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At mail-list.com, we use plain text emails for all mailing lists we manage. We do not offer HTML email services on our system.
Why?
Our single, most important goal is to reliably deliver your information to your subscribers. With plain text messages, we can do
that.
When HTML is placed inside of an email, it can cause problems for you and your subscribers. Here are some of the hazards of HTML email:
- Viruses can be transmitted via the HTML and Java code. The viruses can read and broadcast your files, send the virus to all your friends in your address book, install a back door that allows bad guys to control your computer, capture your keystrokes and passwords, destroy your data, and more.
- HTML can track whether or not you have opened your email, by embedding unique URL's in the email, and then tracking the web server logs.
- Advertising companies can grab your email address should you visit a site mentioned in the email.
- The large file sizes created when pictures are bundled in the email can cause slow, irritating download times for subscribers.
- When HTML email contains links to pictures, the subscriber must remain connected to the Internet and wait while the graphics are loaded.
- An "email reader" is the program you use for email, like Eudora, AOL, Outlook, etc. Not all email readers, which means not all of your subscribers, can read HTML email.
- There is no "standard" for HTML email, so the HTML message you create, may not look the same on someone else's email reader, or could be completely unreadable.
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have rigorous spam filtering policies. The size of the message is often used to indicate spam, and an HTML email is two to ten times the size of the same message using plain text, even without any graphics.
- Many people have anti-spam software on their own computers. HTML email is frequently filtered off as spam.
- There is a growing backlash of savvy computer users who are now aware of the hazards of HTML email, and don't see any advantage to receiving HTML email. People subscribe to mailing lists to receive information, not to be manipulated, and plain text email provides the facts they want, without any of the tricks.
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In summary, there are trade offs between sending out a visual email, and having your message actually delivered and read by your subscribers. In general, the more visual effects you add, the higher the probability that your HTML email will be filtered out and eliminated before it is ever read by your subscribers. If you have valuable information that you want to communicate to people, plain text email is best, and you can safely include hypertext links to a web page for any visual information you need to share.
All lists at mail-list.com are set up to deliver plain text messages, even when a HTML message is sent. Our system will automatically convert any HTML message to plain text before delivery.
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Email and Spam Filters |
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The single biggest problem with HTML email is getting it through the spam filters. HTML email is much more likely to be caught by either the spam filters at the ISP or on the subscriber's personal computer.
We have been running mailing lists since 1995 and have given up trying to deliver HTML email.
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