I have them all in a text document, and I was wondering what kind of trouble I could get in if I send them all an email promoting an offer from an affiliate network (about 1 every 2 weeks or so). I know there is some risk, because they didn't opt in somewhere. But what is the best way to go about this? I've never done emails before. If the risk is to great, I don't want to email them, however I feel this is a very target specific niche that can do well on a hand full of offers. Any insight, thoughts, or comments is appreciated.
If you utilize it = Spam You have the list of emails do not mean you have to utilize it....just as you have a gun do not mean just for the purpose of utilize it, you terminate life of dog until you don't have more bullets in your gun !!!
Part of the answer depends on how you got the email addresses. I email market all the time and there are times you may be allowed to use those email addresses. How did you get them?
Just like jaxrefinance said, how did you get the email addresses? If you just hacked into the schools database and copied them, then you shouldn't, it would be spam, and you could get in trouble. There was a guy back in school, while I was in college, who somehow accessed about 500 email addresses and sent us a link to his online bookstore, three days later the bookstore was shut down and he was expelled.
I didn't hack into anything. The school I attend updated their email client or whatever you want to call it. When I log into the email and start typing a "phrase" it pops up with every email with that combination. So what I did was get every 3 letter combo, and started out typing each one out. It took a while but, I should have researched this more before I did this. EDIT: I know by typing each 3 letter combo I would get multiples of the same email, that is why I found a program that allows me to delete multiple phrases in a text document.
Your choice. I would probably try to take advantage as I am a risk taker but that doesnt mean you should! It is most definitely spam as they did not opt in. However... I would create a fan page or group for facebook based around the school and then use facebook to mass mail the list in small chunks for a fake email account set up. Then try to sell them stuff through the fan page etc. It's your choice. This is just information
just make a website about university/college discounts...and then send them all an email about it..inviting them to use it..1:3 will sign up...that 1:3 ratio is a ratio of students that WANT to buy something..and WANT a discount..then you just email them from that site with products they might be interested in...afiliate linked of course ;-) Disclaimer.....Oh fuck the disclaimer..just do it
Well, if you paid for the list I think you wasted some money because if you do decide to utilize these emails, it would be considered spam in many cases.