Worrying about email rules stops many small businesses from sending at all. The basics are more manageable than they sound. This email compliance checklist covers the essentials in plain language.
Important: This is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by country, so check the requirements where you and your subscribers are located.
The email compliance basics
- Get clear permission. In many places, especially under GDPR, people must actively agree to receive your marketing emails. Use a clear signup form and keep a record of when and how each person agreed.
- Say who you are. In the US, CAN-SPAM requires accurate sender information and a valid physical postal address in your emails.
- Don't mislead. Subject lines and sender names must reflect what the email is really about.
- Make unsubscribing easy. Include a clear unsubscribe link and honor requests promptly.
- Protect your data. Store subscriber information securely and only collect what you need.
- Respect people's data rights. Under GDPR, people can ask to see, correct, or delete their data.
- Don't email people who haven't agreed. That includes bought or scraped lists.
When to get help
If you email people in several countries, handle sensitive data, or aren't sure what applies to you, a lawyer or compliance specialist can confirm what you need.
Next steps
Zaap Mail includes tools to help you manage consent, and because it is self-hosted, your subscriber data stays under your control.