[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?

[Allen Lundy]

The people currently on your list(s), have you been sending them emails periodically, or have you just got them on your list and your list is basically dormant and has been for years.

You are saying your 20K people are from "various sources". Are these people currently in a valid optin list, or are you using a spreadsheet that has been compiled with all the names and emails.

If you are doing the later, I'd be willing to be dollars to donut wholes you'll be hit with SPAM complaints within days of sending out your requests.

Be VERY careful that the people you are sending your request to are not purchased names, and that they are on your current and active email lists.

I use GetResponse, and they allow me to add at the bottom of my emails the date, time and IP address that the person originally opted in to my mailing list.

If you are going to ask them to sign up to a seperate mailing list, I would ensure that you show the above information on your next email to them and then offer them a "bribe" of some sort to have them sign up to your new list.

Make sure you have your unsubscribe link at the bottom of your email so they can unsubscribe from the original list... even if they decide NOT to sign up to your "new" list.

But, since you aren't planning on "selling" them anything... what is the purpose of your trying to get them on another list?

Sort of confusing to me... and it may be even more confusing to them as they more than likely have NO idea who you are, but, since you have informed them of when they signed up, they can make another decision on if they wish to get on a new list or be removed from your existing list.

Allen

[JimDucharme]

You should also consider how old the list is. You mention that you've gathered these names over the years...be careful emailing to any list which has not been actively emailed for a long period of time.

Regards,
jim

[Patrician]

Seriously - just a few spam complaints delivered just to the wrong place at the wrong time can actually result in any of the following:

Loss of autoresponder (with no refund in some cases)
Loss of hosting account
Loss of domain name

This is not vindictive or mean the merchants are fascist.

It is ILLEGAL for any system to allow their membership to spam. Therefore they have no choice but to 'rule with an iron hand' -- it could mean the loss of their business if they allow it.

So it is a big gamble with an old list compiled over time - and actually is risky anytime you are not doing direct response - a lead capture page or portal where people directly 'opt-in' (giving you legal permission to email them which is documented on a 3rd party system).

However as noted above if you take some precautions such as sending an email that says nothing but would you like to subscribe to my mailing list - sent by an official autoresponder, NOT your email account, this should make the risk a little less.

... AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION - Have a link that they go to to opt-in - and that should have an IP address, date and time capture that you could use to defend yourself should someone 'forget' they opted-in and submit a spam complaint against you.