The answer is simple: To save time, money, and resources.

Email is one of the most commonly used forms of communication today. Whether it’s for personal or business use, you can’t escape it.

In fact, according to statistics “In 2022, businesses and consumers sent and received approximately 333.2 billion emails per day worldwide. This is projected to increase to 347.3 billion in 2023, and over 376 billion by 2025.” (75 Incredible Email Statistics [2023]: How Many Emails Are Sent Per Day? – Zippia)

That’s a lot of emails! And with so many being sent and received every day, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the process of managing them all — especially if you’re responsible for sending them out too.

Group email services can make it easier to manage your email communications and can also help you manage your business more efficiently.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the benefits of using a group email service and what they can do for you.

What is a group email?

Imagine a world where you can send an email to clients, customers, colleagues, members, family and even friends in a single click!

With group email, you can do just that. But what is a group email and how can it be useful?

Your group email list can be created when multiple users are subscribed to the same email list.

This email distribution list can then be used to promote your company’s product or service and share your latest newsletter or content all in one go.

Benefits of using a group email

• Managing large groups of contacts
• Managing multiple workflows
• Scheduling emails

Group emails are an extremely effective way to communicate with your network and build relationships. Keeping people up-to-date on what’s happening in your business, and helping you stay in touch with your community.

Common uses for group email

• Inform customers about new products and promotions
• Send out newsletters with company news and updates
• Communicate with colleagues in other departments
• Notify employees about upcoming meetings

There’s no denying that It’s a great way to get your message out there, but it’s also important that you choose the right audience for your group email.

If your message isn’t relevant or interesting enough for the people on your list, they won’t open it and may delete it without reading it.

Want to know how to avoid this?

Many businesses now use group email services as part of their email marketing tools but finding the right service can be hard. In our next sections, we’ll show you how to get the best out of a group email list and top group email marketing tools.

5 reasons why you should opt for a group email list

As a successful business, you know that communication is key and building relationships with customers is essential.

The easiest way to do this is opting for a group email list that will allow you to:

• Build a rapport
• Generate leads
• Create brand awareness
• Send/receive feedback

Whether you have a business or a cause, odds are you have a group email list at your disposal.

So you’re all set and you’ve created the perfect email marketing campaign geared toward the right audience, and you’re ready to blast it out to your subscribers.

But have you ensured that your subscribers are going to receive your emails?

If not, they will bounce and end up in the trash/spam folder, which will hurt your chances of a decent ROI.

Here is some important advice and available features of Simplelists email management software to ensure your emails are delivered, rather than thrown away.

If you’re short on time and would prefer to watch it, have a look at our short video explaining Simplelists group email features.

1. Automated and free email list management

List management is a crucial and challenging aspect of email marketing. It can be as simple as having a few email addresses, or as complex as managing a database of thousands of subscribers.

For many businesses, managing your own group email list is not only cost-effective but also gives you complete control over the data. However, it’s not always easy to set up and maintain an efficient mailing list management system.

A useful feature to have is automated bounce processing and removal from your database.

This means if someone unsubscribes from your newsletter or sends back an undeliverable message (bounce), you are notified and this is then handled automatically by the service. So you don’t have to worry about manually removing them from your list anymore, keeping delivery rates high!

The advantage of an email list manager is that it allows you to have a clear overview of your subscribers and manage your lists more efficiently. Keeping track of your contacts, filtering them according to their actions and interests, and managing your list to send out the right messages to the right people at the right time.

You should also be able to automatically forward your emails to other people or groups. For example, if someone clicks on a link in one of your emails, they can be automatically added to another list (e.g. if they want to receive offers about a specific product).

There are many reasons why you might be looking for automated email list management software. Whether it be to reduce manual work and focus on more important things or handle the influx of new subscribers.

2. Customisable group email list

A customisable group email list is an important feature to have in any business.

Email Marketing is a powerful marketing tool that can be used to build brand awareness and increase sales. However, you need to make sure that your email is personalised, consistent and relevant to each recipient.

In order to address these challenges, you will want to use an email list management tool that allows you to create customised email lists.

