How to (and should I) use a different SMTP server

[HealthyTravelNetwork]

This is really whacked, but my hosting provider cannot send emails from my domain to another domain that they ALSO host. (I think because they host the other web site only and not that company's email.)

Unfortunately, that other company happens to be my old employer and I have dozens of friends there who want to be on my mailing list.

Hosting provider support says that I need to use another SMTP server for outbound mail instead of theirs.  Unfortunately, that leaves only my Earthlink ISP as a possibility.

I know that in the help, you say it's a no-no to use a server other than the hosting provider, but I'm not sure I have a way around this. So...

I currently have about 150 names on my list.

1. Is it going to be really problematic to run using the Earthlink SMTP server?

2. Will there be a way for me to troubleshoot whether all of my messages get to the recipients or not?

3. If I decide to use Earthlink, how do I configure Listmail?

THANKS!

[DW]

To use EarthLink you would use the same settings as in Outlook, possibly using both methods of authentication in ListMail (AUTH and checking email).

I cannot recommend that you use Earthlink's SMTP server.  They likely have a policy against commercial email sent with their service.  To get around the limitation you could run your own SMTP server but this is not an easy task.

ListMail can only guarantee that your messages are sent to the receiving SMTP server.  From there your messages will be sent according to the server configuration.

You may want to consider setting up a new host for ListMail.  I recommend DreamHost where you can get supportive hosting for $7.95/mo

Regards!