In "Enrichment Program Marketing"

Several years ago I started an LLC in New York State, where new businesses are required to announce themselves in a newspaper for 6 weeks. A print paper. I stuck my head in the sand for a month, then started Googling how to get it done: which newspapers were acceptable, how much it would cost, etc.

Not only was the information hard to find, it turns out that in NYC this is an especially stupid and expensive process. A rude Kings County clerk told me I needed to go downtown for the details, because he’s not allowed to provide them over the phone or through email (“I don’t make the laws, lady”).

Confused about what century I was living in, I went back to Google looking for ways to get out of the publishing obligation. Surely this was just a silly technicality that wouldn’t really affect my business, right?

In my day job I receive lots of offers to buy lists of email addresses. “Do people really fall for this stuff?” I think to myself. Buying email lists is so … 1997. But email marketing is still extremely effective when done the right way: permission-based, educational, helpful, and entertaining.

Why It’s Important to Grow a List Organically

Nobody likes getting email from people they’ve never heard of, so buying a list or importing the addresses of people cc’d on an email you received is a huge no-no.  You’ll annoy far more people than you delight, and you’d be violating CAN-SPAM laws, which can carry a hefty fine.

Another downside to spamming is low deliverability rates and a black eye on your IP reputation. This means that even legit emails you try sending in the future will have a hard time getting where you want them to go.  Convinced that buying email lists is always a bad idea? Great, let’s move on!

In my day job I receive lots of offers to buy lists of email addresses. “Do people really fall for this stuff?” I think to myself. Buying email lists is so … 1997. But email marketing is still extremely effective when done the right way: permission-based, educational, helpful, and entertaining.

Why It’s Important to Grow a List Organically

Nobody likes getting email from people they’ve never heard of, so buying a list or importing the addresses of people cc’d on an email you received is a huge no-no.  You’ll annoy far more people than you delight, and you’d be violating CAN-SPAM laws, which can carry a hefty fine.

Another downside to spamming is low deliverability rates and a black eye on your IP reputation. This means that even legit emails you try sending in the future will have a hard time getting where you want them to go.  Convinced that buying email lists is always a bad idea? Great, let’s move on!

In my day job I receive lots of offers to buy lists of email addresses. “Do people really fall for this stuff?” I think to myself. Buying email lists is so … 1997. But email marketing is still extremely effective when done the right way: permission-based, educational, helpful, and entertaining.

Why It’s Important to Grow a List Organically

Nobody likes getting email from people they’ve never heard of, so buying a list or importing the addresses of people cc’d on an email you received is a huge no-no.  You’ll annoy far more people than you delight, and you’d be violating CAN-SPAM laws, which can carry a hefty fine.

Another downside to spamming is low deliverability rates and a black eye on your IP reputation. This means that even legit emails you try sending in the future will have a hard time getting where you want them to go.  Convinced that buying email lists is always a bad idea? Great, let’s move on!