In the ever-evolving world of business, newer, more innovative methods of marketing are helping business owners—both small and big—to take their businesses to new heights. One successful method for this is cold emailing. This unique type of marketing, despite being effective, has its own challenges which is understanding the legal aspect. A wrong move can damage your reputation and affect your whole campaign.
Let us examine the details of the legal aspect of cold emailing to understand if they are truly legal and what you need to do or avoid.
Is Email Marketing Really Lawful?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes, but there are some practices that could make it unlawful. You see, cold emails are unsolicited emails sent to potential prospects, so the idea of sending emails to random addresses can be misinterpreted. Their legality depends on a number of factors.For example, the origin of the addresses. Email addresses can be acquired in a number of ways, and some aren’t entirely legal. Buying addresses, for example, is one way to get a large number of emails, but it is not encouraged because it is illegal.
Most addresses on these lists were not collected with the consent of the owners, and others contain spam traps. In short, it is best to use reliable sources like lemlist.com to ensure your addresses are rightly gathered.
How to Keep Your Emails On The Legal Side
To avoid landing in legal hot water, there are some simple guidelines you can follow to ensure your emails are always sent within the bounds of the law.
Clearly Identify Yourself And Your Business
When introducing yourself, you should include your full name. You can even include an up-to-date picture. This is to ensure you are correctly identified. The same principle applies to introducing your business. Include only verified information about what services you can offer. Do not include any deceptive information in the subject lines to make your offer more appealing.
Educate Yourself On The Legal Requirements For Cold Emailing In Your Area
Each country or state has its own laws governing cold emailing. You should educate yourself on these laws to avoid breaking any of them. Spam laws in the United States, Europe, and Canada all require that you include your full name, business name, and address in the email. You are also required to clearly state the purpose of your email.
Include The Option To Opt Out
Your recipients should have the option to opt out or unsubscribe from receiving your emails. This will allow them to stop receiving your emails if they choose to. And make sure you respect their request.
Include The Physical Address Of Your Business
Lastly, ensure your recent physical business address is part of your email. This will allow the prospects to visit your business if they need to.
Following these guidelines will make sure your cold email outreach is as legitimate as possible and gives you the results you are looking for. When done properly, cold emails are perfectly legal and efficient.
