Email Marketing solutions

Are You Accidentally Spamming Your List?

There are a large variety of techniques that can be used to build and profit from an email list. The problem, however, is that many of these methods can be considered SPAM by various people, because what is considered spam is ultimately in the eyes of the reader. Even if you think you’re doing everything right, your emails may be seen as spam by most of your list.

You need to ensure you follow some basic steps to ensure your emails do not get flagged as SPAM by your readers? This is more than just getting your emails through the filters; it’s ensuring that people will recognize you and actually read the email.

1. Always use an opt-in or double opt-in list. A double opt-in list is the best way to go, which is when you send the reader a confirmation email requiring them to click on a link before they are added to the mailing list. This ensures you do in fact have the subscriber’s permission, which will prevent unjust accusations of sending unsolicited emails.

2. NEVER rent an email list. This is extremely important. If someone has never heard of you, has had no previous interactions with you, and has not requested any information from you, then you are spamming them. It doesn’t matter how much you paid for the list or how reputable the company that sold you the list is, you are sending spam, plain and simple.

3. Choose your subject line carefully. When you’re first building a relationship with new subscribers, they will not likely recognize your name (people tend to forget about the lists they subscribe to rather quickly) and you are therefore dependent on them opening your email based entirely on the subject line. This means you need to avoid using any trigger words or phrases that can be viewed as spam.

4. Explain your relationship to the reader. If you don’t send out emails frequently enough that the subscriber will recognize your name, the first thing you should include in your email is a sentence that tells them who you are and why you’re sending them this email. Say something like, ‘You are receiving this email because you recently purchased product X from us’ or, ‘you are receiving this email because you signed up to receive periodic news and updates about…’

5. Build up your relationship with your readers as often as you can. This will help the reader recognize your name and can include something as simple as sending a holiday greeting, or perhaps sharing a recent event that happened in your life such as a the birth of a new baby or a recent trip you took. These days people can receive upwards to 100 emails in a day so you want your name to be identified as someone they know and trust; you don’t want your email to be passed over or lost in a pile of spam.

6. Follow the CAN-SPAM laws regarding commercial email. The laws include items such as containing an unsubscribe link in every email and including the mailing address of the company or person sending the email. The CAN-SPAM act can be found at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/canspam.htm.

The last thing you want is to be labeled as a spammer. It will hurt your reputation and affect your bottom-line. When you build a strong relationship with your readers by being completely honest and using the steps above, everyone is happy.