Email Newsletters: Privacy and Unsubscribing

As you likely know from personal experience, the value of email has been greatly tarnished by spam, unsolicited messages, online junk mail. So, many subscribers and would-be subscribers care very much about the exposure of their email addresses.

Since this issue is so important, articulate a privacy policy for your newsletter. Will you rent, sell, or exchange the names of your subscribers to other organizations or persons? While most of us have no plans to do so when we are small, that opinion can change as we grow our list.

Quite frankly, once your list gets to a certain size, you may be able to earn quite a bit of money by renting it out. Many magazine and subscription publishers find that the difference between a profit and loss is list rental income.

If you do decide to keep the list names strictly to yourself, post a message to that effect somewhere, either in the email newsletter itself, at sites where you collect the names of subscribers, or both. By posting, and adhering to, a privacy policy, you will get more subscribers. To read an example, go my newsletter's web page at http:// www.abbottletter.com .

If you're not sure whether you will or will not sell or rent the addresses, then put a note to that effect instead. Many companies do this by saying something like this: "Would you like to receive information messages by email from our valued partners?" To that, of course, you add a checkbox. The default position should be off, which is to say, subscribers have to click on the box to receive those mailings. And, needless to say, you must then respect the choice they make.

You must also make it quick and easy for subscribers to say good-bye. Each issue of your newsletter should contain information explaining how to unsubscribe or be removed from the mailing list. There are many forms this information can take. To choose one, go through the email newsletters you now receive, and decide which you like best. Then, prepare your own notice, using this one as a guide. Of course, you will not copy anything directly, which would be plagiarism.

On the flip side, add information to each newsletter that explains how to subscribe, and consider, too, putting in a line asking recipients to pass along your newsletter to someone else who would benefit from it. A simple reminder like that could help you build your list, painlessly. Recommendations from a trusted colleague or friend will boost your subscriber list quickly.

Summing up, develop a privacy policy and stick to it. In addition, give your subscribers an escape hatch they can access quickly and easily.

Robert F. Abbott, the author of A Manager's Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results, writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Read more articles about Internet communication, as well as email and printed newsletters at: http:// http://www.communication-newsletter.com/ic.ht ml

In The News:


Top Stories - Google News
Updated : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:25:41 GMT+00:00

Obama Lists Who Will Get Prize Money From Nobel - New York Times

Reuters

Obama Lists Who Will Get Prize Money From Nobel
New York Times
WASHINGTON — President Obama has made good on a promise to give his $1.4 million in Nobel Peace Prize money to charity, releasing on Thursday the names of the organizations that will benefit. “These organizations do extraordinary work ...
Obama picks charities to which he'll donate Nobel prize cash awardWashington Post
Internet nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prizemsnbc.com
Internet 'in running' for Nobel Peace PrizeBBC News
Reuters -AOL News -The Associated Press
all 749 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:30:12 GMT+00:00

Cuomo Hands Paterson Case to an Ex-Judge - New York Times

CNN International

Cuomo Hands Paterson Case to an Ex-Judge
New York Times
ALBANY — Facing growing political pressure, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday appointed an independent counsel to take over his office's investigation into the Paterson administration's response to a domestic violence case. ...
Cuomo Hands Off Paterson InquiryWall Street Journal
New York AG Cuomo recuses himself from probe of Gov. PatersonWashington Post
After drop in poll, AG recuses himself in NY probeThe Associated Press
Reuters -CNN -WCAX
all 473 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:06:00 GMT+00:00

Pakistan blasts kill 45 - ABC Online

CBC.ca

Pakistan blasts kill 45
ABC Online
Suicide bombers have killed at least 39 people in Lahore, despite government assertions that recent crackdowns had weakened Taliban insurgents. (Reuters: Stringer) Twin suicide attacks have targeted the Pakistani military, killing 45 people in the ...
Twin Suicide Attacks Hit Military Sites in PakistanNew York Times
Twin suicide bombings kill, wound scores in Pakistani cityWashington Post
Suicide Bombers Kill 39 in Pakistani City of LahoreVoice of America
Wall Street Journal -Bloomberg -AFP
all 791 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:57:25 GMT+00:00

Anti-Government Protesters Rally in Bangkok - Voice of America

Boston Globe

Anti-Government Protesters Rally in Bangkok
Voice of America
Photo: AP In Thailand thousands of anti-government protesters have begun a series of demonstrations aimed at pressuring the government to call new elections. The protesters, known as red shirts for the color they wear, kicked of their campaign Friday ...
SCENARIOS-Will Thailand's government ride out the storm?Reuters
Thailand braces for massive political protestsCNN International
Thailand's Thaksin supporters set to march on BangkokAFP
ABC Online -Times Online -New York Times
all 563 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:59:28 GMT+00:00

