Before you do any blast, you should run down several checklists of quality considerations by following these email “pre-send” check lists.

Review your message layout for essential links:

• Does your message have an un-subscribe link?
• Is there an easy-to-forward link with instructions on how to subscribe to your list?
• Is there a link to your organizational web site?
• Is there a simple donate link?

Review your message layout and composition:

• Are all the images in your email displaying properly when you test?
• Do you have “ALT” text properly defined for all images?
• Are there text and HTML versions of the email, both tested?
• Have you looked at test HTML emails in several different email programs, including web mail, Outlook, Thunderbird and even mobile phones?

Review your content:

• Verify that all the links go where you intend and are properly tracked by your blasting tool.
• Run spell check on the email to eliminate typos.
• Does the text version of your email reflect the latest content updates to your HTML version and vice versa?
• For events, verify you have the date, time, location, directions, map and contact information.
• For action items, have a link to the action or complete instructions on how to take the action with at least one recipient having tested all instructions by hand.
• Run a “spam report” on the email to see if any fixable issues are flagged.

Review your email sending “envelope”:

• Does your email have a compelling and appropriate “Subject”?
• Are the “From” address and sender name set properly?
• Is there a bounce address set?
• If possible, have you previewed recipients' emails? Verify how all of the above look when the message is received.

Review your sending:

• Are you sending it to the right list or group of people?
• Have you scheduled a good delivery time? According to email folklore, bad times include Monday mornings, Friday afternoons, holidays, weekends and whenever you're about to send. Kidding on that last one. Seriously though, actual studies on this point are rare, and results are mixed, so the best way to understand a "good" time versus a "bad" time is to pay attention to your own list behavior over time.
• Have you coordinated your sending time so it is not in competition with other messaging campaigns in your organization?