I think I wanna die now. Full scale depression sets in and I dredge up energy to send a note to both ListBot Gold and to ListBuilder support teams that I've got a real problem with way this whole thing went, begging for some sort of solution from them and got two canned responses saying,

"subject:RE: CST34553119ID

We appreciate any ideas you may have concerning a resolution to this problem. I will be glad to forward them to Product team. Rest assured that we are continually seeking ways to bring you best email list service there is."

I'm literally screaming, "Help! I've been seriously injured and need medical attention to save life of my list before it bleeds to death!" They're standing beside me scratching their skulls saying, "Gee, got any ideas on what we could do to help? I wanna be a doctor some day." I want these guys to be first on scene of any accident I'm involved in!

I went back to my ListBot Gold account and hit that link that said "Restore a deleted list" and found to my relief that it worked and I now had an active list in both places. I'll just have to import new subscribers manually each week to ListBuilder account for everyone that sees my articles and uses subscribe link available from my resource box of articles published in archives of dozens of large lists where my articles had been featured over last two years or so.

I'll definitely look closely at any such new changes to be certain they don't affect my business on that scale in future. This has nothing to do with value or utility of service. I'm just outraged that I wasn't warned of problems that occurred here. MSN bCentral didn't warn me that all my subscribe links would be broken, they didn't say I'd need to change all my subscription boxes sitewide, they didn't say change would take my previously public archive private and they didn't warn of any potential problems change might pose. They were incredibly short- sighted in promoting "upgrade" to existing paying clients without posing any potential "issues" related to change.

I'd recommend that each of those items be clearly stated along with current warning that "Migration may cause a delay in delivery", which caused me to delay signing up until it wouldn't create that problem. If I'd foreseen other issues myself, I'd still have made move, but only after reconciling problems. The warnings should have been posted and if they don't do it now, I'd be surprised if others didn't consider taking legal action.

Friday June 22, ListBot Gold customers were notified that service was to be "Shut Down" by August 20 and those who fail to migrate to ListBuilder service will lose their data. Essentially saying to subscribers of service that they could care less how it affects them and by way, hurry up and get your stuff outta here. Almost like a bitter spouse booting her cheating hubby rather than a paid service that should respect those long-time customers and income they bring.

Current ListBot Customers who would like to move their list to a decent host, we've arranged a special deal for you. Visit:

http://website101.com/listbot_members.html for one month free hosting of your own newsletter, ezine or discussion list.

http://www.smartbotpro.net or

http://www.GetResponse.com

The easiest thing to do is to place all your ads on one autoresponder and rotate them once a month (or on a regular basis) so that everyone's ad gets maximum exposure - it's only fair. This autoresponder is your full list.

BOXING CLEVER! The next step is to construct text boxes for all members of your ring. These boxes all need to contain unique "previous" and "next" links:

* Using index cards or separate sheets of paper, list all your members (including yourself) in alphabetical order and number from 1 to whatever.

* Write down each member's sample ezine link underneath their name. This was requested in your invitation.

* On each sheet, write words "previous" and "next" on separate lines. These relate to previous and next ezine samples.

* Number 1 in your ring will need sample ezine link from final member of your ring. Write this link next to "previous." Then write sample ezine link from number 2 in your ring beside "next" for number 1.

* This sounds a little tricky, but it's not. Simply work your way through your sheets of paper remembering that "previous" requires sample ezine link from previous member numbered in ring, and "next" requires sample ezine link from next member numbered in ring.

* Each sheet should now contain unique links needed for all your members.

* Construct a text box for your ring. Example:

======================================================= YOUR EZINE-RING NAME GOES HERE Sample Best [your field] Ezines - FREE!

Prev: sample10@listserver.com

Next: sample2@listserver.com

Full List: eringlist@listserver.com =======================================================

FINAL COUNTDOWN. The last step is to send text box to all your members. "Full list" requires autoresponder link that you set up earlier. The only parts that change for each member are "previous" and "next" links that are now conveniently written underneath each member's name.

ADDED VALUE. By setting up an EzineRing, instead of simply participating in one, you've got a lot to gain. Sure, you'll have to organize and monitor whole thing, but you can also identify yourself as ring owner in both text box and full list - these can be used to direct traffic back to your website. You can also, for example, reserve odd ad space in your full list, to promote some of your affiliate links. You are limited only by depths of your imagination ....