Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Windows Hosting : HELP! Need to send LOTS of mail!

[alxconn]

We are running an application on IIS that sends out 4-500 emails per day via a smarthost, but nearly 11,000 every weekend. None of this is bulk mail...

We need a new smarthost provider ASAP, as our current host is discontinuing this service this week, and we were just notified.

I need something no later than now tomorrow!


Thanks to anyone who can help!

[Mikie4648]

Have you thought about getting your own server? Most hosts consider mailings like this spam even if you think its not. 11k in mail on the weekend? You really need your own server.

[alxconn]

We have looked into it, but our datacenter provider is not allowing any SMTP going in and out of the DC, so we need a 3rd party. Also, none of us are skilled Mail Server admins, and we have a very short timeline, so even if we could get a managed e-mail server that would be great...

I checked w/ Rackspace and their dedicated Exchange hosting doesn't allow this many e-mails...
Does anyone know a company that does?

[OffshoreNetworks]

Although I cannot directly recommend you any providers, since I don't have first hand experience, I would say that your best option would be a third party email delivery service.

Such services usually manage your lists, unsubscribe requests etc, and usually reputable providers are whitelisted by all major ISP's, so you won't be problems with getting banned falsely for spam.

The cheaper solution is a VPS, but as you stated that none of you are skilled mailserver admins, I'd side with a third party email delivery service, since getting blacklisted can typically drop your deliverability about 50% just from being on a single blacklist.

[Mattc0m]

http://www.constantcontact.com/pricing/index.jsp

A company I work for uses this service. The e-mail marketing campaign with 10k-25k e-mails runs at $150. It's a bit pricey, but when you are dealing with this many people a service like this is useful. Has pre-built templates (or make your own HTML), set up different contact lists, you name it.

I would suggest it, but it depends what you are going for.

[adam]

I would take Matt's suggestion, or look for a dedicated server. Bulk email (legit or not) always brings spam complaints, etc along with it.

[sjosh36]

You can also examine the possibility of a virtual server, same control for less money. From experience when sending out that many emails you really have to stay on top of your list. You also might want to consider writing a custom app that evenly distributes them.

[alxconn]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Our company's parent (The New York Times), got a dedicated managed mail server.

[amritrr]

That is good. Shared hosting service providers would not allow so many emails to be sent every day as they would consider it as spamming.