How to Subscribe to an E-mail List

E-mail lists are Internet forums that allow users to communicate with each other directly via e-mail. Messages sent to a single central address are distributed automatically to every subscriber. Many lists also offer digest versions to help users avoid filling up their mailboxes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• E-mail Accounts
• Computers
• E-mail Software

1. Visit Internet Web sites that host searchable databases of e-mail lists. Some sites allow you to search for lists by title, subject or keyword to facilitate the process of finding the right lists.

2. Determine the name of the list and the type of Mailing List Manager (MLM) program the list uses. The most common MLMs are Majordomo, Listserv, Listproc, and Mailbase.

3. Determine the address of the list administrator before subscribing. The list administrator is an actual person who handles questions about the list.

4. To subscribe to a Listserv or Listproc list, send an e-mail to [e-mail] or [e-mail] with the command "subscribe listname firstname lastname" in the body of the e-mail.

5. To subscribe to a Majordomo list, send an e-mail to [e-mail] with the command "subscribe listname" in the body of the e-mail.

6. To subscribe to a Mailbase list, send an e-mail to [e-mail] with the command "join listname firstname lastname" in the body of the e-mail.

7. Check your e-mail for a message from the MLM. This message will be sent to you automatically, either confirming your subscription or alerting you to any errors you made while attempting to subscribe.

8. Repeat the process if necessary, correcting any mistakes you made the first time.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to turn off any e-mail signatures before sending a subscription command to the MLM.
• Once you've successfully subscribed to a list, keep the confirmation message on file. This message will contain important information and instructions about the list, such as how to unsubscribe.
• Subscribe to the digest version of a list to decrease the number of e-mails you receive.
• Temporarily unsubscribe to mailing lists if you won't be checking your e-mail for an extended period of time. Otherwise, you may come back to find an overflowing mailbox.
• Contact the list administrator with any questions you have about the list. Don't send questions to the MLM; the MLM is a program that only understands specific subscription commands.
• Don't send list inquiries to the list address itself or you run the risk of being flamed by other users.