(from iMedia Connections)

by G. Simms Jenkins

Ignorant and offensive tactics continue to persist in the email marketing space. Learn what they are and why you should avoid them.

Recently, I have noticed a rising trend that might be due to this rough economy or perhaps just sheer laziness. Quite a few emails are finding their way into my inbox without any direct permission being granted to the sender. I am not talking about the usual spam that inevitably clutters our lives. I am talking big brands, real marketing messages and conflicted and confused senders.

Below I provide several examples of emails my team and I have received without having provided any specific opt-in to the senders or their companies, affiliates, friends or family.

First off, a major seller of concerts tickets targeted a colleague of mine with its ongoing promotional emails without his opt-in. The company disclosed this move in small fine print at the bottom of the email, which noted that you had to opt out to stop receiving the messages.

Would it hurt so much to ask for an opt-in rather than assuming this is OK?

(see the rest of the article on iMedia Connections)

G. Simms Jenkins is founder and CEO of BrightWave Marketing, an Atlanta-based email marketing and customer relationship services firm. He is the author of “The Truth About Email Marketing,” published in August 2008