When you first begin a mailing list, it's not hard to keep it up. But given success, it can become a difficult task without good software. As your list grows into the hundreds, additions and deletions become a chore without the help of a program. And the ever troublesome need to eliminate duplicates can become a major problem.

A database program is the best solution, one that lets you grow your list virtually without limit. You can use Microsoft Access or Excel to maintain your database, but they are not free.

Sooner or later, you will want to begin personalizing your email. That is, have each message start out with "Dear Bob," "Dear Jane," and so forth, taking the first name from your database file. Further, you may want to repeat this name within the body of the message,

or include other information, such as the name of the city in which the person lives. If you are using a program such as Access or Excel, you will need additional software. Some of it is quite expensive and the learning curve can be steep, which means you must commit valuable time.

There is an inexpensive solution. Easy Mail Plus. It offers:

Personalized mailing and emailing (Mail-Merge)
Full database capabilities
Compatibility with dBase and Paradox database tables
Easy elimination of duplicates
No limit to the number or size of lists
It's shareware, so you can use it free for 30 days. If you like it and want to keep it, the registration fee is $49.95. (Only $39.95 if you buy it through the Deals page at SiteTipsAndTricks.Com.)

Since readers of "STAT News" and site visitors are largely into online marketing, their focus for personalized mailings will likely be email. Thus this capability of Easy Mail Plus was pointed out first. However, this program is really a total mail center, an ideal tool for home and small businesses.

It includes a powerful editor with graphics capability. Lists can be output to customized envelopes or labels in a variety of sizes. Or you can set up a specific size for your needs. Layouts for envelopes, labels, and letterheads are easy to put together, for it's all done with the mouse. Graphics can be inserted and sized to suit, all with the mouse.

There is a growing tendency to use US Mail for follow up of online customers. While you may have no intention of doing so, you may change your mind one day. If you do, the US mailing features of Easy Mail Plus will serve you well.

But even if you need only the database capability and personalized email, this program beats anything on the market I have seen. It's less expensive. It's a snap to use. And the support is terrific. Any fix or enhancement is immediately available. Click a button and you will find out if there has been a change. To implement the change, click another button and updated files will be downloaded and automatically installed. This is an outstanding level of support.

The program can be downloaded from
easymailplus.com
Further details about the program are available on this site. But the best option is to simply download it and try it. It costs nothing but the download time.

Order it from Deals page on
SiteTipsAndTricks.Com/deals.html
and you'll save $10. However, since Chuck Herndon, the author of this program, is one of my clients, I will pass on collecting a referral fee on this product.