Almost daily, I receive an unsolicited email newsletter from an acquaintance. And almost daily, I’m tempted to send a polite reprimand.

Uh, hon? You know I love you, but there are LAWS about email marketing. I didn’t make ’em up. I just try to follow them.  You should too.

For example, if I don’t actually opt in to your email newsletter, you probably shouldn’t just assume that I want it. And by the way, can you take me off your list?

So for all you email marketing renegades, here’s a bit of tough love. Feel free to share it with others who need clued in.

Dear Unsolicited Email Newsletter Sender

You’re passionate about your business. You want it to thrive.  As a fellow small business owner, I get it.

I want you to thrive too, so let me to give you some advice. It’s unsolicited, but I guarantee it will help.

In short: your current email marketing (i.e., those newsletters and promotional emails you’re sending) are making you vulnerable to steep fines.

Email marketing has come under stiff regulations in recent years. Everyone, from small businesses to major corporations, are now legally required to follow a certain set of rules.  They’re not difficult, but they are strict.

For starters, you can’t add just anyone to your mailing list. You need to get permission first. Just because you’ve done business with someone doesn’t mean you have her permission. Just because someone attended your event doesn’t mean you have her permission, either.

Getting someone’s permission means asking them if they want to be added to your mailing list, and having them say yes. THAT’S IT.

If you’re NOT doing this, you risk being branded as a spammer under CAN-SPAM. And this means:

•  Your web host may shut down your site

•   Other people’s email servers may blacklist you, or block your future mailings

•   You may be liable for fines of up to $16,000 per email sent

•   Customers may get annoyed and stop buying from you, or even bad-mouth you to others

There’s an easy way to ensure you’re compliant with CAN-SPAM. Simply sign up with an email marketing provider such as Constant Contact, and follow its guidelines. It’s not expensive — just $15 a month gives you a variety of options, including a spam checker that will grade the content of your emails to see if they’re vulnerable to spam filters.

Constant Contact and other email marketing providers also include a one-click unsubscribe button on each email newsletter, so people can remove themselves instantly if they don’t want to receive more emails.  That makes managing your list easy, and stops customers from receiving emails they don’t want.

Using an email marketing provider also makes you look professional. Nothing screams “I don’t know what I’m doing” louder than an unsolicited email newsletter, especially one with a list of addresses in the CC or BCC line.

Do your business and your customers a favor. Learn about CAN-SPAM. Start follow its rules. And stop sending unsolicited emails, even if they’re only to your friends and former customers. We’ll all be much happier in the long run. And if we want to sign up for your email newsletter, we know how to find you.