There has always been a debate about the legality of buying email lists and their use to promote products and services. It is a fact that there are no repercussions of purchasing a list, but the way you use them may have legal consequences. In today's blog post, we will look at some legal ways to buy email lists.
There is no law against buying an email list for marketing purposes, and the legality depends on how you use them. You can purchase lists of any customer segment you want from several vendors, like LISTGIANT.
The Legal Way to Buy Email Lists
There are many ways to buy a customer email list, but not all of them are legal. Different and legal ways that you can use to purchase an email marketing list are discussed below.
A Partnership with a Software Company
You can work together with a software company and pay for their CRM system in exchange for the right to access customer emails when they sign up for it.
Offer Incentives to Customers
You can offer incentives such as discounts or free products in exchange for permission to contact them at a later date by sending out coupons or special offers via your newsletters.
Make Subscription Easy
If you sell online, you can offer potential customers the opportunity to subscribe to your website's newsletter if they provide their email addresses. This is an excellent way to generate buyer's email lists. However, you should be aware of the CAN-SPAM act and avoid spamming your customers because it can result in legal action against you.
Purchase Lead Lists
Another way to buy an email list is by purchasing customers' names from your own company's database. If you are not doing any business with them, there is nothing wrong legally with buying their contact information and using it for marketing purposes. However, if they haven't opted in to receive marketing messages from you, they will most likely report your email as spam, which can lead to them unsubscribing.
If all else fails, you could just ask the company to buy email lists to create content. Email marketing is still alive and well today because people love getting emails from companies interested in their business. If you provide good content and value, it won't be too hard to get permission from your customers.
The Legal Issue
The main legal issue here is the CAN-SPAM law. This law has particular requirements for email marketing, and lists must be confirmed with the double opt-in process to adhere to these laws.
You can purchase a list of customers you have physical contact with in any form like direct mail, telephone calls, or face-to-face conversation. The list must contain your customers' contact information like name, email, and physical address.
It is against the law to subscribe to people who haven't agreed to this kind of marketing or have had any direct interaction with you in the past. It's also considered spam if an email sent from a purchased list doesn't include an unsubscribe link, which allows them to opt-out from your emails easily.
FAQs
Is it legal to buy email lists?
Yes, it is legal to buy email lists. However, it would be best to do your due diligence before purchasing any list so that you are not putting yourself at risk of being sued for violating the CAN-SPAM Act or other anti-spam laws.
What are the legal requirements for email marketing?
The United States does not have a single data protection law. Instead, it has 47 laws at the federal level and countless state-level legislation that could apply to marketers sending email campaigns.
The CAN-SPAM Act regulates email marketing lists and digital marketing, which dictates that companies must not send spam emails to customers or prospects without their permission. In other words, marketers can't buy a customer email list from another company and use it for sending campaigns. This would be considered an illicit business practice.
Are marketing lists legal?
It is a question that many marketers and business owners wonder about, and for a good reason. It is important to know the legalities of marketing to avoid any potential risk or violation of the law. Unfortunately, not all lead lists are created equal when it comes to legality. There are some lists that you can buy which will be completely legal. Then, other lists may not precisely violate the law, but they do come with potential risks attached to them. Those who choose to buy these types of marketing lists should know what those risks are before doing so - otherwise, it could cost your business in the long run.