Whats an opt-in e-mail list, and how do I build one?
An opt-in e-mail list is a database of e-mail addresses belonging to people who have willingly given their name and e-mail address to you. For example, if you offer a free “joke of the day” e-mail to anyone who gives you their name and e-mail address, those people who responded will become part of your opt-in list. DO NOT try to purchase thousands of random e-mail addresses from someone who has “harvested” them. This practice is unethical, and in fact, with the recent spam laws in place, you are allowed to market ONLY to your own list of opt-in addresses. The other thing to remember about your opt-in list is that your subscribers MUST be free to unsubscribe at any time. And when someone asks to be removed from your list, you MUST remove them. But that’s a good thing, because it ensures that your list is made up entirely of people who want to hear from you. While building your own opt-in list may take some time, marketing to it gives you the highest sales. After all, your list consists
