Affiliates and Ecommerce entrepreneurs that want to seriously build a business, at some point need to consider how to manage their subscriber list.

Now, I have an account with Aweber AND also one with GetResponse. 

Why?

Well I started with Aweber over 3 years ago after a recommendation by someone at Ken McCarthy's System Seminar. I use it for my own list management and support and deliverability has been great.

I also use GetResponse for some of my viral sites, because GR allows single optin and that feature provides a simpler way for new viral site members to be automatically added to GetResponse, without asking them to confirm their email address.

Subscribers can still opt-out from GetResponse mailings of course.

Moving from GetResponse to Aweber... or vice versa 

People occasionally move from one provider to another, like Pete Belanger (check his blog post here).

I'm not sure why Pete is actually moving from GetResponse to Aweber, but he's correct in saying that having a list is a "must have" for any serious online entrepreneur.

Main differences 

As for which provider to select, here is what I see as the main differences between the two:

•  Aweber is extremely strict with their clients re use of single optin. You can select single or double but once you switch to double you can't go back.
  
• GetResponse gives you the option to define *any* list single or double optin.
• Both services DO allow you to import your lists from elsewhere, but there are limits on how many per day can be imported (2k/d Aweber, 5k/d Getresponse) and confirmation emails are sent out to imported subscribers. (See below for special report on this).
  
• GetResponse has been a little more flexible on importing based on my experience working closely with them on email migration for my exclusive clients.
• Aweber's user interface seems to run a little faster, as their interface is less graphic rich.
• Both services seem to deliver email at similar speeds.

The BIG Difference

The BIG difference I suspect is in email deliverability. Because Aweber is more strict with requiring double optin, they claim their reputation with the ISP's is better than that of GetResponse, who might have more "spammy" clients affecting the reputation of their sending servers... .and thus spoiling the reputation for all GetResponse clients.

Some other internet marketers like Big Jason, say that Aweber deliverability sucks.

But deliverability is very hard to measure.  Both companies claim great deliverability on their sales pages, but how is that defined i.e. do they talk about delivering to the spam folder or to the inbox? 

Until someone produces an objective report on email deliverability comparing GetResponse and Aweber, the question remains.

Which is better? 

The good thing about both services is that you pay for the size of your list, not for the # emails sent.

If you need single optin and less strict importing (higher limits) then go with GetResponse but beware of possible deliverability risks (unconfirmed).

If you want an easier interface and *possible* higher deliverability go with Aweber.

WARNING

If you are planning to switch over to either Aweber or GetResponse, then one HUGE issue is how to migrate your existing subscribers over? Aweber DOES NOT allow importing without email confirmation, and GetResponse is similar.

However, I have managed a couple of projects where we migrated thousands of subscribers over to each of these ESP's, and discovered that there's a simple step by step process to do the migration properly, so that profits are maximized.

Special Report on Email Migration

This is all documented in a new report I wrote entitled "Email Migration Secrets". You can order this report for $27 from me here, or I'll hand it to you FREE if you sign up for Aweber or GetResponse from these links and email me the receipt via my customer support center here then I'll hand you this migration secrets report for FREE.

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--- (Edited on 12/18/2008 12:23 pm [GMT-0600] by Peter) ---