Mass Emailing - UK Web Hosting | Dedicated Server Windows and Linux VPS Forum

**daledavies** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 22:44

I work for a company that has just launched a commercial internet radio station, the other week we decided that maybe it would be a good idea to create some email "flyers" that we could post to everyone in our contacts list (this includes all of the contacts we have built up through another part of the company, which has nothing to do with the radio station).

The email we have prepared is actually asking people (our contacts) to pass on the word to anyone they know who would be inerested in the station, although it is also blatently an advert. Does anyone know the legalities of mass emailing to people who have never signed up to a mailing list, we don't want to fall foul of any mass emailing laws.

Obviously we are not going to be bombarding them with tons of emails every day, but we thought once a month wouldnt be too intrusive. Any ideas?

Dale.

**eUKhost.com** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 22:52

Hello Dale,

Never try that option as that would messup your business more rather than any legal problems. One of my friend tried mass mailing option in the beginning of his business but many people posted against his company in different different forums and those posts are still there on top in google when you search for his company.

His business has been huge success due to his efforts but those bad posts make him loose many potential customers. Mass mailing is a better option for those who sell online meds but its not good for others who do genuine business.

**Eidolon** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 07:34

I think it's also known as SPAM, and tends to really p*ss off people or just end up in the junk mail folder. Personally I would suggest using a 'tell a friend' type script on the website hosting for existing users to be able to recommend it to others.

**paul** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 10:14

The mass emailing can be considered purely spam, you may face legal problem and loss your reputation, btw the permission email marketing is a way out where you can send email after getting permission from the recievers, check out whether you can do that ?

**Ryan** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 11:54

Since your contacts haven't asked for any information regarding your commercial internet radio station, your email flyer would be considered Spam. The best way is to build an opt-in list where the interested people would subscribe to your mails themselves. The benefits of this being this won't be spam and you are passing on the information only to those who are interested and are keen to know more about it.

**daledavies** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 20:44

Well it seems conclusive that you lot think this is a BAD idea.

My boss has set aside a marketing budget and has devised a marketing strategy with the help of our advertising manager and a Page Ranking agent. They all however seem to have neglected to consider any forms of web marketing (aside from submitting the odd editorial here and there).

I personally think this would have been their first consideration, given that we are essentially a web based company and that effective internet marketing can be carried out relatively inexpensively, if not for free.

Does anyone have any web marketing tips? I have already started to plan a homebrew Search Engine Optimization job, for which there is a wealth of info on the internet. But there has to be more to web marketing than just getting to the top on search engines, or am I wrong?

**eUKhost.com** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 21:09

www is not as small as the word is. There's much more in web marketing besides Search Engine Optimization but easiest way to get started in web marketing is SEO. Take a look at http://blog.eukhost.com/category/seo-tutorials/ in our blog as we've added those to help our customers.

Our blog has been huge success but its not so easy to have 1000 posts with unique content. We've made our staff to post regularly in the blog from last 10 months but the actual output has started coming in past 3 - 4 months. Go through the Search Engine Optimization tutorials and those would be perfect for you to become a SEO expert.

We can discuss other marketing concepts once you become a Search Engine Optimization expert

**paul** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 10:23

daledavies, the best way to go through Search Engine Optimization route and learn SEO tips and start practicing it. The old saying is correct;
Question: "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?"
Answer: "Practice."

**bccruzer** · #9 (**permalink**) 13-10-2006, 22:04

not only search engines, but find music forums, blogs, and advertsie your website hosting there.

**daledavies** · #10 (**permalink**) 17-10-2006, 12:29

What is the general consensus of opinion towards Astroturfing?

If I was to set up a blog that did genuinely provide a service and an open forum for users to post related content, would it be frowned upon if I also used this to promote another website hosting?

The content of the two would obviously be related.

**eUKhost.com** · #11 (**permalink**) 17-10-2006, 13:18

There is nothing wrong in it. If you are running a blog and a forum to provide information to visitors then you are not doing so for charity. You need to earn your livelihood and thats why you are promoting your other website hosting.

If yours was a government website hosting then funds would have come from money collected from earnings of others but when you run a online business on your own then you need funds and those funds should come through selling of products, sponsorship, advertisement, affiliates and any other legal method available for online income.

**sq9today** · #12 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by daledavies

I work for a company that has just launched a commercial internet radio station, the other week we decided that maybe it would be a good idea to create some email "flyers" that we could post to everyone in our contacts list (this includes all of the contacts we have built up through another part of the company, which has nothing to do with the radio station).

The email we have prepared is actually asking people (our contacts) to pass on the word to anyone they know who would be inerested in the station, although it is also blatently an advert. Does anyone know the legalities of mass emailing to people who have never signed up to a mailing list, we don't want to fall foul of any mass emailing laws.

Obviously we are not going to be bombarding them with tons of emails every day, but we thought once a month wouldnt be too intrusive. Any ideas?

Dale.

I was thinking this the other day but being new to all of this it's still a little confusing

**sb123** · #13 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidolon

I think it's also known as SPAM, and tends to really p*ss off people or just end up in the junk mail folder. Personally I would suggest using a 'tell a friend' type script on the website hosting for existing users to be able to recommend it to others.

I agree with Eidolon. This method will take some more time, but you will get quality audience rather than using the spam method.

**WelshTom** · #14 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 10:22

Yeh, Mass mailing really isn't a good idea - as suggested in this topic; maybe a "Tell a friend" script would be suitable.

**paul** · #15 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 14:19

I would suggest to do rss syndication instead, if you produce good content you will find many subscribers, it will also help you to let your content travel fast to specific niche that you choose.

**sb123** · #16 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 03:54

Brilliant suggestion, Paul. I second that.

Now, this is exactly what forums do to you... you get great suggestions from experts, great ideas even from the freshers, and everybody benefits. As I always said, this forum is really good and our dear members are really helpful. I am learning all the time... Great Feeling!