E mail campaigns - help needed please

[hunny]

Hi,
I have sourced a directory of companys which give an e mail address (enquiry form link) and what I want to do is to use this to send an introduction to my comany and its services. Could I get into trouble with this regarding the spam issue etc. I've read on previous posts that its only private e mail addresses that you have to avoid.
Any help on this will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Anne :D

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Anne,

There has been heated debate on the forums as to whether it's ok to send unsolicited mail to businesses and the legalities etc..

Bear in mind that Spam is slang for 'Unsolicited Commercial Email' - this 'official' description does not distinguish between the type of recipient - the real definition of spam focusses on the message sent and the intention behind it.

Hope this helps,

Rob

[hunny]

Hi Rob,
Thanks for that info, what I want to do is to invite relevent companys to look at our web site, in the same kind of way as if I were sending out a mail shot in the post. Is it not the same kind of thing? I am not intending sending hundreds and hundreds by purchasing e mail addresses, just a few :D It is so much easier than a postal campaign. Am I likely to get into trouble? Or is it a total no no :(

Thanks
Anne :D

[TechFox]

Try http://hostfox.net/promotion.html

[hunny]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the link - I take it that this is ok then - using a third party?
Cheers
Anne :)

[TechFox]

Yes this is completely legal and legit. People sign up to receive and are paid to receive emails through HTmail

You can send emails to specific groups, as shown at http://www.htmail.com/order.html?mike@techfox.co.uk

[Rob Holmes]

Yes this is completely legal and legit. People sign up to receive and are paid to receive emails through HTmail

No offense Mike but how many company decision makers get paid to open email?

Rob

[TechFox]

No offense Mike but how many company decision makers get paid to open email?

The database contains:

9191 Decision Makers
5600 Engish Speaking Decision Makers
1381 UK Decision Makers

[Rob Holmes]

I guess they could be company decision makers but I suppose I'm struggling to understand why a company decision maker would sign up to get paid a small amount for every email they receive ?

Do you see what I mean? Sorry for my scepticism. I guess I could be a potential customer if I felt they were legit.

Rob

[TechFox]

You could earn money by reading emails!

Just join our opt-in list...

Be the first to hear about new and innovative sites on the net.

Visit sites that sell products of interest to you.

Tell our advertisers what you like and don't like about their sites.

...and get paid for it!

[hunny]

Hi,
thanks for all your comments, but could I get into serious trouble if I did my own thing?
Thanks
Anne :)

[TechFox]

Your ISP could close your acount. You could also lose the hosting accounts of any sites mentioned in the email campaign.

[Rob Holmes]

You could earn money by reading emails!

Just join our opt-in list...

Be the first to hear about new and innovative sites on the net.

Visit sites that sell products of interest to you.

Tell our advertisers what you like and don't like about their sites.

...and get paid for it!

Here are the fees they pay..

You are credited US $0.10 (UK £0.05) if you click a link in one of our email ads to go to the advertisers web site and return our feedback form or US $0.01 (UK £0.01) if you do not visit and just return our code number from the advertisers email - but you also get US $0.05 (UK £0.03) for each feedback form returned by someone you referred AND an additional US $0.02 (UK £0.01) for each feedback form returned by THEIR referrals.

5p per email read? I can't imagine company decision makers deciding to get paid 5p to receive a sales email ??? What sort of decision would that be?

I guess I'd never know till I tried. But logic prevents me trying.

Rob

[Rob Holmes]

Anne - if you tried them above then from how I see it structured theres no spamming risks involved.

But you only get one crack at the client so I personally (if I ever decided to use this sort of company) would use the one mailing you get to probably get them to sign up (use an incentive) to your own newsletter (yes create one)

A nice short not in the email with an incentive to click through and sign up for your own opt-in newsletter would then allow you multiple bites at the apple legitimately and without paying each time you mailed out.

Rob

[hunny]

Rob - thanks for that :) , I will think about setting up an e mail newsletter, don't intend signing up to any directory, I'd be happier sending a postal mailshot out.

I have been reading earlier posts on this subject, and I know its very debateable, but again, if a company has an enquiry form on their web site and I make an enquiry to them to whether they require our services, how can this be illegal? I apologise for probably starting the floodgate of debate again - but I can't understand the logic. :?

Cheers,
Anne.

[Rob Holmes]

Rob - thanks for that :) , I will think about setting up an e mail newsletter, don't intend signing up to any directory, I'd be happier sending a postal mailshot out.

I have been reading earlier posts on this subject, and I know its very debateable, but again, if a company has an enquiry form on their web site and I make an enquiry to them to whether they require our services, how can this be illegal? I apologise for probably starting the floodgate of debate again - but I can't understand the logic. :?

Cheers,
Anne.

it's not illegal to fill in an enquiry form on a site - just bear in mind if the form is meant to be for customers or anyone, that may affect the response rate.

If you see a company that you're passionate about helping and you're really sure you can help them - than why not pick up the phone and call em :) ?

Rob

[hunny]

Rob - yes, I totally agree - I do indeed do that - don't always get very far but you can only try.
The reason that I would like to e mail is that I am also employed whilst we are getting our business up and running and therefore I do a lot of work for the business in the evenings and at weekends, when people are not there. I'm just wanting to be proactive in my spare time, like now on a Sunday afternoon - how sad!! :D
Anne