An email list is a way you can write one message and have it automatically copied to many people. There are two types:
You can create an email list via the control panel.
If you want a discussion list, choose the "Email List" option. If you want an announcement list, choose the "High Volume Email List" option.
Click the "Add new item" button.
Next, enter the name of your list and your email address. Carefully note both the name of the email list your choose, as well as the "Domain" name provided for you. The combination of these two variables will be your list address, e.g. neighborhood-announcements@lists.mayfirst.org
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When you hit submit, you will receive an email message with a list password and a link you can click on to configure your list.
Click on the link you receive by email and enter the password you were given in the email message.
On the first page of settings, you will see your email address in the administrator box. You may optionally add additional email addresses of people who will administer the list. These people will be able to add or remove people from your list and be able to approve who is allowed to post messages. You can optionally create moderators who only have the ability to approve posts to the list.
The menu options at the top of the page provide links to many of the other pages allowing you to tweak all the aspects of your list.
However, the Mass Subscription page is the most important:
On this page you will see a box where you can copy and paste email addresses that should be added to your list. Be sure to subscribe your own email address! Just becuase you are a list administrator does not mean you will be able to receive email sent to the list or be allowed to post email to the list.
Every list has a "List info" web site that you can direct people to if they want to subscribe. You can find the link to your "List Info" page in the header menu on the right:
Click on the "Go to the general list information page" link to see your subscriber page.
Once you are setup and you have some subscribers, you can send your first message! Simply create a message in your regular email program and address it to the list name@list server e.g. neighborhood-announcements@lists.mayfirst.org
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