Email

Email Software

Email software is one of the most prevalent software packages in use today.  How could we live without out email after all?  Customer and

 other business contacts would be almost impossible these days, without our email.  And yet, most of us don't take the time or make the effort to determine whether the email package they are using is actually the "right" one for their business needs.  It's much simpler (and faster) it seems to just use the software that comes with your PC or Macintosh and for most of us, that's probably all that's required anyway.  And, if you've decided that an email marketing campaign might help your business, attempting to "do" the campaign with just your standard email software could present a big challenge!  However, if you want MORE than just an email interface, and would like to automate and "professionalize" your email campaign read on.  We believe that email software IS important and some of the things you should look for in it are listed below.

• Filtering and rules - do you have customers or business contacts with whom communication is extremely important or time sensitive?  Then filtering and rules functionality is important for you.  Using the software's rules building wizards, you can automatically send messages to specific files or folder (even the trash).  This ensures that you'll get the most important mail in front of you immediately and place mail that you want to read at your "leisure" in appropriate folders.
• Compatibility - not much of an issue these days, but make sure your software supports industry standard SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol for sending email), POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3 for receiving email), MAPI (Messaging Application Program Interface - allows you to send email from within a Windows application and attach the document you are working on), Web Mail (a utility for Web Mail is included in both Microsoft and Netscape browsers for popular web mail services such like Hotmail).
• Contacts, Calendars and Tasks - your email software can also serve as a "single source" for most of your important business information - your schedule, "to dos" and contacts.  If you also have a PDA, synching these sources can be a huge plus in automating your business and making sure you meet your project deadlines and keep up with your schedule.
• Forms and More - if you are doing or plan on doing a lot of your business using email, the ability to design and integrate forms is important.  Standard email "forms" can save time and money when you need basic information on an ongoing basis from a variety of sources.

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• Campaign Automation - if you're doing a campaign, automating as many of the tasks is an important time saver.  Look for software that automates not only message development (professional templates) but also sending and RECEIVING (placement of responses in a particular file or folder).
• Professional Help and Advice - if this is your first email campaign, you'll need some advice (especially if you don't want to be labeled a "spammer" and perhaps even lose your Internet connection or web hosting service!) to make the campaign effective.  Many packages offer add-ons to help you in this area as well as relationships with third parties for sending out the campaign (so you KEEP your Internet connection and web hosting service)!

Looking for more from your email packages?  Let's see what's out there.

For more information on email marketing (and how to do it correctly!), see  http://www.email-marketing-software-resource.com - a resource for businesses seeking to learn about permission-based email marketing, newsletters, managing an email list and email list management programs.

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category.  We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

Email Software Review

Email Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

Apple

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

.Mac Mail is part of the .MAC software/service provided by Apple.  It is easy to install and set up for use.

Cost - $$$$

.Mac is priced at $99.95 for one year of service and the software.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

The .Mac service and .Mac Mail are designed to help you communicate more effectively.

Ease of Use - @@@@

The .Mac service and .Mac Mail are very easy to use.

Works With - YYY

.Mac is designed for - Macintosh!

Support - pppp

Apple has an extensive knowledge base, technical support and more on their web site.  There is also a discussion area to get help from other users.  If you need more help, Apple has an "800" number and email support available.

Features - iiii1/2

Lots of capabilities - including web hosting, calendar integration, offsite storage, and 20MB attachment support.

Overall Rating - %%%%+

A comprehensive, simple to use and inexpensive service/software for the Mac user.  A "no brainer" to add-on to a new Macintosh.

Chaos Software

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Chaos Software's Intellect is straight forward to install and set up for use.

Cost - $$$$

Intellect is priced at $59.95.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

A simple and easy to use mail client to keep you abreast of the latest emails from friends - without most spam.

Ease of Use - @@@@

The Intellect user interface is straight forward and simple to understand.

Works With - YYY

Intellect is designed for the Windows environment.

Support - ppp1/2

Chaos Software's web site includes a searchable knowledge base.  If you need more help you can contact Chaos Software tech support via their online form on the web site or phone (no "800" number, you'll pay toll charges where they apply).

Features - iii1/2

An email client and contact management solution - competes with Microsoft Outlook.  Best feature is linking email with contacts automatically.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2

A good email client/contact management solution alternative to Outlook.

Corel

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Corel's WordPerfect Mail is very simple to install and begin using.

Cost - $$$$

WordPerfect Mail is priced at $59.00.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

WordPerfect Mail is a solid email, calendaring and contact management tool that will help save your time and keep you organized.

Ease of Use - @@@@

WordPerfect is simple to use and customize.

Works With - YYY

WordPerfect mail is designed for the Windows environment.

Support - pppp

The Corel support site is comprehensive and well designed.  Corel offers training programs online and through third parties as well.  They also sponsor newsgroups where users can trade information on using the software, problems and fixes.  Additionally, their online knowledge base is comprehensive and easy to navigate.  If you need to call Corel from the U.S. you'll pay long distance charges.  Canadian customer calls are toll free.

Features - iii1/2

Standard tool that includes email, calendar, contact management and spam protection.  Integrated search of all components is included.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

A good tool at a competitive price - included free in WordPerfect Office 12 Small Business Edition.

