Topic: Email Newsletter

A discussion regarding the No Agenda newsletter reveals a change in production workflow involving new copy editors. One host admits to missing the newsletter because it is automatically filtered into a "newsletter bin" by his email client. The exchange highlights the tension between production tasks and the consumption of media like television shows.

The Dvorak Substack is promoted as a primary outlet for media deconstruction, though it faces deliverability challenges due to Spam Assassin blocklists. The discussion explores how individual users hitting "block" can damage the reputation of legitimate newsletters. There is a call for listeners to help unblock the service to ensure the "Freak Show" column reaches its audience.

The hosts discuss potential suppression of the No Agenda newsletter, noting inconsistent delivery across Gmail and ProtonMail. Dvorak reminisces about his history writing for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) magazines in the 1980s and his long-standing frustrations with email networking systems.

A correction is issued regarding a newsletter claim about Turkey's NATO membership. While the newsletter suggested Turkey was a recent member, it has actually been part of the alliance since 1952. The hosts also discuss technical issues with email address auto-fill settings.

The hosts discuss technical issues with MailChimp, noting that the service often deletes subscribers who use "coded" or "dubious" email addresses. They speculate that this is because such addresses are less valuable for data mining. Additionally, they address a listener's request to "douche" Sir Patrick Comer for being "man overboard," though they express hesitation about douching a knight without more evidence.

The hosts investigate why some subscribers are not receiving the show's newsletter, identifying Google's strict DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) policies as a likely cause. They discuss technical workflows for verifying email delivery and sorting user feedback.

The hosts open the formal donation segment, thanking producers and discussing technical difficulties with the show's newsletter. John Dvorak expresses frustration with email providers and the risks of migrating to a new service. They acknowledge the low donation volume due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

John C. Dvorak reported significant delivery issues with his latest newsletter, with many subscribers finding it diverted to the Gmail "Promotions" tab or spam folders. The discussion explored how Google's algorithms penalize newsletters that aren't opened regularly and the role of MailChimp's headers in delivery failures. Dvorak noted that his long-form essays often result in lower donations compared to newsletters featuring animated GIFs.

John C. Dvorak analyzes a significant drop in open rates for his newsletter, attributing the issue to Gmail's aggressive filtering algorithms. He shares technical tips for avoiding spam folders, such as avoiding all-caps in subject lines, minimizing exclamation marks, and never using the same link twice in a single email. The discussion emphasizes the risks of relying on free email services like Gmail for critical communications.

Adam Curry expresses frustration over listeners sending emails to Senator Watson while impersonating him to request the senator co-host the show. This follows a discussion on the "polar vortex" being used as a disingenuous term for harsh winters. Curry also complains about being subscribed to dozens of unwanted newsletters, describing the practice as a form of "reverse doxing."

The No Agenda newsletter experienced significant delivery failures despite being sent through MailChimp. Many subscribers, including those running private email servers without filters, reported never receiving the transmission. The hosts investigate whether the issue stems from ISP-level blocking or a failure within the MailChimp platform itself.

A humorous incident is recounted regarding a No Agenda newsletter with the subject line "Your Best Analysis." On iPhones and Gmail, the subject line was truncated to "Your Best Anal," leading to jokes about high open rates and bypassing spam filters despite the suggestive phrasing.

Technical difficulties with the No Agenda newsletter are attributed to Google's aggressive spam filtering and "promotions" tab logic. A new scalable email template resulted in a significant drop in open rates, leading to a discussion on how major tech platforms control information consumption. Listeners are encouraged to whitelist specific email addresses to bypass these filters.

Research into email marketing reveals that simple, informal subject lines like "hey" yield the highest open rates among subscribers. Despite its association with spam and solicitation, the tactic remains effective for increasing engagement in newsletters by triggering curiosity or a sense of personal connection.

A discussion on the weekly email newsletter focuses on the use of "cute" imagery to drive engagement. One host describes the success of including kitten photos and contemplates switching to puppies to see if it impacts donation levels. They briefly discuss the technical limitations of A-B testing within MailChimp for this specific purpose.

John C. Dvorak and Adam Curry discuss their personal email setups, with Dvorak complaining about the difficulty of searching through 50,000 messages. Curry describes his use of the IREDmail package and SQL databases to manage high volumes of mail. They also discuss the evolution of email marketing and the value of the No Agenda newsletter.