The Bad Well, friends or not, this is bad form. If you don’t have time to keep in touch, it is really rude to only contact them when I want something from them. And the only thing that will be hot is the water I could be in if someone accused me of SPAMMING them. This is internet spam and email at its worse.

Permission needs to be granted.

There is a loop hole although you might want to re-read the section about it being bad form. You could send an e-mail about anything personal or on topic for why you have their address in the first place. Some claim that it is acceptable to add a signature that plugs what ever at the end of that e-mail. Then if they click on it, they in effect are opting in.

Be careful on this one. If I have not talked to someone in a while, sometimes the sig will be made unavailable to dig for these mailings. The relationship is more important than any business.

Example: My old bank manager, we will call her Mary. I have one of her testimonials on my art site. It is about one of my paintings. I have her permission to use the comment on the site. Now however, I also have a blog. Not having talked to her in a year since she was promoted to regional vice-president other than to congratulate her, my choice would be not to ask her to visit the blog.

However, I would consider writing, asking how she is doing and what she is doing. Then I would re-thank her for letting me use her comment on my site (the reminder). Then I would ask if it would be permissible to post her same comment on the blog with the same picture. I would make it easy to opt-out of this offer by adding...knowing how busy you are, if it is not OK, your lack of response will be all I need.

Knowing Mary, it will not be a problem. But this way, my bases are covered. Please be mindful that, per the TOS of this site, this is not legal advice regarding the CAN SPAM act and how to abide by it. It is my opinion on how I would try to work within it so as not to get into trouble with my web host or any service provider. For legal advice you need to talk to a legal professional.

Note...This is a single e-mail and not a mass mailing.

What About Mass Emailing?

If your sending out hundreds of mailings, the safety of a company that specializes in e-mailing is not only wise, it is the best way to assure the proper handling of the list of names. More on this in the last installment.

Go to internet-spam-and-email The 1st of 5 Bad ways to use e-mail lists.

Go to Internet Spam Examples The 2nd of 5 Bad email list handling.

Go to Email List Spam Examples The 3rd of 5 examples of Bad ways to handle email lists.

Go to Spamming Example The 5th of 5 examples of Bad ways to handle email lists.

There is one more page of examples of email list spamming. Go to the 5th set of examples and see.

Do you know the Other Website Legalities to Consider?

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