KDE

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Kontact comes with the KDE Unix/Linux desktop environment.

Cost - $$$$$

Comes along with any Unix/Linux software OS that includes the KDE  desktop environment.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

Everyone needs email and Kontact is a powerful client for use in Linux/Unix environments.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Kontact has a straight forward user interface.

Works With - YYY1/2

Kontact is designed for Unix/Linux environments.

Support - ?????

The support you get for Kontact will depend upon your OS vendor.  The Kontact site however has lots of useful documents and information.

Features - iii1/2

The strength of Kontact is not only its basic email and address book features and functions but also its strong integration of security and security protocols - SSL/TLS, Open PGP.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

An easy choice for Linux/Unix users.

KMT Software           

Start an email newsletter today – Buy High Impact eMail 4.0! Click Here

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

KMT Software High Impact email Basic and Professional are straight forward to install and set up for use with your messaging or contact management application.

Cost - $$$$

High Impact eMail 4.0 Basic is priced at $69.95, Professional at $99.95.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

If you use email extensively to communicate with your customers and business partners, these templates can make it easier for you to make your email communications look professional and interesting.

Ease of Use - @@@@

The templates are very simple to use, as are the included template and photo editors in the Professional version.

Works With - YYY

High Impact eMail is designed for the Windows environment.

Support - ppp

The tech support area of KMT's "Template Zone" software (for High Impact eMail) includes a FAQ and downloads.  If you need more help, an online form is your only option.

Features - iii1/2+

Nice looking, professional templates for the home-business owner who doesn't have time to create everything from scratch.  Real time savers - and great looking as well.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

Easy, professional looking email - and fast too.

LesTec Pty Ltd.

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

LesTec's Mailer is simple to install and begin using.

Cost - $$$$

LesTecML Mailer is priced at $41.80.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

LesTecML Mailer is a sound email package that will help you manage your messaging needs quickly and efficiently.

Ease of Use - @@@@

LesTecML Mailer automates many tasks - like importing address books and filtering messages.

Works With - YYY

LesTecML Mailer is designed for the Windows environment only.

Support - pp

LesTec is based in Australia.  Support is via phone and email but the time change could be problematic.

Features - iii1/2+

The best features in LesTecML Mailer are those that allow you to view email headers before downloading (and delete them as well!) and standard replies and filters for suspect email.  We also like the ability to share and/or password protect mail folders as well as the HTML mail templates.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2

If you just need an email package and want some anti-spam features and functions included - LesTecML Mailer is a good solution.  However, for U.S.-based users, the fact that you'll have to get support from Australia could be problematic.

Microsoft

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Outlook Express and newer Windows Mail are especially simple, Outlook 2007 offers more features and functionality and add complexity.  However, all are easy to use and are straight forward in their implementations.

Cost - $$$

Pricing for Microsoft products is detailed in the table below.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

We especially like the integrated approach of Outlook or Entourage.  Contacts, tasks, email and calendaring all in one place - a big help in managing your time and contacts with customers and other business partners.  And now with Outlook 2007 and Entourage 2008, you can text message mobile phone and share calendars over the Internet.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Outlook Express and Windows Mail are very simple to use, Outlook 2007 and Entourage 2008 have more features and add some complexity - but in the main are very simple to begin and continue using.

Works With - YYYY

Outlook 2007, Windows Mail and Outlook Express are for the Windows environment only.  Entourage 2008 is included in Microsoft Office for Macintosh.

Support - pppp1/2

We really hate getting through the initial Microsoft support scripts!  With that "venting" over with, their FAQ and knowledgebase are both extensive and easy to use and access.  If you need more and have to deal with web support, you need a Microsoft Passport and then then take you through a simplistic and irritating set of basic questions.  If you problem is not solved, you can call a non-800 number (you pay toll charges where they apply) Monday through Friday 5 AM to 9 PM Pacific, Saturday and Sunday 6 AM to 3 PM Pacific. 

Features - iiii1/2

The integrated approach of Outlook 2007 and Entourage 2008 provide lots of features and functions to make you more productive - especially if you use it in combination with Microsoft Office.  Again, the robust calendaring, contact management and task management included are big plusses and set Outlook and Entourage apart from most of the competition.  With Outlook 2007 and Entourage 2008, slick new features are included like electronic business cards, enhanced searches and the ability to publish calendars to the Internet as well as text message mobile phones.

Overall Rating - %%%%

Although we don't "love" Outlook, we couldn't live without it!  We continue to believe that for the greatest productivity for the home-based business owner, a combination of Microsoft Office (including Outlook) is the best solution.  That's why we've already invested in Office Ultimate Edition that includes Outlook 2007 with the Business Contact Manager.  For Mac users, the same goes - if you've purchased Office, using Entourage 2008 is a "no brainer" if only due to the integration "plusses".  Outlook Express and now Windows Mail are o.k. packages for those of you who just need the "basics".  But, if you choose to go this route, be prepared to purchase some type of contact management software in addition - you'll need it for mailings and other purposes. 

Mozilla

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Thunderbird is easy to download, install and set up for use.

Cost - $$$$$

What's better than free?  If you want a CD, it will cost you $6.00.