Getting a list together can be problematic. This is where you have to be careful. You can buy lists from spammers who will offer to e-mail hour advertisement to 1/2 a million people for a premium price. But that is a shot in the dark, firstly it could get you into trouble as it's spamming, you don't know if the people receiving the advertisement have agreed to receive information from list owner.

The only reliable source of lists is to contact a reliable opt-in list broker or owner. Check the company's track record, find out how the lists were compiled, ask for proof that the recipients had agreed to receive data from them. Find out as much as you can about the target audience.

Ensure that you put out good copywriting, most e-mail are sent out in plain text, what and how you put across your point; make it interesting, personal and compelling to the reader. Add your special offers or gifts, and then give them a choice of either replying to the e-mail or visiting your website.

Be careful what you put in the subject line. Often the subject line will be the first thing the reader will read. Make it short, to the point but say enough to make them want to read more. Often just offering a special benefit in the subject line will be attention grabbing.

You success or failure depends on how successfully you carry out these three elements of a successful e-mail marketing campaign.

The above information has been extrapolated from this article: http://ezinearticles.com/?Elements-of-an-Successful-E-Mail-Marketing-Campaign&id=3246791

• Do seek permission to communicate with customers, prospects and readers.
• Do use the double opt-in or at least single opt-in subscription approach.
• Do include a working unsubscribe link or email address on all emails.
• Do immediately honor unsubscribe requests.
• Do publish your privacy policy relating to the use of information gathered in your email list members.
• Do re-optin subscribers/customers that you have not been communicated to via email in more than 6 months.

• Don't pre-check email subscription/sign-up boxes.
• Don't ever BUY an email list.
• Don't ever mislead recipients with false from names, misleading subject lines or deceptive offers.
• Don't email list members more frequently than they would reasonably expect to hear from your organization.

• Everyone on a mailing list is content to be a member
• Mailing lists joined by personal request can be left at any time
• Mailing list addresses cannot be used for any other purpose
• Mailing list policies and procedures should be documented and accessible
• Email should be identifiable as coming from the list
• Users should be careful to keep inappropriate messages off the list