[Ankesh]

Thanks for asking Thomas.

Two different points of comparison:

1. Message
2. Recepients

1. Message wise, you can compare email marketing with postcard marketing.

2. Recepient wise, you can't compare the two. Do not in any way rent any kind of an email mailing list. You'll face all sorts of problems and most likely most ISPs will blacklist your domain for spamming. Even though your message may have been legit.

If you don't already have your own mailing list, don't rent. But do joint venture. Write emails - that other folks with mailing lists can send to their recepients - but not as ads - but as recommendations.

Hope this helps.