Palestinians try to breach East Jerusalem checkpoint - Ha'aretz

CBC.ca

Palestinians try to breach East Jerusalem checkpoint
Ha'aretz
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Palestinian youths on Friday hurled stones at Israeli security forces near the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem and tried to breach a barrier to gain entry to the area, which has been sealed off amid concerns over ...
Israel moves to change law after Biden "mishap"The Associated Press
Israel seals off West BankCNN
PM rep must be at housing meetingsJerusalem Post
Wall Street Journal -Aljazeera.net -Ynetnews
all 1,710 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:52:34 GMT+00:00

Turkey protests Swedish genocide vote - CNN

CNN

Turkey protests Swedish genocide vote
CNN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed anger at accusations of genocide against the country. Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkey has canceled a high-level summit scheduled to take place in Sweden ...
Turkey recalls envoy to SwedenAljazeera.net
Swedish ambassador in Ankara summoned to Turkish Foreign MinistryXinhua
Turkey recalls envoy to Sweden over Armenia voteReuters
CNN International -BBC News -Washington Post
all 669 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:06:12 GMT+00:00

Putin urges expanded Russia-India ties - AFP

BBC News

Putin urges expanded Russia-India ties
AFP
NEW DELHI — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in India to sign a clutch of multibillion-dollar arms deals, said Friday it was time for the old Cold War allies to boost trade beyond the limited scope of defence. At just over 7.5 billion dollars in ...
Putin: Russia, India Nuclear Ties PromisingWall Street Journal
Foreign Banks 'Facilitated' Russian Capital Flight, Putin SaysBusinessWeek
India, Russia to strengthen its strategic partnershipRIA Novosti
Reuters -Voice of America -BBC News
all 773 news articles »

Publ.Date : Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:11:46 GMT+00:00

RSS to HTML
Increase Traffic

Ezine Advertising Strategy Exposed-15 Tips to Boost Your Profits

In my opinion, Electronic Magazine (Ezine) advertising is the greatest,... Read More

The Number One Tried and Tested Method For Exploding Your Ezine Subscriptions

We all know how cagey and stubborn prospects can be... Read More

Employee Newsletter Ideas - 7 Creative Ideas for Your Employee Newsletter

Employee newsletters are an effective tool to communicate with your... Read More

6 Important Tips For Choosing Ezine To Advertise In

Did you ever wonder why some business owners seem to... Read More

Increase Your Website Popularity with 500 Words

Are you looking to increase your relevancy in the search... Read More

How To Make Money Online With A Newsletter

Many online internet marketers tell us "its all in the... Read More

5 Keys To A Successful Ezine

There are 5 basic keys you need for your ezine... Read More

Should You Upgrade Your E-zine From Text to HTML?

A few years ago, when I first started seeing HTML... Read More

An Overlooked Fr~e Advertising Opportunity

When you have an online business you need to utilize... Read More

10 Winning Ezine Publishing Tips

1. Share your personality with your subscribers. Your subscribers are... Read More

American OverDrive - LCDs in LDCs

OverDrive - an e-commerce, software conversion and e-publishing applications leader... Read More

Email Newsletters: The Header

Managing Subscriber addresses: At the top of your email message... Read More

Are We Dating or Married?

You've convinced me that I want to sign up for... Read More

Why Self-Publish Your Book?

When I meet an author with a great book concept,... Read More

6 Ways to Catch More Opt-ins Than Ever Before

Remember that when you have new visitors at your website,... Read More

5 Ways to Make More Money With Your E-zine

Have you been publishing an e-mail newsletter for at least... Read More

Making Money Online With Web Publishing

Who doesn't want to make money online? Internet is here... Read More

Ebook Rebranding - The New Ebook Marketing Power?

Well, it is definitely yes!In the early day of internet... Read More

Self Publishing At The Speed Of Thought

Publishing, both electronic and hard copy, from articles to books,... Read More

Why Dont My Subscribers Listen to Me?

I received a very good question from a subscriber and... Read More

WHOOPS -- There Goes My List! (Are You Backing Up YOUR Biggest Asset?)

Have you ever accidentally lost an important file on your... Read More

You Can Develop An E-zine Even If You Dont Enjoy Writing!

Do you know that many business owners market their businesses... Read More

Three Breathing Techniques For Any Ezine Article

I subscribed myself to many ezines. I'd love to read... Read More

The Five Deadly Fears of E-Newsletter Publishing

1. Fear Of Having Nothing To SayAs a small business... Read More

Ezines and Newsletter Software - How to Drive Traffic and Improve Your Business Cashflow

So how do smaller businesses use the internet to drive... Read More