Define spam? Can I use old email addresses if genuine interest?

[gingeman]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anybody could shed their ethical and legal opinion on something I am working on.

I am in the process of launching a new domain site, which will feature a newsletter with industry news form my blog and others, as well as names for sale and brokerage.

Obviously, in order to make this work I need to build up a list of domainer's email addresses. The thing is, I already have literally hundres, from various correspondance, past transactions and general 'dealings' within the industry.

Can I use the database of emails I have built up in for my first newsletter, or is this considered spam? The product should be of interest to anyone on the list, as it is a list of 'domainers' emails, but none have specifically consented to this newsletter itself.

There will, of course, be a link for anyone receiving the newsletter to remove themselves and receive no future correspondance (unless they sign up again).

What do you think- as I mentioned I genuinely believe the newsletter is targetted and of interest, but obviously I don't want to taint my business from the off with the connotations of being a spammer!

Any thoughts on this appreciated!

 

[lzy]

If I suddenly received a mail informing me about a new domain website, definitely going into my spam folder :imho:

 

[JoshuaPz]

Any unsolicited mass mailing is spam by definition, even if the content may of interest to the letter's recipients.

However, I don't think anyone would give you a hard time if you sent the folks on that list a one-time, informal-sounding e-mail linking to your website and prefix with an apologetic "I'm sorry to bother you" type note. But you'd need to promise never to send anyone on that list another unsolicited e-mail. You should certainly not simply go ahead and mail out the first issue of your newsletter to the people on your list.

 

[gingeman]

Thanks for your input- I don't think I will use my existing list of past customers etc for this purpose then, I'll have to think up another way to get some interest!

 

[acronym007]

I say there is a happy medium. Send everyone on your lists your intention and ask if they would like to be included. You are in a great position to have all the email addresses, just send out the first email and you should at least get a high percentage of acceptance of your new newsletter.

 

[Michael]

I agree with acronym007. I wouldn't mind receiving one email from you letting me know of your newsletter, giving me the ability to opt-in (if we had done business before). However, I wouldn't appreciate it if you started sending me emails on a regular basis and forced me to take action to opt-out.