> Mike,

> That was a great post, but can you explain a
> few things because I'm really unfamiliar
> with mailing lists:

> 1)Which of the SRDS publications would you
> look in to see about conumer oriented
> mailing lists?
> Would that be the appropriate one for stress
> reduction products?

> 2)Do they themselves manage the lists or are
> you given names of people who compile them
> or companies that rent their database?

> 3) On another note, why do people use list
> brokers instead of directly renting from
> Prevention Magazine or sources like that?

> Thanks and sorry for the basic questions.

> Deb

Deb,

The SRDS publication you would be interested in is the "SRDS Direct Marketing List Source Part 2". And yes you can find sources of lists for the types of products you are interested in.

All SRDS does is list the lists. Others do the compiling or data gathering. You are given the names of addresses of who manages the list(s).

Most companies do not have the time or resources to market their lists so that is why they deal with a list manager.

One idea for your products...what I would do is test your products via two-step classifieds and/or display ads in newspapers (you can get quarter page ads for about $6 per thousand papers circulated) and magazines (you can get a small ad in Grit/Cappers, around 200,000 circulation for about $300.

Take care,

Mike Winicki