What's the ethical way to add 500 email contacts I have to my newsletter list?

You must get explicit permission. Break your 500 contacts into batches of 50. Send each batch an email explaining that you’re running a fine art business online with a newsletter where subscribers are treated as VIPs—they get first access to new work and stories you don’t share on social media. Ask them to either click a link to subscribe or reply with ‘yes’ to be subscribed manually. Only add people who affirmatively consent. Adding people without permission is against the law and unethical. If you get 3-4 spam complaints, it’s no big deal, but if you get 300 complaints out of 500, you could face legal investigation. Always get permission first.

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Asked by an artist with existing contacts · Answered by Juan and Indra · Office Hours · 2026-05-21