E-mailing a group with non-visible "To" list?

Hi, I just started a small business and have a very small, local customer base. I would like to be able to e-mail my customers every once and a while when I run a special.

How can I...or what software package can I use to send e-mails to these people so that I don't compromise everyone's privacy by letting them see all the names on the list?

I did do this once by sending the e-mail to myself and putting all the names in the blind-carbon-copy field but the resulting e-mails looked strange and it was too much of a PITA!

I'm looking for some utility or whatever that I can use to effectively manage my customer list and to be able to easily do what I described above. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-3356720-108-49151.html?tag=upd
Mail Them , mass mailings .
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-3356723-100-916608.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-11.lst-7-19.916608
FletMail , individualises large mail outs .
Mihov MailSender from , http://www.freewareplus.com/95docs/eclients.htm
Sends the same message to more people - but it displays only their
name as recipient, so they will think this mail is meant only for them.
Great for invitatitions (i.e. to birthday parties...) and keeping
privacy!

http://www.superfiles.com/index.mv?...e_cat_id=97254007299&main_cat_id=971775564913
http://www.simtel.net/pub/win95/email/
http://www.simtel.net/cgi-bin/htsearch

 

What do you mean when you say that they looked strange? Do you mean that when you put everyones' address on the BCC line, that it looked really crowded? If that's the case, you can always create a Group and put all your customer names in that. Then when you put that group name on the BCC line, it won't look so weird, Also, it will save you time to not have to enter each name one at a time on that line. One click and you are reading to send your letter.

Let me know what you think.

 

Especially for a business, use a mass mailing program. Don't use BCC. BCC is one of the major anti-spam filters. Most people I know have their mail filters set to send BCC e-mail to the junk pile.

 

Really? I never heard of this before. I also don't see an option in OE Rules that lets you filter BCC mail. And, how is it that a mass mailer is better since all my spam that comes in makes it look like I am the only LUCKY person to get their mail? I'm just curious. It seems that now a days you just can't keep up with anything on the computer without having to download this...download that. I really wish that you could just set up your computer, push a button and safely surf the net. Oh well. I love to dream.

 

E-mailing to a non-visiable group

Under Outlook express--Open your Address Book.
Click on New.
Then click on "New Group "
Name your group whatever you want--you will be the only one to see it.
Then click on "Select Members "
Select who you want to send mail to---the nice thing is you can add to or remove names from this list in a heartbeat.

Now when you want to send a e-mail --under the "TO" put anybody's name even your own.
Then under "BCC" click on your Group Name -- add your message--then send--and all the names in your list will get your mail with only their name listed--not the whole list of names.

I use this to send to many people at one time alll the time.
Hope this works for you.
Paul43

 

That's exactly what I did Paul. From what I can remember something was very weird about the e-mail - like the person could tell it wasn't addressed to them or something else strange. I'll try it again.

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I'll check out some of those download links.

 

If I remember correctly what it says on your receivers' mail is 'undisclosed recipients.' Apparantly your people are offended by the fact that they aren't the only one getting your messages. Or, maybe they just don't understand what that means. I wondered myself when I got my first mail addressed like that, but once I found out why and how much safer it was to send mail that way, I accepted it and always use it now. Maybe you do need to use one of those programs that list only their names in the To box. If for no reason than to keep everyone happy.

 

No, they're not offended by it, I'm offended by it. From a business perspective, I need to be able to send them an e-mail that's simply addressed to them.

 

I stand corrected. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I understand what you are trying to do and why. I hope that those other programs that jmatt recommended work for you. Please accept my apology if I offended you with that comment.

Good luck.

 

Microsoft Outlook will do exactly what you want using Mail Merge.

 

ROFL! No, Panda, I'm not offended...I'm just talking in general...saying that the BCC solution isn't exactly what I'm looking for. The "offending" thing was just a "semantical misunderstanding ". I appreciate your help.

Thanks, Miz. I'm going to try the demo at www.infacta.com . If I like it I'll shell out the $79.