In todays world, working without email is a form of isolation. It means you are missing out on an entire system of communication, and with it a lot of business. Using email software, you can communicate with people from all around the world without spending money on long-distance phone calls or suffering the long wait for regular mail. Rarely does any modern businessman remain unconnected. So if you dont have it already, get online with email software.

You can create and use email lists in-house using your regular email software such as Qualcomm's Eudora, Microsoft Outlook, or Netscape Mail. This is a good choice if your list has no more than a couple of hundred subscribers at most. Using such consumer software products, you can address your email to an individual or to a small group of people. While sending an individual message, you type the recipient's email address in the "To" field, and you might also type a second recipient's address in the "Cc" field.

Another way is to use the address book feature in your email software program. Most web email services, like YahooMail and HotMail, offer address books as part of their free service.

You will find some email list software products and services particularly for managing mailing lists. The two main types are web-based Application Service Provider (ASP) services, and commercial list software for mail servers. These options are useful for lists which have hundreds or thousands of names, with another alternative being eBase software. ASPs like Topica, eGroups, and ListBot from Microsoft offer email list services over the web, usually free of cost.

One more way to set up a list is to install commercial list software on your organization's "server" computer. Some of these products are free, and others have to be bought. Three familiar software packages for handling email lists are: Listserv, Majordomo, and Lyris.