
Dada Mail is a powerful list manager that makes it easy to create and manage email lists. It's a great tool for anyone who wants to build an email list and send newsletters to their subscribers.
Dada Mail supports multiple list types, including single and multiple lists, as well as lists with custom fields. This flexibility makes it a great choice for a wide range of users.
Dada Mail's user interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for those who are new to list management. The interface is divided into several sections, including the dashboard, lists, and subscribers.
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Getting Started
To set up Dada Mail, start by following the installation instructions that come with the program. You'll need to change four things in the "Config.pm" file.
First, download the FREE version of Dada Mail from their website. You'll find a highlighted picture that shows you where to click to download the DaDa Mail 5.8.0 (.tar.gz) folder.
After uploading the "dada-4_8_0.tar.gz" distro to your cgi-bin folder, you'll need to upload the "uncompress_dada.cgi" script to your cgi-bin folder.
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Setting Up
To set up Dada Mail, follow the installation instructions that come with the program. You'll need to change four things in the "Config.pm" file, and here are some hints about what to use.
The instructions will tell you exactly what to change, so be sure to follow them carefully. This will ensure that your setup is correct and secure.
After making those changes, you'll need to publish the "dada" folder so that it's inside your cgi-bin folder. This will allow Dada Mail to function properly.
To make the "mail.cgi" script executable, you'll need to give it the correct permissions. This will enable the script to run correctly.
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Installing
Installing Dada Mail is a straightforward process that requires some technical know-how. First, download the FREE version from the Dada Mail website.
To begin, you'll need to download the .tar.gz folder, which you can do by clicking on it. Make sure to upload the "dada-4_8_0.tar.gz" distro to your cgi-bin folder in your public_html folder using the File Manager in your cPanel.
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You'll also need to upload the "uncompress_dada.cgi" script to your cgi-bin folder. This can be done by right-clicking on the file and selecting "Save Page/Link As…", then uploading it to the cgi-bin folder.
Changing the file permissions of the "uncompress_dada.cgi" file to "0755" is crucial for the installation process. Make sure to save the new permissions.
Once you've completed these steps, visit the install script in your web browser and click on the link to "Install and Configure DaDa Mail!" You'll then need to fill out the installation configurations, starting with creating a root password that's not a common dictionary word.
Managing Your List
Dada Mail has a user-friendly web-based control panel that makes it easy to manage your list. Each list has its own separate control panel, so you can focus on one list at a time.
You can run Dada Mail as a CGI script on Unix-like hosting accounts, giving you flexibility in how you set it up. The system is designed to be fault-tolerant, so you can trust it to handle a high volume of emails.
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Here are some key features of Dada Mail's list management system:
- Closed-Loop Opt-in/Opt-out subscriptions ensure users want to be on your list and provide a paper trail for compliance with legislation like the CAN-SPAM act.
- Custom Subscriber Profile Fields let you collect additional information from subscribers and use it to target specific groups with emails.
- The Sending Monitor keeps you informed about how many messages are being sent and provides details on each individual mailing.
- Mailing list archives are available for subscribers to view and search through past messages.
Tracking Bounces with VERP
Tracking bounces with VERP is a must-have for any list manager. Dada Mail can be configured to help track bounced messages using a scheme called VERP.
You'll need to enable VERP by setting verp_return_path to 1 in Config.pm. This will require a change to the default separator used in the return path. Dada Mail defaults to using a "-" separator, but our servers require a "+" separator instead.
To make this change, edit the Config.pm file and look for a line that reads: return-path => '-',. Change it to return-path => '+'. This simple tweak will ensure that your bounced messages are accurately tracked.
Set Batch Timing
If your mailing list has more than a few hundred addresses, you should configure Dada Mail to send messages in many small batches rather than all at once. This keeps the server load manageable and makes sure your website stays responsive.

