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Can I Duplicate My Contacts with Another ESP and Double My Income?

by hersbear
19 replies
Hi there,

I have 18,000 100% opt-in contacts on my list with a reputable ESP. I was thinking that maybe I could double my revenue by copying my contacts to a separate ESP and emailing them from there in addition to my original sends. Same topic but new, different content. The second set-up would be under a different company name so recipients would not know both emails are coming from me.

I gather that it's legal as long as I have a legit mailing address in the email and an unsubscribe button, as well as a note that the email is an ad.

Does this seem feasible? Or am I just asking for trouble?
#contacts #double #duplicate #esp #income
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  • Profile picture of the author AshrafulSaikat
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    I think It should not have any problem as the list is yours and just you are using it.

    There is nothing illegal with this.

    Just find a good ESP and hope you can do what you are wanting to do.

    I am not expert but I think it won't make you any trouble. I have done these since 2017 and there's no problem I have faced till now.
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  • Profile picture of the author IGotMine
    Originally Posted by hersbear View Post

    Hi there,

    I have 18,000 100% opt-in contacts on my list with a reputable ESP. I was thinking that maybe I could double my revenue by copying my contacts to a separate ESP and emailing them from there in addition to my original sends. Same topic but new, different content. The second set-up would be under a different company name so recipients would not know both emails are coming from me.

    I gather that it's legal as long as I have a legit mailing address in the email and an unsubscribe button, as well as a note that the email is an ad.

    Does this seem feasible? Or am I just asking for trouble?
    Have you burnt out this list?

    If emails started showing up in my email from a sender I didn't know or subscribe to, I would see that as SPAM!

    Would anyone not see it that way?
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  • Profile picture of the author hersbear
    AshrafulSaikat. thank you for your insight.

    IGotMine, I understand what you are saying about spam. I get very few spam complaints now, and my unsubscribe rate is very low, but yes, the second account would receive more. Similar but fresh, new content should help mitigate that, though. And opt outs/spam in the second account would not impact the first one.

    Seems like it would work, although it feels as though I am missing something. That somehow the email gods will see what I am doing and strike me down.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Here's what you are 'missing': You have a list that opted in to receive emails from a specific site/landing page/product provider/business.

    In your terms of service of the signup - is there mention that you will 'share' their email info with other companies or third parties? Most opt in forms promise not to share info...what does yours say? If you can just send info from another site/business without their permission - why not from 3 sites - or 10?

    You may like the answer above that says 'that's fine' - and you may justify what it is you want to do. There are marketers who sell emails of their signups - and I doub tthe 'gods' will strike you. However, you could ruin any reputation you might have created if it becomes known you are cheating people in any way.

    A better idea would be to introduce new info, sub-niche products and related sites/topics as 'options' with links to them included in emails you send your current list. That allows your list to opt in to additional 'areas' to segment the list.

    It is not unusual for marketers to have multiple email lists - and not unusual for people on one list to sign up for another from the same marketer. The key is 'sign up'....'permission based' email marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author hersbear
    Kay, I appreciate what you are saying. My sign up form does not say anything about sharing contacts or their information.

    I do not cheat anyone. I give my readers useful, actionable information. I've been doing this for 15 years and rarely hear complaints.

    My list is segmented now.

    But I get your point.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    If you have that much experience - you realize this could be 'dicey'. If I were you I'd err on the side of caution and find a way to get your current list (or some of them) to opt in to a new list. It can be done with an email in the form of a story or personal experience your share.

    You have the experience to make the calls - others reading this thread might try this idea without understanding the basics of it.



    The second set-up would be under a different company name so recipients would not know both emails are coming from me.
    That part bothers me I know what you mean but it seems deceptive to me. I'm sure it's done by marketers...but.. Could you not present the new 'list' as an 'advanced', tips/tricks, case studies, etc site/business you have launched to continue the learning curve or provide more in depth info?

    Your list - up to you. Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
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  • Profile picture of the author AffiliateRag
    another thought...
    instead of just using your list for a separate but unrelated ESP...try connecting the ESPs so your list knows both emails are from you. Open rates can rise sharply just by simply changing the name the email comes from. A lot of times your list has separated your emails into a folder/tag and then forget to open the folder and see your emails. Using a second ESP with a different, but related email address can get you back in the regular inbox thus increasing your CTR.
    Also, some ESPs have better relationships with some email clients like gmail. One ESP may be more likely to be labeled as spam and the other may get through with ease...again getting you back in the inbox.
    Also, another idea is to simply take your long time unopens and transfer them to the new ESP. You may find many of them are simply in the categories above and not seeing your emails.
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  • Profile picture of the author hersbear
    My site is informational. I'm not selling anything. I've never really figured out how to offer more since there are only a couple of products that go with my content.

    My question with two connecting ESPs and my readers knowing both emails are coming from me is if they unsubscribe from one ESP, then aren't they going to assume that they are subscribing from all emails, including the ones in the first set-up? Then when they get an email from the first set-up, they'll complain since they thought they were unsubscribed.

