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Email Marketing: Is getting opt ins safe?

         

asmoman

2:35 pm on Sep 15, 2006 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Folks: I am not sure if I am posting this in the right forum. Please advise if this post belongs elsewhere!

We are in the process of adding a newsletter to all our sites. Users visit our sites to download an ebook, and other sites software.

We want to start sending users a weekly newsletter to gently presell them on our products.

How much effort do I need to put into legal issues. Do I need to get a privacy policy written? Is doing a double opt in enough to protect me?

I would hate to have to consult with a lawyer before launching our newsletter.

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Additional questions that probably wont get answered:

-Is a Canadian address at the bottom of the email just as good as a US address?

-How much do services like aweber protect me against spam?

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It would be great to hear a few responses.

My Best

celgins

4:51 pm on Sep 15, 2006 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Greetings asmoman...

A newsletter is one of the most effective tools you can use to keep in touch with your visitors. It allows you to notify visitors of site updates, changes, and/or promotions.

It is also great for "word-of-mouth" practices and "word-by-email" practices. Many site goers often forward email newsletters to friends who may be interested. That's viral marketing.

How much effort do I need to put into legal issues. Do I need to get a privacy policy written?

You will most definitely need a privacy policy for your website. The provided for your website should cover materials on your site, and materials sent via email (newsletters). But it's often good practice to include specifics in your site's privacy policy about how you handle newsletters.

Is doing a double opt in enough to protect me?

Definitely use some sor of opt-in procedure to handle your newsletter subscriptions. This way, both you and email address owners have verification of their participation.

Is a Canadian address at the bottom of the email just as good as a US address?

Can't think of any reasons why it wouldn't be.

How much do services like aweber protect me against spam?

I've never used that service, but using a double opt-in procedure for signup will probably keep most automated spammers out.