Wow, and I get to use this logo on my sites… Too Good to be Threw, HowToConsign.com, Auntie Kate The Blog and even my poor little step-child of a web site, TheResaleGuru.com which I SWEAR is next on my to-do list.The thing is, though, I don’t know why I am an All Star. Is it because I bring them business (all those referrals)? Is it because a high percentage of my e-newsletter list actually OPEN my e-mails to them? Or is it my twinkling brown eyes?
Here’s what Constant Contact has to say:
“Congratulations! As a 2008 Constant Contact All Star, you’re part of a select group of customers and business partners. We’re proud to recognize your efforts to effectively use email marketing in 2008 to connect with your customers and members.”
Isn’t that NICE? And isn’t it a great MARKETING TOOL? Guess it really doesn’t MATTER. It’s just, well, a way to make your clients feel good.
And how could YOU adapt this idea to work in YOUR business?
You will have noticed, of course, that it has NO parameters attached to it, that it’s a feel-good “award” without true meaning, and that, in spite of it all, here I am, dispersing their name and their profits across the Internet.
That’s okay. I like their program and now I admire their moxie. Try them for free, sign up through TGTbT and get $30 credit free. Yeh: go here of you’re interested in becoming an All Star, yourself.
And which of YOUR customers, and HOW, can you make them feel so good that they will spread the news of YOUR business?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
I’ve been using Constant Contact for almost four years and now have a mailing list of over 4,000 customers and consignors! We send out a monthly mailing (our testing shows that more than once a month is too much) and have an open rate average of 24%. It is an important part of our marketing plan!
I’m an all star too! I received their email, considered if our email customers would care a whit about this bizarre seal of approval, and deleted the email.
Interesting idea though.
Constant Contact is not only a great bulk email tool, but a means of measuring the success of the email. The percentage opened feature is valuable feedback . I never would have known that my email ” Help!, We need hangers” would be opened 15% more than “Spring clothing! $5.00 coupon enclosed” It is well worth the monthly fee. I see a huge increase in foot traffic and phone calls.