Direct Mail reviews

Pluspunten

What I like most about this software is that it is there just when I want it. There is no needling "missing you" emails, no fees for when I have a busy time and just can't get to it and no fuss on telling me how to make my emails better. It is an all around pleasure.

Minpunten

What I like least about this software is that it has such a tight complaint algorithm. I, totally, understand why and the reasoning for this. I am aware the industry is traditionally squirley about spam reporting. Not saying any company has handled it better than this software. However, as a business who tries hard to deliver information with lots of paths for people to opt-out, it always amazes me when people simply forget they opted-in ;)

Pluspunten

Control of the whole process - from HTML editing to subscriber management to design and spam testing - it's fun to work with.

Minpunten

No online tool. Reporting is limited, there aren't enough ways to compare and contrast. Very hard to export reports and data in bulk. Hard to get examples out as PDF / Image filles.

Pluspunten

There are online email companies but I always find them a bit awkward. I first tried Direct Mail years and years ago and it was okay and did a job but this year they have updated it which has made the software fantastic.

The email design is really easy and simple with some great free templates built in while still giving you flexibility should you need it to customer deeper. I've changed my current newsletter styles over to the new ones and it's given them a fresh new look and total compatibility no matter what device the emails are read upon.

Being able to delve into who has looked and even clicked is a real big plus point for managing my marketing and I can really target further contact by this response.

You can, of course, buy email credits from them or use your own email sending system. I personally use both, credit from them for my loyal customers and potential customer (the list is huge) through my own servers (it's cheaper for me this way).

Oh, and it also links with y database system - Daylite which helps keeps everything organised an on track.

Pluspunten

One of the easiest and good looking mail sender on the Mac have used it for years. (not anymore though)

Minpunten

You have to pay them to send using your SMTP, which is fine, but as soon as you offend their very strict rules they disable the whole part of the sending process, meaning the softwares useless. Then thats where you find out the support is AWFUL, as it seems to me theres only 2 people that work there, they refuse to talk on phone, and despite promises when chased up, they don't answer emails. genuinely terrible.

Pluspunten

Once I had figured it out, with some help from helpful 'Help' people at Directmail, it has been extremely useful to me in doing was email broadcasts to my client and subscriber base, something I could to do with my usual email software, [Mac]Mail.

Works very well on my Mac.

I sue the subscriber option which allowed me to install the software on my isp's server. cost effective and looks to my readers as coming directly form me.

Minpunten

The reporting could be improved(?) if we could be sure the receiver has actually 'opened' the email, or merely saw the summary on their device, especially the case for people who receive the email on there mobile device.

I haven't figured out how file management works on the system yet.

Pluspunten

Great product for the price

We use Direct Mail to manage our customer base for two separate target audiences. The service is helpful and easy to use, being able to create, reuse and modify previous campaign flyers, driving traffic to our websites, providing useful metrics, keeping our database relevant when clients change email addresses or are no longer interested in receiving annoucements. Overall DM has worked well for our small business. We cannot afford to invest in other CRM services such as MailChimp, Constant Contact, GetResponse or other email marketing services. DirectMail fulfills our current needs.

Minpunten

Wish the interface were more user friendly
Wish there were more customization tools for the templates

Pluspunten

Easy organization makes easy to maintain compliance with all laws and common decency.

Minpunten

It doesn't bend to my personal case use, but I could hardly expect it to.

Pluspunten

Best means (by which users are honored in terms of their time for messaging) to communicate with various constituents.

Minpunten

Often have to retype names of messages as the app updates indiscriminately. Would love to be able to stop sending, then start again without starting at the beginning of the mailing list.

Pluspunten

I love using this program. But best of all, when my computer damaged a key file, I sent it to Direct Mail. They sent an auto email saying it would be repaired in 24 hours. They sent the file back in two hours and it has worked perfectly ever sense. I highly recommend this program and company.

Minpunten

I would love this program to some how tie into the Outlook database so I only have 'one' set of contacts.

Pluspunten

Great Templates, Ease of use and customization, Very good analytics. Renders very well on all kinds of devices and there's plenty of additional testing functions. The automatic management of unsubscribers is also very handy. For someone with zero previous DM experience but wanting to send out a weekly newsletter this is fantastic value for money.

