Will I have to install special software on my computer so that I can use the Administrator utility of AHOY.COM solutions?

No. All AHOY.COM solutions are built on Web technology so all you need is a Web browser - either Internet Explorer (5.5 or greater) or Netscape 7.0 (or greater) are recommended.

When I upload a bulk list of contacts into the contact database will the existing contact records in the database be overwritten?

That's up to you. You choose whether you want to add to the current database, replace the current database or update the current database.

Can I have more than one attribute that describes contacts in my database.

Yes. You can set up as many attributes as you need to sort your database in ways that will be useful to you.

Can I extract the contact information from the database?

Yes. An extract of the database can be acquired at any time. The file can either be saved to your hard drive as a .csv file or viewed in a browser window.

What is an attribute?

An attribute field helps you group individuals in your contact database so you can tailor the information that you send to them. For example, we have an Attribute field that dentifies the category of service(s) we provide. When we need to quickly communicate information about a specific service to that subset of clients we use the service Attribute to identify them.

Can I access information about the number of individuals who subscribe and unsubscribe?

Yes. The contact activity report provides subscribe and unsubscribe information on a daily basis.

Can a subscriber sign up for more than one newsletter?

Yes. You can add newsletter options on your contact form(s) and ask the subscriber to identify which newsletters he/she would like to receive. The attributes of the selected newsletters are stored in the database and can be viewed on eacj subscriber's individual profile.

What type of image files can I add to HTML email messages?

.jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, .gif, .png, swf

Can I use Flash files within my HTML message?

Yes.

Can I customize the standard contact pages that populate the contact database?

Yes. All forms can be customized to meet your specific requirements. Additional attributes can also be added dynamically to the database as needed.

Can I change a subscriber's information as it appears in the database?

Yes. The Administrator can change any field within subscriber profile records.

Can I load data into the contact database from an existing database.

Yes. You can upload records from other databases into the contact database. Bulk loads can be uploaded from either a .csv or .txt formatted file. The administrator just has to format the field heading information prior to initiating the upload.

Will I be able to gauge the effectiveness of email messages I send?

Yes. The open and click thru results of HTML messages are displayed in a chart or bar graph format. Each link is also tracked.

Can I add a contact to the database even if I don't have his or her email address?

Yes. In addition to using the contact database to send email to subscribers who want to hear from you, it can also be used to manage a general-purpose contact database. For example, you will be able to extract addresses from the database and create labels for print mailings.

Can I test broadcast messages before they are launched?

Yes. We encourage you to test each message before you send it. You can easily identify the email addresses of test recipients and change them at any time.

Can I send just a text broadcast message?

Yes. A broadcast email message can be sent either as a text message, a HTML message or both messages can be sent.

Can I send customized broadcast email messages?

Yes. Variables can be added to your text or HTML messages which enables you to dynamically substitute the content of a database field. If you know the person's first name, why not substitute it into the greeting of the email you are sending him or her?

How do I load images for the HTML email broadcasts I plan to do?

There is a simple image upload interface built into the administrator menu.