The biggest benefit of this feature is that you can have a customisable group email list. This means that you can add your own personalised footer or footer text, members’ names, HTML for full customisation and so forth.

You can also choose to archive old emails which can be accessed in the archives section of your account. This is useful if you need to delete old emails or if you want to keep them as backups.

3. Full manage spam reporting

Spam is very common nowadays, so it is important to have a group email service that can handle your spam issues.

Not only is it annoying to have your inbox flooded with messages you don’t want to read, but it also wastes time and money.

In addition to providing tools for sending emails and tracking their results, your group email list services should provide tools for managing your email lists in real time with automatic spam management.

This means that when your email is marked as spam by a contact in your list (whether deliberately or accidentally!), those addresses of people who have reported this are automatically removed.

They then will receive no further emails from the list and prevent them from repeatedly marking it as spam. Keeping your ‘marked as spam rate’ low, delivery rates high and your email list up to date on who wants to see and receive your valuable information.

Keeping your messaging consistent with clear brand design, tone and information will help to keep you out of the spam box or mass unsubscribing.

4. Subscribe and unsubscribe options

Email subscribers are a valuable asset. They’re customers who have opted in to receive your marketing messages, giving you a direct line to them.

But if you don’t have the right permission settings in place, you could be breaking data protection laws and putting your business at risk.

You want to make sure your subscribers know how they can manage their own subscriptions and communication preferences.

You need to give them the option to unsubscribe from your mailing list at any time. In the past, customers had to follow complicated processes to unsubscribe from an email list.

Today, this can be done by setting subscribe and unsubscribe settings, plus the ease of adding a customisable subscribe form to your website.

With these simple adjustments, you’ll be in line with GDPR to give consumers more control over their data.

5. Private group email list

In business privacy is paramount, so having the function to create a private group email list is a must-have.

If you’re sending out information about a new product launch, for example, it’s important that only those who need to know about it get the information.

This feature allows you to create a private group where only you can see the members of your list. This is particularly useful if you want to send out information about a product pre-launch, private event or meeting.

With a private group email list, only you see their emails with no way for anyone outside of your organisation to see who else is on your list or what they are receiving from you in their inboxes.

This means that no one else will get access to your database and you can also remove members from the group email list whenever you want.

The best group email marketing tools

The email marketing landscape is constantly changing, nowadays, business is not just about selling products. Customers expect brands to provide value by sending them educational content or useful tips too.

You realise you need a group email marketing tool, and there are many tools out there to help you reach your audience. However, not all of them are created equal.

Some of them may seem too complex for your needs or too expensive for your budget. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right tool for your business.

What makes one group email marketing tool better than another?

The answer is simple: features and usability. Here are some features we consider when reviewing them:

• Easy to use
• Integration
• Limitations
• Automation
• Customisation
• Data
• Support
• Price

This list will help you find the best email marketing software for your business needs:

Simplelists

Simplelists is easy to use and has an intuitive interface that makes creating lists and sending emails a snap.

Simplelists is a user-friendly email marketing tool that allows you to quickly create lists and send emails to your subscribers. It also has a responsive design, so it works well on mobile devices — especially important in today’s world where mobile internet usage continues to rise year after year.

Intended to be both affordable and powerful, you can create a list in minutes and send an email campaign, promotion, newsletter or discussion group in a matter of seconds.

Our features are so simple, anyone can use them. No technical knowledge is required!

With all Simplelists subscriptions, you can easily:

• Manage members / list import
• Set restrictions
• Customise emails
• Control subscriptions
• Message scheduling
• Integrate with your website
• Archive emails
• Automated list management
• Spam & bounce management & feedback loops
• Keep emails and contacts secure (ISO27001 certification)
• View data and analytics

Whether you want to send a single list or multiple, Simplelists plans range from $8 pcm for a single list to $686 for enterprise-level and plenty of affordable packages in between.

They have a super-friendly and responsive support team that can help you with anything from getting started to managing your account.

Listserv

Listserv is an email list management solution, offered as an in-house software or cloud service.

