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Need Recommendation for PHP Email Software

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tonydbaker
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I want to replace our iContact subscription with a php/web-based email software that we can put directly on our server.

I was hoping that someone here could recommend something. Preferably free, or possibly something that is simply inexpensive.

Criteria:

1: Handle mailing list at 250,000 and up
2: HTML + Text emails designed in an easy web interface like icontact.com
3: Automatic Unsubscribe Management / Auto Remove Bounced Emails
4: Able to host on a shared hosting account with something like hostgator.
5: Prefer ability to see opens, clicks, and other stats.
6: Prefer ability to create list based on actions (clicks/opens)

Thanks for any recommendations!

P.S. I was thinking about Email marketing software: Mailing software | SendBlaster but want to know if there are any free alternatives or comments or reviews on this too.


- Tony
#email #php #recommendation #software
  • Profile picture of the author NetMan
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    I have a very powerful php/MySQL web based system I use inhouse that will do it all

    I can install it for you on your server for a low cost. PM me if interested.

    Best regards,

    Andre Foisy
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  • Profile picture of the author George Phillip
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    Interspire
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  • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
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    Originally Posted by tonydbaker View Post

    4: Able to host on a shared hosting account with something like hostgator.
    Not gonna happen.
    Most shared accounts limit you to 500 emails per hour. It will takes weeks to send to a large list. You will need your own server (dedicated or a VPS) for your needs.
  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
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    Tony, a couple of things to think about before migrating from an existing service:

    First, as Kirk pointed out, a shared hosting environment will not work. Second, what if your server blows up or goes down? You're out for the duration. Third, are you prepared to do all of the legwork necessary to keep your domains and IPs whitelisted with the big ISPs? Companies like Aweber have full-time staff whose only job is to maintain their standing with the big boys.
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    • Profile picture of the author NetMan
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      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      Tony, a couple of things to think about before migrating from an existing service:

      First, as Kirk pointed out, a shared hosting environment will not work. Second, what if your server blows up or goes down? You're out for the duration. Third, are you prepared to do all of the legwork necessary to keep your domains and IPs whitelisted with the big ISPs? Companies like Aweber have full-time staff whose only job is to maintain their standing with the big boys.
      I don't want to blow your ballooon but that knowledge is based solely on hype pushed by gurus, and their offspring, promoting these services at large for years for commissions cheques. Then, over time it's spread all around as an accepted fact that is far from the truth.

      I've personally never used these services and get the same hit ratio as anyone using them. Plus, as a sysadmin for more than 12 years, I see as much emails from these services hitting the spambox and being blocked by RBL as with any inhouse scripts.

      MANY big names, are NOT using these but their inhouse service only. If the mentioned and hyped statement was true, then it would be irrelvant for anyone to get into and prosper in this business, whether it'd be as a SAAS or scripts offering. This industry is very proper outside of the usual 2 most are talking about, while these are far from being the only ones in the market.

      Regards,

      Andre Foisy
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      • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
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        Originally Posted by NetMan View Post

        I don't want to blow your ballooon but that knowledge is based solely on hype pushed by gurus, and their offspring, promoting these services at large for years for commissions cheques. Then, over time it's spread all around as an accepted fact that is far from the truth.

        I've personally never used these services and get the same hit ratio as anyone using them. Plus, as a sysadmin for more than 12 years, I see as much emails from these services hitting the spambox and being blocked by RBL as with any inhouse scripts.

        MANY big names, are NOT using these but their inhouse service only. If the mentioned and hyped statement was true, then it would be irrelvant for anyone to get into and prosper in this business, whether it'd be as a SAAS or scripts offering. This industry is very proper outside of the usual 2 most are talking about, while these are far from being the only ones in the market.

        Regards,

        Andre Foisy
        How you presume to know where I get my information from is beyond me, but WTH. You're descending awfully close to personal attacks - I don't "hype" and I am not a parrot. Every point I made is valid, and very good reason NOT to consider a self-hosted email solution.

