Is It Illegal To Buy Email Lists? Legal Formalities You Need To Know

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, purchasing an email list has become an essential and quick approach to broaden your audience.

Of course, why not? Why struggle when there are numerous popular tools claiming accurate contact lists right at your fingertips?

I know what you're thinking.

Many marketing companies, agencies, or sales teams have a common question related to purchasing an email list: Is it illegal to buy an email list? If not, how does it contribute to your business?

No need to scratch your head; we have got you covered.

In this blog post, you will get answers to all your questions related to legalities, risks, and the potential value of buying email lists.

Let’s get into it.

What is email list marketing?

 

Email list marketing involves companies sending targeted emails to a selected group of subscribers or contacts. These emails serve various purposes: promoting products, sharing company news, developing potential customers, or strengthening customer bonds. This approach offers a budget-friendly way to connect with an audience, spark interest, and increase sales through tailored messages.

Table of contents

   1. Is it illegal to buy email list?

   2. How to buy an email list legally?

   3. What are the legal procedures you should follow?

   4. What should you look for when buying email lists legally?

   5. Why should you buy email lists?

   6. Conclusion

Is it illegal to buy email lists?

Yes, it can be. Let me make it clear.

You have to be vigilant and considerate while purchasing an email lists. Otherwise, you will be entangled in serious legal trouble and end up losing consumer trust.

How? According to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), it is banned to send uninvited emails to people without their consent.

However, let’s assume

If the email list you're using comprises personal information that was gathered or scraped without clear permission. Then, in such cases, you will be imposed with severe fines by authorities of up to 20 million euros or 4% of your annual global turnover, whichever amount is higher.

Yep, it's that serious.

Some email marketing platforms will block you from their software if you use a non-compliant email. This is because it will put their brand reputation at risk.

And, yes, nobody wants their platform linked to spam or poor engagement rates. This is not a legal penalty, but, sure, it feels like one.

Getting blocked means you have to deal with the hassle of finding and switching to a new platform, which is a headache.

Don’t worry, not all email list providers are shady operators running under the radar.

There are some genuine email list providers where buying an email can be legal, depending on your region’s law. 

One example is Go4Database, which offers a targeted email list that aligns with the GDPR guidelines and other data protection regulations.

They claim up to 95 % accuracy and even offer a bounce-back guarantee. This appears to be worth your money. Right?

That said, to be on the safer side, always check your local data privacy laws and ask your vendor whether their list complies with these regulations.

How to buy an email list legally?

Purchasing email lists is a powerful way to generate leads and enhance your business, but you can't just sit back and wonder, is purchasing an email list legal? The short answer is yes.

Provided you have to buy it from trusted platforms that abide by GDPR guidelines and other data protection regulations.

There are some popular, reputed sites like Cognism, Lusha, SalesHandy, and Go4Database that provide genuine, verified email lists that comply with the GDPR guidelines.

If you're looking for compliant B2B contact lists, Go4database is a good option to consider.

They provide legally sourced email lists that help you stay on the right side of the law while reaching your target audience.

With Go4Database, you can use advanced filters to quickly get targeted, verified email addresses that are legally sourced and fully compliant.

That said, here are some other important guidelines you need to keep in mind while buying email lists legally.

What are the legal procedures you should follow?

Ensure compliance with regulations

When it comes to buying email lists legally, you should consider the regional data protection regulations. Keep in mind! The rules change depending on where you're doing business.

For example, in the European Union, you need to follow GDPR guidelines. Under these guidelines, the personal data (including email lists) must be collected with explicit consent.

Breaking this rule will be considered illegal, and penalties can reach up to 20 million euros or 4% of your annual income.

And, in the United States, the regional guidelines are the CAN-SPAM Act. These guidelines have clear rules for commercial emails. The subscriber must give consent and have an option to “unsubscribe” from future messages.

Both guidelines are pretty strict when it comes to how personal data is collected. In short, both countries require explicit consent from individuals before using their data.

Always get consent or permission from subscribers

One thing is clear: you need permission before using someone’s data for marketing, no matter where you're located or your business.

What does this mean? It's simple; it’s the job of the email list provider to get consent from individuals before selling their data.

If they haven’t, then using their email list could land you in serious legal trouble.

Know your local laws

As mentioned earlier, knowing about your regional laws is must. This will allow you to make an informed decision regarding whether purchasing email lists from certain providers is legal.

What should you look for when buying email lists legally?

Hope until now you have got some clarity on whether it is legal to buy an email list?

So, if you have decided to buy an email list, what is next? You have to consider the following factors before hitting that buy button.

Let’s know how:

1. Quality over Quantity

It's always good to choose quality over quantity.

I know, it's tempting to buy huge email lists, but what's the point when half of the list includes unverified or invalid email addresses? It's a waste of time.

Instead, focus on a small email list that provides targeted and valid contacts. That’s why it is always said that less is more.

You will be able to avoid hassle and generate leads for your business. However, you can opt for reputed platforms which offers bulk verified data.

