Email Mailing Lists

An Email address Mailing List is usually assigned/created for a specific purpose like a newsletter, new product releases etc, and is also commonly known as a distribution list or distribution group.

Subscribing and Unsubscribing To A Mailing List

Today the most common way of subscribing to an email address mailing list is by using an online form; where you simply enter you name and email address.  There are two subscription methods used - single and double opt-in.

With a single opt-in the subscriber fills out an online form or sends an email to a subscription address and they are automatically added to the email address list.

With Double opt-in the subscriber first subscribes by using the online form/email address, and then confirms the subscription by replying to a subscription confirmation email. The subscriber is not added to the email address mailing list until he confirms the subscription.

Although not mandatory the double opt in method does have numerous advantages over the single opt-in method:

• Reduces number of dead email addresses drastically
• Reduces the chances that you will be sending email to someone that hasn't really subscribed and getting accused of spam.
• Qualifies the subscriber as interested, as he has to do something extra.

Unsubscribing is generally done by going to a website and using an online form to unsubscribe or via a specific email address. Each and every email sent to the list should include the link to the unsubscribe site/email address.

Email Mailing Lists and Autoresponders

A autoresponder is a system that automatically send a response to an email. Typical uses are order acknowledgement, Out of office replies, Receipt notification.

It is possible to provide autoresponder or auto response messages from an email server or from an email client. Over the years autoresponder systems have evolved to include the ability not only to respond to messages but to initiate them i.e. they have developed many of the functions of mailing lists and vice versa.

Therefore the distinction between the two is very blurred such that autoresponder software/services have the ability to manage mailing lists and vice versa.

There are three main methods used to implement mailing lists and these are discussed in email mailing list software and solutions.

• Email Mailing List Software and Solutions

• Using Outlook Express to Manage an Email Mailing List