New Client help - mass email question

[ebizbuys]

Hi,

I am building a website for a new client and have my own reseller account here.

They have a large client base they want to send an irregular html email newsletter to. (on average bi or monthly but not regular if that makes sense - so one month they could send 2 and the next 2 months none) .

The mailing list would be initially 2000 strong up to 5000 when they collect other names. These are all optin subscribers.

The site will also have some small video and audio clips (15 - 20 secs).

My question is:
1. How resource intensive is this site likely to be.
2. What sort of plan would you suggest
3. (Directed to hostgator staff I guess) I am probably ready to upgrade to a bigger reseller plan anyway. How does this work. If I upgraded do I have to go to a new server and change all clients I have over or do I just get another plan for a new server.

I would love to hear from anyone with a site that handles large email lists and let me know of any pitfalls and experience they have come across.

[ebizbuys]

can anyone help here????

[amartins]

try sales@hostgator.com with the same question

[JZ]

1. Resource usage and bandwidth are two different things. As far as just having people download and stream files, that should not be resource intensive at all. It may, however, require a lot of bandwith if the files are large and many people are downloading them. Resource intensive sites would involve a database driven site that is heavily scripted. The site cannot use more than 25% of the system's resources for more than 90 seconds.

2. I would suggest the minimum plan for the amount of bandwith and space that you will be using.

3. Upgrading your plan does not necessarily mean that you will be moved to another server. If you upgade the plan and there is enough room on the server and the load is within acceptable levels, your quotas will be increased. If you do require a move to a new server, you would have to update your nameserver ips but Host Gator would handle the moving of the accounts.

A mailing list that large would have to be done through mailman or sendmail. you cannot do it on Host Gator's servers through pop because of the limits set on the pop service.

-Justin

I can say this. I'm a new customer at hostgator.
I've never received an answer from support yet.
I've written twice.......absolutely ignored by support.

I've been sending a newsletter for 4 years on another
server, but the hostgator servers just will not send it
all. If you have a mailing list, this is not the place to be.

I also can not receive my returned mail (undelivered)

I'm hosting 3 domains on my account and none so far
are up to even the cheaper hosts for speed and actual
features that work.

Mail forwarding works sometimes........
responders work seldom......

Obviously, I'm not extremely happy...may have to move
back to my old servers....Hope not though

[amartins]

Strange u dont even get an autoresponse?

In 12 months here and lots of exchanges with support I think only twice I didn't get the autoresponse and (apart from a couple of times) a real person responding within less than an hour.

Maybe something is up with your dns?

[Stef]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I can say this. I'm a new customer at hostgator.
I've never received an answer from support yet.
I've written twice.......absolutely ignored by support.

If you mailed support@hostgator.com you should at least have received a confirmation mail.

I've been sending a newsletter for 4 years on another
server, but the hostgator servers just will not send it
all. If you have a mailing list, this is not the place to be.
I also can not receive my returned mail (undelivered)

Looks like you have a mail problem (filtering, config, server setting,...). This could also be the reason why you don't receive an answer from HG Support.
Could you try another mail account (not from HG) to open a request?

I'm hosting 3 domains on my account and none so far
are up to even the cheaper hosts for speed and actual
features that work.

Speed depends on a lot of things, not only our servers or network. Most of our customers are very happy about the speed (see Customer Experiences forum).

Obviously, I'm not extremely happy...may have to move
back to my old servers....Hope not though

Please verify if you don't have any spamfilter blocking the HostGator support mails, or try another mail account (eg. from your internet provider) to send a support request.

Can you also take a look at this thread and provide the info requested?

Thank you,
Stef.