    That's why I thought two unrelated ESPs would work. I own an S corp. My sites are under its umbrella, so in the second ESP I would just list the website name in the emails, not the S corp name. A little deceptive, yes, but still the same company sending both emails.
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    • Profile picture of the author SARubin
      Originally Posted by hersbear View Post

      Hi there,


      I was thinking that maybe I could double my revenue by copying my contacts to a separate ESP and emailing them from there in addition to my original sends. Same topic but new, different content. The second set-up would be under a different company name so recipients would not know both emails are coming from me.
      I don't quite understand your purpose here, hersbear...

      Are you just trying to double your revenue from your list?

      If yes, then can we bring your conversion percentage up with better copy, or better offers?
      How about doubling the rate of email you send, or how about just sending different stuff to the non-responsive people?

      What else have you tested so far?


      Or, are you saying you want to try doubling your revenue by creating a new entity and becoming your own competition?

      If that's the case, then it could work (the idea has worked before for others). But I'd recommend testing this idea with a small sample of your list and see what you get for results (a sample from the non-responsive group would be best, just in case they do a mass opt-out)

      Rather than speculating, it's sometimes easier to just test it.


      Originally Posted by hersbear View Post

      My site is informational. I'm not selling anything.
      I'm confused by this part also.

      If you're not selling anything, then doubling your income is easy. Zero times two is zero. Problem solved. (I'll send you my bill for the consult )

      Originally Posted by hersbear View Post

      My question with two connecting ESPs and my readers knowing both emails are coming from me is if they unsubscribe from one ESP, then aren't they going to assume that they are subscribing from all emails, including the ones in the first set-up? Then when they get an email from the first set-up, they'll complain since they thought they were unsubscribed.

      Well, this brings me back to "why are they unsubscribing?"...


      Can we bring that percentage down with better copy, or better offers?


      Originally Posted by hersbear View Post

      A little deceptive, yes, but still the same company sending both emails.
      If you already believe it's a little deceptive, then it sounds like you're already having ethical doubts?

      I guess you'll need to decide for yourself how deceptive you think it is, and how deceptive you're willing to go.

      Just a quick heads up for you though... In this day and age, authenticity and trust are becoming valuable currency. And deception, once discovered, can be costly.
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    • Profile picture of the author AffiliateRag
      If the purpose of your emails aren't to sell, I'm not sure how you are doubling your revenue by doubling your email platforms? I'm guessing your page somehow creates sales if there is revenue to be doubled so the same principles should apply in general. Marketing is marketing across all platforms

      There are a few options for handling the unsubs.
      (1) manually import once a week from one ESP to another (use a disclaimer that it may take up to 2 weeks to be unsubbed). ESPs generally have a list of unsubs you can either access and import from one to another or you can copy and paste
      (2) create an opt out page where users have to click buttons that unsub them from one or both lists before confirming the unsub (requires a form that when the button is activated it performs actions for each option selected) (most efficient method, just takes some extra set up time)
      (3) use a list cleaning service (can be a little expensive but prices at places like xverify are sometimes negotiable...still not likely the best option for a daily or weekly service as prices can be per action)

      An easier way may just be to use the same email platform but change the from email address. This can often have all the same effects I listed before. List hygiene is also much easier on a single platform if you're not interested in the potential headaches of using more than 1.

      The risk of copying a list is basically the same as buying a list. You tend to get labeled a spammer and all your money and time spent on the new email ends up being a waste. You may be able to get optins from the original list by doing your own email joint venture. Email your old list about the new option and get them to manually opt in. These can have high success rates and then youd end up with a second list you would know is better quality than the first because now they have opted in twice. There is a TON more money to be made by having high quality lists instead of just one giant list. It allows much more direct marketing.
      Hope that helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author hersbear
    Thank you all for the input. You've given me some ideas and things to think about. Further segmenting the list might be best. And finding some more affiliate products to offer. And better copy. Lots of work to do
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  • Profile picture of the author depotgang
    I've been doing email over 15 years....in one word

    no

    If if if is bull
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    • Profile picture of the author hersbear
      What does "if if if is bull" mean?
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Do you want to be ethical or do you want to be unethical?

    Do you want your users to trust you or do you want them to think you are selling or sharing their email addresses?

    These are questions only you can answer.
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  • Profile picture of the author depotgang
    15 year of experience talking You wont double your income...you'll cut it in half.

    Good luck
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    • Profile picture of the author hersbear
      Actually, no. I won't double it, but I will increase it.
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  • Profile picture of the author BWHadam
    give them more value and it will work definitely.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bjarne Eldhuset
    There are usually more problems to be solved & things to be discussed in most niches. You do not have to give all information away. Maybe team up with some people and do mastermind interviews, and sell these. There are so many options. If you have 18.000 people on your list, you might also try to survey them, to find their biggest pain points/problems to be solved, and then use this information to create info products etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris-
    If I understand correctly, the law says that people must be informed that they are about to subscribe to a list. So your idea is likely to be illegal.

    It is definitely a good idea to clean your list regularly, to improve deliverability. If you regularly post high quality relevant content, then most of your list should open some of them. But some people will cease opening anything, for some reason.

    Anyone who's not opened any of your emails for a couple of months or so, you should move them to a separate list where you ask them just once every few months if they still want to receive emails from you. This is because the more of your emails which don't get opened, the lower your deliverability score with Google and other email delivery companies, which means even more of your emails will go into spam folders or be deleted. So you need to optimise your deliverability as much as possible, so your deliverability score goes up and a greater percentage of your mails get delivered correctly.

    Chris
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