Our Email Opt-In Policy
If you are going to import an email list into our system, make sure you're familiar with our email policy!
Our policy is a simple one - all lists uploaded into the DemocracyInAction system must be opt-in only. That is, you may only email individuals who have given your organization or campaign permission to contact them.
This may seem overly strict, but first please remember that a smaller, permission-based list is always going to out-perform a larger, unsolicited list. In addition, this policy is for your protection. If a bad list results in a warning from the spam cops, then we may be forced to shut off your email list and possibly impose fines to pay for the work it takes to restore your account to good standing.If you have an existing list you'd like to import into the system, please make sure you review the following questions to ensure that your list is opt-in, and therefore ok to use:
I bought or was given a list of names from another organization/campaign. Is it okay to email them?
Permission is not transferable, so no, you cannot email those
recipients. Individuals on the list have not given you explicit
permission to contact them.
We've been given a list from a voter file. Is it ok to email that list?
No, you cannot email those recipients from the DIA system. These
individuals have not given you explicit permission to get in touch with
them.
Our consultant/friend/colleague has a high-quality list that he/she is going to upload into DIA for us. Is it okay to email this list?
No, you cannot email those recipients from the DIA system. These individuals have not given you explicit permission to get in touch with them.
I bought a CD with millions of email addresses or bought a list from a broker. Can I use the list within DIA?
No. Absolutely not. We've all received those unsolicited emails offering 10 million addresses for a small fee. If something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.
An effective and targeted permission-based list takes time to develop and maintain. If anyone's flogging a large list for a small fee, you can almost guarantee that it was harvested or scraped from the web with absolutely no permission given from those captured. On top of this, permission is never transferable, so even if every address in the list was obtained legitimately, the individual did not opt-in to hear from you.
DIA is a 100% permission-based service, so if you try to send an email to a purchased list, we will disable your account immediately. And trust us, they're really easy to spot.
I have a list of supporters who have donated to us, or volunteered for us, or signed up to receive alerts from us in the past. Can I email them?
You sure can - they have provided their permission implicitly or
explicitly. Feel free to email them! We do require that you include an
unsubscribe link within all emails you send from the DIA system,
however, so that people can opt-out at any time.
I have partnered with an organization/campaign that has an existing list. Can I email their list about my organization/activities?
Unless this partner specifically and clearly obtained permission from its supporters to send emails from other organizations, you may not email this list. It would be more appropriate for the organization you partnered with to include your alert and sign-up information in their next email alert. This way, you gain exposure and those who are interested in your organization can sign up directly to your list.