Looking for good mass email software that doesn’t cost the earth

We’ve recently been collecting a lot of data about students where I work and we know want to make use of that data by sending out targeted email messages to students about the subject they’ve asked for.

To do this we need some sort of decent mass email operation. Currently we can use the HTML editor and mass email function on the University server (NovellClient Groupwise) but we cannot track very well the results of the emails and what users do when receiving it.

Been told to look into SugarCRM, an open source platform, that costs around £1,000 for an annual licence. Does anyone know of anything?

links for 09-08-08

Been catching up on my feeds at the moment (on a new look Bloglines):

• Steal this idea: Creating your own mini-Digg

Definitely something that all websites should consider doing, especially those creating content and that are news based.

• The myth of the creative class

This is really important, that everyone can now be creative or find a way of publishing THEIR content and find an audience. Some find an audience of 10, others find one of 10,000. But there are more and more channels available.

• Creativity in a digital world

Following on from Jeff Jarvis, on a similar theme, is the explosion of web & information creativity.

• Twelve ways to sell social media to your boss

Good list on how social media can help all organisations.

• Does size matter

Explains how mass emails work and how to write an effective e-newsletter.