Method and apparatus for facilitating a selection of a postal mailing list
A mailing list test service is disclosed that involves at least one postal mailing list, the at least one postal mailing list including information about a plurality of list members. The service includes sending an e-mail message to each of at least a subset of list members. At least one response is received, and a determination of whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing list campaign is made based on the at least one response.
1 . A method for providing a mailing list test service involving a postal mailing list, the postal mailing list including information about a plurality of list members, the method comprising:
(a) sending an e-mail message to at least a subset of members of the postal mailing list;
(b) receiving at least one response based on an associated e-mail message sent in (a), each received response being associated with a member; and
(c) determining, based on the at least one response received in (b), whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing campaign.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) selling the postal mailing list if it is determined in (c) to select the postal mailing list.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) renting to another the postal mailing list if it is determined in (c) to select the postal mailing list.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) mailing information to list members of the postal mailing list the postal mailing list if it is determined in (c) to select the postal mailing list.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said sending an e-mail message in (a) includes:
(i) sending a first e-mail message to a first member of the postal mailing list; and
(ii) sending a second e-mail message to a second member of the postal mailing list,
wherein the first e-mail message includes content different from the second e-mail message.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
(d) storing the at least one response received in (b).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a subset of members comprises less than all of the members of the postal mailing list.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one response received in (b) includes, for each received response, a test identifier and a member identifier, and comprising the further steps of:
(d) retrieving a test record from a test database based on the received test identifier; and
(e) updating the retrieved test record to indicate, based on the received member identifier, that a response was received from a member associated with the member identifier.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one response received in (b) further includes a question identifier and an answer identifier.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving at least one response based on an associated e-mail message includes detecting a response to the e-mail message based on the use of a uniform resource locator embedded in the e-mail message.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one member of the subset of members is compensated for the response.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the postal mailing list comprises a first postal mailing list and further comprising:
selecting a second postal mailing list to test, the second postal mailing list being distinct from the postal mailing list; and
sending the e-mail message to at least a subset of members of the second postal mailing list;
wherein receiving at least one response based on an associated e-mail message sent in (a), each received response being associated with a member comprises
receiving at least one response from the at least the subset of members of the first postal mailing list and receiving at least one response from the at least the subset of members of the second postal mailing list; and further
wherein determining, based on the at least one response received in (b), whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing campaign comprises:
comparing the at least one response received in response to the e-mail message sent to the at least subset of members of the first postal mailing list to the at least one response received in response to the e-mail message sent to the at least subset of members of the second postal mailing list; and
selecting, based on a result of the comparing, one of the first postal mailing list and the second postal mailing list for use in the postal mailing campaign.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the e-mail message includes a link to a survey on a Web site and further wherein receiving at least one response comprises determining that the survey has been accessed and at least partially answered by a member.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one response comprises determining the at least one response via a web beacon included in the e-mail message.
15 . An apparatus for testing a postal mailing list, comprising:
(a) a processor;
(b) a database including a postal mailing list, the postal mailing list having information about a plurality of list members;
(c) a port coupled to said processor; and
(d) a memory including a database, said memory coupled to said processor, and said memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor, the instructions including instructions to:
(i) send an e-mail message to at least a subset of members of the postal mailing list;
(ii) receive at least one response based on an associated e-mail message sent in (a), each received response being associated with a member; and
(iii) determine, based on the at least one response received in (b), whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing campaign.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least a subset of members comprises less than all of the members of the postal mailing list.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said memory stores further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor, said further instructions including instructions to:
(iv) perform one of selling and renting the postal mailing list if it is determined in (iii) to select the postal mailing list.
18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said postal mailing list comprises a first postal mailing list and wherein said memory stores further instructions adapted to be executed by said processor, said further instructions including instructions to:
select a second postal mailing list to test, the second postal mailing list being distinct from the postal mailing list; and
send the e-mail message to at least a subset of members of the second postal mailing list;
wherein receiving at least one response based on an associated e-mail message sent in (a), each received response being associated with a member comprises
receiving at least one response from the at least the subset of members of the first postal mailing list and receiving at least one response from the at least the subset of members of the second postal mailing list; and further
wherein determining, based on the at least one response received in (b), whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing campaign comprises:
comparing the at least one response received in response to the e-mail message sent to the at least subset of members of the first postal mailing list to the at least one response received in response to the e-mail message sent to the at least subset of members of the second postal mailing list; and
selecting, based on a result of the comparing, one of the first postal mailing list and the second postal mailing list for use in the postal mailing campaign.
19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions to send an e-mail message include instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:
send a first e-mail message to a first member of the at least the subset; and
send a second e-mail message to a second member of the at least the subset, wherein the first e-mail message includes content different from the second e-mail message.
20 . A medium storing instruction adapted to be executed by a processor to provide a mailing list test service for a postal mailing list, the postal mailing list including information about a plurality of list members, said instructions comprising instructions to:
(a) send an e-mail message to at least a subset of members of the postal mailing list;
(b) receive at least one response based on an associated e-mail message sent in (a), each received response being associated with a member; and
(c) determine, based on the at least one response received in (b), whether to select the postal mailing list for use in a postal mailing campaign.