Web host to support mass email

My current webhost requires that I enter over 650 contacts one at a time in order to use mass e-mail. Moreover, it will not support simply using my website email account to send over 650 e-mails at one time.

Does anybody have a suggestion/ recommendation for a webhosting company that will not only provide excellent portfolios but the ability also to list coming events, and either:
a) provide mass e-mail with a way to upload a large contact list from Outlook or Excel spreadsheet
or
b) allow the website mail account to send similarly large mailings

OR, how do you handle keeping your contacts up to date on your activities once their numbers (thankfully) grow to the hundreds.

thanks,
JR

John, your best bet may be using an email marketing company such as MailChimp, iContact or Constant Contact to handle your mailings. I used to be in that industry (my company developed similar software), and I can tell you that I'm pretty happy with MailChimp's free service. You should be able to mail at least 1000 (if not 2000) contacts for free with them. They have plenty of templates, stat tracking, etc., and you can create newsletter sign-up forms for your site.

Max

Max, Wow! Free!! I will definitely check into that. I didn't consider other for pay services because it seemed a shame to have to pay more for something that one's website really should do. I've got to believe there is some hosting company that can provide this service but you've certainly given me an answer while I continue to look. Many thanks, John

Yes, John, Max is correct. Having used both ConstantContact (a paid service) and then switched to MailChimp (free unless you have an unbelievably high no. of subscribers--far mor than your 650), I would vouch for MailChimp any day. Much easier to use as well.

yes, a third vote for MailChimp!
Sandy