Without a doubt, being able to market through email plays a critical role in how successful you will be on the internet. So, choosing the right listserver to power it will be one of your most important decisions.

So, which one to choose?

There are many worth consideration, so here is a list of 'filter' questions that will help you make your decision. Remember, no listserver has ALL of these features - prioritize their importance based on your business:

*Do You Want Your Listserver Located In Your Desktop, Or Hosted By A Third Party?

A Desktop Listserver (as the name implies) is installed in your own desktop computer. ASP (Application Service Provider) programs are hosted on a separate server.

ASP enables a quicker distribution of email, since outside servers typically have access to faster internet connections. However, if you choose to use a desktop listserver, ask whether it distributes emails using multi-threaded internet connections (instead of sending out emails sequentially, one by one, does it search out different 'threads' and distribute multiple emails simultaneously, through your internet connection)?

*Does the Listserver Support Both Text and HTML Messages?

Most emails are sent in simple 'text' format, though sending graphics, banners, etc., through HTML, is becoming more popular. Consider your current and future needs; many listservers offer both options.

*Does The System Support Multiple Languages?

Group Mail, for example, currently supports 30 international character sets. Remember, the internet is a GLOBAL medium.

*Does It Have An Autoresponder Function For Automated Follow-up?

*Does The Listserver Offer An Automated Subscription and Removal Support for Newsletters?

At the bottom of newsletter messages, there MUST be a way for the recipient to unsubscribe, if they wish.

*Can Your Listserver Process and Remove 'Bounces' (Returned Emails)?

*Can New Prospects Be Added To An Opt-in List Automatically?

[NOTE: Make sure these last three functions can be applied to multiple mailing lists, email accounts and newsletters, if you have more than one site. ]

*Does The Listserver Protect The Privacy Of Your Customer Data?

Unfortunately, there are some programs out there that expose client details. Make sure yours keeps your list detail confidential.

*Does The Listserver Limit the Size of Your List?

Some ASP services have a built-in ceiling of around 10,000 names/email addresses per account (if you have multiple lists, all names are included in this total). Many offer expansion options, at additional cost. Again, ask.

*Does Your Listserver Allow You To Do A Personalized/Customized Email Merge?

Some allow you to isolate the first name for salutations, others personalize using both first and last.

*Does The Listserver Offer Ways To Filter Your Mailings?

Can you filter your list to send messages, for example, to only those in a certain state or region?

*Can You Easily Import And Export Your Database?

Does the listserver have restrictions in the way an exterior database can be imported? This is important especially for an offline business coming online, that may have an existing, computerized customer list. Some are more flexible than others.

*Can You Easily Monitor The Status Of Your List?

Can you monitor list size? Daily sign-ups? Determine the number of recently unsubscribed? Determine the status of an email broadcast?

Here are a few services to start your research - click on the provided links to go to their sites and learn more:

Desktop's:

Corey Rudl's Mailloop
http://www.marketingtips.com/mailloop/t.x/655541/

Infacta's GroupMail Plus
http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=3937&U=50182&M=1465

MessageMedia MailKing
http://www.mailking.com

Gammadyne Mailer
http://www.gammadyne.com/mmail

ASP's:

AWeber (also has an autoresponder system)
http://www.aweber.com/?67609

Autopilot Riches (also has an autoresponder system) http://www.autopilotriches.com/app/default.asp?pr=7&id=27041

SparkList's adaption of Lyris
http://www.sparklist.com

MessageMedia's UnityMail
http://www.unitymail.com

Email Factory
http://www.emailfactory.com

Paula Morrow is president of http://www.idealmarketingcorp.com. She specializes in public relations, information marketing and creating cashflow systems, plus coaches new webpreneurs on innovative ways to promote online. Her newsletter, IDEALProfits, is read in over 12 countries. Subscribe, and receive the co-brandable 'How To Start Your Own Traffic Virus' and 4 other ebooks FREE. http://www.idealmarketingcorp.com/subscribe.html

Stupidman Brands the Book, Sends Email Attachment

This is the 4th issue of The Internet Adventures of Stupidman. If you can't find the previous issues and you really want them......you need a hobby. Just kidding, email stupidmansfz@yahoo.com(remember the "junk" email address assignment in the 3rd issue?}. I only check this account a couple times a week but I will respond.