Listserv allows users to manage email communications such as alerts, newsletters and discussion groups from a central interface.

Providing flexible licensing to meet current and future business needs, Listserv have technical support to help you get your group email list running smoothly.

With Listserve you have:

• Manage members
• Set restrictions
• Customise emails (not with the basic plan)
• Control subscriptions
• Message scheduling (not with the basic plan)
• Integrate with your website
• Archive emails (restricted with the basic plan)
• Automated list management
• Spam & bounce management (restricted with the basic plan)
• View data and analytics (not with the basic plan)

Listserv offers perpetual and annual licenses with three plans available, Lite (perpetual only), Classic and HPO. Starting from $1,095 - $4,485 for annual licenses or $2,875 - $28,060 for perpetual.

GroupMail

GroupMail is a free email list and mass email newsletter software.

An easy-to-use group email messaging system that’s great for newsletters, event planning, personal announcements, and more.

You can download their free software to begin sending in seconds. With varied, one-time paid software subscriptions you’re able to:

• Manage members/ list import
• Set restrictions
• Customise emails (marketing plan only)
• Control subscriptions
• Message scheduling (not with the basic plan)
• Archive emails
• Automated list management (not with the basic plan)
• Spam & bounce management (not with the basic plan)
• View data and analytics (marketing plan only)

GroupMail also has the possibility to be installed in English, Spanish, French, German or Polish and the added ability to create autoresponders. They have three packages ranging from $149.95 to $699.95 excl VAT.

Conclusion

After reading and exploring features, requirements and price plans of group email marketing tools, you’ll notice that when it comes to effective marketing, sometimes the best option is the simplest one.

In short, there are a lot of reasons why you should (and probably will) use a group email list. Not only are they easy to set up and maintain, but they’ll also help get your content in front of a larger audience than ever before.

Whether you run an online store, a work-related business or a creative hub, using an email list can help you really make the most out of it.

So what are you waiting for?

Want a group email list to get your business to the next level?
Sign up for Simplelists free one-month trial now!

If you’re running a business, sports club, charity or educational establishment, you’ll understand how important effective communication and collaboration is.

In the modern digital world it seems like there are countless ways to collaborate online, whether it’s via WhatsApp groups, Facebook groups, Slack channels or Discord servers.

But sometimes you want something that is affordable, professional, uses established technology that everyone has access to, and has the benefit of having all messages archived for future reference.

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, you might benefit from using a Listserv.

Listserv: your group communication ally

A listserv is a type of email service that allows a group of people to communicate via email.

By sending an email to one email address, it will automatically be sent to all the people who have signed up to be part of the Listserv.

This makes it a great way for groups of people to easily share information, collaborate, and stay connected.

LISTSERV® is actually a registered trademark of L-Soft, who created one of the earliest and most popular Listserv group email communication tools. But the term ‘Listserv’ is now synonymous with any list-based group email technology.

Think about it in the same way that people refer to a sticky note as a Post-it® note, or a hot tub as a Jacuzzi®.

When we’re talking about Listserv in this article, we’re referring to the commonly used term for the technology.

What are the major benefits of a Listserv?

Easy to set up

Listservs are relatively easy to set up.

Most modern Listserv software is user-friendly and doesn’t require advanced technical skills or development teams to get things up and running.

And once it’s set up, modern Listservs are typically simple to manage and maintain.

Easy to build a community amongst your subscribers

A Listserv provides an effective way for your subscribers to share their ideas and knowledge and collaborate on projects.

This can lead to a greater sense of community among group members.

Cost-effective

Listservs are incredibly affordable. This is one of the things that makes the technology so attractive for small businesses, sports clubs and charities.

Customisable

A Listserv can also be customised to suit the specific needs of each email group.

Some groups might benefit from receiving each individual message to the email address. Others might benefit from receiving a daily or weekly digest of the messages sent to the group.

Archiving

Listservs automatically archive all messages. This makes it easy to search and retrieve important information at a later date if needed.

Subscription management

You’re able to set up a Listserv so that members can easily subscribe or unsubscribe themselves. This can make it easier to manage your email list.

