What is GDPR?
The GDPR is a new law that’s been set in place on the 25th of May in 2018. The law is a measure to protect the personal data of citizens.
Companies need to have permission to collect people’s data. This means companies cannot keep someone’s data without having their consent, and they need to delete the data if someone asks for it.
What do you need to do with your email list in order to be GDPR compliant?
- 1. Regardless of which email service provider you use, your subscribers need to state explicitly that they want to be added to your email list.
Instead of automatically adding them to your list when they click ‘download’, they have to make a conscious choice about being added to your list as well! Most ESPs have already added an extra checkbox to a download form to take GDPR compliance into account.
In ConvertKit for example, you can turn on the ‘GDPR checkbox’ in your general settings.
- 2. Make sure you don’t use pre-ticked boxes! This means your box needs to be empty and people need to consciously tick the box and say something along the lines of ‘yes, I want to receive emails’.
In general: as long as you are inventive with the text that you mention in that extra ‘checkbox', you will notice that most people will still click on ‘yes' if you are inventive with the wording of your extra checkbox. Look at the way Marie Forleo positions her newsletter for new subscribers, this is a good example of obeying the law and still getting everyone to click yes!
- 3. In addition to the fact that people have to make a conscious choice to subscribe to your list, you may not keep unnecessary information or data about your customers. So do not ask what age they are if this is irrelevant to the choice they are currently making, that is not permitted within the EU regulations.
- 4. People must be able to unsubscribe at any time. Include an unsubscribe button and if you want you can also put a ‘preference’ button at the bottom of your email. This way, people can choose the subjects they're interested in.
What do I do with the subscribers I had before the 25th of May 2018?
You can do a re-permission campaign, meaning you ask your subscribers, to re-opt-in to your list. You send out an email to your entire list and ask them to click something that counts as a confirmation of wanting to receive further emails from your company.
Okay, now you know all you need to know about the GDPR for your email list and you are totally ready to start with your online business and collect email addresses!
Now are you less scared and motivated as hell to get started building your list?
If so, then yes! Follow my series ‘Build Your Email List with ConvertKit’ and start here to build a list that will make you hundreds and thousands of euros.
P.S. Below you will find the general guidelines for the GDPR – but I thought it would be better to give you the examples I stated above for your email list.
Be transparent:
This means you need to communicate very clearly that you collect people's data and why. Do this in simple, understandable words.
Be correct:
Make sure you update all your data. Check if everything is correct and you’re not holding onto information you shouldn’t be holding onto.
Be reliable:
The data you collect, must be processed in a safe environment. Don’t lose data or store data in an unsafe environment where everyone can access it!
Be clear about your goals:
Why do you collect those peoples data? Tell them.
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