[RickJ]

I've always used a javascript to "stash" email addresses from bots but of course there's downsides to using it...

I see so many big and reputable sites using straight mailto links. So do they just get flooded with spam?

Is it really true that if I use straight mailto links on my sites I'm guaranteed tons of spam?

[Curlyben]

I suppose it really depends on just how publicly available these links are and how good your spam filter is.

[RickJ]

Yeah, I suppose the bigger the company the better their filtering...
What do you mean by "depends on how publicly available" they are? I'm speaking of them being on a webpage.

[Northwind_Dagas]

I suppose it really depends on just how publicly available these links are and how good your spam filter is.

Publicly available? I would say if it is anywhere on the web it is equally available to a bot or spider seeking out email addresses.

I use a form for email so that users send directly to me from the website and my address is hidden in the script.

Here is a free configurable script I have used several times: Free Customized Feedback Form for Your Website: Feedback Form Wizard (thesitewizard.com)

Furthermore, mailto: links only work if you are using a client based email account such as Outlook Express. Many web users prefer a web-based email. I can tell you I have been very annoyed in the past when I have clicked on a link that was not obviously a mailto link and OE opened and asked if I wanted to configure an email account.

[NeedKarma]

Furthermore, mailto: links only work if you are using a client based email account such as Outlook Express. Many web users prefer a web-based email. I can tell you I have been very annoyed in the past when I have clicked on a link that was not obviously a mailto link and OE opened and asked if I wanted to configure an email account.

Yep, I'll second this notion. The proliferation of web based mail makes this something to think about. I rarely use and check my ISP email account.

[RickJ]

Thanks, ND.

I like forms too and have been using nms more and more lately.

It's got a couple drawbacks though so I'll check out thesitewizard.

[RickJ]

PS - Excellent point on the mailto thing opening the viewers email prog which he may or may not use.

I never thought of it until the past year or so when I switched everything to gmail - and now I have to copy email addresses from mailto links to send email - which of course stinks.

[Curlyben]

I don't know I turn my back for a minute and you all carry on without me.

Seems you have it sussed out.
What I meant by publicly available, is the link on a Normally accessible page or do you have to be a member/reg'd user to access the contact info.

[RickJ]

Yeah, I meant public page.

Frankly it surprises me that bots cannot pull the email address from this javascript. Seems to me that techies should have no problem telling a bot to pull from it since it's visible in the source code.

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
 
<!-- 
   document.write("<A HREF='mailto:"+"rick"+"@"+"catholicrecordsociety.org"+"'>"+"Contact"+" Us"+"</A>"); 
//--> 
                
</script>

[jstrike]

I can tell you from experience that scraping an email from source code is a very difficult thing to do because there are soooo many ways to code that one line you have that writes out your email address.

Also, as far as the mailto link goes it depends on your target viewers. If you are dealing with professionals or businesses then it's almost certain they are going to be using a client based email system. Even if it's more of a hobby page then I'd still say there's going to be a few more people using client based systems than web.
(This would be a great topic for a poll on this site. ;)

I have a Yahoo account but I still use Outlook for all my email, even to get my Yahoo mail. It has nothing to do with spam, it's just (IMO) a lot simpler and faster to use than web based email. Although I will say that Yahoo's web mail has come a long way since they first started.