How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?

[orange]

I use Amazon SES with a plugin called The Newsletter on Wordpress. It really does the job for a few dollars.

The only downside is that it is integrated into the Wordpress system so it uses the sources of the server, and has a limit on the number of hourly emails. If set above the limit capacity, it creates problem on the site.

But other than that, it beats MailChimp and many other services.

[d.healey]

@orange I used to use The Newsletter too, very good, but check out FluentCRM it does this same thing but also has automations.

[orange]

@d-healey I’ll check that thanks

[DanH]

@d-healey is it paid for the automation stuff?

[d.healey]

@DanH Nope, it's all included and integrates with WooCommerce.

[aaronventure]

@d-healey David, did you talk about tax collection issues and MoR pricing? I recently found out about www.polar.sh and they seem to be a good new deal.

Plus the open source angle.

[d.healey]

@aaronventure Looks like it's an all-in-one solution so I would have to put my products with them instead of on my WooCommerce site, is that correct?

For VAT I'm all set, it's just US taxes I was thinking a MoR would be of benefit for me. I'm considering Stripe tax, they charge $0.50 per 10 API requests per transaction, but I can limit it to just the few states that have an economic nexus thing, so shouldn't cost me too much.

[aaronventure]

@d-healey Yeah, it's an all in one, but the fees are a lot lower than their competitors.

You could also just serve your US customers with the Polar checkout.

[d.healey]

@aaronventure I don't see that I could integrate this into my current WooCommerce site, and my licensing system is very dependent on that.

[ustk]

@d-healey said in How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?:

Install FluentCRM and FluentSMTP and combine it with Amazon SES.

Alright so I tried to configure this.
But I realised that for both getting out of the SES sandbox to get a production/live behaviour, and for leveraging the 200 email/day limit, I had to apply. I received a response today, both are denied...

Below is the application message I sent as requested.
Any idea what could have gone wrong?
What you guys did you do to get accepted?

Hello,

Please find below the required information regarding our email sending practices to assist in evaluating our sending limit request.

xxx is a brand focused on developing audio plugins for musicians. The emails sent include order confirmations, newsletters, and updates on existing or newly released products. These communications may contain general information as well as promotional content, such as discount coupons or sales announcements.

Email campaigns are managed through FluentCRM. Subscriber lists are maintained via both manual and dynamic segmentation. New subscribers opt in to receive newsletters and transactional emails either during the checkout process or via a "stay tuned" popup on our website.

Newsletters are sent approximately once per month. Promotional emails related to sales or coupons are sent during major holiday periods (e.g. Black Friday) or when a new product is released.

Bounce handling is managed through FluentCRM, which automatically segments and removes invalid addresses. Complaints are treated with high priority, and any customer requesting removal is manually unsubscribed. Additionally, all recipients have access to unsubscribe and preference management links in the footer of each email as well as in the customer account page.

An example email is attached for your reference.

Best regards,
Greg xxx
Owner, xxx

[d.healey]

@ustk That looks perfectly reasonable to me. It was several years ago that I did mine and I can't remember what I put, but it almost certainly wasn't as well worded as yours. Are you able to request another review?

[ustk]

@d-healey Yes I can still apply again. I have seen online other people having the same issue. And advices was given (not from amazon) regarding being way more technical, like even talking about DKIM, DMARC, SPF...
It appears talking about the bounce handling might be their major concern, but I don't know what I could say that is more specific about this.
I don't know where to start to be sure to hit the bull the second time, as I am afraid there might be no third attempt allowed... I'm trying to get real examples that worked

[ustk]

Also, do you advise for double opt-in email when someone subscribes? That would surely help email bounce, but it might prevent people from actually subscribing by adding extra steps...

[DanH]

@ustk I definitely didn't write something as good as yours! Maybe just leave it as one newsletter a month? I definitely didn't put anything technical!

I don't do double opt in.

Ah I found my email:

I run a successful software company at dhplugins.com. I have to update my existing users with software updates. This is an infrequent process but essential. I also run special promotions and sales several times a year. I plan to use Amazon SES to reach these users via email as this is the most efficient way of updating and sending promotions.

Currently I send emails to users in specific lists depending on which software they own, and offer all the usual options of opting out / unsubscribing etc. I use Newsletter, WordPress and WooCommerce. I really have no intention of spamming my customers - they are of immense value to me and my reputation.

All users in my database are either customers who have purchased products or users who have voluntarily submitted their email information (subscribed).

I normally send one email per month. In holiday and sales times this can increase to 3/4 depending on which list a subscriber is on and what promotions are or are not relevant to them.

All emails contain the company logo as well as high quality (i.e well designed but low file size) images of our software and products. They will normally contain links to promotional products or updates.

I often use unique coupons and prefer this method to general coupons. I occasionally give a way free software and use email to publicise these events.

I have no intention of selling on my existing database for profit or otherwise.

Many thanks,

[d.healey]

@ustk said in How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?:

do you advise for double opt-in email when someone subscribes

I do this if I have a sign-up form, but most of my subscribers come through product purchases so I don't for those.

You might ask ChatGPT for help with this.

[d.healey]

@DanH said in How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?:

Ah I found my email:

Where did you find it? Maybe i can find mine too.

[ustk]

@DanH Thanks! Very interesting indeed! Not technical, but at the same time very oriented toward respect of your customers and SES as well.

I think I will make a mix of yours and what claude AI suggested, adding the double opt-in.

@d-healey said in How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?:

most of my subscribers come through product purchases so I don't for those

I see I can set this in FluentCRM, I need to check how to to this for the popup, might be directly in the FleuntForms form...

You might ask ChatGPT for help with this.

I did, and claude AI. quite helpful, especially claude which gave me a good insight a minute ago

Where did you find it? Maybe i can find mine too.

I think about here: AWS Support > Your support cases

[Matt_SF]

@ustk my email to apply to amazon ses was also not as well written as yours... I hope you'll manage to apply.

IMO double optin is better because, while you may see less subscriptions than if you were using single optin, it would increase the chances that the lead you're converting will be more interested in what you have to offer later on.

In theory (depending on how you'll communicate with your subscribers) , this will lead to a better engagement of your community, better open rates, and a better sales-per-subscriber ratio - if I can say it that way.

My - virtual - door is always open if you want to dive into the depth of email marketing

[ustk]

@Matt_SF Thanks Matt! I can see your point with the double opt-in, and I just enabled it for the subscribe popup

I might indeed ask for marketing help sooner or later

I can bet that SES made it more difficult recently for companies to apply. I just asked DeepSeek, and that chatty boy is way more technical, talking about SPF, DKIM, and DMARC and compliance with CAN-SPAM/GDPR, opt-in/opt-out mechanisms...

Now and with Dan's example I can surely write-up a message compiling everything (explanations & technical bits) that can work... Or will it?

[d.healey]

@ustk said in How/Where do you actually market/sell your plugins?:

I think about here: AWS Support > Your support cases

Mine's empty, maybe it was too long ago