mailchimp and emailing customers

[TehCamel]

I'm looking at starting to use mailchimp, to every now and then, send emails out to my customers. Mainly of an informational, rather than sales/marketing based thing.

Ie, the current one is something along the lines of
"As we grow, we're looking to identify ways in which we can provide the best levels of service to everyone. With this in mind, we'll be implementing a prioritisation level on our tickets. This has been happening implicitely behind the scenes already, but it will be going live on the 1st of Monkey, 2012."

and a few other business-based things. IE, not really selling (although I will add a secton about a service we're trialling)


So, based on the fact that my customers have signed up to my service and provided me with their email address, it's an implicit opt-in for notices about the service, right?

[Uncomplicating]

Originally Posted by TehCamel

I'm looking at starting to use mailchimp, to every now and then, send emails out to my customers. Mainly of an informational, rather than sales/marketing based thing.

Ie, the current one is something along the lines of
"As we grow, we're looking to identify ways in which we can provide the best levels of service to everyone. With this in mind, we'll be implementing a prioritisation level on our tickets. This has been happening implicitely behind the scenes already, but it will be going live on the 1st of Monkey, 2012."

and a few other business-based things. IE, not really selling (although I will add a secton about a service we're trialling)


So, based on the fact that my customers have signed up to my service and provided me with their email address, it's an implicit opt-in for notices about the service, right?

If the information is about you/your services it's marketing. Call it informational if you like, but it's still marketing.

You might assume they've opted in, but they may well not be aware of that. Best to give them an automated opt out option so they don't receive any more of your informative emails unless they want to.

[JohnTranter]

Originally Posted by TehCamel

So, based on the fact that my customers have signed up to my service and provided me with their email address, it's an implicit opt-in for notices about the service, right?

I've found mailchimp are really keen to make sure that lists are legitimate and I don't think they'd approve of an 'implicit opt in'.

If your list is under a hundred people then I wouldn't worry about it, but I've had to have some discussions after importing a few thousand email addresses to prove that they did explicitly opt in. (And the mailchimp account was suspended until they reviewed the opt-in method)

The safest way would be this method:
http://kb.mailchimp.com/article/do-i...i-switch-esps/

or just email them and ask, they've usually got back to me within 24 hours.

[MatthewKeath]

Having customers sign up to your service is NOT the same as them agreeing to be put on a email list.

The best way to approach this is include a check box in the sign up process that asks if they want to join the newsletter.

If you don't have a sign up process, asking them on the phone, or emailing them asking them to sign up is a good way to go about it. With Mailchip you can embed a form in a email so they can sign up directly from the email.

Try and add an email to your Mailchimp list, and then read the information you need to agree to before you can add them. It says it better than I can.

Originally Posted by Uncomplicating

Best to give them an automated opt out option so they don't receive any more of your informative emails unless they want to.

Mailchimp does this as a matter of course, as all email list management applications. It's illegal in Australia not to have an un subscribe link.

[Mathew Patterson]

Hey,

Though the laws vary quite a bit, typically if these are active paying customers then that would generally be acceptable under the law. Non paying customers who had just signed up is more of a grey area.

At Campaign Monitor (where I work) we would allow sending to paying customers from the past 2 years, but very strongly encourage an explicit opt-in instead; a much better way to know you are emailing people who want to hear from you.

A good resource for anti-spam laws is http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/canspam/

[websitedesigner]

These things can get over-thought I think. If these people are paid customers then absolutely add them to your list. Give them an easy way to unsubscribe and if they don't like it they can unsubscribe.

SPAM laws aren't put in place to stop people emailing their customers. It would be extremely unlikely for a small business to get in a lot of trouble for emailing their paid customers I would think.

I think this is perfectly legal through implied consent (don't take my word for it from a legal point of view though) although whether it was or not I would still be emailing my customers.

[davidg]

Originally Posted by websitedesigner

These things can get over-thought I think. If these people are paid customers then absolutely add them to your list. Give them an easy way to unsubscribe and if they don't like it they can unsubscribe.

SPAM laws aren't put in place to stop people emailing their customers. It would be extremely unlikely for a small business to get in a lot of trouble for emailing their paid customers I would think.

I think this is perfectly legal through implied consent (don't take my word for it from a legal point of view though) although whether it was or not I would still be emailing my customers.

Right on - if they are your customers I would assume they want to hear from you. Then can unsubscribe whenever they want, but as long as you are providing value to them they should stay.

You might want to send out a survey so you have a better idea of what they want from you.

David

[Khalid Adam]

Use mailchimp to send e-zines with 95% content and 5% pitchs/sales/marketing.

Some will opt out and complain but cest la vie. can't please everyone.

[MatthewKeath]

Originally Posted by Khalid Adam

Use mailchimp to send e-zines with 95% content and 5% pitchs/sales/marketing.

Wow e-zines. That's a blast from the 90's I agree though, a good newsletter should really focus on content. (And also a special or promotion each month only for subscribers)

Regards to the question, I believe just because they are / or have been a customer does not mean they want to sign up to your news letter. Mailchimp is very clear on that.

Why not send them an opt in like I suggested earlier?

[Khalid Adam]

Done correctly, 1 page E-zines still work wonders. Blast from the past.

Sending an optin is fine but it can be hard to accept how small the list really is when the dust settles.

My advice would be to offer a compelling bribe for the optin just like with a squeeze page but in an email minus words that trigger spam filters like free, offer, guarantee, etc.

Aweber forces re-optins when importing a list and interestingly, they have the best deliverability.

Here's to the 90's...

Originally Posted by MatthewKeath

Wow e-zines. That's a blast from the 90's I agree though, a good newsletter should really focus on content. (And also a special or promotion each month only for subscribers)

Regards to the question, I believe just because they are / or have been a customer does not mean they want to sign up to your news letter. Mailchimp is very clear on that.

Why not send them an opt in like I suggested earlier?

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