Do You Know What's in Your Trash?
by Judith Kallos
Published on this site: July 1st, 2005 - See
more articles from this month...
A hearty welcome to all the spam fighting filters and programs
created to rescue us from the deluge of unwanted e-mail! There is
practically a “solution” for everything. But as with most
online “solutions” filters and programs are only tools
that users need to make some effort to use properly to reap the
benefits.
You have to learn how to use these programs to your advantage or
you can experience the unexpected downside. How can there be a
downside when we’re talking less spam you say? Unfortunately,
all too often legitimate and expected e-mails are being eaten by filters
and are ending up in the trash!
Twice this week I received terse e-mails from new clients awaiting
my response on certain issues. Because they were new to working
with me, they didn't know that I usually respond within an hour
to most e-mail. My responses were not returned as “undeliverable”
so what happened? Where are they? In both instances I called my
clients only to find my messages had inadvertently landed in their
junk or trash folder because of their ISP’s filtering systems.
When communicating with clients and in my day-to-day communications,
I do not go to extremes to alter certain words that may trip filters
in my day to day communications. With folks I know, that shouldn't
be an issue because they are supposedly expecting my e-mail. In
addition, I always instruct new clients and subscribers to add me
to their address book, approved or white list.
Plus as I am sure you'll agree, you've seen all those funky ways
of spelling certain words with characters or spaces that are unnatural.
I believe they ruin the flow of your message because the reader
can't help but take pause to notice.
Before you send off a terse e-mail complaining or assuming no
response, be sure you have covered the following:
- When you know you will be communicating with a specific person
on a regular basis, make sure you add them to your approved list
or address book as soon as possible. Many onliners now use Web
based e-mail such as Yahoo! and MSN that allow them to control
who they receive e-mail from. Just as the majority of ISPs now
give you the ability to filter e-mail based on level of spamminess
or by adding e-mail addresses to your list so they can get through.
Be sure to use these tools to avoid trashing wanted e-mail.
- Same goes for Web sites or eZines you sign up for. Add their
dot com to your list as soon as you sign up. Most legitimate eZines
use a double-opt in subscription process that requires you respond
or click on a link within an e-mail from them before you get formally added to their list. If you don’t get that e-mail
to respond to it—you will not be added.
- Before you empty your trash or junk folder—go through
the trash! Take a quick peak and look at the Sender: and Subject:
fields to see if names are familiar or for a topic that is expected.
Otherwise you risk wanted e-mail going out with the trash!
Three simple little steps can help ensure the e-mail you do want
lands in your inbox. The e-mail you are waiting for may have already
arrived!
Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored
Technology Musewho has played @ http://www.TheIStudio.com
for over a decade. Check out her popular Software, Programming
and Web Design Cheat Sheets @ http://www.LearnAndThrive.com
|
