For Internet mailing lists, see Electronic mailing lists

A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. An electronic mailing list (sometimes written as elist or e-list) is a special usage of e-mail that allows for widespread distribution of information to The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers is referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the list".

At least two quite different types of mailing lists can be defined: the first one is closer to the literal sense, where a "mailing list" of people is used as a recipient for newsletters, periodicals or advertising. Traditionally this was done through the postal system, but with the rise of e-mail, the electronic mailing list became popular. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving An electronic mailing list (sometimes written as elist or e-list) is a special usage of e-mail that allows for widespread distribution of information to The second type allows members to post their own items which are broadcast to all of the other mailing list members. This second category is normally termed a "SAFE LIST" by all the members that use it on the Internet.

When similar or identical material is sent out to all subscribers on a mailing list, it is often referred to as a mailshot or blast. Mailshots (or Mail shots) are Bulk mail advertising sent through the mail in the United Kingdom to potential customers to advertise goods or services A list for such use can also be referred to as a distribution list. Distribution list is a term sometimes used for a function of email clients where lists of email addresses are used to email everyone on the list at once

In legitimate (non-spam) mailing lists, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe themselves. E-mail spam, also known as "bulk e-mail" or "junk e-mail" is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by

Mailing lists are often rented or sold. If rented, the renter agrees to use the mailing list for only contractually agreed-upon times. The mailing list owner typically enforces this by "salting" the mailing list with fake addresses and creating new salts for each time the list is rented. Fictitious entries, also known as fake entries, Mountweazels, and Nihilartikels, are deliberately incorrect entries or articles in reference works such Unscrupulous renters may attempt to bypass salts by renting several lists and merging them to find the common, valid addresses.

Mailing list brokers exist to help organizations rent their lists. A list broker acts as an agent for those who wish to conduct Direct marketing campaigns via direct mail email or telemarketing For some organizations, such as specialized niche publications or charitable groups, their lists may be some of their most valuable assets, and mailing list brokers help them maximize the value of their lists.

Mailing list is simply a list of e-mail addresses of people that are interested in the same subject, are members of the same work group, or who are taking class together. When a member of the list sends a note to the group's special address, the e-mail is broadcast to all of the members of the list. The key advantage of a mailing list over a things such as web-based discussion is that as new message becomes available they are immediately delivered to the participants' mailboxes.

Reliable list brokers can be found through most mail order/direct marketing associations.

Listwashing

Listwashing is the process through which individual entries in mailing lists are removed. These mailing lists typically contain e-mail addresses or phone numbers of those that have not voluntarily subscribed. Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving An entry is removed from the list after a complaint is received.

Only complainers are removed via this process. It is widely believed that only a small fraction of those inconvenienced with unsolicited email end up sending a proper complaint. Because most of those that have not voluntarily subscribed stay on the list, and only the complainers stop complaining because they are removed, this helps spammers to maintain a "complaint-free" list of spammable e-mail addresses. Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving Internet service providers who forward complaints to the spamming party are often seen as assisting the spammer in list washing, or, in short, helping spammers. An Internet service provider ( ISP, also called Internet access provider or IAP) is a company which primarily offers their customers access to the Internet Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages

See also

• Direct marketing
• Distribution list
• Electronic mailing list
• Netiquette
• Newsletter
• Usenet

Direct marketing is a sub-discipline and type of Marketing. There are two main definitional characteristics which distinguish it from other types of marketing Distribution list is a term sometimes used for a function of email clients where lists of email addresses are used to email everyone on the list at once An electronic mailing list (sometimes written as elist or e-list) is a special usage of e-mail that allows for widespread distribution of information to Netiquette, a portmanteau of " network Etiquette " is a set of social conventions that facilitate interaction over networks ranging from A newsletter is a regularly distributed Publication generally about one main topic that is of Interest to its Subscribers Newspapers and Usenet, a Portmanteau of "user" and "network" is a world-wide distributed Internet discussion system

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