SPAM!
This will be the 1st word that comes to the minds of many! Well I hate SPAM and I will degrade myself so low as to do that!
Let’s deal with a few things hereThis will be the 1st word that comes to the minds of many! Well I hate SPAM and I will degrade myself so low as to do that!
So is sending unsolicited emails legal?
Well it depends. .. .. It depends on
- How you do it
- What are you selling
- Your country’s law
- The recipient’s local laws
Singapore joins the same league as countries that includes the United States (Can-SPAM), China, Australia and the United Kingdom, which have also introduced antispam laws.
The Can-SPAM Act can be summarised as follow:
(For Full-Details, Click HERE)
- It bans false or misleading header information. Your email’s "From," "To," and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify the person who initiated the email.
- It prohibits deceptive subject lines. The subject line cannot mislead the recipient about the contents or subject matter of the message.
- It requires that your email give recipients an opt-out method. You must provide a return email address or another Internet-based response mechanism that allows a recipient to ask you not to send future email messages to that email address, and you must honor the requests. You may create a "menu" of choices to allow a recipient to opt out of certain types of messages, but you must include the option to end any commercial messages from the sender.
Any opt-out mechanism you offer must be able to process opt-out requests for at least 30 days after you send your commercial email. When you receive an opt-out request, the law gives you 10 business days to stop sending email to the requestor’s email address. You cannot help another entity send email to that address, or have another entity send email on your behalf to that address. Finally, it’s illegal for you to sell or transfer the email addresses of people who choose not to receive your email, even in the form of a mailing list, unless you transfer the addresses so another entity can comply with the law. - It requires that commercial email be identified as an advertisement and include the sender’s valid physical postal address. Your message must contain clear and conspicuous notice that the message is an advertisement or solicitation and that the recipient can opt out of receiving more commercial email from you. It also must include your valid physical postal address.
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/Publications/070006.pdf
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So is it profitable?
Without a slightest doubt if done correctly!
I’ve a 5-dgit Income from that on a PART TIME FREELANCE basis.
In case you are finding it disgusting .. let me tell you that some of those who bought are actually from the same Govt agency that passed the Bill!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So how did I do it?
1) Database Highly Targetted Database
Very targetted database. This is the most painstaking part of the entire project! Scouring through the net every night hunting for leads.
Of course, some of which are bought. They are expensive BUT sure worth the while ..
In case, if you are thinking of following my path, please be VERY CAREFUL where you get your leads from. Do not settle for those "5 Million Qualified Leads for only $50" sources. Good leads come with a price!
Even the same list, sold a different product has turned into a nightmare for me!
2) Relevant Product
Staff Development has a very high place many organisations in my country. And since I am selling training courses, they naturally become relevant for my leads.
3) Copy Writing
The 1st copy is ALWAYS the hardest! I’ve recycled my copies for numerous times and .. well they just seemed to work!
Writing in a personal voice, and addressing their challenges at work are the 2 KEY Elements in most of my copy. Flambuoyant or overly gramma-centric writings just won’t sell.
4) Leverage on Technology
Of course I did not send out 10s of thousands of email through my Windows Outlook Express / Outlook / etc. There are many useful mailing list managers and autoresponders out in the market that will take care of this.
See some of the good ones which I’ve compiled!
5) Pricing
6) Confidence in us
We’ve got prompt email response, someone to pick up all calls and a decent / "professionl-eough" looking website(done by me of cos) . A long list of past testimonials sure helped set their minds at ease.
7) Staying within the boundaries of LAW
I probably should have put this in the top cos breaking immediately negates all the right stuff that you have done.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So .. interested to try out? Watever it may be, I just gotta say
1) Know your boundaries .. Legally and ethically
2) JUST DO IT
PS: ( I DO NOT need any Viagra or Cialis .. so don’t even think of emailing those ads to me!!!!)