PHPMailer SMTP mail still wont make it through filters

[ryan_b83]

Hi I am trying to send emails via a PHP script and I am trying to avoid the spam filters. I have used the mail() function which seems to be the worst of all solutions. I have tried SMTP emailing via PHPMailer, and some address wont receive the emails, and 1/10 hotmail attempts will get through, the rest wont even appeaer in the junk folder. All the email contains is

SUBJECT: "Linxsmart Document"

BODY:
"
Hello <<Dynamic Name>>,

Please follow this link to view your requested document.
http://www.example.com/beware

Thanks,

Ryan
"

Also, this email is not generated one after another like mailing list, it is only when someone opts-in and fills out a form.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[edited by: jatar_k at 2:55 am (utc) on Aug. 18, 2006]
[edit reason]
[1][edit reason] no urls thanks [/edit] [/edit][/1]

[barns101]

mail() sends your email through SMTP like PHPMailer, but as far as I know, the headers will be set more correctly with the latter thanks to its writers (you could do this yourself with mail() ). I would check your headers and the content of the email (i.e. is it HTML formatted) to see what could be flagged as spam. Also, check that your server has valid PTR records, as Hotmail is particularly picky about these.

[webdoctor]

I have used the mail() function which seems to be the worst of all solutions

I don't think there's anything wrong with the mail() function per se, but whatever method of sending mail you choose, you need to worry about the same basic things. Here are a few to get you started:

All appropriate message headers present and correct?

Message content OK?

SPF set up correctly on your domain?

rDNS set up for your mailserver?

Using plain text rather than HTML?

There is an excellent thread here [webmasterworld.com] which you need to read.

[ryan_b83]

Awesome, thanx that thread is full of great information!