cobranding

luzanne · 19 Apr 2002, 11:20 AM

I've read the few threads on it and have some suggestions/proposals.

One option instead of charging for the cobranding email service, is to include the cobranding domain on the fastmail.fm main website itself along with the 50+ domains currently offered.

How about allowing cobranding partners to just change their mx to be able to offer the service instead of the whole dns
e.g what everyone.net is doing

and just offer a minimal change in interface e.g.

replace 'fastmail.fm' tags to 'powered by fastmail.fm'

provide html to insert into their own designed and hosted login and logout website,

a bit of control over the username length and sign up details, tag lines and what-you-have-its.

So it can be free to provide for the cobranding person,
and fastmail had more domains to offer without paying for the domains
and fastmail also gets more publicity thru cobranding websites
and more guest and member customers=more revenue.

It will be better to also have different plans for different levels of cobranding. most people just want to provide a good free email service on their website and domain.

I'm one of them. Mine is scribbles.ws and i really like fastmail so i'm considering......

Jeremy Howard · 19 Apr 2002, 11:39 AM

That's very close to what we've got planned. Except that we want people to be able to make their domains exclusive to their customers, and we are only planning to offer free account to partners if they achieve certain paid account conversion rates.

***Edwin*** · 19 Apr 2002, 12:40 PM

This is very topical since it seems like BigMailbox has essentially collapsed today since they are no longer going to be providing free cobranded services to webmasters!

So that leaves only Everyone.net - and if you're a user, you'll have seen the ever-escalating number of ads they are peppering the service with in a desperate attempt to keep it alive. My sad prediction is that before the end of 2002, the only way to offer free co-branded email is under a 3rd level domain provider like @something.zzn.com i.e. where 100% of the benefits go to the provider and none to the site.

On another point, you don't want to mix cobrand and Fastmail domains since when the cobrand partner leaves or breaks off the relationship, Fastmail customers will be stranded!

luzanne · 19 Apr 2002, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edwin

On another point, you don't want to mix cobrand and Fastmail domains since when the cobrand partner leaves or breaks off the relationship, Fastmail customers will be stranded!

How bout making a contract with the cobrand partner or allow the other users to choose another alias as their home domain then. But i agree that it is a problem

Anyway most people probably won't mind letting fastmail get like 90% of the benefits (100% is too much)

but yes, caution is vital. no point doing something that has proven to go bust in a few years.

Jeremy Howard · 19 Apr 2002, 01:24 PM

Now that I think about it... isn't FastMail.FM the *only* company providing free email, and relying 100% on getting paid email upgrades for revenue?

***Edwin*** · 19 Apr 2002, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeremy Howard
Now that I think about it... isn't FastMail.FM the *only* company providing free email, and relying 100% on getting paid email upgrades for revenue?

Yes, as far as I know, which is why the Member level service is "dangerous" in a sense. But that's a totally different can of worms!

19 Apr 2002, 11:20 AM	#1
luzanne Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 22	cobranding I've read the few threads on it and have some suggestions/proposals. One option instead of charging for the cobranding email service, is to include the cobranding domain on the fastmail.fm main website itself along with the 50+ domains currently offered. How about allowing cobranding partners to just change their mx to be able to offer the service instead of the whole dns e.g what everyone.net is doing and just offer a minimal change in interface e.g. replace 'fastmail.fm' tags to 'powered by fastmail.fm' provide html to insert into their own designed and hosted login and logout website, a bit of control over the username length and sign up details, tag lines and what-you-have-its. So it can be free to provide for the cobranding person, and fastmail had more domains to offer without paying for the domains and fastmail also gets more publicity thru cobranding websites and more guest and member customers=more revenue. It will be better to also have different plans for different levels of cobranding. most people just want to provide a good free email service on their website and domain. I'm one of them. Mine is scribbles.ws and i really like fastmail so i'm considering...... Last edited by luzanne : 19 Apr 2002 at 11:23 AM.

19 Apr 2002, 11:39 AM	#2
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,501	That's very close to what we've got planned. Except that we want people to be able to make their domains exclusive to their customers, and we are only planning to offer free account to partners if they achieve certain paid account conversion rates.

19 Apr 2002, 12:40 PM	#3
*Edwin* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UK Posts: 3,118	This is very topical since it seems like BigMailbox has essentially collapsed today since they are no longer going to be providing free cobranded services to webmasters! So that leaves only Everyone.net - and if you're a user, you'll have seen the ever-escalating number of ads they are peppering the service with in a desperate attempt to keep it alive. My sad prediction is that before the end of 2002, the only way to offer free co-branded email is under a 3rd level domain provider like @something.zzn.com i.e. where 100% of the benefits go to the provider and none to the site. On another point, you don't want to mix cobrand and Fastmail domains since when the cobrand partner leaves or breaks off the relationship, Fastmail customers will be stranded!

19 Apr 2002, 01:24 PM	#5
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,501	Now that I think about it... isn't FastMail.FM the only company providing free email, and relying 100% on getting paid email upgrades for revenue?