In the world of email marketing, we all strive to reach as many potential customers as possible. The allure of quickly growing your email list can be incredibly tempting, especially when you come across services that sell lists of thousands of email addresses. It seems like a shortcut to success, right? I thought so too, until I learned the hard way.
Here’s my story and what you can learn from my experience.
My Costly Email Marketing Mistake
As an email marketer eager to make a big impact, I made a decision that I thought would propel my campaign to the next level. I purchased a large email list and uploaded it all at once into my email marketing platform MailChimp. I envisioned my open rates skyrocketing and conversions flooding in. Instead, I faced the worst-case scenario: I got banned from the email platform.
Why did this happen? Because I ignored a cardinal rule of email marketing: always use permission-based marketing.
Understanding the Risks
Purchasing email lists might seem like an easy way to expand your reach, but it comes with significant risks:
- Spam Complaints:
Recipients who didn’t opt-in to receive your emails are more likely to mark them as spam. High spam complaints can lead to your account being flagged and eventually banned.
- Low Engagement Rates:
Purchased lists often contain outdated or irrelevant contacts who have no interest in your content, leading to low open and click-through rates.
- Damage to Reputation:
Email service providers (ESPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) monitor your sending behavior. A sudden influx of emails to unengaged recipients can harm your sender’s reputation, making it harder for your emails to reach inboxes. Trust me, you don’t want your email address to be considered spam email. It’s hard to recover from that.
- Legal Consequences:
Sending unsolicited emails can violate laws like the CAN-SPAM Act in the US or GDPR in Europe, leading to potential fines and legal action.
How to Avoid My Mistake
The good news is that there are effective strategies to grow your email list without resorting to purchasing contacts. Here’s how you can do it:
- Build an Organic List:
Focus on collecting email addresses through genuine sign-ups. Use lead magnets such as eBooks, webinars, or exclusive discounts to encourage visitors to subscribe.
- Optimize Your Website:
Ensure your website has visible and enticing opt-in forms. Use pop-ups, slide-ins, or banners to capture visitors’ attention.
- Leverage Social Media:
Promote your newsletter or email sign-up on social media channels. Engage with your audience and direct them to your opt-in forms.
- Offer Valuable Content:
Consistently provide high-quality content that your audience finds valuable. When people see the benefits of your emails, they are more likely to subscribe and stay engaged.
- Partner with Others:
I’m a big fan of using your network! Collaborate with businesses or influencers in your industry to reach a wider audience. Co-host webinars or create joint content that includes an email sign-up call to action.
- Run Contests and Giveaways:
Organize contests or giveaways that require participants to sign up with their email addresses. Gamifying your marketing offers is a solid way to get more subscribers that stick around.
Recovering from the Mistake
If you’ve already made the mistake of using a purchased list, here are steps to mitigate the damage:
- Stop Sending Emails to the Purchased List:
Immediately halt any campaigns targeting the purchased contacts
- Remove Unengaged Subscribers:
Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive subscribers. This helps improve your engagement metrics and maintain a healthy sender reputation.
- Apologize and Rebuild Trust:
As I mentioned in my video, it’s important to make sure you apologize — Especially if you are a first-time offender! If you’ve sent unsolicited emails, consider sending an apology email explaining the situation and offering an easy way to unsubscribe. Transparency can help rebuild trust with your audience.
- Implement Double Opt-In:
Use a double opt-in process where new subscribers confirm their email addresses. This ensures you have a clean and engaged list.
Building a Successful Email Marketing Strategy
In email marketing, shortcuts often lead to setbacks. Building an organic, permission-based email list takes time and effort, but it’s the surest way to achieve long-term success. By avoiding the mistake of using purchased lists and focusing on genuine engagement, you can create campaigns that not only reach but also resonate with your audience. Remember, quality always trumps quantity when it comes to email marketing.
Some email providers like Apollo.IO implement a solid prospecting system — where no purchased email lists are utilized but organic emails are found through ethical and approved means… but that’s a topic for another time. Consider subscribing to learn more about that particular tool or check out our most recent AI tools blog post.
