I joined Mailchimp a couple of years ago and have always used the free account service provided. At the moment I have 1553 active subscribers, but Mailchimp have informed me that I can no longer send emails to all of them, even though their rules state that free accounts are allowed up to 2000 subscribers. Also I cannot contact them to complain that I haven’t as yet used up my quota, as that is a paid service as well. However, surprise surprise, I can ‘upgrade’ so that I can continue to inform all my subscribers of new books and Bookfunnel promotions. The basic upgrade would cost around £30 per month and give me up to 2500 subscribers. However, there are more expensive ones; the next one up still gives me up to 2500 subscribers and cost around £55 per month, but the big daddy of them all gives me up to 10,000 subscribers and costs around £290 per month.
Hmm… I say what’s the point of paying £55 per month or even £30 per month if I’m only going to get another 500 subscribers? I’m certainly not going to pay £290 per month because that’s ridiculous. And so what is going to happen is that I will have to choose a certain number of subscribers to send emails to in order to keep using the free service. This will mean that some of you on my mailing list who signed up at the start will probably not receive many emails, as I’ll now concentrate on the new subscribers who haven’t read any of my books.
Thank God for that I hear you say? Lol – I will send you details of any new books I write, but by now you’re no doubt already familiar with my work and let’s face it, if you haven’t bought copies or grabbed free samples of any of them then you’re probably now unlikely to anyway. So this blog post is just to let any mailing list subscribers that have been with me for some time know that no, I haven’t died, retired, stopped writing or moved permanently to the Isle of Wight, it’s just that … MAILCHIMP WON’T LET ME SEND EMAILS TO EVERYONE ON MY MAILING LIST BECAUSE THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND I WON’T ..
robertawrites235681907 said:
Hi Stevie, I generally know what’s going on with your books. I don’t have a news letter myself as I can’t be bothered if I’m quite honest about it.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Robbie. I don’t write a newsletter, but just send out emails for BookFunnel promotions or new books.
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robertawrites235681907 said:
That sounds very doable, Stevie, but it seems everyone is pushing to make more money now.
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Stevie Turner said:
Everyone wants money – it’s depressing.
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dgkaye said:
Arg. I don’t even know how to work Mailchimp LOL. Somebody set me up years ago and that’s where my weekly posts come out for those who’ve signed up. I don’t blame you Stevie. Keep with the new readers. As for me, you know I love your books and you always let us know when one is in the oven. In fact, I have a glowing review waiting for your ‘Falling’ release. ❤
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Stevie Turner said:
Oh, thanks very much Debby. I’d forgotten you were reading it! If you’d like to email me the review I can add it to a blog post when I put the book on for pre-order. x
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dgkaye said:
Okay, perfect Stevie. Just heading out soon, but I’ll send it over this evening. Then when your book is published, I’ll of course share it for a Sunday book review – with buy buttons. LOL xx
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Debby. I look forward to reading it. x
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dgkaye said:
xx
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petespringerauthor said:
These “free services” always find a way to try and make a buck. I don’t mind that, but it comes across as disingenuous when they make it sound like they’re doing you a favor.
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Stevie Turner said:
I agree, Pete.
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daryldevore said:
Just getting started with all this craziness – that’s for the heads up.
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Stevie Turner said:
It’s okay until you reach 1500 subscribers…
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beetleypete said:
That sounds ridiculously expensive to me, Stevie. I definitely would not pay even the lowest rate to send emails out. I’m sure most people on your list can easily read your blog instead.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Stevie Turner said:
Yes, that’s true. I’ve taken advice from ‘Words on Paper’ and split my subscribers into groups.
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Words on Paper said:
I am approaching this situation, so need to decide what to do for the best. Will definitely be checking out Outlook! An idea for Mailchimp… split your list into groups and rotate them?
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Stevie Turner said:
Very good idea – thanks! Yes, it’s possible to do this and I’ll have a go.
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Words on Paper said:
I think it would work well, and solves t.he problem…
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Clive said:
Sounds like time to find an alternative! Like Darlene I think you keep us well informed via your blog so for me it wouldn’t be a problem anyway.
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Phil Huston said:
You could probably pay a college student $10 an hour to load your mailing list into Outlook, or pay someone once to port your stuff out of mailchimp and the heck with them. I helped an insurance office into the 21st century several years ago by teaching them to scan and stop spending money on mailchimp and “web designers” who get $100 or up to fix one of their own typos. They had mailchimp and one other. We dumped the lists, imported them into outlook and anyone could set up a group and blitz.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the info, Phil. I’ll look into it.
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Phil Huston said:
Moosend is good, with better pricing if you want to go “pro”.
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Stevie Turner said:
Haven’t heard of that one. Thanks Phil.
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Darlene said:
I keep thinking I should try Mailchimp but then hear stories like this. If I get dropped off, that’s OK because I follow your blog and am up to date on your writing news.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Darlene, it’s all pay, pay, pay these days, and I’m hanging out as long as I can…
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