Troubleshooting Email Invitations: Addressing SPAM Filter Issues

[RMDave]

What has been the general response to email invitations being sent through the PC website?

Mine has not been terrific. One host sent out 100 invitations. A week later we had to send out 80 of them again because people hadn't received them. SPAM Filters. Lots of the html code and links in the invitations sets off SPAM filters. AOL (as an example) has their layer of filters preventing some things from not even reaching a users email ... then users set their own SPAM filters and that cuts out many that get by AOL's filters.

I generally ask the host to write a simple invitation and I send it out with the subject line: From Dee Dee Johnson and then explain in the first line that because of SPAM filters, many people didn't receive Dee Dee's initial invitations.

Suggestions? Experiences? Help, Help, HELP?!?!?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[Jolie_Paradoxe]

It is frustrating Dave! After the initial evite, I tend to ask hosts to send an evite reminder to their personal inbox. When they receive it, they can forward to everyone they know. I also tell them that they can tell their friends they can log onto my PWS and type in host name.

 

[DebbieJ]

I do not send invites via the PWS because of what you describe. I add myself as the only guest, log in as the host, then email an invite to me. I then take that invite (deleted the reply buttons) and forward it to my host for her to then forward to her friends directly from her email address. They are more likely to open it that way and actually receive it!

 

[RMDave]

Thanks all. Great ideas.

 

[chefsteph07]

I do not send invites via the PWS because of what you describe.

I add myself as the only guest, log in as the host, then email an invite to me. I then take that invite (deleted the reply buttons) and forward it to my host for her to then forward to her friends directly from her email address. They are more likely to open it that way and actually receive it!

Debbie, can they reply that way then if they get it from the actual host rather than the website itself? I may start doing that. One of my hosts sent out about 60 evites from my site for a catalog show and I bet 50 of those haven't been opened for that reason, the spam.

 

[babywings76]

They can reply a normal reply to the host about their RSVP, but the link won't work for each person replying. The PWS won't recognize each individual, because their addresses weren't entered into the PWS and the invite wasn't sent individually.

 

[successfulchef]

I have the hostess go ahead and add the emails on my pws. Then before the show, I send out an invitation from my personal pampered chef email. In the subject, I put "Cooking Show Invitation (sent on behalf of _____). That way the subject cannot be flagged as spam. This has worked well for last minute reminders/rsvps. I just need to send it out sooner than a day before the show!

 

[DebbieJ]

Debbie, can they reply that way then if they get it from the actual host rather than the website itself? I may start doing that. One of my hosts sent out about 60 evites from my site for a catalog show and I bet 50 of those haven't been opened for that reason, the spam.

They just hit reply and email the host their RSVP. You cannot keep track of it on the PWS this way, but you DO ensure that the email was received and read!

 

[mom4angela]

I don't have my hosts use the PWS. I suggest the go on "evite.com" and use it for free. There is a "cooking utensil" icon that can be used. it usually isn't filtered! I try mostly to mail out the invites "snail mail" with mini catalogs! Hope that helps!