Organically grow your email list

By providing a platform for discussion and collaboration, your subscribers may choose to forward messages from the Listserv with others that they think would be interested in the content.

Your engaged community can help you attract new subscribers.

Additionally, most Listserv technology can be easily integrated with your website. This can make it easy for people to sign up to your email list and begin receiving your content.

Who can benefit from using a Listserv?

Listserv technology is suitable for any organisation that wants to reach targeted groups of people with their message and potentially prompt a group email discussion.

We’ve put together a small list of the types of organisations that might benefit from Listserv and some ways they might use it.

Businesses: Collaborating with internal teams

Listservs can be a great way for businesses to keep their teams connected and aligned on important projects.

You might set up a mailing list for each department or project team so they can share updates, discuss upcoming milestones or review current performance. This can help boost productivity and improve decision making.

Businesses: Email marketing

Listservs can also be a powerful tool for businesses to reach their customers and prospects.

By creating a mailing list of opted-in email addresses, businesses can send targeted messages, promotions and updates to a large number of people at once.

This can help increase brand awareness and drive sales.

Most modern Listserv solutions can support HTML email, so you can still send emails that look eye-catching and compelling.

Sports Clubs

Listservs can be a great low-cost solution for sports clubs to keep their members in the loop on upcoming events, practice schedules and team news. By allowing members to reply to the group and start discussions, it can really help foster a sense of community and bring the team together.

Charities

By using a Listserv, charities can keep their supporters informed about their work and upcoming events. They can also be used internally between volunteers and management to help co-ordinate events and discuss fundraising strategies.

Education

A Listserv can provide an easy and effective way to send out announcements, assignments, and other information. They can also be used for class discussion, managing group projects, and sharing resources.

Event planning

Listservs can be a great way for event planners to coordinate conferences, meetings, and workshops with their subscribed attendees.

How to create a Listserv in a few simple steps

Choose the right Listserv software

There are many different types of Listserv software available, each with their own different features and benefits.

We’d recommend making a list of the things that are important to you in your chosen software, whether that’s cost, ease of use, deliverability of emails or customer support.

By understanding what is most important to you, you’ll be able to choose the software that best meets your needs and has the features you require.

Complete a simple setup process

Once you’ve made your decision on the software you’re going to use, it’s time to set up your Listserv.

Every solution will have a slightly different set up process, but the typical steps will involve creating an account, choosing a name for your Listserv, and configuring your settings.

The settings that are most important are the level of moderation, the type of messages that are allowed, the subscription process, and what types of attachments (if any) are permitted.

With modern Listserv technology the setup process is easy and user-friendly, so don’t worry if you’re not tech-savvy.

Import your email contact list

Once your Listserv is set up and configured the way you want it, you can start adding members.

A common way to do this is by importing a CSV of your email contact list. Most Listserv software will need you to agree that the contacts have all opted-in to email communication, in line with relevant data privacy legislation.

You can also add your Listserv sign up to your website and other channels at this point, to help the organic growth of your subscriber list.

Send your content

Now that your Listserv is set up and has members, you can start creating content, sending messages, and setting up discussion threads.

It’s really that easy!

Interested in exploring the power of Listserv?

After reading this article, you’ll understand the potential applications of Listserv and you might even be excited by the ideas of how you might use Listserv within your organisation.

But the only way to truly appreciate the power of Listserv is to try it out for yourself.

At Simplelists, we offer all our customers a one-month free trial of our service.

By trying Simplelists for free, you can discover first-hand how Listserv email can benefit your organisation.

Curious? Sign up for free.

 

We provide a group email manager that allows you to send emails to a group of people using one email address. We think using a group email list is a good idea for a range of reasons, including the ability to have great private discussions that are delivered to group members effectively in a manner customised to match to the preferences of each person receiving messages. Many organisations like to foster community and information sharing using email discussion lists - while discussions are usually straightforward when everyone is in the room, things get more complex when everyone can’t be in one place at one time. In this post, we explain how an email discussion list (or 'listserv’ works) and what benefits it offers to its members.

