The Rules and Laws Around Collecting Email Addresses
Before you start building your email list, you should know about the rules and
laws that govern this industry. First off, if you are in the United States, you need
to get familiar with the Can-Spam Act. Even if you are in a country that isn't
governed by this law, it's a good idea to follow it anyway to be safe.
Here is a summary of the requirements under this act:
If caught abusing email and in non-compliance of the Can-Spam Act you could
be subject to penalties up to $16,000.
- Don't Use False or Misleading Header Information – The From, To and
Reply To information must be accurate and not misleading in any way/ - Do Not Use Deceptive Subjects – It is not acceptable to try to trick readers
into opening emails by using deceptive email subjects. - Identify the Message as an Ad – You must notify your subscribers that they
are reading an ad. - Include Valid Physical Location – You must identify your location within
every email you send out. - Tell Subscribers How to Opt-Out of Emails – In every email there must be
clear directions on how to unsubscribe from your email list. - You Must Honor Opt-Out Requests Promptly – You must honor opt- out
requests within 10 business days. - Monitor Your Services – It's not ok to hire someone to help you and expect
the responsibility of complying with the act transfers to them. You must be aware
of what is being done on your behalf as you could be responsible for it as well.
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