How To
Avoid Being Labeled a Spammer
© 2007 Alicia M Forest and ClientAbundance.com
If
you're running an online business, you know that your list is
your most important asset. And regardless of whether you're just
starting out or not, if you lose a chunk of your subscribers because
even just one of your emails gets flagged as spam, it's going
to hurt your business.
It's
vital to the ongoing success of your online business to make sure
you know the difference between spam and opt-in email. Here are
some tips on how to make sure you're only sending email to people
who have specifically asked for it.
1.
Only Use Permission-Based Email Marketing
Simply
put, opt-in email (also called 'permission-based') is email sent
to people who have given you permission to contact them via email.
So if someone hasn't directly requested information from you,
they should not be on your opt-in list.
2.
Single or Double Opt-in?
Depending
on the email list service you're using in your business, you may
have a choice between single or double opt-in email. With single
opt-in, someone gives you their email address once and they are
added to your list. With double opt-in (also know as confirmation
opt-in), someone gives you their email address, to which they
then receive an automated response from your list service asking
them to click a specific URL to confirm that they do in fact want
to be added to your list. Only once they click that link are they
then added to your list.
So,
which should you use? It depends, but for your main email list,
I want to encourage you to use the double opt-in process. It means
that you will lose a certain percentage of those people who signed
up for your list because they then don't confirm their subscription,
but it protects you from being labeled as a spammer.
3.
Post Your Privacy Policy
Wherever
you give people the option to sign up for your list, make certain
your privacy policy is clearly stated. Something like "We
will never share your email address, period" should be fine.
4.
Avoid Content Filter Triggers
In
your subject line and message body, avoid common words that make
your message look like spam. For example, don't use words or phrases
like FREE, guarantee, or increase income. Avoid using excessive
punctuation or symbols, and phrases like "click here"
as well.
5.
Have a Clear Unsubscribe Link
In
every email you send to your list, have a clear way for your reader
to unsubscribe if they desire. Usually this is in the form of
an unsubscribe URL at the bottom of the email. When someone clicks
on the link, they should be taken to a page where they can remove
their email address from your list. Just make sure your unsubscribe
function works!
6.
Get Whitelisted
Each
ISP has their own rules that they use to determine if an email
is spam or not. Do some research and start the process of getting
whitelisted with the major ISPs, like AOL, Yahoo, HotMail/MSN,
etc. Doing so is worth the time and effort required to protect
your email from being considered spam.
At
the very least, implement these 6 strategies in your online business
today if you're not already. Then check with your email list service
provider about other ways to protect your email from being flagged
as spam. Protecting your list like this acts as an insurance policy
on your bottom line. You may not like making the 'payments' on
that insurance but you won't be sorry that you put it in place.
©
2007 Alicia M Forest and ClientAbundance.com
