link, I got carried away and added the details to my e.mail sig link.

If 2 of us have independantly come up with the same idea - it must be a good one. Well done for being able to do the 'how to do' thread. That is beyond my pc knowledge.
quote]

Hi Babs & Ray,
Two minds with the same thought? The 'How to do' layout was almost beyond me I admit - took me 2 hours to sort it out! Still needs some finesse, removal of white space, etc. I think the principle is ok but the presentation needs to be more succinct.
You're right about your email lists - you'll need all the addresses in your address book I believe for Outlook Express to be able to send them out? Or perhaps that's not necessarily the case? I'm not sure.
Good luck with your efforts.

[NowAndThen]

[quote=damian_steele;791412]This idea has been suggested on multiple occasions before - a search of this forum will turn up numerous threads mentioning it. It really would benefit new users to spend a decent amount of time going through old threads to get all sorts of hints, tips and pointers. quote]

I did just that, Damian, searched the threads, but I couldn't find anything at all on this particular subject. If you can point me to one of two of those threads I'll be grateful.
Mind you, a lot of the older threads do seem to get 'buried' in time, and folk seem to concentrate more on recent threads and posts, so perhaps it's not a bad thing to resurrect a notion now and again to bring an idea back into focus. Thanks for your input.

[PoppyGrove]

I'm not sure with outlook, as I use incredimail, although I think the basic email priciples are the same. I know when I 'mass mail' I either have to have the addresses in my address book and add them to the new mail I'm sending, or I can just manually add them by typing them in from another source. The first method is easiest and quickest, but it all depends on where the email address is.

[damian_steele]

A search within this forum for the words EMAIL SIGNATURE produces 26 threads.
There are also likely to be other threads in other forums.

Just use the SEARCH function at the top of the page to find threads on almost every topic a new user could wish for.

[damian_steele]

While I think of it, I would suggest that anyone choosing to use this method uses the option for BCC (Blind carbon copy) and NOT CC (carbon copy). CC will show all the email addresses of everyone you mail to, to everyone you mail to. This may well annoy a lot of people who do not like their addresses being added to a ready made list that spammers would love. BCC will hide all the other email addresses.

[NowAndThen]

A search within this forum for the words EMAIL SIGNATURE produces 26 threads.
There are also likely to be other threads in other forums.

Just use the SEARCH function at the top of the page to find threads on almost every topic a new user could wish for.

Thanks Damian, that I will do. Have a good night (we've torrential rain here, so off to bed before the power goes down, as usual when it rains).