How it works

People subscribe to a discussion list (normally online - see how to add a subscribe form to your website) or via email. Any subscriber can then post to the list by simply emailing a specific, automated address. Permissions can be set so that only certain people can post to the address, if that is most suitable, or to ensure that all messages are held for approval (moderation by an administrator) before being distributed to the list. A list manager (one or more people) is normally in charge of the list and tends to be knowledgeable of the topic that the list discussion covers.

Personalising the process

Subscribers can also personalise their experience with the list - perhaps a format preference (plain text or HTML), how often they receive emails and whether they receive a digest summary of the latest posts (rather than receiving them all individually as separate emails). It is also possible to customise how the email looks, incorporating a company logo or pointing users to a bespoke landing page that is part of your own website.

Ensuring the message is delivered

It is well-known that most Internet Service Providers place limits on the number of email addresses that you can send an email to. This means there may be a cap on the amount of data that you can send in one go. People can also report emails as spam, even if they signed up to the list, and this can affect deliverability. A group email manager can manage your spam reporting and make sure that your emails are delivered.

Who else benefits?

Email discussion groups can reach a range of people who  might not otherwise have access to an online discussion. Anyone who can send an email can take part and many people prefer receiving an email in their inbox to visiting a website to search for updates. Some research has found that over half of internet users subscribe to at least one email list, which is a lot more than those who subscribe to social media platforms. Emails are also preferable for people who have limited access to the internet, or slow internet connections. The discussion doesn’t rely on real-time participation and emails can be downloaded, read and replied to while offline.

You have a range of choices when deciding which account to use to manage your group email. In this post we’ll take you through your options but... before we start it’s worth noting that we offer free trials for both single and multiple list accounts so if you have a one-off email campaign or short-term project that requires group email management then why not use the free trial - it won’t cost you a thing!

’Single List’ verses 'Multiple List’ accounts

This choice will usually be dictated by the number of lists that you want to manage - if you manage several different email lists then you’ll need a multiple list account but if you manage one email list then a single list account is usually best. Simple stuff!

However, it’s worth noting that there are some extra features that are only available to multiple list accounts that could mean that you want to choose a multiple list account even if you only manage a single email list. One such feature is the ability to use your own domain to replace simplelists.com in your emails and for your landing pages - this enables you to brand the entire system as your own.

’Pay As You Go’ verses 'Unlimited Subscription’

If you are planning a one-off mailshot or have a short-term project that needs group email management then a Pay As You Go account is normally the best option.The exception is when you expect to send a huge amount of data through your account (for example, if your emails will contain large attachments). Under these circumstances, subscribing to an unlimited account for the duration of your project would be the most cost effective option.

If your email management needs are long-term or ongoing then an unlimited subscription is normally best. This is hassle free and enables you to send as much data as you want. However, if you use a small amount of data then a 10GB Pay As You Go data bundle should be more cost effective.

Pay As You Go Price Plans

All Pay As You Go price plans allow up to 20,000 list members - enough even for the biggest lists! You choose a plan based on the amount of data that you wish to send.

For short term projects or email campaigns of less than a month the 1GB and 3GB bundles are a good option - you can send approximately 48,000 plain text emails with a 1GB bundle and 144,000 with a 3GB bundle!

For long-term projects or email campaigns that last up to a year the 10GB bundle offers great value - at only $64 (£40 or €52) for the bundle that lasts an entire year this works out at just $5.33 (£3.33 or €4.33) for each month. This bundle enables you to send approximately 40,000 plain text emails per month, every month for a year!

For very large projects and campaigns the 30GB bundles offer enough data for some serious emailing with large lists.

To make things really simple we have a PAYG yearly data calculator which enables you to estimate the data required for your list - you can see it on our products page.

Unlimited Price Plans

Unlimited price plans are ongoing - you pay a monthly or yearly subscription and receive an unlimited data allowance. The subscription fee depends on the number of list members that you have - there are options for 1000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 members. The yearly subscriptions offer the best value and start at as little as $10 (£6 or €8) per month.

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