Free/cheap ways to create a newsletter, please!

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I write a newsletter that we send out to clients roughly once every quarter.

Until recently, the only way we could do this (without specialist software) was to send it as an attachment to our e-mails - we use ACT as our client database rather than Microsoft Outlook.

Whilst that is all well and good, I know that it means that many people simply won't read it as they don't open or want to open the attachments.

Our PA has managed to include the newsletter text (it's deliberately written to be only one page long) as a PDF and this can go in the body of the e-mail itself, which is much better than it going as an attachment. However, it is impossible to create e-mail links in the newsletter if we do it this way.

I think that the answer should be to get hold of some specialist software, but our PA doesn't agree. She thinks it's too expensive given that we only send them out once a quarter. She also thinks that it's hard to use the software.

Is she right? Or is there an easy and free/cheap way to do a newsletter?

thanks very much in anticipation!

[wingandprayer]

There is loads of free software out there. Search Google you'll be deluged. Im not aware of any that does the whole process for free but usually costs are minimal and pro rate for number of recipients or people on your database and nearly all have templates you can use to adapt to save on design costs. If you can export from ACt in excel or unicode format should be able to importa contacts stright into any e-mail software.

[schwotz]

Have they opted in for the newslettter? They should have an opt out. Email software is best IMHO.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Any particular email software, schwotz?

[schwotz]

Just looking at some myself, so not decided which is best for us either. You need to google ezine. There are a few all with pros and cons depending on your own requirements, one which I keep coming across is

constant contact

You can select as per type of business on that page and their is a free demo.

[schwotz]

there is a free
doh

[BecauseImWorthIt]

thanks!

[wingandprayer]

Constant contact not free - you pay per person you hold on their database I think so doesn't make sense for people who will not be sending mail all that freqently. However if you Google it it will bring up lots of other software choices. If you are not sending frequent mails then find one that only charges per campaign.

[GeekBoy]

how many contacts?

We use sign-up.to - free for small numbers of contacts.

mail chimp are really cheap for large numbers of contacts.

[schwotz]

GeekBoy
Haven't seen you around for a while
have you been busy coding?

[GeekBoy]

@schwotz - hell yes. Busier than a busy bee. New website and content management system for my company to complete before I run away on holidays..

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I don't know how many we send out - but we're talking hundreds as opposed to thousands. Probably around 200-300 max.

[GeekBoy]

mailchimp PAYG pricing

sign-up.to are more expensive but I've used them successfully for the last 2 years or so.