List Building 

Martians Guide To Opt-In List Usage Etiquette (Never Sell E-Mail Lists, Never Spam)

The use of opt-in lists as tools for online marketing inevitably led to incidents where some list subscribers are being offended and some e-commerce laws being breached. To avoid such violations, users of opt-in list gave rise to what will be known as opt-in list usage etiquette.

These etiquettes have been recognized to highlight which is acceptable or deplorable acts resorted to by online marketers or publishers that make use of opt-in lists. These in turn become acceptable standards which have been designed to protect website subscribers and Internet users as a whole from prejudicial practices online. Overtime, these etiquettes serve as a gauge about what opt-in list users can do or not do while utilizing such list for the attainment of their goals.

No newsletter or marketing brochure should be sent to opt-in email list subscribers without meeting the standards set by these conventions. Etiquettes pertaining to the usage of opt-in lists may be written or not, but observance of such protocols should never be found wanting. Here are some common and important pointers for opt-in list usage etiquette.

Never Resort To Threats Or Harassment

Threatening or harassing behavior or wording in newsletters or marketing catalogs sent to opt-in list subscribers are not only prohibited, they are downright foolish for any opt-in list user to resort to. Aside from nobody is going to visit a harassing website or reply to a threatening email, a user will run the risk of being blacklisted in cyberspace, hence lose prospects and all chances of doing online business.

Keep in mind that all manner of electronic messages that contain sexual, racial, illegal or any unfavorable comments is not only forbidden over the Internet but in the real world as well.

Never Transmit Pretentious Or Bogus Information

Claiming false or inaccurate information and spreading such claims through an opt-in list subscriber base are not only illegal but also very irresponsible ways of exploiting other Internet users trust. Deceiving and misleading contents will consequently drive away prospects from your blog or website.

Resorting to such measures not only discredits a particular website but the whole e-commerce system as a whole. In the end, it may lead to the collapse of online businesses as no one will feel safe or have faith in the Internet. Everybody will eventually lose the convenience of online commerce.

Never Pursue An Explicitly Illegal Enterprise

In offering your products trough an opt-in subscriber base, never resort to illegal activities like offering to sell un-copyrighted software or products or other items for which you do not have the right to distribute or sell. You may be marketing online but activities like these still constitute stealing and are punishable under common laws.

Never Sell E-Mail Lists

Trust is very important in making it big online. If a person entrusted you with his or her personal information, he or she expects that you only use such information based on what you promised. In this case, customers or subscribers only expect you to send them articles or email related to your product or services.

The moment you sell your e-mail lists, your customers or subscribers will feel betrayed and will start mistrusting you. Since web users are an intelligent bunch, they will surely know - one way or another- if you have sold their e-mail to other companies or people. Web users can discourage other people from visiting your website through blogs and online forums. Such bad review will definitely hurt you and your business.

Never Spam

Spam mails are basically unsolicited or unwanted e-mails. A lot of Internet users are averse to spam mails because it clogs their inboxes and sometimes infect their computers with viruses and malicious spy wares.

Spamming will surely give you and your website bad reputation. Instead of driving traffic to your blog or web site, spamming will surely contribute to the demise of your online business or site. People who have received your spam mails will surely rant about you in discussions, message boards and blogs.

Another reason why you should not send spam mails is the probability that your Internet provider could block or shut down your connection because of the sheer number of spam complaints from many people. There are many anti-spammer groups that would not stop until they have ensured that you and your business will pay for the unwanted emails you sent.

You should also know that spamming is considered illegal and unlawful in many states. If you don't want to spend on paying fines and penalties, you should never attempt to send emails to people who are not in your mailing lists. A brush with the law will not do you nor your business any good. Always remember that only movie stars benefit from bad publicity.