        #1 - Point me to a shared host that will handle email batches of 250K - or even 100K.

        #2 - Point me to a VPS or dedicated server provider that will keep my email blast going when my database server blows up.

        #3 - I personally know what a pain in the ass it is to try and get domains/IP addresses removed from blacklist hell. It's not done in 5 minutes. You get yourself on a major DNSBL and you're down for the count.

        I understand you have an agenda here, to sell your services and software. That's fine. But don't badmouth me and tell the world I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground just to advance your cause.

        There are more than a few reasons why more than a few people use services like Aweber, iContact, ConstantContact, whoever.
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    • Profile picture of the author espradley
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      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      Tony, a couple of things to think about before migrating from an existing service:

      First, as Kirk pointed out, a shared hosting environment will not work. Second, what if your server blows up or goes down? You're out for the duration. Third, are you prepared to do all of the legwork necessary to keep your domains and IPs whitelisted with the big ISPs? Companies like Aweber have full-time staff whose only job is to maintain their standing with the big boys.
      Gotta side with SteveJohnson on this one. From my experience your not going to be able to pull this off with shared hosting. Also, these services do have better working relationships with the large companies like google and yahoo. They take specific measures to ensure that their IP addresses are clean...like recording ip addresses and forcing CAN-SPAM compliance.

      If you are going to run your own in house solution, you'll want to do the following:

      1. Get dedicated hosting from a large company like theplanet.com
      2. If you must go shared, you'll want to throttle your emails back.
      3. Make sure you get a dedicated IP, so people on the same server don't screw up your ip address.
      4. Read over the CAN-SPAM rules and follow them to a T.
      - Make sure you collect IP addresses as proof of sign up.
      - Don't "trick" your visitors into subscribing. Let them subscribe.
      - Make sure you put your address and contact information in EVERY email.
      - Allow for an easy to use unsubscribe system.
      - Don't lie about your header information such as the from and to fields.

      Here are some resources:

      Host gator was mentioned, here is their mail policy
      HostGator Mail Policy

      CAN-SPAM Act information
      The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business | BCP Business Center

      Let me know if you need someone to build a solution for you. There are also alot of prebuilt solutions out there....unfortunately, 90% of them aren't any good. Sort through to find the 10% that actually follow the rules.
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      Eddie Spradley

  • Profile picture of the author NetMan
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    Sorry, it was in no way a personnal attack, dont take it personal, I was refuting the general admission. I did not say YOU "hype" or anything, you can breath it is nothing against you, it is against this pretention, and it is mho and has much value as any other ones....

    Your point 1 2 3 I haven't mention anything about that, and I have no agenda I'M not in this business. I offered my inhouse, not commercial, as a way to help a few who might need it, it is not sold anywhere nor do I promote it.

    I maintain what I said 100%, nevertheless.
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    • Profile picture of the author bmkroll
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      PHPList works pretty good, but you can't send that many off of a shared hosting service. You would need to get a VPS or dedicated at someplace like Liquidweb.

      You also may want to check out hooking PHPList into JangoSMTP. JangoSMTP is just a managed SMTP service that you can send high volume through at a pretty low cost.
  • Profile picture of the author theIMgeek
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    Chiming in on Andre and Steve's server admin conversation...

    I've sent out a few million emails in the last few years (primarily due to my project TweetByMail.com) and I can attest that running your own mailing most certainly does require a fair amount of technical knowledge and maintanence. At the very least, properly setting up your email server for authentication and tweaking for batch sending, etc. Sending high-volume email is not a push-button thing.

    Unless you want to open that can of worms, I second the advice of mkroll... you can host the mailing software on your site, and let it pass the emails on to a SMTP sender for delivery. I've used Outgoing authenticated SMTP server and email relay service (solves most SMTP and email relay errors). with good success.

    That will give you the managed email server without the high service fees of newsletter companies.

    -Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author zeeshi570
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    I can develop this software for you

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