Actually they do, because if you send email using a third party list server, and put your FROM email address in field rather than a FROM address on third party's list server - spam filter will read it as being a "falsified" email address or header. Because REAL spammers do it all of time.

3. Spam Filters do not target HTML ezines because they can't read code properly, is this true?

Yes in fact they do, some more so than text ezines, this is because HTML ezines are considered to be more virus prone. And NOT all list servers and email clients "clean" their email before it is sent. Meaning, even if you do not have a virus on your computer, your ezine can still pick one up during process of sending through your list server. This has been known to happen on "high traffic" list servers as well as FREE list servers, such as Yahoo Groups.

3. Aren't spam filters ONLY used by large ISP's?

Although it is very true that majority of larger ISP's use Spam Filters (such as: AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, Mindspring, Verizon, Accessus, Sympatico etc.) you will find a lot of smaller ISP's use them as well. For instance, my ISP has only 900 customers and they do use them, although I've made it quite clear they are unacceptable on my account. The most "popular program' that ISP's use is called Spam Assassin.

I hope this article has cleared up any misconceptions that you may have had regarding Spam Filters. You can learn more detailed information about Spam filters by visiting: http://spamassassin.org ests.html

Article by Laurie Rogers Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved

Now that I've probably scared wits out of you, here are a few things that you can do and they will require a bit of added work on your part.

1.) Make your ezine available in 3 different forms, if it at all possible. Email it directly to your subscribers, put it on an autoresponder and make it available online. My good friend jL Scott (owner of iCop) does this and it covers all of bases to ENSURE your readers get your ezine. It'll also give you an idea of HOW many people actually read your ezine.

2.) Ask your readers, IF they have had ANY problems in receiving your ezine. If they have, start keeping a log of these instances, if your ezine has been marked as being spam through their email client ask them for a copy of it for your records. You MAY want to TRY contacting their ISP and try talking to them about it, ensure that YOU maintain your "professionalism" in doing so, as this could create problems for your subscriber. Advise ALL of your subscribers to contact their ISP's and ask them if they are in fact using filters on their email.

3.) Keep financial loss records that you've encountered because of Spam Filters. And remember everything is of a monetary value including your ezine.

Although there is no fool proof method of avoiding Spam Filters, there is currently a pending law suit against creators of these programs. So if you do have a case or have proof that you have been filtered, falsely accused etc. I recommend that you go and file a report asap at: http://www.e-crucible.org

Article by Laurie Rogers Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved