Module 2 - Lists

I use an emailing list at work, though it is an 'announcement list'. We have a database of users who sign up because they are interested in the bands on our label. Every few weeks I send an email out with the latest news on our bands and products which people can only receive and not reply to. We plan to extend the capabilities of our list further by determining whats bands or styles of music people like by observing what bands they are looking at on our website while they are logged in. This way we can target our audience more effectively.

Discussion lists don't appeal to me. I'm not exactly sure why, but I get a sense of 'email claustrophobia'. Having so many emails on my screen makes me feel like my inbox is a mess and the continuous new emails makes me feel like I have to keep up. Arrgghhh....

I'll always appreciate discussion boards more. If I want to check out or be apart of a discussion I'd rather go there in my own time and do it. Not have it constantly distract me in my inbox.

My use of email lists are to send announcements to the users in my database. The whole reason they signed up was to get this information directly in their inbox periodically, rather than having to check a discussion board for updates. I think that is the major difference. Discussion boards for people who prefer to seek out their own information, and emailing lists for people who like to have that information delivered to them.