OT: Mail list cleaning

[Ken A]

Paul Welsh wrote:
> Hi
>  
> Apologies this is off-topic, but can anyone recommend an application for
> cleaning email lists, ie, checking whether the address is still valid but
> not sending a message?
> 

uhhh.. no. Allowing that would not be a good design choice. ;-)

So... What do we do when we have a new clueless customer who comes to us 
with their LIST of 'subscribers' that they obtained from who knows where?

We take them to a dark room, and shine a 200 watt bulb into their face. 
We tell them that we only allow confirmed opt-in email, but if at our 
discretion, their list appears mostly valid, we will allow them to send 
a single brief email, compliant with all current laws of course. ugh.
The email must contain a link back to verify that the recipient wishes 
to continue on the mailing list. If the recipient does not respond 
within a week, then they must be removed automatically. The only other 
option is to toss out the list completely, or connect the electrodes...

Also, we sometimes recommend reputable email marketing companies for 
larger enterprises that wish to have all the bells and whistles of 
customer contact, marketing, and tracking and whatever.

Ken


-- 
Ken Anderson
Pacific Internet - http://www.pacific.net