I have a sign-up box for my ezMLM-managed mailing list on my web-site. Whenever a user subscribes through the web-site, my CGI script sends an e-mail to [mailing list]-subscribe-[username]=[isp]@mlm.[my domain], and Bccs it to me, so I can see all subscribe requests. At that point ezMLM e-mails the user asking him to confirm the subscribe. I noticed that the users often didn't confirm the subscribe, though. Here's the confirmation message that ezMLM usually sends (with my list name and other information removed by me):
Quote:
Hi! This is the ezmlm program. I'm managing the[list name]@mlm.[my domain] mailing list.
To confirm that you would like
[user's e-mail address]
added to this mailing list, please send an empty reply to this address:
[list name]-sc.997978211.djikgkieebpnobphnncg-[username]=[isp]@mlm.[my domain]
Your mailer should have a Reply feature that uses this address automatically.
This confirmation serves two purposes. First, it verifies that I am able
to get mail through to you. Second, it protects you in case someone
forges a subscription request in your name.
--- Here are the ezmlm command addresses.
I can handle administrative requests automatically.
Just send an empty note to any of these addresses:
<[list name]-subscribe@mlm.[my domain]>:
Receive future messages sent to the mailing list.
<[list name]-unsubscribe@mlm.[my domain]>:
Stop receiving messages.
<[list name]-get.12345@mlm.[my domain]>:
Retrieve a copy of message 12345 from the archive.
DO NOT SEND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUESTS TO THE MAILING LIST!
If you do, I won't see them, and subscribers will yell at you.
To specify God@heaven.af.mil as your subscription address, send mail
to <[list name]-subscribe-God=heaven.af.mil@mlm.[my domain]>.
I'll send a confirmation message to that address; when you receive that
message, simply reply to it to complete your subscription.
--- Below this line is a copy of the request I received.
[email headers]
|
That's a bit complex and long, isn't it? Here's what I changed it to:
Quote:
Hello. I'm the mailing list service for the [list name]@mlm.[my domain] mailing list.
To confirm that you would like
[user's e-mail address]
added to this mailing list, simply reply to this e-mail, or
you can send an e-mail to:
[list name]-sc.1008082612.djljkjjdfppfnaeghccj-[username]=[isp]@mlm.[my domain]
--- Below this line is a copy of the request I received.
[email headers]
|
This seems to be a lot easier to understand, and a lot shorter. I haven't done any scientific tests, but the users seem to now confirm the subscribe requests a lot more.
Has anyone else seen a lack of confirmations? Has anyone had better or worse results by changing (simplifying) the confirmation message?
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