[epub] mailing list systems/softwares

[ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

From: ray@twoscoops.com

(I am also posting this to a different ezine publishing list, but in a 
different email, so as to avoid the accusation of spamming). 

I current run my daily newsletter through onelist.com, which is 
basically an okay way to do it, except I don't like the ads at the top 
of the digests (I also don't like the daily digests they have, but I 
don't know how to stop it).  I want to have just my regular daily 
HTML version, and a weekend text digest.  

In my webhosting package,  my web host has provided a simple 
"listserver/mail list" -- I think it is called PlusMail or something like 
that.  It feels rather 'simple', doesn't seem to have any controls, 
have to password the list then insert the password at the top of 
each mailing, subscribers can't automatically unsub themselves 
(more work for me), and I don't see a confirmation process to 
ensure accuracy. 

The webhost also has (for an extra $10 a month) Majordomo, which 
I'm not familiar with, but I know the name and know it is widely 
used.

My question... well, two questions actually:  

I'm thinking of adding 2 or 3 more focused newsletters after the first 
of the year, so...  

1. is it better to switch list systems now while my subscriber list(s) 
are under a few hundred?  (i.e., how much work is involved in 
switch from a freebie list server like OneList  to something like a 
baby-Listserv or a MajorDomo?) 

2.  Is Majordomo really worth the effort, or should I just leave it all 
at Onelist and don't worry about trying to manage to list admin stuff 
myself?    

For those with multiple lists, does having your own list server 
(either ListServ, MajorDomo or some other) really add enough to 
the prestige factor that adding the workload is worth it?   what are 
the Advantages/disadvantages?

I know a lot of people swear by Lyris but I can't afford it.... 

Please speak from experience rather than theory.  

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