How to create a gmail mailing list without closed loops

Creating a Gmail mailing list without closed loops can be a bit tricky, but it's doable. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this:

What are closed loops? Before we dive into the solution, let's quickly explain what closed loops are. A closed loop occurs when a message is sent to a mailing list, and the list responds to the sender, creating a loop. This can lead to infinite loops, where the same message is sent repeatedly, causing email servers to become overwhelmed.

Solution: Use a mailing list manager and a unique reply-to address

To avoid closed loops, you'll need to use a mailing list manager that allows you to specify a unique reply-to address for each message. This way, when someone replies to a message, the reply will go to the mailing list manager, rather than the original sender.

Here's how to set it up:

  1. Choose a mailing list manager: There are several options available, such as:
    • Google Groups (free)
    • Mailchimp (free plan available)
    • ConvertKit (paid)
    • Mailman (free, open-source)
  2. Create a mailing list: Sign up for the mailing list manager and create a new list. Fill in the required information, such as the list name, description, and settings.
  3. Set up a unique reply-to address: In the mailing list manager, set up a unique reply-to address for each message. This address will be used as the reply-to address for each message sent to the mailing list. For example, if your mailing list is called "mylist", you could set up a reply-to address like "[email protected]".
  4. Configure Gmail to use the mailing list manager: In your Gmail settings, go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Create a new filter that forwards messages from the mailing list to the mailing list manager's reply-to address. For example, if your reply-to address is "[email protected]", you could set up a filter that forwards messages from "[email protected]" to "[email protected]".
  5. Test the setup: Send a test message to the mailing list and verify that the reply-to address is working correctly. When someone replies to the message, the reply should go to the mailing list manager, rather than the original sender.

Example setup using Google Groups

Here's an example setup using Google Groups:

  1. Create a new Google Group: Go to the Google Groups website and create a new group. Fill in the required information, such as the group name and description.
  2. Set up a unique reply-to address: In the Google Group settings, go to the "Settings" tab and click on "Reply-to address". Enter a unique reply-to address, such as "[email protected]".
  3. Configure Gmail to use the Google Group: In your Gmail settings, go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Create a new filter that forwards messages from the reply-to address to the Google Group. For example, if your reply-to address is "[email protected]", you could set up a filter that forwards messages from "[email protected]" to "[email protected]".
  4. Test the setup: Send a test message to the Google Group and verify that the reply-to address is working correctly. When someone replies to the message, the reply should go to the Google Group, rather than the original sender.

By following these steps, you can create a Gmail mailing list without closed loops. Remember to test your setup thoroughly to ensure that it's working correctly.