What determines if a piece of mail will get through filters?
 

I have a site with a growing memberbase (mainstream) and I want to start mailing out a newsletter.

Is it fine if I just write my own script in PHP? Or would it be in my best interest to purchase a newsletter program?

One guy told me it isn't the software, it's just making sure to have "clean headers" or whatever. I don't know much about this shit.

I would prefer to use a script in php on my server if I could get through to every member. I also want to be able to mail out in rich content filled HTML.


Thanks.

There are no foolproof methods to have your newsletter delivered into every email boxes out there.


But maybe a few of those things will help.

-See that your host isn't blacklisted. If someone else has used your host for spamming in the past, it may affect the deliverability of your newsletter.

-There are keywords that anti spam software use. Try to avoid using them. I no longer have a list of the keywords but it should be easy to google one.

-Your subscribers on free email services such as hotmail and yahoo will most certainly have your newsletter delivered. Unfortunately, it probably will be in the junk mail folder. If you can, get a real ISP address from your subscribers. If you can't, try to notify them of the situation. AOL has the very same problem.

-Clean headers. Avoid words such as "free", "click here", etc. Same with subject lines.

-I'm not familiar with your php script writing skills so I can't comment on your qualifications. But scripts are available and are affordable. I would save myself the hassle.

My own Nubiles.net webmaster newsletters have been blocked by office 2003 "junk email" filters because they contain porn related keywords. Main stream mail filter companies will continue to filter porn keywords until they are given a reason NOT to.