If you have been involved in online marketing for any length of time, there is a good chance you have heard of HercuList. It is one of the older safelist mailer and advertising platforms still operating today, with roots going back to 1998. Unlike many newer traffic sites that focus on one particular type of advertising, HercuList has developed into a broader marketing platform offering email advertising, website traffic, advertising placements, solo ads, credit mailers, and an affiliate program.
HercuList currently describes itself as a free email advertising and internet marketing platform serving opportunity seekers and online marketers. The site says it has been operating since 1998 and currently displays more than 384,000 advertisers on its homepage.
For marketers who are primarily interested in building an email list, generating traffic to a squeeze page, or getting an offer in front of people already interested in online business opportunities, HercuList is worth looking at.
What Is HercuList?
HercuList is essentially a safelist mailer combined with a larger advertising network.
The basic concept is familiar to anyone who has used a safelist. Members join the network and agree to receive advertising from other members. In return, they receive opportunities to advertise their own websites, offers, products, or services.
HercuList says its members can advertise legal websites, programs, products, and services to a targeted audience through its integrated opt-in email list, website advertising systems, and other promotional tools.
One of the things that separates HercuList from a basic credit mailer is the number of different advertising options available.
Depending on the membership and advertising method, members can use:
- Email advertising
- Credit mailer advertising
- TheZONE traffic
- PRIME Ads
- HercuBlurb advertising
- Solo ads
- Mega-Mail
- Buyers List advertising
- i-BLAST
- Other paid advertising packages
That makes HercuList more of an advertising ecosystem than simply a safelist where you send emails and collect credits.
A Safelist With a Long History
One of the most notable things about HercuList is its longevity.
According to the company, HercuList grew out of Smart-list.com, which was one of the early email marketing lists established in 1998. The company says HercuList has since become an internet marketing resource used by thousands of marketers worldwide.
The current site continues to emphasize the 1998 start date and describes itself as a long-running source of email and web advertising for online marketers.
That doesn’t automatically mean every advertisement will perform well. Longevity is not a substitute for testing. However, for someone comparing traffic sources, a platform that has remained active for decades is certainly worth investigating.
How HercuList Works
The basic system is straightforward.
You create a free HercuList account and can begin using the advertising tools available at the free level.
Free members can currently advertise to 1,000 random HercuList members per day at no cost. Paid members receive access to much larger mailing opportunities. According to HercuList’s current information, PRO members can advertise to the entire database every other day, while GOLD members can advertise to the entire database every day.
The important distinction here is that HercuList doesn’t require someone to purchase a membership just to begin advertising.
You can start free, learn how the system works, test your advertising, and decide whether upgrading makes sense for your particular strategy.
That’s a useful feature for marketers who don’t want to pay for a traffic source before seeing how it fits their funnel.
HercuList Email Advertising
Email advertising is probably the biggest reason many marketers will be interested in HercuList.
The current HercuList information lists the main HercuList Mailer as an advertising system capable of reaching hundreds of thousands of targeted contacts. The site currently displays more than 384,000 advertisers overall, while its promotional pages quote different contact counts for particular advertising products.
HercuList GOLD members are currently advertised as being able to send to the entire database every day.
The current GOLD special page advertises a yearly GOLD membership and says the member can submit an advertisement to more than 83,000 contacts every 24 hours through that particular mailing system, along with 20,000 free credit-mailer credits.
Because HercuList operates several different mailing and advertising systems, it is important not to assume that every advertised contact number represents the same audience.
That is actually one reason I like the idea of tracking HercuList separately in your marketing.
If you’re using it to send traffic to a squeeze page, you can measure exactly what happens after the click rather than simply looking at the number of emails or visitors delivered.
Free Membership
HercuList has a legitimate free-entry option.
According to the current terms, free members can send an advertisement to 1,000 random HercuList members each day at no cost. Free members can also earn credits by reading other members’ advertisements and use those credits for additional credit-mailer and HercuBlurb advertising.
That makes the free account useful for testing.
You aren’t forced to immediately buy an upgrade just to find out whether HercuList can produce traffic for your offer.
The current site also advertises a $5 signup bonus for members who joined after September 9, 2014. The bonus is added to commissions and is subject to the site’s normal commission rules.
PRO and GOLD Memberships
HercuList currently offers three basic membership categories:
- Free
- PRO
- GOLD
PRO and GOLD are available on monthly or yearly billing arrangements, and HercuList also periodically offers lifetime GOLD memberships.
The major difference between the paid levels is mailing frequency.
Free:
Send to 1,000 random members daily.
PRO:
Advertise to the full database every other day.
GOLD:
Advertise to the full database every day.
The current GOLD promotional page also advertises a special yearly price of $24.95, reduced from a displayed regular price of $89.95. Because promotional pricing can change, I would check the current offer before purchasing rather than treating the special price as permanent.
The same page says GOLD members receive 20,000 free credit-mailer credits and can submit HTML advertisements. It also advertises vacation mode, personalized subject lines and ad bodies, and archived ads.
The Credit Mailer
HercuList also has a credit-based advertising system.
