Listservs are helpful for sharing information and ideas among your staff, members,
volunteers, or anyone else interested in your program.
Talk to your Internet service provider (ISP) to see if they currently have
software for listserv management. Your provider must be willing to support the
listserv, since the listserv will depend on the ISP's server to remain active.
If your ISP or organization does not have listserv management software, you'll
need to either purchase software or find a company that will host your listserv
using their server. Popular mailing list management software programs are:
Free Listserv Providers
There are companies that will host your listserv for free. However, as with
all things free, there are drawbacks (for example, advertisements may be inserted
into the listserv messages) and this may not be the right option for your organization.
The following offer free listserv hosting:
Preparation
Some important things to do when setting up your listserv:
- Decide on a mission for the list. What's the purpose of the list?
- Assign people to the following roles:
Facilitator: a person who keeps the group focused, reminds
participants of ground rules, and steps in if disagreements or arguments occur.
Administrator: a person to deal with the technical problems
related to the listserv such as helping people subscribe and leave the listserv.
Moderator: a person who reviews content before it's posted
to the listserv and keeps out improper posts. Not all listservs use a moderator.
- When advertising your listserv, be sure to tell people the listserv's mission
and purpose.
- Make sure participants understand the roles of the facilitator and moderator.
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