Getting Started, Your First Mailing

 
It's fast and easy to send a message through the ListManager admin web interface. This getting started guide is designed to make your first mailing fast and easy. Once you know the basic you will want to return to the Quick Start Guide and explore other topics.

 
In order to manage your mailing list you'll need to open a web browser and point it to your ListManager URL.

If you're wondering if you have the right URL, it will look something like this:

http://lists.yourdomain.com/

This URL will take you to a screen that asks you log in with your email address and password.

Once you have done so, you will be taken to the homepage of your list.

Adding Members

Members are recipients of your mailings. It's helpful to add a few addresses to your list while you try out your list. We recommend having an email account at one of the many free web-based email providers so you can test message delivery outside your own domain and get a better idea of how messages are going to look to the people to whom you are sending. DO NOT add all of your members now! You don't want your members to see your messages until your list is 100% tested and ready.

1. Click on the Members tab.

2. Click View Members.

3. You will see at least one member: the administrator of the list (who may be you).

4. Click create new member.

5. Enter the name and email address of a test member.

6. Save

Repeat until you've added as many as you think you need. Two or three is fine; ten is probably too many (but it's up to you).

Members may also subscribe to your list via email, a subscription form on your website, or be imported from a CSV file.

Create Your Mailing

1. Click on the Mailings tab.

 
2. Click New Mailing.

 
3. Create your message on the Message tabs. Leave the Mailing Name, From: and To: fields alone for now. Just enter your Subject and the Text Message and/or HTML Message you'd like to send. Make sure you include unsubscribe information for your list!

 
You may create just a text or HTML body, and that is what will be sent to your recipients. Or, you can create both, and send a message that has both text and HTML. Recipients who can see HTML will only see your HTML message; those who can't, will see the text.

 
4. Click save. You'll be taken to the Mailings: Need Approval, where you can send, test, schedule, copy, or delete the mailing you just created. Before sending your mailing it is a good idea to test the mailing as described below.

 
Members can post to the list by sending their message to: listname@yourserver. For example, jazztalk@lists.example.com.

Special note on testing a mailing

When you test a mailing, ListManager creates the message for a random recipient of your list. However, instead of sending this mailing to the member, it sends it to you. In this way, you can see exactly what the mailing will look like for your recipients. Testing a mailing is especially important if you are using conditional content, scripting, or any special formatting.

Do not be alarmed if you receive a message addressed to someone else! ListManager creates the mailing for the recipient(s), but redirects it to you. The mailing has not been sent to your list, or to the person whose email address is on your test mailing.

Logging Out

Your login information is in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Click on your email address or name to log out.