Instead of relying exclusively on your membership’s included mailings, you can earn advertising credits by participating in the system and then use those credits for additional advertising.
The terms specifically state that members can earn credits by reading other members’ ads and use them to submit additional credit-mailer and HercuBlurb advertisements.
This gives members another way to increase exposure without necessarily purchasing additional advertising every time they want to promote something.
For traffic marketers, that can make the platform more interesting because you can combine:
membership advertising + earned credits + paid advertising
rather than relying on just one traffic source.
TheZONE
Another feature that deserves attention is theZONE.
HercuList describes theZONE as a website-surfing system where members can surf and receive almost immediate traffic to their own websites.
This creates a second traffic channel beyond email.
Instead of only having your offer appear in someone’s inbox, your website can also receive visitors through the site’s surfing system.
As with any traffic exchange or surf-based source, I would judge the value of the traffic by what happens after the visitor arrives.
If the objective is list building, the important number isn’t simply how many visitors you receive.
It’s how many:
- Opt in
- Click your follow-up emails
- Join the promoted program
- Purchase something
- Produce revenue
PRIME Ads
HercuList also offers PRIME Ads.
The company describes PRIME Ads as a way to get your actual website displayed in premium areas of the HercuList site, describing the placement as significantly more prominent than ordinary banner advertising.
This is interesting because it gives advertisers another way to purchase visibility without relying exclusively on email.
For certain offers, a prominent placement inside the member area could complement your email campaigns.
HercuBlurb and MonsterBLURB
HercuList has also expanded its advertising tools with larger web-based advertising formats.
The company describes HercuBlurb as a system where members can create and submit larger web-based advertisements. The current homepage also promotes a MonsterBLURB splash-page builder as one of its free advertising tools.
This makes HercuList somewhat unusual compared with a traditional safelist.
You’re not limited to writing an email and sending it to the membership.
You can build a larger promotional message and use the platform’s web-based advertising areas to get additional exposure.
Solo Ads and Mega-Mail
HercuList also has a separate paid-advertising side that is worth mentioning.
The company currently offers solo ads, Mega-Mail, Buyers List advertising and i-BLAST services.
The current Mega-Mail page advertises access to 140,000+ verified contacts and currently offers a special of $19.98 for three Mega-Mail blasts. The page describes the audience as opportunity seekers who have opted in to receive business offers.
Importantly, HercuList itself distinguishes Mega-Mail from its safelist system, describing it as a high-volume direct-contact campaign rather than a safelist.
That distinction matters when comparing the different advertising products.
You’re not necessarily buying the same type of traffic through every HercuList advertising option.
HercuList Traffic Packages
HercuList also sells larger advertising packages that combine multiple forms of exposure.
One current “Ultimate HercuList Ad Package,” for example, combines Hot Spot displays, HercuList email submissions, PRIME ad exposures, Buyers List submissions, Mega-Mail submissions, i-BLAST, Smart-list submissions, HercuList submissions, and Blurb/Mailer Keys. The current promotional price displayed is $39, compared with a crossed-out $219.65 regular price.
This type of package is aimed more at advertisers who want to distribute an offer across multiple channels rather than simply purchase one mailing.
For someone testing a new funnel, however, I would still recommend starting smaller.
It is much easier to determine what is working when you know exactly which advertising source produced the visitor.
Affiliate Program
HercuList isn’t only an advertising platform.
It also has an affiliate program.
According to the current HercuList information, affiliates can earn up to 50% commissions on recurring monthly and yearly membership payments from referrals, depending on the affiliate’s membership level.
The terms explain that paid members can earn up to 50% of recurring membership payments made by their referrals.
There is also an affiliate opportunity attached to the advertising side.
HercuList says members can earn 50% commissions on solo ad packages purchased through their HercuList solo-ad and Mega-Mail affiliate pages, regardless of membership level.
That gives the platform two different affiliate angles:
- Refer people who become HercuList members.
- Refer advertisers who purchase solo or Mega-Mail advertising.
For marketers who already promote traffic and advertising resources, that can add another potential revenue stream.
A Note About Advertising Results
HercuList makes strong claims about its audience and traffic.
The current homepage describes its traffic as coming from real people and says it does not use fake traffic or bots.
That is useful to know, but it should not be confused with a guarantee that every visitor will become a lead or customer.
HercuList itself makes this distinction in its advertising material. For example, its Mega-Mail page describes advertising success as dependent on the offer and targeting and states that income claims are not guaranteed.
That’s exactly how I would approach this type of traffic.
The traffic source delivers the opportunity. Your funnel has to do the converting.
A safelist can put your advertisement in front of thousands of people, but your headline, offer, squeeze page, follow-up sequence and targeting determine what happens next.
How We Use HercuList
For our purposes, I would look at HercuList primarily as a list-building and traffic-generation source, rather than simply as a way to generate raw website hits.
The first thing I would test is a simple squeeze-page funnel.
The basic process would be:
HercuList → Squeeze Page → Email List → Follow-Up → Offer
Rather than sending traffic directly to an affiliate offer, the squeeze page gives you the opportunity to capture the visitor and continue marketing to them.
