Opt-in confirmation for admin emails

[GreysAnatomy]

I'm not wuite sure if this is the right place to ask but I couldn't think of any other subforum. Anyway, I've just recently switched hosts and sent out a mass email informing my members that the forum is back up and running again - an hour later, I receive an email from my new host, letting me know I've violated their anti-spam rules.

Their supporter told me to use an opt-in confirmation system in order to send out such emails legally. I'm gonna c&p the newest email with my own questions and the supporter's answers:

After registering, my members receive an email to confirm their sign up. Isn't this considered an electronic opt-in confirmation system?

In this email, are they required to click on a confirmation link before
their name is added to the list? If so, that would be considered a form
of opt-in confirmation. However, we also require that each confirmation
is logged with the date/time and IP address associated with that
confirmation, and that such information is accessible by DreamHost
personnel.

I can also include a link they can visit in
each email I send out, a link which brings them to their profile where
they can uncheck the box for receiving admin mails. But I'm not sure if
that's what you mean. :-/

That is known as an "opt-out" mechanism. While also important - and a
requirement of our anti-spam policy - it is not the same as opt-in
confirmation. Opt-in confirmation isn't a way to remove one's self from a
list, but rather a way for people to avoid being added to a list if they
didn't want to be on it in the first place.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Is there any way to send out mass emails in the future without violating my host's rules? I've searched the vBulletin Manual but didn't find anything there.

I'd be grateful for any help!

[Colin F]

vBulletin is opt-in, in that they register, and during the registration, every user can choose if they want to receive admin emails or not.
All you might want to do is change the default to not receive admin emails in your
AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> User Registration Options -> Default Registration Options

In my eyes that wouldn't even be needed though.

[GreysAnatomy]

That's what I thought too and asked in an earlier mail:

When they're signing up for the messageboard, there's this box they need to check if the wanna receive emails from the administrator. As a
default, they won't receive any, only if they check said box. So IMO,
they're signing up for it. They can also uncheck the box anytime through
their UserCP on the board.

While this may be the case, our anti-spam policy has very specific
requirements for bulk email:

http://www.dreamhost.com/spam.html

The most important aspect of this policy is the requirement that all bulk
email be only sent to subscribers who have subscribed using an electronic
opt-in confirmation system (wherein after subscribing they are sent an
email with a link they must click on or follow before receiving any
further emails), and that those confirmations are logged with the
date/time and IP address associated with the confirmation. The policy
also has other requirements such as a clear statement to subscribers of
how the addresses will be used, a user-friendly unsubscribe system, etc.

If you are not using opt-in confirmation with full logging, we will need
you to cease such mailings as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about this policy or would like clarification
on the matter, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Merci für dini Hilf. Ha erst grad gmerkt, dass i s ganze au so hätt chönne regle. Und ich müeh mi do mit Englisch ab...

[Colin F]

If you're verifying email addresses on registration then you've got the confirmation part, the only thing that isn't done is logging of the date/time/IP.

[GreysAnatomy]

Thanks for confirming it. I think i'll need to change hosts again then - or start looking for a hack over at vBulletin.Org... stupid spam rules.