Privacy and SPAM

Privacy is an important issue for users today, 0:00 and as such, businesses using email must be concerned as well. 0:03 Email providers and platforms are held to high standards 0:07 when it comes to protecting user data and properly managing communications 0:11 for companies with access to millions of people's personal data. 0:15 The CAN-SPAM Act was passed to protect people from individuals 0:19 trying to take advantage of them for financial profit 0:24 through the use of misleading emails. 0:26 The CAN-SPAM Act not only sets out guidelines for businesses using email, 0:29 but makes it much easier for people to unsubscribe from communications 0:35 and sets big penalties for companies that don't comply. 0:39 However, don't let this scare you off from using email for your business. 0:43 The benefits are well worth your time, 0:47 and complying with anti-spam laws is simple enough to do. 0:50 Start by reviewing the Federal Trade Commission's tips on how to comply 0:53 and work with a reputable email platform, 0:57 like the ones we've mentioned in these videos. 1:01 The top email companies are very aggressive 1:03 about ensuring the privacy and rights of email recipients 1:06 and will work with businesses to make sure they follow the rules. 1:09 When it comes to protecting the rights of your customers, 1:13 be proactive about it. 1:17 When you add an email opt-in form to your site, 1:19 be sure to include a link to your privacy policy. 1:22 Let users know you'll protect their data, 1:24 and it can set their minds at ease. 1:27 Also, you'll want to include your business' 1:29 physical address at the bottom of each email. 1:32 Email platforms will require this before letting you send anything out. 1:34 And providing a clear and easy unsubscribe link is another requirement. 1:39 The unsubscribe process varies depending on how you handle your emails. 1:44 But once someone opts out of your messages, you must remove them. 1:47 Again, many of the concerns regarding privacy and spam 1:52 can be alleviated by working with a recommended email provider 1:55 and by following some common sense along the way. 1:58 Always consider things from the users point of view. 2:01 Consider the frequency of emails you send. 2:04 How many emails would you want to receive from a company each month, 2:07 each week, or each day? 2:11 Think about the businesses that you trust. 2:13 What do their emails look like? 2:16 Follow best practices and emulate companies doing things the right way. 2:18 As business owners and operators 2:23 we don't just have a legal obligation to protect our users, 2:26 we have a moral one as well. 2:29