When Dumb Digital Formulas Block Mailings, a Business Has a Major Problem
March 25, 2011
Having an eletter is crucial for any business. Most businesses have not figured this out yet. It's incredible: we are 15 years into email.
An opt-in (subscriber-confirmed) eletter is a source of money. It reminds people that you are there. You are still trying to find ways to help them. If it's both free and useful, a few of them will buy.
That's why I have my Tip of the Week. It works. It's built into Membergate.
To activate it, I have a list company. The Membergate software sends a message to the mailing list's computer, and the computer sends out my letter.
But sometimes it doesn't.
I don't think last week's letter was mailed. I got no "Out of Office" bounce-backs. I normally get dozens immediately after the mailing.
I contacted the list service to have them look into it. No response. I asked again. No response.
Their computer is programmed to block spam. So, if it sees a spam word, it blocks the mailing.
I used "free." I think that did it.
The list company does not trust me. It still has the "block mailing" code on my list. It was lifted after the last time this happened, but it was either reapplied or else it was only temporarily lifted.
Bill Myers has a program that I use to check for spam words. It's free. If you or your company uses eletters, you should use Myers' program.
I used it. I got this message.
SpamDance Results:Words in message: 260
Spam words found: 0Congratulations! No Spam words found in this message.
But I forgot about my title in the message box: Free Screencasts. I think that triggered the Lyris program's "block mailing" code.
If you have a regular eletter, be aware that your list host may block it. Find out if the one you use has this policy. It's a bad policy.
Here is the Tip I sent out: //www.garynorth.com/public/7780.cfm
If you are on my Tip of the Week list, and you DID receive it in your mail box, please let me know. If you didn't receive it, do nothing.
Mail to me at garynorth@garynorth.com. Put "I Got It" in the message box.