Part 5: Mailings

Introduction
Creating a new mailing
Sending to different lists or to segments
Purging recipients of previous mailings
Tracking opens or HTML capability
Scheduling a message
Creating a recurring message
Sending to your list via email
Test message checklist
Approving a message

Introduction

Now that you've created content and segments, the next step is to put it all together in a mailing. A mailing is simply a message you send to your entire list, or to segments you've created previously. You can create your mailing on the fly, or import content you've created previously.

Before sending out your Mailing, you can test it to see what it will look like, and schedule when you'd like it to be sent. You may also purge recipients who have received other messages (this is to exclude certain members from the mailing), or send to a sampling of your list or segment.

You can also use tracking to see if recipients open your mailing, and if they can see mailings in HTML. Later, you can see the success of your mailing in Reports.

The main Mailings page

The main Mailings page allows you to create a new mailing, review mailings that require your approval, and see what mailings are scheduled for the future. You may also view currently active and completed mailings.

	Important note for users of earlier versions of ListManager: The unsubscribe instructions for your list will not be automatically included to your message if you create it through the ListManager GUI. Please remember to add these instructions to your content or mailing.

Creating a new mailing to be sent to your entire list

To create a simple mailing to your entire list, follow these instructions:

1. Select New Mailing under Shortcuts on the Homepage. Or, click on the Mailings tab, and select New Mailing. The following window will open:

   

2. If you have already created content for your message, click on Import Content in the lower right corner. This will show you a list of available content, and all you have to do is click select next to the desired one, and it will automatically be brought into the message fields of the mailing:

   

   You may then skip steps 3-6 below. If not, compose your message on the Message tab.

3. Edit the Mailing Name field. This name is not seen by message recipients, so label the mailing in a way that will help you to identify it later in reports.

4. Edit the From: field. By default, your email address will appear there. Here are some examples of valid entries for the From: field:

   bob@example.com
"Bob Smith" <bob@example.com>


5. Edit the To: field. By default, the To: field is set to %%nameemail%%, which will merge the name and email address of the recipient.

   The To: field does not actually select the message's recipients.

6. Enter the Subject: of the message. Recipients will see this line as the subject of the message they receive.

7. Enter the Text Message and/or HTML Message you'd like to send (if you have not already imported this from Content).

   You may create just a text or HTML body, and that is what will be sent to your recipients. Or, you can create both, and send a mailing that has both text and HTML. This format is called multipart-alternative, and ListManager will create the correct headers and boundaries automatically. Recipients who can see HTML will only see your HTML message; those who can't, will see the text.

8. Click on Save and Test to see what your mailing will look like.You can define who the test mailing will go to, i.e. yourself:

   

   When you click OK, the test mailing will automatically be sent to the specified address, where you can check for content, formatting, or to see if URL’s are functioning properly.

   Special note on testing a message: Testing a mailing sends a random sample of the mailing to the address you specify. Do not be alarmed if you receive a message addressed to someone else! ListManager creates the message for the recipients, but redirects it to you. You will receive exactly what your recipients will receive in your email box, so you can see if any personalized content is successful, and if the formatting is correct.

9. Or, click on Save. You'll be taken to the Mailings: Need Approval, where you can send now, test, schedule, copy, or delete the content you just created:

   

10. You can also click on the "approval wizard" button or the ID number next to the desired mailing, where you can make further changes to the mailing.

What's next?

• Continue learning about Mailings (part 2 of 4)
• Skip to Part 6: Reports
• Return to the Getting Started main page