What is CAN-SPAM?
CAN-SPAM is a law that sets the rules for sending commercial email. It prohibits sending spam to your customers, which is unsolicited email sent in bulk. It also requires that commercial email include an unsubscribe link for customer to opt-out of the communication process, a postal address, and a clear statement of the sender’s identity.
What are the requirements of CAN-SPAM?
The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 establishes the requirements for commercial email messages. The act prohibits false or misleading header information, deceptive subject lines, and deceptive messages in the body of the email that can give any wrong impression to the customer. The act also requires that commercial email messages include an unsubscribe mechanism, a physical postal address, and a valid return email address.
What are the benefits of CAN-SPAM?
There are many benefits of CAN-SPAM. To start with, it gives businesses a way to legally send commercial emails and share information with their customers. It also sets some guidelines for how those emails should be formatted and what information needs to be included in them. This can help businesses avoid spam filters and ensure that their emails are more likely to be delivered to recipients’ inboxes.
CAN-SPAM also provides a way for recipients to unsubscribe from email lists more easily without going through difficult steps.
What are the penalties for violating CAN-SPAM?
The penalties for violating CAN-SPAM can be severe. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can impose civil penalties of up to $16,000 per email message, and state attorneys general can bring criminal charges.
What are the exceptions to CAN-SPAM?
There are a few exceptions to the CAN-SPAM Act, which are as follows:
- Political messages
- Messages from charities
- Adult content
- Unsolicited commercial messages sent to individuals who have opted out of receiving them
- Messages that contain forged or misleading header information
How can I comply with CAN-SPAM?
It covers things like when you need to get consent from people before you start emailing them, how you need to identify yourself in emails through sender information, and how you need to handle unsubscribe requests without giving trouble to your customers.
To comply with CAN-SPAM, you need to make sure that all of your emails include an unsubscribe link, and that you honor unsubscribe requests within 10 days. You also need to make sure that your emails include your physical mailing address, and that you identify yourself as the sender.
If you’re not sure how to comply with CAN-SPAM, there are a number of resources available online, including the FTC’s guide to CAN-SPAM compliance which you can refer.