Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook

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We currently use Mach Mailer (very good) for bulk E mails from our excel database (roughly 500 addresses).
With this we can select categories of client to mail and we can pick up the personal salutation for each mail.

Can we do a similar operation on Microsoft Outlook or do we need additional software (is Business Contact Manager relevant?)?

Please note that the Mach Mailer/Excel route is an excellent cheap fix which I can stick with if necessary so I am not inclined to spend much!

If you respond please no lectures about using excel as a database. With competent users and careful procedures it has worked a treat for 5+ years.

The main motivation for change is to enable easier access from a VPN enabled phone.

Jonathan Blythe

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By AnonymousUser
20th Jul 2005 17:44

I assumed this ...
... that you wanted to do a mass personalised mailing in which each person was addressed as, eg, Dear Jonathan ... and not just dear all and each message has its own address in the To: box and no other.

Moreover, you don't want a To: box populated with your entire Outlook address book.

Sorry to say that afaik you need to put your addresses into Excel in order to do the merge you described.

Duncan

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By Blythe
20th Jul 2005 11:18

Thanks for the comments
but sorry for not being clear in the first place. I am considering moving away from the excel database altogether to the Microsoft Outlook database (which I gather is far easier to access with mobile telephony than a massive spreadsheet).
Outlook seems to satisfy most of our needs apart from the bulk e mailing by category with a personal salutation. I'd prefer not to export to excel each time we mail.

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By AnonymousUser
20th Jul 2005 08:44

I did this ...
... I recently put together a blow by blow account of how to do this for David Carter.

If you or anyone else would like a copy of how to use Outlook with Excel to generate an email merge, just let me know at [email protected] and I'll send you what you need!

Duncan

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By yardleystar
19th Jul 2005 17:15

Mass email
If you have Excel, you can merge the database via MS Word to customise mailshots etc and then send via Outlook without any additional software.

Use the tools > letters and mailings > mail merge wizards that can guide you through. You can use all the features in word to format your mailshots prior to emailing.

You need to ensure Excel is organised in to a flat database with column field headings. Include helper columns with the client's default email address, salutation etc. When you come to the final step in the Word wizard, link the To field in your email to the email field in Excel and you're away!

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By AnonymousUser
24th Jul 2005 10:51

Here's another thing ...
... I have responded to a lot of requests for my Outlook/Excel instructions and have been happy to do so.

However, I have just moved from one web host to another and my new one has exactly the utility you are looking for Jonathan. It will achieve the same objective as the Outlook/Excel combination but might be more along the lines of what you're looking for.

I have not, yet, tried this new system but it's billed as being ideal for things like newsletters and so on ... so it must be what you need!

I can send you details of my new web host if you need!


Duncan

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