Minpunten

Can't think of anything specific even though I would like to group reports (i.e. comparing flights of the same campaign or issues of the same newsletter. Presently I export to Excel but it would be practical to have these inside.

Pluspunten

It is very easy to use and provides the basic bells and whistles needed to track any campaign.

Minpunten

I know it is not possible, but there needs to be a way to track reasons why a person would file a report. I've experienced people I've known well reporting me, rather than merely unsubscribing. One I called up and she said she did it by accident. Not even sure how that can be an accident, but ok. It would help to understand user behavior with clear reasons to get a better sense of what I might have done wrong with a user, so I can avoid certain pitfalls in the future.

Pluspunten

It does everything I'd ask for in an email blast program -- localized software, easy to import, create groups, build templates, send out mail campaigns, collect online data, link with other software, etc.

Minpunten

The only one thing that I don't like about it is -- if I schedule a number of emails (over the course of the week) and new subscribers come in -- those new subscribers won't get my already-scheduled emails. Because of this, I can't schedule more than 1-2 days of emails.

Pluspunten

Well thought out and updated on a regular basis, you can tell that the developers of Direct Mail take pride in their product. It is a solid and stable application that I have relied on for years to do my email marketing campaigns for clients.

Minpunten

As with any application you always say, I wish it did x, but nothing significant enough to warrant inclusion here.

Pluspunten

Ease of use, editor, templates, address manager

Minpunten

I would like an option to compare performance of weekly newsletter

Pluspunten

Easy to customize, easy to make the final look good AND easy to check every email to make sure imported exactly as you wanted.

Minpunten

No metrics server in Canada. (A legal requirement for our usage if we want to get stats.) Otherwise, we'd be using it every day to contact our students and prospective students.

Pluspunten

Easy to use, works well, they continually update. Software is free if you use their servers, and they have reasonable pricing tiers.

Minpunten

Nothing really. It works well, just as advertised

Pluspunten

I like that they offer the one time payment for their software in order to use it with your own email servers. It provides a super cheap option for enterprise level emails.

Minpunten

You get what you pay for. With their one time payment option you don't get much customer service and you'll need to maintain your own servers.

Pluspunten

You can buy a one-time fixed "SMTP" licence and use the software without any transactional costs. We send hundreds of thousands of emails without an costs and great convenience. The product never failed to work and is easy to use.

Pluspunten

Consistently improving and enhancing the application. Great value for the money. Outstanding customer support. Excellent selection of easily, editable templates.

Minpunten

Occassionally requires reading the user guide to get a handle on some of the functionality. Not so much a con as operator laziness.

Pluspunten

The software is very straightforward and easy to use and immediate feedback on campaigns

Minpunten

The page design element is basic and easy but could possibly be slicker with more intuitive options

Pluspunten

I bought Direct Mail years ago and it continues to impress me with its functionality, ease of use and clean look & feel. Really easy on the eyes in keeping with MacOS tradition, this app is simple enough for novices and has plenty of features for expert level users. Great alternative to MailChimp and other similar platforms.

Minpunten

I really can't say anything bad about the app to be perfectly honest...

Pluspunten

I love that the software takes care of subscriptions, both new and those who unsubscribe, without me doing anything.

Minpunten

Can't think of anything that I don't like.

Pluspunten

Several factors come to mind. 1) It keeps me on the straight and narrow (ie very occasionally I've had subscribers, yes legitimate subscribers, complain that I've sent spam. When this happens I'm alerted in a really helpful way. 2) The software keeps pace with the changes in law regarding unsolicited emails - something that as a micro business I have little time for.

Minpunten

I can't think of anything to complain about.

Pluspunten

Easy to use and easy to manage lists, messages and campaigns. Can get new message campaigns off quickly.

Minpunten

Takes some getting used to. Using images could be easier. Would really like an iOS version that would work with an iPad Pro.

Pluspunten

Works well with Mac.
Very quick and helpful support.
The website is full of useful tips and advice.

Minpunten

Can't edit source code when using builtin templates.
Only runs on Mac.
Some features undocumented.