By integrating subscription lists and targeted email delivery into its web site, a business can establish mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. By being able to identify and respond to the specific needs of its customers, the business becomes a useful resource for the customer while benefiting from having a meaningful channel of communication to the customer. Perhaps something like this can work effectively on the scale of Power Agent or NetBot. But I think a finer level of granularity is required. Consider an online fish shop.
Visitors can sign up for any or all of the topics.
Every week the business owner can write up articles or announcements in each of the areas and the msgs would be sent only to those people that signed up for the specific topics. What a tremendous opportunity for the business to establish an ongoing relationship with its customers. And from the customers' viewpoint, they're receiving useful information tailored to their interests. I'm very interested in hearing from business owners about their needs and how the issue of opt-in mailing looks to them. Thanks Gary, for your comments and advice.