Stats on the Prayer Letter

How often do you check your mail?

I recently [finally] started to use a bulk email service. Many use MailChimp, but I went with Direct Mail for Mac since it seemed a bit more user friendly and I'm a Mac guy. It allows me to give a more personal touch to our email newsletters and it allows me to track results. 

Tracking results is both uplifting and discouraging at the same time. You would like to think that everyone that ever signed up for your prayer letter is waiting by their computer, tablet, or smartphone ready to soak up every word you write the instant you press send. You would also like a million dollars. :) The reality that not everyone is actually reading your emails can be a bit shocking at first, but it helps to keep a better list and write better emails.

Here's a look at my first results after a week and a day passed since my letter sent.

The locations are more of an approximation according to Internet Provider, but it still looks cool.

This is our mass email. I'm not liking the amount of unopened emails. At least I know which email addresses don't work, (bounced) and my inbox isn't flooded with notices of failed or pending mail.

This list is mainly supporters with some churches that we have presented in. The "open" rate is much higher with this list. :) I will have to make sure to get updated email addresses from pastors and churches that "bounced."

This gives an idea of which email clients are the most popular.