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How to Find/Buy LEGAL Email Lists???

by BeckM2
17 replies
Hi,
I'm a general dentist and I run a web firm that specializes in development for dentists and physicians. I've also written a physical book that I sell for dentists, and I'm looking to promote both of these services and build my email list.

I've never looked at buying an email list before and I have a few questions:

1) Is it LEGAL to buy an email list and then hit people with these "unsolicited" emails? How can I do this and not be flagged for spamming?

2) If so, where could I find a legitimate and reputable list of dentists, and a list of physicians?

3) What would one expect to pay for such a list? How does pricing work?

I'm building my own home-grown list, but I want to see if this is a possible approach, too?

Thanks!
#email #find or buy #legal #lists
  • Profile picture of the author brentb
    1. It is legal if they opt-in to 3rd party emailing, otherwise no its not.

    2. Buy leads from a lead aggregator or someone one on one, sites that sell lists have poor quality in my experience. The other option is buy dentist business listings (public records).

    3. Low quality list will cost you $29.99, $79.99, $299 something like that where its set up for a 'sales' pitch. High quality leads are going to be at least $1 per record or more. So 1000 targeted, opt in, not spread all over the net to everyone else might cost you a few thousand. But its not always bad for lower quality, just try and stay away from lists that are like $99 special!!!! There is nothing good for bargain prices.... 100% sure!

    When buying lists, ask how recent the data is, if its been sold to other people, what type of opt-in process happened. Also, ask if the list has been cleaned for hard bounces (bad emails that you can never email to).
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  • Profile picture of the author dean fergusson
    hi,
    to find the legal email list you have two different ways.
    1-buy from some one else
    2-create your own blog and email verification script so that each visitor come and share their email address with your blog and then allow them through email verification process .this is the only way you can get some real and verified email list.
    nothing less.

    dean
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  • Profile picture of the author Archimedes
    It really is better to generate your own list, but if you must buy a list, look up SRDS as a reliable list source. SRDS is primarily a direct marketing source, but I'm pretty sure they have email list data as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarketingMinded
    Originally Posted by BeckM2 View Post

    Hi,
    I'm a general dentist and I run a web firm that specializes in development for dentists and physicians. I've also written a physical book that I sell for dentists, and I'm looking to promote both of these services and build my email list.

    I've never looked at buying an email list before and I have a few questions:

    1) Is it LEGAL to buy an email list and then hit people with these "unsolicited" emails? How can I do this and not be flagged for spamming?

    No, it's not legal and wouldn't recommend doing so. See the CAN-SPAM Act

    2) If so, where could I find a legitimate and reputable list of dentists, and a list of physicians?

    you can look into services like rent-a-list(dot)com and arcamax(dot)com or vettamarketing(dot)com

    3) What would one expect to pay for such a list? How does pricing work?

    pricing varies, usually depends on the size or buying potential of the list

    I'm building my own home-grown list, but I want to see if this is a possible approach, too?

    Thanks!
    Best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    There is a CHEAP alternative. Do targeted solo ad buys or cross promotions with other list marketers. Make sure you get guarantees regarding their list quality though so you can avoid scams. If you want to minimize your risk, try list blasts at Fiverr. The quality varies but at $5 a pop, you're taking less risk than regular solo ads.
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  • Profile picture of the author aduttonater
    Wow Dentist. Congrats.
    If you want to market to dentist, I would suggest setting up a small marketing team on 8 dollars per hour, or on a commission basis. See what they can do for you. I would image you are far to busy to even think about this kind of concept.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    I could argue either way with this really; though be warned that I'm not a lawyer.

    I've purchased tens of thousands of leads in my day (probably more).

    But the definition of "Spam" is unsolicted bulk email, right?

    So what's the definition of "unsolicited"?

    If you purchase a lead, surely they have previously arranged to be pitched in one way or another when they requested information, so, as it were you're actually acting on behalf of the party offering information.

    In any event, the majority of leads I've purchased are pretty lame, and if you are to contact them I suggest outsourcing the gig to a highly qualified telemarketer.

    There has been a new lead service promoting heavily in my local area, they are Unlimited Sales Leads & Mailing Lists | infofree.com.