To avoid your server terminating the Dada Mail process, you should make sure it doesn't run for more than 5 hours. You can do this by setting the number of messages to be sent in a batch and the number of seconds to wait between batches.
Our recommended settings are to send 10 messages per batch, then wait 5 seconds between batches. This allows Dada Mail to send up to 7,200 messages per hour.
Here's a quick rundown of our recommended settings:
With those settings, a list of 1,000 addresses will complete in around 8 minutes. If you need to send larger numbers of messages or you need to send your messages more quickly, you should contact us.
Unsubscriptions
Unsubscriptions are a must-have for any mailing list. To ensure compliance with mailing list policies and the 2008 update to the U.S. CAN-SPAM law, it's essential to allow people to unsubscribe themselves by visiting a single Web page.
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The Dada Mail option "Send Unsubscription Confirmation Emails (Double Opt-Out)" must be turned off. This option would otherwise violate mailing list policies and the 2008 update to the U.S. CAN-SPAM law.
It's not worth arguing that distinction with someone who complains, as many people consider a mailing list "commercial" if it includes links to any site containing advertising.
Contemporary List Manager
Dada Mail is a great contemporary list manager that's open source and easy to use.
It's web-based, so you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. Each list has its own control panel, making it easy to manage your subscriptions.
Dada Mail runs as a CGI script, which is a type of custom script that can be used on Unix-like hosting accounts.
It's designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, even for those who aren't tech-savvy.
One of the key features of Dada Mail is its support for Closed-Loop Opt-in/Opt-out subscriptions, which ensures that users want to be subscribed to your list and helps you comply with anti-spam laws like the CAN-SPAM act.

Here are some key features of Dada Mail:
- Web-based control panel.
- Each list has a separate mailing list control panel.
- Support for Closed-Loop Opt-in/Opt-out subscription.
- Supports arbitrary custom Subscriber Profile Fields.
Dada Mail also allows you to send messages on a schedule, either one-time or repeating, using the "Beatitude" plugin.
It's a great tool for managing your mailing list and ensuring that your subscribers are engaged and happy.
Our Spam Policy
This option is turned on by default when you install Dada Mail, and it must be left on for your list to comply with our spam policy.
Leaving this option on proves that when an address was added to your list, the person at that address agreed.
This option stops unwanted subscriptions, incorrectly typed in email addresses, and spam complaints, giving you an ironclad defense against false spam accusations.
If you turn this option off, anyone can subscribe a stranger to your list, and the strangers will probably complain that you're spamming them.
The strangers will be right, as you had an easy way to make sure strangers can't be added to your list, but you intentionally disabled it.
If the strangers complain to their ISP, the ISP might block all messages from your mailing list, then you won't be able to send mail to your legitimate subscribers at that ISP.
Don't risk it, always leave this option turned on.
List Manager Features
Dada Mail's list manager features are truly impressive. It's an open source, web-based e-mail list management system that runs on Unix-like hosting accounts that can run custom CGI scripts.
Dada Mail handles Closed-Loop Opt-in/Opt-out subscriptions, which ensures that users want their email address subscribed to the mailing list and makes it easy to adhere to relevant legislation such as the CAN-SPAM act.
The system also supports arbitrary custom Subscriber Profile Fields, allowing you to capture valuable information from your subscribers.
You can send messages through your mail reader to a special List Address, and even schedule messages to be sent on a schedule using the "Beatitude" plugin.
Dada Mail's Sending Monitor keeps you informed about how many messages are being sent at once and the details of each individual mailing.
Here are some of the key features of Dada Mail's list manager:
- Web-based control panel
- Each list has a separate mailing list control panel
- Supports Closed-Loop Opt-in/Opt-out subscription
- Supports arbitrary custom Subscriber Profile Fields
- Send messages through your mail reader to a special List Address
- Send messages on a schedule using the "Beatitude" plugin
- Sending Monitor
- Mailing list archives
Troubleshooting and Support
If you're experiencing issues with Dada Mail, don't worry, there are resources available to help you troubleshoot and get back on track.

The Dada Mail authors offer paid installation and upgrade services that several of their customers have found to be extremely responsive and helpful.
If you're not comfortable troubleshooting on your own, consider reaching out to the Dada Mail team for assistance.
Dada Mail's documentation is also a great place to start when trying to resolve issues, it's comprehensive and well-maintained.
Don't be afraid to reach out to the Dada Mail community for help and support, they're a friendly and knowledgeable group.
Pricing and Plans
Dada Mail offers three pricing plans to suit different needs.
You can choose between a one-time payment of $300.00 for Pro Dada, which includes direct, prioritized support for the entire project lifespan, or an annual subscription of $150.00.
The free plan is a great starting point, but it does come with limitations: you can only have up to three mailing lists and 100 subscribers per list.
Here are the details of each plan:
The Pro Dada plans offer access to the Dada Mail manual and direct, prioritized support, which is a significant advantage for those who need help with their project.
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