Which physical address to use for a email marketing list?

June 2, 2011 10:34 AM

I'd like to setup an email marketing list for a small magazine I run. For this, I legally need a physical address. I'd rather not use my home address. What should I use?

Surely others have encountered this problem.

I've determined that 1) PO boxes are unacceptable [page 14], 2) my magazine cannot afford its own office unless that office is $20 a month, 3) no offices are $20 a month.

Any suggestions?

posted by bode well carapace to Work & Money (8 answers total)

Find a different way to market your magazine? Email campaigns are rather inefficient way to do it, and I can't really imagine any way for you to get around CAN SPAM without an office.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 10:38 AM on June 2, 2011

The FTC says that PO Boxes are acceptable in their "The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business":

Tell recipients where you’re located. Your message must include your valid physical postal address. This can be your current street address, a post office box you’ve registered with the U.S. Postal Service, or a private mailbox you’ve registered with a commercial mail receiving agency established under Postal Service regulations.

posted by Jahaza at 10:48 AM on June 2, 2011

Best answer: A lot of buildings serve as drop boxes for mail. I'm not sure how you can track one down in your city, but a marketing company I worked for had a downtown mailing address, though we did not work downtown.
Alternatively, you might be able to rent a mailbox at a UPS store. That would give you a physical address, I believe.
posted by Gilbert at 10:50 AM on June 2, 2011

I get the impression that Mail Chimp's recommendations are just that - recommendations. But if you're still unsure about it, you could try getting a box at a UPS Store, which will be a physical street address. You could also use a mail forwarding service like Earth Class Mail.
posted by katillathehun at 10:50 AM on June 2, 2011

As others have said, last time I used a private mailbox service the address was indistinguishable from an office. I believe that the Post Office has now instituted more rules about verifying who's associated with that address, but so far as anybody else knows you'll just be a suite number at an address.
posted by straw at 11:23 AM on June 2, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks for the advice. I've looked into the UPS Store as a possible option, and it looks quite promising.
posted by bode well carapace at 11:38 AM on June 2, 2011

I listed my workplace address for the MailChimp thing (with permission from the boss) and it's been fine. No mail, either (though I guess that depends on whether someone wants to write to you by paper mail to complain about your emails?)
posted by bubukaba at 2:13 PM on June 2, 2011

Lots of places will provide you with a physical mailing address, for a monthly fee. Try Mailboxes Etc.
posted by ixohoxi at 2:44 PM on June 2, 2011