If you are reading this, then the idea I took from Internet Profit Pearls in Chapters 4&11 really works. Can you believe what's happening? My family (The Boss,Greased Lightning,Fashion Girl) say stuff to me (or at me) all the time. I get to turn it against them in publication(at least that's the feedback they're giving me). Unbelievable, I can potentially make money by writing about how I'm abused by my family. I've already got the next 3 issues outlined in my mind. To think I can capitalize on my ignorance, America truly is the Land of Opportunity.

My hero, me, er....Stupidman is still trying to enter this millenium by doing the exercises contained in the free chapters of Internet Profit Pearls (IPP).

I have read the free chapters and have signed up for most of the affiliate programs that promised me small fortunes. (Including one that cost $50, I'm an affiliate of 14 or 15 programs). Some of the programs would only accept me if I had a website (which I don't) so I signed off on a website/hosting agreement with the publisher of IPP, startingfromzero.com (describes my situation perfectly) for $6 a month. (Read Chapter 3, last screen first, and you'll understand).

As I intend to resell the book I have to brand my copy. The publisher will brand the free chapters for $27 and the entire book for $47 but I'm on a budget. (I actually read the free chapters,bought the book,got the book review idea in the non-free chapters and then started on these exercises. Under normal circumstances I would have paid $47 and have been done with it. The punishment I have inflicted upon myself at least results in another "Adventure".)

I made a list of my special urls that I received from the affiliate programs. (Techies call it u-r-l, they go crazy if you pronounce it earl. Try it!) There's a file in the book called Read Me First which has the instructions for branding. It's pretty easy to follow until you get to item 6 which says click the "Edit Field" button. I must have spent 5 minutes staring at the console looking for the nonexistent button. Press the "Edit Brand" button, the computer won't blow up, I promise.

Item 8 does not assume Stupidman would read this book so with the reluctant assistance of Greased Lightning I will expand on this instruction. Put cursor on the "with value" field and click, then, use the right arrow on the keyboard to move text. Delete what you don't want then type in your stuff. If you spot a screwup before you hit ok press cancel and try again. If you press ok before you notice a screwup I don't know what to tell you. (This is not to say Stupidman didn't screwup, merely that it was not noticed. Ignorance can be bliss.)

Some companies have several affiliate programs (like roibot). If you signed up for one you're probably in all of them, so brand all versions of the same company.

I spent a lot of time,unsuccessfully, trying to check my branded links. Finally gave up but I'm sure I did it right.

I emailed the author to inquire how to upload to the IPP hosted site but was told (I thought his tone was kind of snippy) there was NO WAY he would allow Stupidman to upload and that I needed to email the branded book as an attachment.

A new challenge, but this turned out to be surprisingly easy. Our email uses Outlook Express and Help is at the top of the screen. Help leads to Contents which is where I found Attachments. Using the selective printing function described in an earlier issue, I copy the "insert a file in a message" instructions. Hard copy in hand I attach the branded book and send it off into cyberspace (hopefully in the general direction of the author).

Coming Soon: Stupidman Creates SIG File,Opens Lock Can Stupidman Use IPP and Be a Bazillionaire Stupidman Explores Alt key,Printing W/O Paper

P.S. My son, Greased Lightning, has critiqued the first three (already published) issues and (agrees with my name) says there is no Pkzip, should have said PKWARE. Sorry.

The Internet Adventures Of Stupidman Will Put A Smile On Your Face www.stupidmanok.com

WEBMASTERS AND EZINE PUBLISHERS You may reproduce this article on your site, or link to this page, or reprint it in your Ezine. We ask only that you reproduce the article intact, including the resource box and that you notify us of the date and place of the publication.
mailto:stupidmansfz@yahoo.com Copyright 2002, Skidthrough Enterprises

Stupidman's funny tutorial about building his website from scratch. 16+ sequential articles.

