If you operate your own mailing list, you need to make sure you're following some rules so you can defend yourself against any allegations of spamming.

Our strongest recommendation is to use properly configured mailing list software, such as the Mailman system we provide with your account or Dada Mail. If you do that, the software will take care of everything we describe below, and you can ignore the rest of this page.

What if I handle my own mailing list?

If you run your own mailing list, or you "directly subscribe" members to a Mailman list without using the "invite/verify" option, you must follow the rules in our Terms of Service, which can be summarized as:

1. Each recipient must specifically ask to be added to an e-mail list from your organization. You may not add recipients as a side-effect of something else they do. For example, you may not add people to a list just because they bought something from you, entered a contest, went to school or worked with you, gave you a business card, sent you a sales inquiry, gave their address to the Chamber of Commerce you're a member of, or gave their address to the organizers of a trade show you exhibited at: such people must also separately confirm that they want to be added to your mailing list by completing the verification step described below. (Mailman's invite feature meets this requirement. It's okay to "invite" such people to join your list using Mailman if you think they might be interested in joining.)
2. When a person asks to be added to your list, you must verify the address (sometimes called "confirmed opt-in" or "double opt-in"). You do that by sending an e-mail message to the address and receiving a response in which the recipient agrees to be on your list. This makes sure that people aren't subscribed without their knowledge by a third party. It also ensures that the address is accurate and doesn't contain "typos". Finally, it provides you with an ironclad defense against fraudulent "spam" allegations.
3. You must keep permanent, detailed, organized records of the replies from step 2, and you must be able to promptly provide us with these records for all subscribers if we receive a complaint.
4. Each mailing list message must clearly explain how people can unsubscribe. When people do so, or when messages sent to an address "bounce" with a permanent error, or when a recipient files any type of "spam" report, the address must be promptly and permanently removed from the list.

These rules are what other ISPs and anti-spam organizations consider the minimum standards to ensure you aren't sending "spam". We can't let you send bulk mail that doesn't meet these requirements.

(If you're wondering why we have these rules, our "Bulk E-Mail" page explains it in more detail.)

In addition, you must notify us before you start sending bulk mail so we can raise your allowed outgoing mail rate (we'll also ask to spot-check your records to verify you're complying with these rules).

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