Mass Email server/software suggestions

I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not in the US, but my understanding is that you haven't been misinformed and that you're right.

However, as I said, "legal considerations aside", there are practical considerations here. The trouble you get into, if recipients complain about spam, isn't any less or any easier because they're "wrong" to complain and/or you haven't broken the law.

This is all I can say, because in this forum, supporting, abetting or promoting the sending out of mass unsolicited mail has actually been a banning offense for over a decade, now - sorry. If you're proposing to send out bulk, unsolicited email, however legal that may be, this really isn't the right place to ask for advice/guidance about it.

To look at that a slightly different way, you might want to take your clue from the fact that autoresponder companies won't allow you to do this, because the reasons they won't allow it (and the effects it would have on them, if they did) are broadly speaking the same as the reasons you might not want to do it yourself, either. Just a thought.

Neil,

You are right, opting in is not a requirement for compliance with Can-Spam. However, prudent business practice and the use of email suggests that you should try to get permission from prospects prior to emailing them anything of a commercial nature.

This is what I would do . . . others will tell you something different. I would use a reputable email service that allows you to import Non-Optin Addresses. There are some out there. I wouldn't send the emails from a personal or important email address that you want to keep white listed. Reputable services will get more of your messages through.

I would send a non-selling, non-offering, non-advertising email to the list providing them with something original and of great value that shows your expertise. I would ask the recipients if they would be interested in receiving more of the same (or Part 2, etc) and if so, send them to your squeeze page so that you can get their opt-in permission.

To comply with Can-Spam be sure to:

• Use only accurate header information (no false "to", "from", "reply-to" etc.
• Use only accurate subject lines (no false or deceptive message)
• When you get around to send commercial emails (not this first one), be sure to label them as such
• Include a valid physical postal address
• Very important: tell the addressee how to opt out of further emails from you and make the process simply and easy
• Promptly honor all opt-outs as they come in
• If your email is handled by a 3rd party or service, you must keep tabs on what they are doing as you have the legal responsibility to monitor compliance

I'm not giving legal advice so do your own due diligence. This is my suggestion of a way to try to get permission before sending commercial messages. Yes, you will end up with a much smaller list than you started with; however, the prospects on your list will want to hear what you have to say and in my book, that is worth way more than a huge list of non-responders.

Good luck to you,

Steve