Google recently announced a change to its toolbar
software which includes two new buttons: a happy
face and a frowning face, which users can click on
to rate a webpages as they visit them.

The toolbar is free and only works with Internet
Explorer 5.0 and runs on Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000
or XP. The toolbar helps you find just what you're
looking for online without returning to Google's
homepage to perform new searches. Once installed
on your system it automatically appears under the
Internet Explorer toolbar.

Google's toolbar offers these useful features:

Search Site: This function allows you to search
the site you're using to find exactly what you're
looking for.

Page Rank: Check Google's ranking of any page
you're visiting.

Page Info: Allows you to access more information
about a page including pages that link back to
it and other similar pages. You can also highlight
and find every instance of your search words as
they appear on the page which may be helpful
in your search optimization efforts.

The new voting system that has been added is not
readily apparent after installing it. If you
have Google's old toolbar installed you'll
also need to uninstall it before installing this
beta version.

To get to the new smiley face ranking system to
show up on the bar, you'll need to click on
Google's logo located on the far left
and choose "toolbar options." Scroll down to the
"page information" and put a check mark in the
"voting buttons" box. Save your changes and look
at the bar again. It should now contain a happy
face and a frowning face. These faces allow you
to rate websites as you visit them, in essence
giving them a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down."

So far Google is saying this new voting system is
simply a test, but if they do keep it and start
using it to rank pages on their site it could make
a major impact on search optimization firms and
others who are trying to get a top Google listing.

Sort of reminds me of my elementary school days
and the stickers the teachers would put on my
homework. So what rating is your site going to
get, a happy or a sad face?

Merle http://www.EzineAdAuction.com
"Where some of the BEST Deals in Ezine Advertising are Made"
Buy & Sell Ezine Ads in a live auction setting!
Publishers sell off your excess inventory and Buyers
pick up some Fantastic bargains. Go now.

After 6 years doing business on the internet I have come to the conclusion that at least 99% of those who say they are here doing business are in actuality indulging in a minor diversion. Just something to occupy their mind when they find themselves with a bit of spare time. Something to fill those few minutes when the commercials break into their favorite television show. Something to take their mind off the real work a day world. Or maybe to fill that day during the week that the bingo hall is closed

What brought me to this conclusion, you may be asking yourself. Well, let me tell ya. This list of "How I Know It's Just A Diversion" items has been growing daily since 1995 when I took my first baby steps onto the Internet and into the WWW.

The very first thing I noticed were, what have come to be called "Banner Farms". You know, those sites that consist entirely of banners. Usually in 5 or 6 different sizes laid out without the slightest consideration for aesthetics or even reason. You'll usually see about 30% of them are no longer attached to valid URL's and you have little x's peppering the page.

What disturbs me the most about these sites is that the owner is actually sitting around somewhere waiting for checks to start pouring in.

The next thing that caught my eye and screamed, "DIVERSION" were those sites in neon colored backgrounds with a font type and color that made the pages look like something my dog had regurgitate after eating a box of crayon's. Have you ever gone into a brick and mortar business and had the interior lights of the business burn out your retinas? How about the signs in type so small you need a ladder to get up close enough to read them. No, you haven't, because they couldn't stay in business.

How about the ones that ask you to trust them, but have an e- mail address that bounces, or a phone number that's been disconnected. Even better than that the ones that have no contact information at all!! ( actually these guys generally really are in business, the business of ripping people off )

Then we get to the really well camouflaged diversions. These actually look like well run business sites. Well laid out, great use of color and design. Contact information everywhere, endorsements from all the best business organizations, even a picture of the owner. Wow! This must really be someone that's running a business on the internet.

