What to do with AOL

Posted By: sirduncan ()
Posted On: 2004-Feb-16 03:56

Tonight I answered probably the hundredth email to an AOL user who 'never' got my reply to them.

What do I do about AOL users who can't seem to get my emails? Anyone have a good idea?

I just put a big orange block on my page with green text in hopes to catch some eyes, but it looks horrible and I'm looking for alternatatives. Anyone?


Posted By: Mike-Levin.com ()
Posted On: 2004-Feb-19 20:35

Getting the first-touch correspondence with prospects through the spam blockers is a bigger and bigger challenge -- especially with AOL and MSN who use the spam folder for everyone not in your address book.

If you use a Web-based contact form (and NOT an email link), you can use the thank-you page to tell them to put a specific email address in their Address book in order for them to get the reply. You can also tell them to check their spam folder for the reply. You can also give them your phone number at that very instant. You also have their AOL screen name, so you can try to IM them.

If you have the ability, you can use a Web-based forum instead of email. Even those usually rely on email notifications that a post occurred, but you can also ask them to bookmark the discussion and check it time-to-time.


Posted By: sirduncan ()
Posted On: 2004-Feb-22 17:03

Thank you - I'll look into a few of those options.


Posted By: unreviewed ()
Posted On: 2004-Feb-23 06:01

Are you using your ISP for sending mail to AOL users?


Posted By: Silv ()
Posted On: 2004-Mar-02 02:00

Hate to even present this as an option, but if you can't figure out a way around the problems, you could always keep an open AOL account to communicate with these customers. E-Mails coming from an AOL account have a much better chance of being delivered. You can sign up and then change to a "limited hours" plan that's around $5/month.

Hate to reward them for making things difficult, but if the communications are important to you.. it might be a way to go.


Posted By: RodB ()
Posted On: 2004-Mar-13 23:00

What about one of the online services like humanclick?