I signed a contract with Blue Sky Factory today, engaging them to be my ESP. This doesn’t mean I’ll be hooking up to electrodes and guessing at Zener cards. Not that kind of ESP. Blue Sky Factory is an Email Service Provider.
Why an ESP?
Well, over the last few years I’ve been using Gmail as my sole base of email operations. This is great for personal emails, and business communications with a small number of people. However, Gmail has some serious limitations.
You can only send out a small number of emails each day before Gmail shuts you down. It’s hard to send out an announcement to hundreds of retailers when doing so will mean I can’t also shoot my Mother a picture of our new foster kitten.
I’m blind to deliverability. Sure, if an email is no longer good, I’ll get a response letting me know. But what if an address to good, but the person isn’t getting my emails? Gmail won’t tell me.
I have no idea if my emails are being opened. Getting an email is one thing, opening and reading it is another. If someone isn’t opening my emails, it’s an indication that they’re not interested in the content I’m sending. Instead of pestering them, and tempting them to use the dreaded ‘Report Spam’ button of death, I’d rather back off and leave them alone. Without knowing who opens my mail, I can’t adjust fire.
I know too many people. Gmail allows approximately 10,000 addresses in an address book. When you’re using Gmail to store contacts at every game store and game publisher, you get a fair number of entries. When you add to that addresses for everyone that listens to Atomic Array and RPG Countdown (that I know of), and all the freelancers in the industry, you start approaching 10,000 with ease. Not only does having this many contacts slow down my email program – even Gmail has limitations – it means that I have to use Gmail Groups to sort my contacts. I need a way to organize large groups of overlapping communities.
Add to this the fact that I’m a serial entrepreneur, who’s always starting something new, and it’s just that time. I need email help.
Why Blue Sky Factory?
Simple. Trust is a Ninja. Over the last two years, I’ve grown to respect and trust Christopher S Penn. He has a brilliant mind for statistical analysis, is very insightful when it comes to applying technology to marketing, and is open and honest about who he is and what he believes.
I’ve known for some time that I needed someone to help me with my email needs. When Chris joined Blue Sky Factory this year, there was no question in my mind that they would be the only choice. It’s really that simple.
That’s it. That’s all there is to say.
PS: Expect to get an email from me soon…
Tags: Blue Sky Factory, Christopher S Penn, email, marketing