Implementing notification emails

Question

My client wants to send email announcements and reports for customers. Now. The python-side code doesn't seem too hard but there's the rest of the story.

What do I require in order to send such emails that won't end up getting blocked by email servers and clients?

Answer 1

There's no sure fire way, as email filters can do as they wish, but a few recommendations:

• Use a real SMTP server, usually your client's (Authenticating if needs be). By real I mean one that's in real usage not a special one to send your emails only.
• Send from a real account able to receive responses.
• Avoid HTML if possible, if not possible, send a multipart message.
• Send all mandatory headers plus some headers usually sent by common MUAs.

Generally, check the common spam detection rules to get a feel what's common in spam mails.

Answer 2

Your program makes an SMTP connection to a sendmail server. If you own that server, you control it's configuration. Nothing will be blocked going out.

Spam, however, is spam. Your client may think their email is golden, but their customers may think it's spam. Oh well.

First, you have to make your email campaign "opt-in". If customers want email notification, they request. If they don't request, they don't get email.

Second, you have to record the bounce you get from the supplied email address. Hard bounces come back with "no such address" kinds of replies in various forms. Soft bounces are "we're still trying or mailbox full." You have to make a judgement on what to do about bounces.

That's about the best you can do. You can't make people recognize that your client's email is really important, but other spam is just spam.