DON’T

1. Add everyone who has ever emailed you to your list. Always ask permission first.
2. Purchase lists that you are not 100% sure that are opt-in. Always have an evidence to prove the legitimacy of the opt-ins.
3. Abuse people’s trust. This is a sure way to ruin your brand and you. Soon enough they will ignore your messages.
4. Mail too often. It can get annoying.
5. Be misleading in your subject line to try to get them to open the email. Just like a headline in a newspaper, your subject line should entice, but also make it clear what the communication is going to be about.

DO’S

1. Put a subscription form prominently on your website. You can create your own subscription form using a software Sign-Up to’s form builder.
2. Inform people that they can subscribe to your email list on the signature of your normal work emails. This will enable it to link straight through the form on your website.
3. Ask people permission if they do want to be subscribed on your mailing list. As much as possible avoid being suspected for SPAM.
4. Open options for subscription especially during your interactions with them. Always be ready with your subscription cards if you run in on events.
5. Be clear on how people can benefit from subscribing and how often will you contact them. Make them know exactly what they will be receiving.
6. If you can, contact new subscriber as soon as you can. Welcome them with notes and tell them what to expect.

One of the powerful tools in online email marketing is to build an opt-in mailing list.
An opt-in mailing list is a database of people’s names and email addresses who have subscribed to an email list via a web form, giving that list owner permission to send them periodic emails on the topic they are interested in. It is also known as permission based marketing.

The best feature of the opt in list is the possibility of being able to communicate with people who are particularly interested in your product, service or organization.

There are do’s and don’ts in starting your opt-in mailing list.

In this article we will give you some of the most important tips to help you decide if email marketing at your site it right for you, and how to get started.

In our next sections, we will talk about the Dos and Don’ts of Opt in Mailing Lists