That becomes particularly important with a platform like HercuList because there are so many different advertising options.
I would test the free advertising first, establish a baseline, and then compare paid membership or advertising against that baseline.
For example, if you spend $25 on HercuList advertising and generate 25 new subscribers, you have a $1 cost per subscriber.
If those subscribers eventually produce $75 in revenue, you have a completely different picture than if the same campaign produced zero sales.
The important thing is to track it.
I would also test different headlines and calls to action rather than assuming one advertisement is going to be your winner.
A traffic source like HercuList gives you enough potential exposure that copy testing can become an important part of the process.
What I Like About HercuList
There are several things that stand out.
Long operating history
HercuList traces its history to 1998, giving it one of the longest operating histories in this category.
Free membership
You can start without paying for a membership.
Multiple advertising methods
You’re not locked into one form of promotion. Email, credit mailer, web advertising, surfing, PRIME Ads, HercuBlurb, solo ads, Mega-Mail and other options are available.
Large audience
The current site displays more than 384,000 advertisers, while individual advertising products advertise substantial contact lists.
Affiliate program
The affiliate program can pay up to 50% on qualifying recurring memberships and 50% on qualifying solo-ad/Mega-Mail purchases.
Multiple ways to test
You can earn credits, use free advertising, purchase advertising, or upgrade your membership.
That gives you several ways to experiment.
Things to Keep in Mind
There are also some things I would consider before spending money.
First, large member counts do not automatically mean large numbers of responsive prospects.
The current site promotes hundreds of thousands of advertisers and large contact lists, but those numbers should be viewed as potential reach rather than guaranteed clicks, leads or sales.
Second, there are a lot of advertising options.
That is a strength, but it can also make the platform somewhat overwhelming when you’re first getting started.
Third, the terms are very clear about refunds.
HercuList states that its advertising services are non-tangible services and that refunds are not available for paid memberships or other service payments. It also states that cancelling a membership does not result in a prorated refund.
That makes testing before committing especially important.
Is HercuList Legit?
HercuList has been operating for decades and has a currently active website, functioning membership system, advertising products and affiliate program.
Its own terms and advertising pages are also unusually clear about the distinction between traffic and guaranteed results.
There are mixed third-party opinions, as you would expect with virtually any large safelist or traffic platform. A current LeadsLeap SocialReview page has HercuList at 4/5 based on 55 votes, with reviews ranging from very positive experiences to complaints about the amount of advertising and the site’s interface.
That is a much more useful way to look at user feedback than treating one positive or negative review as definitive.
HercuList appears to be a legitimate operating advertising platform. Whether it is profitable for you is a separate question that should be answered with your own tracking.
FAQ
Is HercuList free?
Yes. HercuList offers a free membership. Free members can currently send advertisements to 1,000 random HercuList members daily and can earn additional advertising credits through member activity.
How long has HercuList been around?
HercuList traces its history to 1998, growing out of Smart-list.com.
How many people can I email?
It depends on your membership and advertising method. Free members can send to 1,000 random members daily, while PRO and GOLD members receive broader mailing access. GOLD members are advertised as being able to mail the full database daily.
Does HercuList have a credit mailer?
Yes. Members can earn credits through member activity and use those credits for additional credit-mailer and HercuBlurb advertising.
Does HercuList have solo ads?
Yes. HercuList offers solo ads along with Mega-Mail, Buyers List and i-BLAST advertising.
Does HercuList have an affiliate program?
Yes. The company advertises commissions of up to 50% on qualifying membership payments and 50% on qualifying solo-ad and Mega-Mail purchases.
Can I advertise a squeeze page?
HercuList allows legal websites, programs, products and services to be advertised, subject to its advertising rules. A squeeze page should therefore be evaluated against the current terms and content restrictions before submitting it.
Does HercuList guarantee sales?
No. Advertising exposure and traffic should not be confused with guaranteed sales. HercuList’s own advertising pages state that advertising success depends on the offer and targeting.
Does HercuList allow adult or illegal offers?
No. HercuList’s terms prohibit illegal material, pornography/adult material, pirated software and offensive material, along with sites containing certain disruptive or malicious behaviors.
Final Verdict
HercuList is one of those traffic platforms that is easy to overlook because it has been around for so long that it isn’t necessarily the newest or flashiest name in online marketing.
But longevity is actually one of its more interesting characteristics.
This is a platform that has been operating since 1998 and has evolved from its early safelist roots into a much larger advertising ecosystem. You can start free, send advertisements, earn credits, surf for traffic, purchase premium advertising, use solo ads and Mega-Mail, and potentially earn commissions by referring other members.
For someone focused on building an email list, I think the most interesting way to approach HercuList is to use it as a traffic source for a squeeze page rather than judging it solely by raw clicks.
Start free.
Test your copy.
Track your opt-ins.
Then compare the results against the cost of upgrading or purchasing additional advertising.
The current platform offers enough different advertising methods that there is plenty to test, and the free membership makes that testing relatively low risk.
I would not look at HercuList as a magic source of instant sales. I would look at it as another traffic channel that can potentially become valuable when you put the right offer and funnel in front of the right audience—and then actually measure the results.
