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My Tests on TheListMachine

By Mohamad Zaki Hussein
June 14th, 2006

First things first, I would like to apologize for a mistake that I made in the past.

If you’ve been a reader of my list or/and blog for long, then you know that I’ve promoted a list builder program that is called TheListMachine.

At first I thought this program was good, but after having a decent list size and doing three CTR (clickthrough rate) tests on the program, I must admit that I was wrong.

The CTR tests that I have done are comparison tests. So what I was doing was sending similar emails that contain free offers about internet marketing to TheListMachine and my own list at almost the same time, and then compared the CTR generated from both lists.

There might be some limitations in these tests. For example, while the emails that I sent to my own list were free from any sponsor ad, I’ve seen some kind of sponsor ad in some of TheListMachine emails that I received. So, it’s possible that they also put a sponsor ad in some or all of my emails. This means that the emails received by both lists might not be 100% the same.

But in spite of their limitations, I still believe that these tests can give us an approximate depiction about the quality of TheListMachine program.

Now let’s go the results of the tests…

First Test Result:

  My Own List The List Machine
 Subscribers Emailed 1815 1400 (estimated)
 Raw Hits 187 6
 Unique Hits 148 5
 Raw Hits CTR 10.30% 0.43% (estimated)
 Unique Hits CTR 8.15% 0.36% (estimated)

Second Test Result:

  My Own List The List Machine
 Subscribers Emailed 1751 1402 (estimated)
 Raw Hits 218 6
 Unique Hits 177 5
 Raw Hits CTR 12.45% 0.43% (estimated)
 Unique Hits CTR 10.11% 0.36% (estimated)

Third Test Result:

  My Own List The List Machine
 Subscribers Emailed 1670 1397 (estimated)
 Raw Hits 222 2
 Unique Hits 190 2
 Raw Hits CTR 13.29% 0.14% (estimated)
 Unique Hits CTR 11.38% 0.14% (estimated)

Well, as you can see from the stats above, compared to the CTRs of my own list, the CTRs of TheListMachine are incredibly low. So I don’t think TheListMachine is worth your time and efforts. Instead, spend your time and efforts on building your own list.

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6 Comments

  1. Lowell Says:
    June 14th, 2006 at 5:48 pm

    Zaki,

    I found out a long time ago that these list builders benefit only the list owner. They combine two things I don’t like, safelist and mlm principles. Really they are a safelist for the list owner and the first people in, the people at the very top of the pyramid.

    Maybe others have had good results with these list builders, and I know this one has twists. But if so let them prove it like you have.

    You are one of the few who would admit a mistake like this to their list. So way to go.

    I try to always test and use things before I recommend them…..

    Lowell

  2. Arthur Davis Says:
    June 14th, 2006 at 5:53 pm

    Mohamad,

    Thank you for your honesty and thank you for taking the time to do the test. I do not have a list, however I have spent time sending emails to The List Machine in an effort to help build my list. As of yet I haven’t had any responses to my email ads for free items.

    Becasuse I am a newbie I attributed this non-response to my being inexperienced in writing email ads.

    Thanks again,

    Arthur

  3. Marsha Says:
    June 15th, 2006 at 12:02 am

    Hi Zaki,

    Thanks for the information on thelistmachine. I don’t like those list building methods because I really do not have time to respond to so many emails that you end up getting everyday.

    I’ll stick to building my own list.
    Have a great day, much peace!

    Marsha

  4. saravanan Says:
    June 15th, 2006 at 10:37 am

    Hi Zaki,

    Glad that you published your test results. I didnt conduct a similar test like what you did, however i use yourluckylist. And with each mail i send out to 750 people in the system i get the same 5/6 people clicking through the link in the email.

    I thought may be my email wasnt that effective, however now i see one other person who is in the same boat as me.

    Saravanan

  5. Mohamad Zaki Hussein Says:
    June 15th, 2006 at 11:35 am

    Hi guys,

    Thanks a lot for all of your comments.

    I should have tested TheListMachine first before promoting it to you.

    But the problem is that I can’t see clearly the unworthiness of the program and do CTR tests with a certain degree of validity before I have a decent list size there.

    Nonetheless, it’s still a mistake of mine and that’s why I apologize to you for that promotion.

    Regards,
    Zaki

  6. Shanks Pandiath Says:
    June 15th, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Everyt reply / feedback you get ensures the growth and strength of your list.. List builders… on the other hand sell (some of them) use your address to who knows where… it is not the question of benefit… we are both in the business to prosper… but it is always safer to build your own list, but there is no harm in joining list builders but give them a low profile (but once in a while check the feedback..like you’ve done..which is a great piece of work)

    Regards