Legal Issues: Sending explicit content can violate laws such as the CAN-SPAM Act.
Reputation Damage: Your brand’s reputation can suffer, leading to a loss of
credibility.
Deliverability: Emails containing explicit content are more likely to be flagged as spam, reducing your email
deliverability rates.
Audience Mismatch: Explicit content may not be suitable for all segments of your audience, leading to unsubscribes and complaints.
Language: Use of offensive or graphic language.
Images: Any imagery that is sexually suggestive or violent.
Links: Hyperlinks that lead to inappropriate websites.
Legal Penalties: You could face fines or other legal actions.
Brand Damage: Your brand could be perceived negatively.
Email Blacklisting: Your sending domain could be blacklisted, severely affecting your
email marketing efforts.
Content Review: Have multiple team members review the content before sending.
Filtering Tools: Use email marketing tools that detect and flag explicit content.
Audience Segmentation: Tailor your content to be suitable for your specific audience segments.
Clear Guidelines: Establish clear content guidelines for your team.
Educate Your Team: Regularly train your team on what constitutes explicit content.
Feedback Loop: Implement a feedback loop where subscribers can report inappropriate content.
Examples of Acceptable vs. Explicit Content
Understanding the difference between acceptable and explicit content can be nuanced: Acceptable: Professional language, family-friendly images, educational links.
Explicit: Slang or curse words, provocative images, links to adult websites.
Conclusion
Explicit content has no place in email marketing. By adhering to best practices and maintaining a high standard of content, you can protect your brand’s reputation and ensure your emails are well-received by your audience. Always aim for content that is engaging, informative, and suitable for all segments of your
subscriber base.