Re: Collecting posted addresses
PAUL R. BYNUM <pb_at_coldwellbanker.com> WROTE:
> I collect local email addresses of agents from a
> public site (www.Realtor.com), placed on there by
> agents advertising their services. I use this list to
> mail out announcements of local continuing education
> courses they may find of interest. Is this Spam?
As an ISP specializing in hosting, we (as do most
ISP's) have a zero tolerance when it comes to Spam.
That said, it begs a definition "what is Spam"? Any
Unsolicited Commercial Email or non-commercial bulk
messaging where the recipient has not specifically
given permission ("Opt In") to receive email from the
sender is Spam. Time and again Webmasters will bulk
email contact databases where the recipient at one time
requested information. Unfortunately, this would
violate most TOS agreements and be defined as Spam by
the ISP as the recipient did not give permission to the
Webmaster to send non-specific communications apart
from the recipients initial request for information.
There are several rules to follow when sending bulk
email:
1. On the form collecting the email address, allow
recipients to select the option to receive marketing
information from you. Don't automatically default yes
but no or leave blank.
2. Recipients must specifically authorize permission to
receive periodic communications from you.
3. Confirm the email and permission immediately. This
will confirm validity of the email address and remind
the recipient they authorized receipt of your future
mailings.
4. Your confirmation should have an easy mechanism for
the recipient to "Opt Out" or decline future mailings.
5. Honor ANY request to "Opt Out" and remove the
recipient from your database.
6. Keep the confirmation on file in the event the
recipient receives a mailing and complains.
7. In each mailing remind the recipient that the
mailing is not unsolicited and the recipient has
authorized receipt of the message.
8. Include a mechanism for recipients to cancel receipt
of future mailings ("Opt Out") and honor the request.
Also if you have a privacy policy make sure bulk email
is covered and don't take any action that compromises
your policy.
Good Luck!
Joe Williams
joe_at_getsite.net
Inexpensive Hosting Made Great!
www.getsite.net
Received on Thu Sep 14 2000 - 17:15:05 CDT
