Email Addresses in Web Pages

You want to give your site's visitors a way to contact you by email but don't want your emali address to be abused. Here are a few ways to protect your email address when building your website.

1. Use defined users and filters

Don't use the catch all email facility. Instead define users such as enquiry@ or sales@. It's better if you can avoid the most obvious ones like info@ as some people might speculatively try these. It's best to use a person's name which does not appear elsewhere on the site.

Most email providers or email software offer you filters to use on incoming email. You define a parameter in the email and then filter out any incoming mail which does not contain it. For example, you could set your email link as mailto:info@companyname.com?body=security%20code%20123%20 (please%20leave%20intact%20in%20message%20body) then filter out any mail which does not contain the text "security code 123". Please note that a space is replaced by "%20" ni the mailto parameter.

This will prevent email from automated systems but you could miss out on genuine mail if the sender fails to understand this measure. Be sure to explain it well on your contact page.

It is important when using filters on an address that you don't use this address to send other mail as your replies could be filtered out. Keep one address purely for email from your website.

2. Use a form

Use a form for your site's visitors to contact you. This hides the email address in the browser but it may still appear in the HTML coding. If it does yuo can get around this by defining a subject line, e.g. info@companyname.com?subject=enquiry and filtering out all incoming mail which does not have this subject line.

3. Use JavaScript for links

It is possible to write the text link in JavaScript instead of HTML. The script breaks the email address down into its elements and then puts it back together. It appears just as a normal HTML link in the browser even down to the way it appears in the browser's status bar. This method keeps everything looking as the visitor would expect but protects your address from Spam harvesters, programs designed to crawl sites and find mailto links in the code.

Copy this code replacing the 4 variables user, domain, extension and link with your own information. This example uses the made up email address info@companyname.com. It should be obvious which parts to change and to what.

[script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"][!--

var user = "info";
var domain = "companyname";
var extension = "com";
var link = "Email Us";

document.write('[a href="mailto:' + domain + '.' + extension + '"]'); document.write(link + '[/' + 'a]');
// --][/script]

Please note that the square brackets must be replaced with angled brackets for the script to work. The square brackets are merely to enable me to display the coding here.

Chris Smith is a full time web developer building websites for small businesses and individuals.

Please visit his site to see live examples of these techniques in action and for further information on web design and development.

Web Development | Email Links

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Effectively Using Robots Meta Tags

The "robots" meta tag, when used properly, will tell the... Read More

Why You Need A Web Site

"I have a small business with just a couple of... Read More

Adding Word Rich Content to Your Website

You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,... Read More

Sticking To Your Plan

So you have a good idea for a business and... Read More

Successful Web Development: 10 Key Elements

There are many elements that are key to successful web... Read More

From Search to Sale

The Internet car buyer is an elusive animal. Trying to... Read More

Guidelines for Web Page Optimization

Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More

Why to Have a Website for Your Company

After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More

Email Addresses in Web Pages

You want to give your site's visitors a way to... Read More

Make Your Own Website - General Website Design Tips

Wow, we`ve already taken a domain and chosen a web... Read More

Creating Dynamic Website Content with PHP - MySQL

Fresh website content for your visitors can be of real... Read More

Web Design for the Professional Magician Part I - Selecting the Perfect Domain Name

Selecting the Perfect Domain NameThe first issue I have with... Read More

Are You Overlooking the Benefits of Using Sub-Domains within Your Web-hosting account?

One of the most useful features offered by some web... Read More

6 Steps To Your Own Website

A lot of people these days are interested in getting... Read More

How to Listen on the Web

When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More

PHP Redirect

A PHP Redirect automatically transfers a web user from one... Read More

Build a Web Site that Works...Even for a Safari Hobby!

My life's greatest passion is a safari hobby. And what... Read More

The Cost Of A Web Site

Just starting out, you can start with a simple informational... Read More

9 Keys to an Effective Website

Many small companies choose not to invest in a professionally... Read More

The Internet Road Map

1) Data CaptureOne easy way to collect e-mail addresses and... Read More

Website Imperatives and Solutions

When you take a look at the most visited sites... Read More

The Birth of a Professional Web Site

The Internet has opened a whole New World of opportunity... Read More

How One Word Or Even One Letter Can Boost Conversion Rates By Over 400%!

Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More

Top 10 Webmaster Challenges

Webmasters deal with a myriad of complex design challenges every... Read More

Building eCommerce Websites that Work - Part 3

An interesting eCommerce success factor that isn't precisely overlooked, but... Read More

How To Keep Your Website Sticky

Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More

Having a Portfolio on the Internet Can Help you Infiltate the Workforce

If you're an up and coming graphic/web designer just out... Read More

The Problem with Paypal On Your Web Page

When I set up my website I felt paypal was... Read More

Establishing Your Web Presence

Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More

Eight Deadly Web Site Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Creating and maintaining an effective presence on the Web has... Read More

How To Get Profits From Your 404 Page Not Found File

"'Page Not Found' on this Server. Check the URL and... Read More

Internet Marketing Website Promotion -The 7 Biggest Mistakes I See People Make With Websites!

1. Many people are not getting good or complete advice.... Read More

Selling Your Site: Outsource or Homemade?

To the starting internet entrepreneur, there is nothing more discouraging... Read More