2. Use accurate target filters

Make sure to segment your email list using smart filters to get accurate and valid data. Filter your list based on the following factors:

• Demographic information
• Purchasing history
• Stage of the buyer journey
• Interests

With this, you will be able to pitch the right audience and buy the data related to your business needs.

3. Play smart, ask for resources

When you're buying an email list, be smart about it and ask the provider where the data is coming from.

Heads Up! if the provider dodges to explain the source or show the proof, that’s a big red flag. You can assume that contacts were collected by shady or non-compliant means.

To be on the safer side, go for a verified list from reputable sites like Bookyourdata, Saleshandy, or Go4Database. They offer genuine, consent-based email lists that boost your campaigns legally.

Ask for a sample.

I highly recommend requesting a sample list from the provider before making a big investment. You can start small, test a limited batch of email lists first, and check the quality and validity of contacts.

This simple step can save you both time and money as well as help you figure out whether the platform truly delivers valid, reliable email lists.

4. Relevancy and timeliness matter

Always ask your vendor when the list was last updated. Because an outdated list equals outdated leads. The updated data comprises relevant and active contacts.

That said, by using platforms like Go4Database, you can check with bulk verification of email lists, even if they are large.

5. Check the unsubscribe rate and delivery rate

Perplexed? Let’s say,

If your unsubscribe rate is high, then your list probably isn’t relevant. If the delivery rate is low, then you're likely sending emails to invalid addresses. So, to reach the ideal prospect, the formula is - high delivery rate + low unsubscribe rate.

6. Evaluate ROI with cost-benefit analysis

Before buying, take a moment to do math. Ask yourself: how much potential revenue could this list bring?

Compare that to the cost of the list itself, which includes price and maintenance fees. In turn, it will give you a clear idea of whether it's worth the investment.

7. Choose a GDPR-compliant platform

I have mentioned it earlier: you must choose a platform that provides email lists aligned with GDPR guidelines so you don’t have to worry about breaking legal rules.

Why should you buy email lists?

Are you wondering why buying email lists appears to be haphazard? It’s fair to think so, especially since the topic often sparks debate around legalities and ethics.

But, little did you know, there are still many businesses that reap the benefits of buying email lists legally and strategically.

According to reports, over 80% of consumers are concerned about their privacy policies. So, it's more important to approach email marketing with intention and compliance.

However, here are some of the reasons that will help you to know why you should buy email lists:

1. Instant access to a broader audience

You know what? The cornerstone of purchasing an email list is that you will get easy access to bulk contacts with just a few clicks, without any hassle.

Moreover, some lists even include international prospects, making this especially helpful for B2B companies looking to scale globally.

2. Find ideal prospects fast

Most of the email lists that are bought from online platforms come with a filtration or pre-segmented options.

That means you don’t have to spend hours on sorting the email lists manually. Having said that, it also depends on the provider that a business has sought.

For example, if you're specifically targeting B2B leads, then you can go for B2B email lists. For this, you can enquire with your provider before buying.

3. Increase sales opportunities

When you buy email lists from reputed platforms that provide high-quality and relevant prospects. You gain direct access to your potential audience and grow your sales. 

Pretty cool, right?

How does this happen? Of course, through targeted marketing. That is, using filtered lists as per business needs, similar to those at Go4Database, businesses can craft customised messages to their ideal audience and convert them into leads.

4. Launch campaigns faster

You can expedite your business email campaigns as you don’t have to sit back for hours gathering email addresses and sorting them accordingly. 

So, that way, you can increase the pace of email marketing lead generation campaigns and start connecting with a new audience.

5. Gain competitive edge

This is often overlooked; buying marketing email lists can give businesses a competitive edge. It means businesses have access to reach the broader audience before their competitors do.

6. Testing and optimizing marketing strategies

Did you know? The major perk of purchasing a business email list is that with a broader audience, you can test different email formats, offers, and subject lines to see what sticks better. It’s a low-risk way to fine-tune your messages and marketing strategies.

7. Expand into new market

Whats more? Purchasing an email list will not just expand marketing reach. In turn, it allows a business to explore new regions, reach untapped demographics, and build a diverse client base.

Conclusion

So, is it illegal to buy email lists?

By now I hope you've got a clear picture of the pros and cons!

Buying email lists isn’t illegal if you do it the right way. But it requires careful thought and consideration. Otherwise, businesses will end up in serious legal trouble and lose customer trust.

However, the key to being saved from the legalities is to work with a reliable, compliant, and registered email list provider who aligns with key regulations like GDPR and CAN-SPAM. Don’t forget to ask the right questions before you buy.

Are you curious to explore how a reliable email list provider can fuel your marketing success?

Visit Go4Database and explore our segmented, verified, and GDPR-compliant B2B contact lists.

Don’t forget to drop your comments; we’d love to hear what matters to you when choosing B2B email: accuracy, reach, or compliance?

FAQ’s

1. Is it illegal to purchase email lists?

A- It's not illegal if the list is opt-in and data protection compliant, such as GDPR.

2. Is purchasing email lists GDPR compliant?

A- It is GDPR compliant only if the contacts have given express consent, such as from Go4Database.

3. Am I liable to get fined for using a bought email list?

Yes, it can lead to heavy fines or legal action.