Buyer's Guide to Email Service Providers

Get easy-scan charts plus detailed profiles of 64 vendors offering 85 services. Save weeks of research, pick the right vendor for your needs quickly. Plus which email vendors are going to be able to get your mail through.

Table of Contents: Buyer's Guide to Email Service Providers 2006

85 services from 64 vendors are profiled and compared-and-contrasted in this 240-page Buyer's Guide published November 2005.

Section I: How Vendors Were Selected & Profiled for this Guide
Step One: Qualification Round
Step Two: Detailed Profile
Wondering Why a Vendor isn't in this Buyer's Guide?
How to Get into Next Year's Guide

Section II: Email Outsourcing Basics
In-House Versus Outsourcing
Chart: Email Services Outsourcing: Marketers' Plans to Switch for 2006
The Cost of In-House Email Serving
Why Costs Go Far Beyond Sending "Free" Email
Pricing has Stabilized
Beyond the Basic Broadcast: Six Extra Services
Industry Backgrounder: Behind the Scenes at ESPs
The Three Basic Types of ESPs
Quick Industry Background: 2001-2005
ESPs' Versus Clients' Email Desires: A Disconcerting Disconnect
Chart: Why Customers Leave
ESPs' Biggest Challenge for 2006: Reputation Management (still)

Section III: The ESP Selection Process -- Step-by-Step
Seven ESP Shopping Process Don'ts
Step One: Outline your needs prior to reviewing vendor materials
Quick Email Broadcast Quiz
Step Two: Create a Shortlist
Step Three: Due Diligence
Step Four: Contract Negotiation and Careful Transition
Step Five: The Transition to Your New Vendor
Top 10 Checklist: What You Need to Do the Minute After You Switch Broadcast Vendors

Section IV: Comparison Charts, Indices, & Pull-out Questionnaire
Service Basics: Compare & Contrast Chart
Client Types: Compare & Contrast Chart
Deliverability: Compare & Contrast Chart
Advanced Services: Compare & Contrast Chart
Client Index: ESP Index by Client Name
North American Location Index
Pull-Out Email Service Providers Questionnaire

Section V: Profiles of 64 Vendors Offering 85 Services