Digital + Social

Contrary to what many marketers believe, spammy looking content is generally not the reason Internet service providers block incoming e-mail, according to a study released today by Lyris Technologies.

User complaints and heavy use of images are two of the more prevalent reasons e-mail gets blocked, according to the e-mail software provider

AOL last week spurred a ruckus in the e-mail marketing industry when it rolled out a new version of its AOL.com and AIM.com free e-mail services that automatically block images by default.

First the Email Experience Council issued a report saying that the services were blocking all images by default. Then deliverability concern Return Path issued a report saying that according to its tests, the services were blocking images only for new subscribers.

So which is it, and what does it all mean to you?

Self-proclaimed tireless anti-spam litigator Mark Mumma has been telling anyone gullible enough to believe him that he had no idea I was a reporter during an interview in which he went ballistic earlier this year.

Multiple news outlets

AOL yesterday unveiled new versions of its AOL.com and AIM.com free e-mail services in which the images are turned off by default.

As a result, e-mailers can expect to see their open rates for messages delivered to AOL.com and AIM.com plummet.

And the award for the anti-spammer engaged in the most offensive drain on our judicial system goes to

Omigod! I

Webmail.us, a company that provides e-mail hosting services for small business, today announced it is expanding its offerings to include e-mail marketing software on demand.

Please say the Ban Comic Sans protest site is satire

E-mail service provider Blue Sky Factory announced it has acquired RSSFWD, a company that forwards RSS content feeds via e-mail technology.