Create a new site www.mylifeisoverifidontgetamillionvisitors.com explaining your story and link it to your real website, submit to Digg, Shoutwire, forums etc. hmm...*goes off to register domainname*
How do opt-in lists work? I've heard about it but havn't had time to really research it. I'm assuming that it is not spam since it's opt in, right? Where do you get them and how targeted are they really?
PRweb isn't instant so you probably won't hit the deadline. The giveaway idea could work, good thinking. Many places sell them. None specific come to mind but Google will be able to help you. There's Opt-in lists and double Opt-in. Opt-in is your classic by default un ticked check box below some form. A check-out form, sign-up form etc. They're asking for e-mails. Double Opt-in is as above but they get a verification e-mail asking to confirm their wish to receive e-mails (someone else could have signed them up). If they now again say 'yes' the list holder knows for sure they want e-mails. How targeted they are depends on where the addresses are collected and who manages the list. There are big marketing companies who can sell you a list of [magazine name or website here] readers. Maxim, FHM, Forbes etc. So you can match by demographics or magazine/website subject. Some list sellers will have sorted it by age or on subject like Health, Sports etc. So if you kow your audience, you can choose the highest relevancy. See an example here: http://www.servertron.com/opt-in-bulk-email-services/targeted-bulk-email-lists.htm Choose region, choose topic, buy list. Or http://www.emailcenteruk.com/maxelists.htm Etc. Sometimes they give you the list (csv/database name + email address) but more often they just send your message to the list so you never get to see the list. Biggest difficulty is actually making sure the e-mails get there. If you send bulk to hotmail, aol etc. chances are 99% never gets there. That's why using their mailing service can help. Their DNS is gooed, SPF is set up, abuse@ and postmaster@ are there... All ingredients that make big ISPs determine whether it;s spam or not. Even if it isn;t spam, they still won;t deliver it if it looks at all supsicious. See here http://www.phplist.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3328 for more info on the technicalities.
I'd write a long article on me going to die if blablabla.. Post it all over the internet, including digg, etc..