What should you do if a client wants to send unsolicited emails?

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum recommends providing the client with alternative list-building strategies that are compliant with regulations and best practices. This includes opt-in forms, lead magnets, and co-registration campaigns.

Email marketer from Constant Contact Blog explains that sending unsolicited emails is not a good idea. People who get emails they didn’t ask for are likely to get annoyed, unsubscribe, or even mark your message as spam.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that his first advice was to strongly make the case for changing their practices, however, they were not open to it. He also told them that email is not the best channel for prospecting.

Email marketer from Reddit explains that sending unsolicited emails will likely result in being marked as spam, hurting your sender reputation, and potentially leading to blacklisting. They suggest educating the client on alternative, ethical methods.

Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog explains that sending unsolicited emails can be a bad idea for acquiring new customers and can be damaging to your brand. They suggest focusing on building a genuine relationship by opting to have users opt-in to their list. Provide real value with your content, and personalize where you can.

Email marketer from WebFX Blog shares that sending unsolicited emails is an outdated marketing tactic that can damage your company’s reputation and get your emails marked as spam. Consumers are more likely to interact with companies that send messages they want to receive.

Marketer from Email Geeks points out that if 'prospecting' is code for sending unsolicited emails, then the client is a spammer and the mailbox providers are correct to block them.

Email marketer from Active Campaign Blog shares that permission-based marketing is the future. They recommend gaining explicit consent, providing value, and making it easy to unsubscribe. They also explain that sending unsolicited emails can result in a waste of time, money, and reputation.

Email marketer from Reddit suggests exploring alternative marketing strategies with the client, such as content marketing, social media engagement, and paid advertising. They state that these methods are more effective in the long run and build a stronger brand reputation.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that the first step is always to educate the client on the potential legal and reputational repercussions of sending unsolicited emails. They suggest presenting data and case studies to illustrate the risks.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that clients are delusional if they think they can contact providers directly and 'plead their case'. No amount of pleading or shouting will get a sender unblocked. Repairing a sending reputation takes time, and trying to force the issue to fix itself is not going to work. The recipient mailbox providers will need to see evidence that this sender has improved their sending habits.

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog emphasizes the importance of permission. They explain that sending unsolicited emails can damage your sender reputation and lead to deliverability issues. They advise educating the client about the risks and benefits of permission-based marketing.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, advises that you should have a frank conversation with the client about the potential consequences of sending unsolicited emails, including damage to their reputation and deliverability. If they insist, consider whether you want to continue working with them.

Documentation from FTC.gov explains that the CAN-SPAM Act sets rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them, and spells out tough penalties for violations. They specify that you can't send emails to users without their permission.

Documentation from GDPR.eu explains that GDPR requires explicit consent for processing personal data, including email addresses. They say sending unsolicited emails without prior consent is a direct violation of GDPR and can result in significant penalties.

Documentation from Spamhaus Wiki explains that sending unsolicited bulk email is a major indicator of spam activity. They advise against engaging in such practices and strongly recommend adhering to opt-in methods for building email lists.

Documentation from The European Commission indicates that you need consent to send marketing emails. Spam is illegal and covered by the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR.