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Mailing Lists Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: Are the outgoing email messages personalized to each recipients name? No. This is very difficult to implement in a mailing list. Q: How do we construct the outgoing message? It's an email, sent to a special address. The only requirement is that it be a plain-text email, not HTML-formatted. There are also complete instructions for maintaining the list and posting to it for the list's owner. Q: Do I have access to the email list database, is it backed up frequently, can I receive a copy of the list in the event that I want to email them myself - not using the listserver? Yes, you can get a list. Yes, it's backed up nightly. No, you can't email them yourself because our system won't allow more than 50 emails at a time unless it's through the list server. The list server is meant to handle that volume of traffic - our regular email server is not. Q: From a listserver owners viewpoint, how does the self management system work (the mechanics)? Do you have to have an iinc (Xcalibur) dialup account to use all of this? It's all done via email. You send an email command, the system responds with an email confirmation. Again, we have instructions which can be sent out to the list's owner when a listserv is purchased. It's really very simple if you know how to send email. :-) It is not necessary for the list owner to be an Xcalibur client - only that you have a fixed email address which you provide to us. We would prefer that you pick up at least a POP account from us (email only, $9.95 per month) because it will make it easier to communicate with you and will help with reliability of being able to send to the list. It's not technically necessary, but we would prefer it. Q: how many characters max in the Standard Subject? No limit, but best to keep it short - remember it gets added onto whatever the subject of the individual email is, so if I have a Standard Subject of "My Incredible Mailing List" and I send out a message with the subject "Today's Helpful Hint from Dweezil, the Happy Gopher," I get a combined subject of My Incredible Mailing List - Todays Helpful Hint from ... You see where it runs off the page. Keep it short and neat. Most places use a one-word summary of the list's name. Q: Can the signature be changed through the self management system free of charge? In lieu of that, could the signature be excluded so that it could simply be included as an integral part of the outgoing email message. No, signature can't be changed free of charge; a minimal charge would apply. Yes, it could be excluded and included as part of the outgoing email message. In fact, your personal signature will also be sent on the email messages unless you take it out. So, most of the time you get your personal signature followed by the list signature. If you don't want a standard list signature, we'll leave it blank. Q: What are large scale numbers re: a high volume list, and what makes an outgoing message large scale in terms of message size? Large scale numbers = 50,000+ email addresses. An outgoing message will be large if it's extremely long. This happens when you A) write novels and try to distribute them via email or B) try to distribute even one small picture via the list. If you do, we'll have to re-evaluate pricing. Q: Does the pricing go up proportionally to your current pricing, or are there economy of scale volume rollbacks on your stated rates? No economy of scale rollbacks. Rates here are rates. Many places charge by email address and therefore offer volume discounts and such by making assumptions about the number and size of messages delivered in the list as the number of email addresses increases. We make no such assumptions; each message is charged a fixed amount and we feel that's fair. That way, we're not charging the "little guy" more because he only has a small list. It's unlikely we'll ever offer scale discounts on email lists, because we actually have higher costs with larger lists. We have to continuously monitor the email server and upgrade the hardware when necessary. It will become necessary when the lists get large. Q: If pricing is adjusted, does this happen before the charge is applied, or before the work order is completed? Before the charge is applied. We always give the customer advance warning before adjusting charges/rates. If you're sending out extremely large messages, we're going to see that right away. We'll send out a warning - "if it continues, you'll get an additional charge for the size." If it in fact does continue, then we'll add the charge. Q: Is this technical help for your SPAM filtering free of charge? Always has been. Probably always will be. More Information on Getting Your Own Mailing List from Xcalibur Internet
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