Wrong!! They just watch shows with longer commercials or have 2 days a week without bingo. OH! you know the ones I mean. The ones that answer every e-mail with an auto responder. I've had occasion to carry on a conversation via e-mail 5 e-mails deep all from auto responder. Never was able to locate a human being at that "BUSINESS"

And then you have my very favorite, those that simply don't bother answering e-mail at all. I haven't been able to put my finger on what motivates these people. I do have it narrowed down to a few possibilities. One is that they just don't give a damn and can't be bothered. Another might be that they are so unfamiliar with their e-mail program that they're just not able to jump over all the mental hurdle's associated with answering an e-mail.

Then we come to the one that I'm really leaning towards. They are just so busy making money hand over fist that answering e- mail ( even if it's just to say, got your e-mail, not interested don't bother me again ) just isn't in their business plan any longer.

I do have a hunch, that some of these folks have been so in undated with spam e-mail that they have turned their business over to a small program called an e-mail filter. There's just one problem, that filter really, really can't tell the difference between my legitimate business e-mail to you that for whatever reason contains the word "greatest" and the spammer you blocked by adding that word to your filter.

There are a great number of words in the english language that can be used in the subject lines and bodies of spammers e-mail. If your using any of them as filtering words, ( other than the big 10 ) you are without a doubt blocking some of your legitimate business e-mail.

I know I'm missing a great number of indicators that it's a "DIVERSION" not a business, so I'm open to your suggestions and will include the best ones ( with proper credit given ) in my next article on this subject titled "How WE Know It's Just A Diversion"

Jim Peters Publisher of the Opportunity Update International Business Review http://OpportunityUpdate.com and Managing Director of NetServe International, Inc. http://NetServeInt.com Continuing to bring you "SOLUTIONS" Copyright 2002

Seems as if all of the major search engines these
days have instituted a policy of pay for inclusion,
and it appears Lycos is no exception. In a few
weeks they'll be launching their own paid inclusion
program. Lycos boasts big numbers, claiming over 40
million users; making them a competitive player
in the search engine games.

The exact launch date has not been announced, but you
can sign up to be notified by email when it is and also
receive special introductory submission pricing.

Lycos will be offering two levels of service:

1) Lycos InSite Select: This guarantees your site's
inclusion within 48 hours of submission along with a
full refresh of your site every 48 hours. They'll
also send you a "personalized site submission report"
so you can see what has been indexed and when. It also
includes access to "Search Services Central" which allows
you to review your billing, make any changes or contact
their support department. As an added bonus they give
you a free subscription to their ezine, featuring tips
and information on how to maximize your website
traffic.

2) Lycos InSite Pro: This service includes all of the
features of the "InSite Select" service plus the benefit
of a remotely hosted search function for your website.
They give you the code to add to your site so your
guests can search your site quickly and find what they're
looking for. The site search results page can be customized
to match your site's colors and you can even add your own
logo.

Pricing for both of the new services has not been disclosed
yet. For those of you who are counting your pennies, have
no fear, as they're still allowing free submissions which
is now being called "Lycos InSite Lite." Inclusion takes 4
to 6 weeks and there's no guarantee you'll be listed at all.
Go to http://home.lycos.com/addasite.html to submit your site.

Seeing so many of the search engines charging for submissions
makes me yearn for the good old days when submissions were
free. There are only a handful of engines and directories
left that you can still submit to without a fee. I guess
nothing good ever lasts forever, especially when it comes
to the search engines and the Net.

For more on Lycos's new services, or to sign up to be
notified when they go live with it, go to

http://search.lycos.com/searchservices/

Merle http://www.EzineAdAuction.com
"Where some of the BEST Deals in Ezine Advertising are Made"
Buy & Sell Ezine Ads in a live auction setting!
Publishers sell off your excess inventory and Buyers
pick up some Fantastic bargains. Go now.

Each year at this time, a lot of ink is spread talking about New Year's Resolutions. In most cases, this ink goes wasted as resolutions are soon forgotten or dismissed.

The reasons for this yearly collapse of personal discipline are many-fold.

