Email Policy Question

[crashnet47]

Hello,

I have a client on another host (who would like to switch hosts) who has a mailing list of approximately 1200 individuals. This is a non-profit organization, and most of their email list comes from people signing up at fundraisers, etc. The site is mostly static...the newsletter is going to be the most taxing thing they do.

Reading through your email policy, I was a little confused by the "double-opt in" portion. I'd like to tell them they can move over and transfer their subscriber list over as well. My plan was to set them up on Drupal CMS and while adding a newsletter/subscribe feature, pre-populating the list with their existing subscribers. Is this not allowed with your policy?

Thank you for the assistance!

[Goddess Dix]

double opt-in normally means that 1. being added to an email list is first requested by the recipient and 2. confirmed by the recipient. usually this confirmation is done by an email is sent out at subscription time requiring the recipeint to click a link to complete registration or something that nature.

the point being there was clear and confirmed opt-in by the owner of the email that got subbed. the confirmation is the "double" part of double opt-in.

[crashnet47]

Thank you for the reply. I guess my question is more directed to the fact that this part of the policy exists. From how I'm reading it, it sounds like they would have to reestablish their existing list by having everyone subscribe through the site.

I guess my question can be boiled down to this: Is it acceptable to migrate an existing subscriber list, all of which was provided voluntarily by the requestors. Or in other words, do they have to provide proof all of the emails were provided and confirmed?

I'm putting them on Drupal, so just like other major systems like VBulletin, the emails are throttled (drupal uses cron).

Thanks!

[GvilleRick]

The policy is basically in line with the federal laws here on bulk emailing. If someone complains then may have a case if they did not opt in. I would consider sending out a message that states that the list has moved and provide a means for users to have themselves removed if they do not wish to continue. All emails sent out are supposed to have instructions on opting out anyway. It is important to have a means to throttle the messages as HG does have a 500 per hour limit set up on the servers.

For a definitive answer you should contact sales at hostgator dot com as these fora are primarily peer support.

[crashnet47]

Hey a fellow Greenvillian!

Thanks for the quick reply. These emails would certain follow Fed standards as they do now. The only thing I did not realize was that to move a list to another host would require reverifying existing receivers. I think something could be worked out with the first mesage sent.

I certainly appreciate any thoughts from the HostGator staff as well if available. I will check into contacting sales as well.