Outreach Compliance: CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and Legal Considerations

Outreach Legal Compliance

Stay compliant to protect your business and maintain deliverability.

TL;DR: CAN-SPAM requires physical address and opt-out. GDPR requires lawful basis for EU contacts. Know the rules for your target markets.

CAN-SPAM (US)

Requirements:

Accurate header information

Non-deceptive subject lines

Identify as advertisement (if applicable)

Physical postal address

Clear opt-out mechanism

Honor opt-outs within 10 days

Penalties: Up to $50,120 per email

GDPR (EU)

Requirements:

Lawful basis for processing

Legitimate interest for B2B okay

Right to object/unsubscribe

Data protection

Record keeping

Penalties: Up to 4% global revenue

CASL (Canada)

Stricter than CAN-SPAM:

Explicit consent preferred

Implied consent time-limited

Detailed identification

Unsubscribe mechanism

B2B Exceptions

Many jurisdictions allow B2B cold outreach if:

Business email used

Relevant to recipient's work

Easy opt-out provided

Not excessive volume

Compliance Checklist

[ ] Physical address in signature

[ ] Working unsubscribe link

[ ] Accurate sender information

[ ] Clear business purpose

[ ] Opt-out honored promptly

[ ] Records maintained

Best Practices

1. Keep records of consent/basis 2. Honor unsubscribes immediately 3. Segment by jurisdiction 4. Review regulations regularly 5. When in doubt, consult legal

Tools Integration

Most outreach tools include:

Automatic unsubscribe links

Address fields

Opt-out management

Compliance features

Use them properly to stay compliant.