Emailing one, two or multiple people
If you’d like to email a small group (friends, clients, colleagues) it’s important to use the correct address fields. This keeps things clear for recipients and helps avoid deliverability issues.
Rule of thumb: for fewer than around 20 recipients, sending a normal email is usually fine. For larger groups, use a proper newsletter system (explained below).
Using TO, CC and BCC
TO
- One person: put their email address in TO.
- Two people: put both addresses in TO.
- Small group: add each recipient to TO (only if everyone is happy for their address to be visible to the others).
TO & CC (Carbon Copy)
Use CC when someone should be kept in the loop, but they are not the main recipient.
- Put the main person in TO.
- Put the “for information” person in CC.
- Start the email by addressing the main person, so anyone in CC can quickly see they’re not the primary recipient.
TO & BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)
Use BCC when someone needs a copy, but you don’t want other recipients to see their address.
- Put the main person in TO.
- Put the hidden recipient(s) in BCC.
- Tip: it’s fine to BCC yourself if you want a copy for your records (for example, when sending a quote).
Always use a clear subject line. It makes emails easier to find later. Subjects like “Re: Fw: Re: …” quickly become confusing.
Sending to more than ~20 recipients
If you’re emailing a larger group (for example, customers or a mailing list), you might be tempted to put everyone in BCC so the addresses are hidden. Please don’t.
Emails sent with lots of BCC recipients are commonly flagged as spam by email providers. That means fewer people will receive it, and it can harm your email reputation.
The right way to email lots of people
Use a proper Mailout / Newsletter system. flymedia advises (and uses) the following:
- MailPoet WordPress Plugin – runs inside your WordPress website.
- Mailchimp – can be used with or without a website.
Both are free for small lists (typically up to around 2,000 subscribers, depending on the provider’s current plan). They work in a deliverability-friendly way by sending emails one-to-one (one email to one subscriber), repeated automatically across your list. This keeps addresses private and reduces spam problems.
Important:
- MailPoet only works if you have a WordPress website.
- Mailchimp works as a standalone service (no website required).
If you are thinking of using one of these systems to send a newsletter, be aware…
- If the person didn’t sign up for your list, then you are a spammer.
- If you bought a list of addresses, then you are a spammer.
- If you are using your collected addresses from your address book, then you are a spammer.
- If you are using addresses from another legitimate email list you have, then you are a spammer.
- If you don’t give the person a way to opt out, then you are a spammer.
flymedia can help if you’re planning any type of mailout or newsletter. We’ll guide you through the right (and wrong) ways to do it, so your emails are delivered properly and your business stays compliant.
