Hi Reader,

Your email list is one of the most valuable things you own in your online business. Not rented from a social platform, not subject to an algorithm change overnight — yours.

But building that list comes with legal requirements most business owners don't find out about until something goes wrong. Let's make sure that's not you.

Here are 4 areas to check to make sure you're building your list the right way 👇

1. Your privacy policy is current (and actually yours)

Privacy laws shift regularly, and if you're collecting email addresses on your website, your privacy policy needs to reflect that. Review it at least once a year — and please, do not copy and paste one from another website. These policies need to be specific to your business. A lawyer-drafted template and someone to walk you through the customization process is the move here (and yes, this is what we do in the Fine Print Academy!)

2. GDPR compliance

If you run an online business, you almost certainly have subscribers from outside the US. Which means GDPR likely applies to you, even if you're based stateside. The short version: you need affirmative consent from anyone you're marketing to.

That means a clear disclosure at sign-up, a checkbox the subscriber actively clicks, or a double opt-in confirmation before they land on your list.

You'll also need a more detailed privacy policy and a cookie notice for anyone visiting your site.

3. CAN-SPAM compliance

These are the US rules for email marketing, and the highlights are straightforward. Marketing emails must be identified as advertising, you can't dress them up as personal messages.

You must include a physical mailing address or PO Box somewhere in the email. Unsubscribing must be easy, and you must honor those requests. And your "from" information has to be accurate. The whole point of these laws is transparency, which honestly just makes for better email marketing anyway.

4. Watch and Honor What You Promise.

Whatever you're promising in exchange for someone's email address (a guide, a free class, a checklist) it has to be truthful. You can't make exaggerated claims about what someone will experience or gain.

This isn't just an integrity issue (though it is that too). Misleading opt-in offers can put you in the crosshairs of the FTC. Keep your promises real and your subscribers will actually trust you.

If you want to go further — with contracts, policies, and ongoing legal guidance as your business grows — that's exactly what The Fine Print Academy is for. It's our legal membership built specifically for online business owners who want real answers without the overwhelm.

⭐ And heads up: we have a special sale coming at the end of the month. If you've been on the fence about joining the Academy, your moment is coming soon!

Happy Emailing!