    They appear to offer a cheap trial, so why not give them a buzz; I'd wager if you contact them and ask for an awesome discount they'd probably hook you up.

    You might also consider outsourcing the entire project in its entirety, but it's worth a shot contacting ANY popular lead companies, you'll be surprised how happy they are to accommodate your requests.
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  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    Remember that most people who have agreed to receiving third party emails have either:
    a) missed the check/uncheck box and didn't mean to agree
    b) only want to receive closely related emails. That dreaded phrase "carefully chosen" offers and partners usually means "we will sell your email to anyone that pays us"

    In other words, you are after a list of dentists. If you buy a list, even one that CLAIMS to be dentists it will be a general list, made up of people who have no interest in your offer and many of whom will hit the spam button.

    Why not look at promoting where dentists hang-out. Are there any magazines they read? Do those magazines have websites? Are there any Facebook groups? Are there any associations/professional bodies that will allow you to advertise in their magazines?

    Spamming is never a good move. Most dentists won't even get to see your spam - their secretaries will hit delete first.
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    • Profile picture of the author brentb
      Originally Posted by MarketingMinded View Post

      No, it's not legal and wouldn't recommend doing so. See the CAN-SPAM Act
      Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post

      Spamming is never a good move. Most dentists won't even get to see your spam - their secretaries will hit delete first.
      Please read CAN-SPAM, buying a list is not Spam if they opt-in and agree to be emailed by third parties.

      I believe I saw in another thread his product is like $300 and pretty specialized particularly for Dentists. He doesn't need a huge conversion rate for this to back out so even if people unsub, mark as spam, secretaries delete etc... he needs to sell 1 to every maybe 150 on a quality list or 1 in 400-500 for a lower quality list to make this worthwhile to him and make decent profit.

      You should also DEFINITELY do PPC on Adwords and BingAds, I am sure you will kill it on there for your niche!!!!
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      • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
        Originally Posted by brentb View Post

        Please read CAN-SPAM, buying a list is not Spam if they opt-in and agree to be emailed by third parties.
        It may not meet the legal definition of spam, but to the ordinary person on the street (I believe the phrase is The Man On The Clapham Omnibus) it counts as spam and will make them hit the spam button. They aren't interested in legal definitions.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post

      Most dentists won't even get to see your spam - their secretaries will hit delete first.
      This. Exactly.

      In a strange way, it's really almost an academic point how "legal" this is (and this forum isn't a good place to ask for or to take legal advice anyway), because the proportion of your emails which will be seen by "the dentist" is surely going to be so tiny anyway?

      Wouldn't a "dentist-to-dentist phone-call" be a better approach here, albeit much more time-consuming? "Hello, this is Dr. Whatever, I'm a dental surgeon here in Toothville, Arizona, and I was wondering what would be a convenient time of day for me to catch Dr. Prospect for a three-minute chat about something?". I would think far more will take your call, eventually, one way or another, knowing that you're a dentist yourself, than will ever see your email? I'm sure my dentist would.
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      • Profile picture of the author brentb
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Wouldn't a "dentist-to-dentist phone-call" be a better approach here, albeit much more time-consuming?
        I agree with this being more time-consuming.

        If I was personally doing this, I would use PPC to build an email list. But like I said high quality for this type of niche is going to cost you way more than some BizOpp stuff, so don't go off of numbers posted all around the forums.

        I do disagree with the buying emails thing. Like I mentioned buying $99 specials are going to be complete garbage. But highly targeted emails will deliver the exact content to the right people. So what if many secretaries delete emails? You can always send again. How many secretaries are going to say the doctor is busy when you call because they can tell you are "selling something"? Its called the gatekeeper in personal selling, just learn to get around them, be it on the phone, in person, through email etc... that problem will never go away... ever. Plus, I doubt you are going to get all dentist-community email addresses read by secretaries, you will I am sure get plenty of dentist's personal emails. But that's something to look into before you buy leads.
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        • Profile picture of the author BeckM2
          Originally Posted by brentb View Post

          Please read CAN-SPAM, buying a list is not Spam if they opt-in and agree to be emailed by third parties.

