Consumer email regulations

[Silky]

Hi,
I've been debating buying lists of names of an email campaign targetted at consumers but I've just read on another thread this this could be illegal. Are there any exceptions to this at all - the customers would all be new customers.

If anyone has a link to regulations I need to adhere to I'd be very grateful ,
Thanks,
Silky

 

[Monsoon_Interactive]

If you are buying a list, there is a 99% chance it is a spam list. Anytime you buy a list, you are flirting with disaster. My advice is find a reputable ESP who will email your message to their list. This way, they have "opt-in" permission to do so and you will stay on the right side of the law!

 

[Darren Falkingham]

Hi Silky,

The very best thing to do is talk to the Information Commissioner's Office - they're very helpful and very happy to receive enquiries, even by phone.

Main website is:
http://www.ico.gov.uk

and the stuff about privacy and email is here:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/privacy_and_electronic_communications.aspx

Good luck with the campaigns, and it's great that you're being mindful of the regulations before you start.

All the best,
Darren

 

[shallam]

You can rent quality consumer email marketing lists from a number of reputable organisations.

You want to check that the list owner:

-is registered under the Data Protection Act, and manages the list under the DPA legislation

-is a member of the Direct Marketing Association

PM if you want sources to rent lists from.

 

[collins585]

You obviously can rent email addresses, but it is illegal to send emails to contacts that haven't opted-in to receive emails from you. This is why all reputable email service providers will not allow you to send emails to contacts acquired from rented lists. They monitor number of people in your send liststhat claim that your emails are junk and if you exceed a certain threshold they'll close your account.

Your response rates and conversion rates will be low with rented lists and sending spam will do more damage to your brand rather than good.

I believe you can also email customers without permission, but I personally wouldn't do that. If a customer wants to receive your emails they'll opt-in.

 

[marketing data lists]

There are a lot of companies out there offering consumer email lists but only a few goods ones, we offer list brokering service and only work with DMA approved data owners, all consumer emails have to be opted-in to comply with current legislation. Unfortunately the word Spam is used too freely these days and normally by people who don't or have never worked in this area.

As long as the email data is rented from a DMA approved data owner you will have no problems with regards to spam or being blacked listed.

Hope this helps,

 

[collins585]

You can send unsolicited traditional DM campaigns, door drops etc. However, when it comes to email marketing you cannot send bulk campaigns to people that have not opted-in to receive your email communications. If you look at the website of any reputable ESP, you'll find that they won't broadcast campaigns unless the contacts have opted-in to your list. The only exceptions are if targeting business contacts (e.g. Ltd company employees) and customers or individuals that you have dealt with in the past.

 

[INDIZINE]

The only unsolicited email you can sen, is when it is sent to one individual.

Sending bulk email unsolicited isnt allowed though people do it all the time. Perhaps in smaller numbers than in thousands.

 

[collins585]

yes, i agree. Sending 1 email to 1 individual is just plain doing business, that is not an issue.

 

[Trainer Bubble]

I provide an Electronic Marketing Regulations training course on my website for anyone that would like to train staff on this sensitive topic.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I would suggest you go with a proper online marketing firm. I can recommend Eggbox Marketing: http://www.eggboxmarketing.co.uk/

They cover all areas of online marketing, including "permission email" marketing.

If you do contact them, please say I sent you (I don't get anything for it, but I love networking).

 

[ken_uk]

Unless things have changed recently, which you would have to check, it should be perfectly legal to spam a business (but only to the business email address, NEVER to the personal home inbox of a individual connected with the business).

Just one of the crazy things about the regs in this country.

Check first though, but pretty sure thats the case.

Its wrong ethically, but legal.....