Sending Bulk Utility Emails: The Right Way

As someone who’s worked with email systems, let me tell you straight – sending mass emails isn’t as simple as blasting your entire contact list. Here’s how to do it properly without getting blacklisted:

Proper Methods

1. Email Marketing Services
   • Use professional platforms like Mailchimp, SendGrid, or Amazon SES
   • These services handle deliverability and compliance automatically
   • Pricing typically based on number of emails sent
2. SMTP Relay Services
   • For more technical users
   • Configure your application to send through services like Postmark or SparkPost
   • Requires some coding knowledge
3. Self-hosted Solutions
   • Only recommended if you know what you’re doing
   • Requires proper SPF, DKIM, DMARC setup
   • Need to warm up IP addresses gradually

What NOT to Do

• Don’t use your personal Gmail/Yahoo account
• Don’t put all recipients in the “To” field (this exposes everyone’s email)
• Don’t send attachments – use cloud links instead
• Don’t ignore unsubscribe requests (it’s illegal in many countries)

For Your Work

Since you’re working now, I’d recommend:

1. Check if they already have an email service provider
2. If not, propose setting up a proper system (Mailchimp has non-profit discounts)
3. Always get explicit consent before adding anyone to mailing lists

Remember, sending bulk emails improperly can get your domain blacklisted – then NO emails from your organization will reach anyone’s inbox. 小心驶得万年船啊!