          I believe I saw in another thread his product is like $300 and pretty specialized particularly for Dentists. He doesn't need a huge conversion rate for this to back out so even if people unsub, mark as spam, secretaries delete etc... he needs to sell 1 to every maybe 150 on a quality list or 1 in 400-500 for a lower quality list to make this worthwhile to him and make decent profit.
          Yes! That's me! Could you please explain what you mean above?

          You should also DEFINITELY do PPC on Adwords and BingAds, I am sure you will kill it on there for your niche!!!!
          I've done it and my ROI was crappy. My sales page and purchase page DO convert, but I found that just PPC didn't work. That being said, I am building my list at around 10 dentists per month, and the book -- although I do make $ on it -- is also a lead in for websites. Because of my niche, I START at $2400 for building a website so a PPC campaign may be worth another try

          Originally Posted by dean fergusson View Post

          hi,
          to find the legal email list you have two different ways.
          1-buy from some one else
          2-create your own blog and email verification script so that each visitor come and share their email address with your blog and then allow them through email verification process .this is the only way you can get some real and verified email list.
          nothing less.

          dean
          Thanks. I have a blog and a list already but I want it to grow faster. Maybe the 10 per month I get is good -- but I want more!

          Originally Posted by aduttonater View Post

          Wow Dentist. Congrats.
          If you want to market to dentist, I would suggest setting up a small marketing team on 8 dollars per hour, or on a commission basis. See what they can do for you. I would image you are far to busy to even think about this kind of concept.
          Please elaborate. And yes, I' REALLY busy. But that's why I hire people.

          Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post


          Why not look at promoting where dentists hang-out. Are there any magazines they read? Do those magazines have websites? Are there any Facebook groups? Are there any associations/professional bodies that will allow you to advertise in their magazines?
          Great points -- and yes. I frequent a very popular forum for dentists from which I get a lot of business, AND I lecture to dentists on the subject (I speak at conventions, etc.)

          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post


          Wouldn't a "dentist-to-dentist phone-call" be a better approach here, albeit much more time-consuming? "Hello, this is Dr. Whatever, I'm a dental surgeon here in Toothville, Arizona, and I was wondering what would be a convenient time of day for me to catch Dr. Prospect for a three-minute chat about something?". I would think far more will take your call, eventually, one way or another, knowing that you're a dentist yourself, than will ever see your email? I'm sure my dentist would.
          I never thought of that. Is that "cold-calling"? It also doesn't hurt in my marketing that my dental degree is from Harvard.

          Thanks!
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          Internet Marketing for Dentists and Physicians
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill Hugall
    No it isn't it is called Co registration. The listguy.com. There are a ton and it is expensive and you should be looking for a 75% to 80% good email count on your purchase. Then you will need an email blaster and SMTP to do massive mailings.It is a niche to learn itself. I know that most people don't like it, but I know some guys who have made very good money on these lists. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEO Haven
    Legal email lists?

    Build them yourself.

    Any email list you buy is SPAM, never forget that.
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    SEO, SMM, Google Local Optimization & Professional Internet Marketing done-for-you.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    SEO haven gets the comment of the day.

    I dare you to buy a list, then you can come back and join the numerous warriors that have been burnt and posted their whiney complaints.

    Dont get done like a dinner!

    1) I had a friend from canada, who spend thousands on a list, and got 1 optin. Yes 1.

    2) Do you really think people selling lists or renting lists are going to give away solid buyers. NO! these are spammed lists almost programmed to delete all messages.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Originally Posted by BeckM2 View Post

    2) If so, where could I find a legitimate and reputable list of dentists, and a list of physicians?

    3) What would one expect to pay for such a list? How does pricing work?
    There's a lot of ignorance regarding lists on this thread.

    Another option is to access lists via a service like NextMark:

    Mailing List Finder -- Search & Compare Mailing Lists (no affil.)

    Just type your keywords like dentists, physicians, etc
    into the search box, select the e-mail radio button for
    the channel and press the button to do a search.

    Then you'll find the range of lists that are accessible
    to you in your niche together with a dollar cost per
    thousand for each.

    Dedicated to mutual success,

    Shaun
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    .

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