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Question: What is a listserv? |
Answer: A listserv is the Ed McMann of e-mail! BULK MAILING
- but it's not always a bad thing. |
A listserv is a small program that automatically send the same message
to all of the names on a specific mailing list. This mailing list is created
by people signing up or subscribing to the service because they are interested
in a certain topic or have some common bond. Users can subscribe to the
service by sending an e-mail with the message of "subscribe [email protected]".
The program adds you to their list and you will start receiving messages
from the listserv.
There are literally thousands of different listservs.
There are two main types of listservs - moderated and un-moderated.
On un-moderated listserv all messages are automatically broadcast
to all subscribers to the service. On a moderated listserv, the
owner or administrators of the listserv reads all of the messages and determines
which messages are appropriate.
Requests to subscribe and un-subscribe are usually sent to a special
address so that everyone on the list doesn't get the message. If you want
to un-subscribe, don't send a message to the listserv - look up the correct
address.
some basic tips
-
save the first message you receive from the listserv - it contains information
on how to un-subscribe and other features available
-
read messages frequently
-
do not reply to the listserv (unless you intent to send it to the entire
list)
-
delete messages that you do not WANT to keep - list serve messages can
accumulate fast and take up valuable drive space.
Question: I never signed up for a listserv but now I started
getting a weekly mailing from someone/somewhere.
Answer: Many surveys and request for information off of the
web have a little box that is usually checked by default. This little box
asks if you would like to receive updates, news breaking info, tips, etc.
By submitting that form you are requesting to sign up to their listserv
- unless you don't check that little box. Don't worry - I'm not gonna sign
you up for anything.
Question: Why do I get personal messages to someone else on
my listserv?
Answer: Someone replied to a message that come to them from
the listserv.
To avoid this ALWAYS look to see where you are replying to. If
you want it to go to the whole listserv - that's fine. If you just want
to reply privately to a message that came to a listserv - LOOK at the address
and change it to the PERSON that you want to send the message to. It can
be pretty embarrassing sometimes if you send a message to everyone that
was intended for just one person.
Question: I'm on a listserv that is too time consuming and I
just don't have time to go through all of those messages.
Answer: Some listserv's have an option of receiving a single
e-mail (digest version - sometimes they even contain a table of contents)
at the end of the day that has all of the posts from the day. If that's
reduces your time great - if not, you might want to un-subscribe from the
list.
Question: How do I un-subscribe from a listserv that I do not
wish to be a part of anymore?
Answer: When you subscribe to a listserv, they usually send
out an e-mail to YOU that has a list of options. You should always save
this message or print it out so that when the day arrives that you want
to be removed from the listserv you can see how they accept the un-subscribe
command.
Question: How do I find a good listserv?
Answer: Read your professional magazines, ask co-workers and
search on the internet for topics of interest. Make sure that you really
want to subscribe before you sign-on. Some listservs are full of garbage
and a waste of time.
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