Hey everyone,

I have a client who had me enter in contacts from a Book that is called the Home Builders Association Directory. She wants to email them all as part of her email marketing campaign. I was going to use her Outlook Business Contact at first to email them all, but I am thinking I need to use a online program at first and then I will enter then in her bcm, the ones that contact her.

So my question is, I was going to use Mailchimp to send them all and of course they want to know where you got the information from. Would you consider this a permission based list? The book is published with contact names, address and email address for anyone to see. I would think that it is, I just want to get other peoples thoughts about it.

Thanks!

__________________
Christina Keogh
www.ckvirtualassistant.com

Hi Christina,

It is not illegal under Spam Laws to send unsolicited emails, however, most people, including business owners would consider this to be unethical and pesky.

A double-opt in system is preferred; where emails are sent and the people have to confirm that they want future emails sent to them.

In fact, double-opt in is what you want because honestly, it can be a complete waste of time and money (for you and the client) to input info into an autoresponder like MailChimp only to have the emails deleted, unsubscribed or end up in a spam box.

If you have the receiver's permission, they are more likely to read the emails which is what you want.

I would suggest that the client try to reach potential email recipients not through mailing lists but through good marketing. In other words, if the HBA is online and has a forum, why not post that the client has a newsletter with tips or whatever it is that she wants to send and provide a MailChimp link to sign up.

Perhaps the HBA has a FB page. Why not post there to see if anyone would be interested in receiving whatever information the client wants to provide? Does the client have a blog? Why not provide valuable information on a regular basis geared toward Home Builders and provide a link to a sign up that way?

I know that simply putting emails in a database is easier than nurturing the client's base but unsolicited email is considered spam and IMO a waste of time.

Janine

__________________
WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com

Hi Janine,

Thanks for your input. She is not sending a newsletter, but is sending a email "flyer" for her services. We have sent out 50 emails to people on the list that I have created for her from this book and I have received one response. We have put on the bottom of the email where we have got there email address from and if they no longer want to receive emails to let her know.

I will look into this other marketing options and let her know about it. I know that she is wanting to send all of these members some information on her company.

Thanks

Christina

__________________
Christina Keogh
www.ckvirtualassistant.com