One, people draw up their resolutions based on old habits they wish to break. Old habits are hard to break simply because they require a constant daily effort to overcome what is ingrained into the lifestyle of the person. It is easy to say to yourself, "Well, I can skip a day." Once a single day has been skipped, it becomes much easier to skip another. Before long, the days have been skipped so many times that there seems no point in trying to pretend anymore.

Two, people may know the reasons why to change the habit, but they don't have one reason that is powerful enough to drive them to change.

Three, people make resolutions to change what they do not possess a true desire to change. Sure, you tell yourself that it is important, but do you feel it important with every fiber of your being?

Now, I will bet you are asking yourself what this has to do with the profitability of your ezine and website.

Well, let us take a look at the passing year. How much did your ezine and website earn in sales this past year? How much in profits?

If the answer to either of these questions is zero, then I implore you to make only one resolution this year --- to start earning money and profits from your online endeavor.

Without reading your ezine or visiting your website, I know that you are offering real value to the world. I also know that in order to maintain this level of value, there must be some sort of incentive to drive you forward. Without the incentive of sales and profits, there are few things that can qualify as an incentive that you can feel important with every fiber of your being!

This is the most important ingredient to your success online or offline.

You must possess a reason strong enough to propel you forward. You must feel its importance with every fiber of your being. And you must reaffirm your dedication to your goal each and every day without miss.

Thousands of people online already possess these three distinct traits which will work towards their success. Yet, many of them may be trying to reach through their monitor right now in a frivolous effort to slap me in my head. I can hear them now, "I know this. I need to find out how to make money!"

Folks, there are thousands of affiliate programs available on the web that you can participate in. The unfortunate truth is that most of these affiliate programs will never earn you more than a few dollars!

Unless the affiliate program restricts who can distribute their wares, affiliate programs only serve their masters! Amazon.com is often thought to be the largest affiliate program online with "over 500,000 Associates of all sizes and virtually every area of interest."

With an estimated 141 million users online around the world and 120 million in the United States alone (Jupiter Media Matrix - http://www.jmm.com), you are looking at an availability of only 282 customers per Amazon.com affiliate!

As you can see, Amazon is deeply concerned about your personal success. Tsk, tsk. Your odds of earning a decent income from being an Associate in the Amazon program is nearly zilch. Most affiliate programs on the web have nearly the same concern for your well-being as does Amazon.

The secret to making money online is simple. You must have your own products or service, or the program you choose to affiliate with should not have thousands of other affiliates that you must compete with also. For the products and services that you distribute, there must be an opportunity to develop high demand with very limited competition.

You could create your own ebook to sell, but the truth is that you would just be another of tens of thousands of ebooks competing for the same dollars. Besides that, an ebook is a one-shot deal in most cases. As Amazon is struggling with, the online success stories always offer something that people will come back and buy more of, again and again.

Subscriptions and contractual services continue to deliver payday to many thousands of successful online entrepreneurs.

So the question you need to be asking yourself right now is this. What product or service can I develop that can be marketed as a subscription or contractual service? And how can I do so at a profit?

Let me give you a couple of tips. Make certain that there are not others offering this product or service right now for free. And more importantly, start small and grow as your business grows.

At all times, you should stay focused on the bottom line. What good is a million dollar business that does not earn profits? About as good as a DrKoop.com, Themestream.com or other Internet domain that currently resides in the waste bin of what could have been.

This New Year, do not simply make a New Year's Resolution. Find a reason strong enough to propel you forward. Believe and feel the importance of your purpose with every fiber of your being. Reaffirm your dedication daily. And make this years resolution more a matter of resolve. Resolve to make your web property profitable in 2002.

Max Shifrin, the owner of http://www.FunEzines.com specializes in helping ezine owners build their subscriber base. Max uses massive promotions to generate hundreds, even thousands of sub- scribers every month for over 100 ezines! Want Max to grow your Ezine? Visit: http://www.funezines.com/clients_signup.cgi Make sure you subscribe to Max's Popular Marketing & Publishing Ezine Send an email to: mailto:promotion-tips-subscribe@topica.com