Email Marketing

[Chubster]

I have collected a few emails from the site where customers have "opted in" to receive emails but I also have the email addresses of everyone that has ordered from me.

I assume I am only "allowed" to send emails to the former ?

[Fuzzy]

Fuzzy interested to know aswell Chub - thanks

[andysv1k]

Im guessing that would be the ethical thing to do.

Most of the customers who have used my store have opted out of the newsletters, even though i have their email addresses. I wouldnt send them mail if they have clearly opted out.

Andy.

[Indizine]

you can send them all an email giving them the option to opt out, then you can sweep up from there. Theres no laws about who you can email, though spam means to send bulk unsolicited email, this doesnt count when you have an existing relationship with the customer, same for tps/mps, those you have already connected with via an order, quote etc where they wilingly supplied you with their contact details then this is ok.

[Dotwhack]

If you're collected the email addresses during a transaction it's classed as a 'soft opt-in' which is fine to use.

All the emails you broadcast legally have to have your compnay name & address on and have the function for recipients to opt it is they want to (i.e. an unsub link)

[andysv1k]

what about in the situation i have, where the person selects yes or no to a newsletter upon registration?

Surely if they select no, then you send them newsletters, this is no better than spam.

Andy.

[Dotwhack]

well if part of your ordering process has a question for opting in and they select 'no' then you can't email them.

'soft opt in' was something used originally when laws on email marketing came out - if you're got the email during a sale (without asking if you can broadcast to them) you could send them emails.

For ethical reasons you should always ask.

[admagic]

I have collected a few emails from the site where customers have "opted in" to receive emails but I also have the email addresses of everyone that has ordered from me.

I assume I am only "allowed" to send emails to the former ?

Most problems with email marketing of any form come from a lack of respect for the list rather than the strict legal position

If you are treating your customer with some respect, you wouldnt pick up the phone and say BUY THIS NOW

You would pick it up and say


"Hi! do you remember us?

You are recieving this call because you bought an XYZ from us .

Now we are ringing to confirm you are still happy with the puchase, and if there is anything else we can do to help - please call us if you wis

Did you know that most of the people who bought that XYZ have also bought an ABC?

Now we have managed to do a great deal buying some of those and we want to pass those benefits on- so exclusive to all our valued customers we would like to say a big thank you..by giving you a very special deal on those on this hidden page on our website,
For just you our regular customers and it is here... www.mysite.com/forcustomersonly

Now we have ALSO taken the liberty of sending you the latest copy of our newsletter..

But by the way.
.
If you dont want to recieve any more emails, like this , then please just click on the link below to optout - we really do only want to send emails to people who would like to recieve them!

.................................................. ......................

The point I am making is if you identify yourself, show them respect,
treat them well, and offer them things others dont get
allow them to opt outgive them every chance to do this.
And dont overhelm them

Them you are unlikely to have problems!

Where even if you have a double optin, if you start saying BUY THIS three times a week,without ever Identifying yourselg some people will click the SPAM report, regardless of the law, and I have every sympathy... Your ISP may suspend you pending an investigation too!

[Sam (Mr. Mu)]

Hi Guys, I wrote this in my blog yesterday - hope it's useful:
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••

Most people starting out in business don’t know what the law actually says about what you can and can’t do regarding email marketing. Everyone seems to have their own definition of what constitutes spam - especially those people who offer to sell you one-off email-shots to their 10,000 name lists.


If your eyes glaze over when you read what WebsiteLaw.co.uk has to say about email marketing, don’t worry - you’re not alone. Even summarised to one page, it defies interpretation. With guidelines like that, no wonder everyone’s spamming everyone else.
So, in a spirit of public good-heartedness, I’ve boiled down the rules to a couple of points that you’ve no excuse for not being able to grasp. Honestly. Here it is


1. You can send mail marketing to a LTD or PLC company without consent - so long as the addressee is non-personal (e.g. info@bigcityconsulting)


2. You can’t send email marketing to individuals, sole traders or partnerships without consent.

The rules define 3 ways consent is given:


1) Where you’ve offered an ‘opt-out’ box (at the point of collecting an email address) but the person hasn’t ticked it


2) Where you’ve offered an ‘opt-in’ box (at the point of collecting an email address) and the person has ticked it


or


3) Where the email address was obtained ‘in the course of a sale or negotiations of a product or service AND then only where the email contents are concerned with that sale AND then only where the person has been given an opt-out option at every stage’. This is what’s known as ‘the soft opt-in’.

If you’re outside of that, you’re spamming.


•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

If you want to know about good email marketing (generally) have a listen this free podcast I produced a couple of weeks ago of Alastair Banks of Optix Solutions in Exeter explaining how it all works.

[Indizine]

I am not aware of any legalities concerning sending emails for marketing purposes. TPS and MPS laws exist but of course dont include email.

Where can I find official (gov) info on this email stuff you refer to Sam?