
How to Send Marketing Emails Legally: Essential Permission Guidelines
Email marketing requires careful attention to subscriber consent and list management to maintain engagement and comply with regulations like CAN-SPAM, CASL, and PECR.
Best Practices for Marketing Email Lists
Send Confirmation Emails
- Enable double opt-in to verify new subscribers
- Prevents unauthorized list additions
- Automatically enabled in most email platforms
- Essential for maintaining list quality
Never Purchase Email Lists
- Bought lists lead to spam complaints
- Often contain fake email addresses
- Can damage sender reputation
- May trigger email filters
Proper Ways to Build Your List
- Create dedicated newsletter signup pages
- Add subscription options at checkout
- Use website promotional banners
- Follow up event contacts with subscription links
- Clearly describe different mailing list purposes
Maintain List Integrity
- Only import lists from platform changes
- Keep subscribers on their chosen lists
- Don't automatically add subscribers to new lists
- Request separate signups for different content types
These practices help ensure:
- Better engagement rates
- Reduced spam complaints
- Legal compliance
- Improved deliverability
- Higher quality subscriber base
Remember: Always get explicit permission before sending marketing emails, and make it easy for subscribers to manage their preferences or unsubscribe.
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