How much does emailing cost?

Our pricing is based on a few variables, including the size of your list, the average monthly volume you expect and the setup/support services that your team would like us to provide. We provide flexible pricing plans to accommodate campaigns of all sizes. When you Request A Quote be sure to provide as much detail as you can to get the most appropriate pricing plan for your team.

Is political email considered SPAM?

Legally, political email enjoys special protections under the First Amendment. It is distinguished from “commercial email” which is regulated by the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

While you should consult an attorney with any questions regarding the legality of your specific campaign, it is generally accepted that strictly political messages are free to be sent to legitimately obtained email addresses.

However, we strongly recommend campaigns follow the major guidelines of the CAN-SPAM regulations, which include:

• A visible and operable unsubscribe mechanism present in all emails
• Opt-out requests are honored within 10 days
• Accurate from lines
• Relevant subject lines
• A legitimate physical address is present

Additionally, respecting the medium of email and the inboxes of recipients is good practice to ensure the effectiveness of your campaign (see What are some tips for getting the best results from my email campaign? for more info.)

How does your emailing system work?

Our system is completely web based, meaning you can access it anywhere with an internet connection and web browser. You can setup accounts and manage access rights for various members of your team.

Key functionality of our system includes:

• Message Design - Visual appeal is critical to email effectiveness. Our email templating provides highly flexible layout design so your messages won't look like everyone else's.
• Micro-Targeting - Send messages to highly selected subsets of your lists using our targeting technologies.
• Effective Delivery - Our certified servers provide guaranteed delivery for opt-in email lists. For non-opt-on lists, Activate Direct's proprietary multi-tiered server infrastructure provides unparalleled delivery.
• Analytics - Email messaging should always be refined based on results of prior communications. Our graphical email reporting includes email open rates, delivery rates and response rates (clicks, survey responses and more).

How long does it take to get setup in your system?

Most setups can be done in a couple of days. More complicated setups involving large numbers of lists or custom graphic design work, might take a bit longer. Expedited setups are available on request (special pricing may apply).

What are some tips for getting the best results from my email campaign?

More than anything else the best recipe for success involves:

1. Sending appropriate messages
2. To a well-targeted audience
3. On a schedule that respects the recipient

Appropriate messages: Inflammatory messages almost never work when coming unsolicited over email…even if your audience happens to agree with you. It is always better to start off with factual, entertaining or funny messages than to go right for the jugular.

A well-targeted audience: Sending the same political message to everyone under the sun is the quickest way to run into delivery issues. Knowing your audience and the messages that resonate best with them will be key to your success.

A schedule that respects the recipient: Start off sending on a conservative schedule (one message per week or less). Over time, you can build up frequency as your audience gets to know you.