Quick Examples

• People who have opted in to your list on your website
• People who have opted in to receive emails from you offline
• Your customers who have a prior business relationship with you (but if you haven't contacted them in ages, be sure to send a re-introduction email)
• People who opted in to receive emails from you at a co-registration site
• You're sending on behalf of your customer, and they comply with the above.
• People who purchased one of your products, or attended an event, and gave you their email address so they could receive updates from you.
• Your internal employee list (such as for company notices)
• Press releases sent to reporters who signed up at your website

• Lists that you purchased from a 3rd party (even if it's "opt-in")
• Even if Chuck Norris or GOD HIMSELF sold you the list, it's not okay to use in MailChimp.
• Lists that you are renting from someone else
• Lexis-Nexis, Real Estate MLS databases, Advertising Redbooks, AdBase lists, D&B, Experian
• Lists from a local Chamber of Commerce or local club or organization.
• Do NOT export your entire email address book into MailChimp [Here's why]
• Emails that you "scraped" (either manually or automatically) from other websites
• You may not send personal resumes to potential employers. They did not opt in to receive emails from you.
• Recipients whose emails you collected without their permission, but you think they could really use your product or service, and you think they'd really want to hear from you.
• Members of a group/organization who never asked for your emails (even if you're a member of the group)
• Unsolicited press releases to reporters
• Lists of customers who dropped their business cards in a fishbowl, but they had no idea they were going to receive emails (because you didn't say that on the fishbowl).
• Lists of registered voters in your district obtained from your local government.