Forum Moderators: phranque
When we first launched the memberships(free), we had no terms and agreements. We later added one that would allow our visitors to register, but with limited terms and they would have to agree to us sending them the typical periodical promotional item, newsletter, etc, by email.
So I stand here with a large DB of members and I have a small % that have agreed to the terms & conditions, and a larger % that have not (because there simply was none).
I have no idea what I CAN and CANNOT do, and what I SHOULD do with this. What are the legal, privacy, etc. issues, and what are some of the promotional actions I can take?
Any feedback, thoughts, experiences, etc., is GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks to all in advance! =)
If you are thinking about setting up a E~newsletter and signing them all up by default then as long as it is in context of the website that they gave their email address for I would say you are ok but you must remember to include a way for the to unsubscribe via a sim[ple link in the footer of the emails.
Other then the newsletter I wouldn't use them for anything.
A question for you is why did you harvest all these emails to begin with? Is there some functioanlity on the website that uses them? If so then just let that be the only thing you do with them. I am not sure what you were thinking about doing with them but I can't think of many good things.
[edited by: Demaestro at 9:57 pm (utc) on Sep. 13, 2006]
Leave it be if you are thinking of selling it as a list to spammers. That would be bad.
Trust me. It was the last of my intentions. THAT is why I am asking these questions about what I can and CANNOT do ;)
I get enough of other sites selling my emails and experiencing firsthand the pain I go through each day because of it, that I am professional and respectful enough to not even consider it.
A question for you is why did you harvest all these emails to begin with?
I knew that many sites were doing this and I also knew that it was a good strategy for future marketing possibilities, i.e., newsletters. I wasn't sure which direction I would go with it at the time, but I just knew it couldnt be a bad thing.
I am now trying to find out more why people (sites) do this and what are the (ethical) benefits.
I often receive emails from sites I signed up a long time ago and which suddenly start with an newsletter or something comparable annoying via email. I don't like that and most of the time I sign off from those sites immediately, even if they offer something interesting. If you have a newsletter it should have been clear when people signed up.
I would say that keeping them and possibly using them for a newsletter mail out that is in context of your website niche would be ok.
Like I said if you do this make sure you give them a very simple unsubscribe method that works and I think you should be ok.
If they gave you the email address without an agreement in place then you shouldn't feel bad for sending them out at least one peice of mail.
Based on your reaction to my question of selling them to a spammer I am sure you will do the right thing.
