Marketing in a GDPR world

By Elliot Paynter, Ignition CBS.

From next May, all the prospect email databases you’ve been using could become illegal. It’s likely that your customer database may too.

Because 25th May 2018 will see the enforcement of a new data law – The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – that requires everyone in your database(s) to have specifically opted in to receive communication from your business. If you can’t prove your contacts have opted in, you can’t contact them.

Providing the opportunity to “opt out” no longer counts as valid consent.

You could be fined 4% of your annual turnover. And the law will be enforced. 5 steps to take NOW

1. Awareness: ensure key people and decision makers in your business are aware the law is changing.
2. Consent: start the opt-in process with your existing data.
3. Best practice: B2C double opt in processes are now essential for B2B.
4. Define your opt-in statements: these should be clear and simple, leaving no room for doubt.
5. Data Protection Officer: designate someone to take responsibility for data compliance.