Sending Opt-In Emails

PDRFlipper · 22nd Oct 2012, 03:32 PM

My company has a launch coming up, and over the years I have compiled a 20,000 person mailing list from various sources. Is it legal for me to send an email out to that list asking them to sign up for my mailing list? I am not trying to sell them anything, I am simply asking if they would like more information.

Any advice?

Nail Yener · 22nd Oct 2012, 11:57 PM

Nobody on this forum will say whether it is legal or not, this is not a law consultation forum. But here is my personal opinion (I am not a lawyer, this is not my legal advice):

There is nothing wrong with sending individual emails to public email addresses of businesses as long as you do it following the can-spam act guidelines. However, when it comes to sending 20,000 emails in bulk (not sure if this is what you will do), it is a different thing. You might get into trouble if a lot of people on that list reports your email as spam.

Asking them to sign up to your mailing list is indeed one type of selling but you don't really have to be selling anything to be reported as spam.

shoopt · 23rd Oct 2012, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by PDRFlipper

My company has a launch coming up, and over the years I have compiled a 20,000 person mailing list from various sources. Is it legal for me to send an email out to that list asking them to sign up for my mailing list? I am not trying to sell them anything, I am simply asking if they would like more information.

Any advice?

Hey PDRFlipper
There is nothing wrong in sending mails to public for giving information. But you must follow rules of can spam act(while composing your mails) with a must have unsubscribe link at the bottom of your mail. If you follow the rules most of the server will allow your mail to be delivered in your targeted audience's inbox.
Create a different list of blacklisted contacts that unsubscribe, wishing not to receive your mails again. Never send mail to those people else you might get in problem.

tracourt · 23rd Oct 2012, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by shoopt

Hey PDRFlipper
There is nothing wrong in sending mails to public for giving information. But you must follow rules of can spam act(while composing your mails) with a must have unsubscribe link at the bottom of your mail. If you follow the rules most of the server will allow your mail to be delivered in your targeted audience's inbox.
Create a different list of blacklisted contacts that unsubscribe, wishing not to receive your mails again. Never send mail to those people else you might get in problem.

No matter what, I would never try to send those thru my own email server unless you do it in small batches hours apart. If someone complains of spam, your email provider will shut you down. If you don't believe me, check with Rackspace and ask them. Try Constant Contact or Mail Chimp instead.

lint631 · 23rd Oct 2012, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Nail Yener

Nobody on this forum will say whether it is legal or not, this is not a law consultation forum. But here is my personal opinion (I am not a lawyer, this is not my legal advice):

There is nothing wrong with sending individual emails to public email addresses of businesses as long as you do it following the can-spam act guidelines. However, when it comes to sending 20,000 emails in bulk (not sure if this is what you will do), it is a different thing. You might get into trouble if a lot of people on that list reports your email as spam.

Asking them to sign up to your mailing list is indeed one type of selling but you don't really have to be selling anything to be reported as spam.

Hey thanks for the link, it has a lot of useful information. 20,000 are a lot of emails. Even if a 1/2 percent complain then that is 100 complaints. Send out a test of 1000 (following the spam laws) and see what happens.

22nd Oct 2012, 03:32 PM	#1
PDRFlipper Warrior Member Join Date: 2010 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sending Opt-In Emails Share on: My company has a launch coming up, and over the years I have compiled a 20,000 person mailing list from various sources. Is it legal for me to send an email out to that list asking them to sign up for my mailing list? I am not trying to sell them anything, I am simply asking if they would like more information. Any advice?

22nd Oct 2012, 11:57 PM	#2
Nail Yener You reap what you sow. War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: Sometimes you don't. Posts: 1,078 Thanks: 196 Thanked 411 Times in 243 Posts	Re: Sending Opt-In Emails Share on: Nobody on this forum will say whether it is legal or not, this is not a law consultation forum. But here is my personal opinion (I am not a lawyer, this is not my legal advice): There is nothing wrong with sending individual emails to public email addresses of businesses as long as you do it following the can-spam act guidelines. However, when it comes to sending 20,000 emails in bulk (not sure if this is what you will do), it is a different thing. You might get into trouble if a lot of people on that list reports your email as spam. Asking them to sign up to your mailing list is indeed one type of selling but you don't really have to be selling anything to be reported as spam.