How can I avoid having my e-mail or newsletter from being reported as spam?
Most people sending large amounts of e-mails or newsletters are using automated software that send to a "list" of recipients. These lists have been collected in a variety of ways. Some may use a website to collect addresses from interested parties visiting the site, while others may collect addresses from meetings and conventions. The most common practice (and quickest) is through the purchasing of lists of e-mail addresses. Any list (confirmed or not) may lead to your e-mail or newsletters being reported as SPAM. If your e-mail is reported to your provider, with most ISP's this is a violation of the AUP/TOS and will get your service suspended or terminated.

The most common issue with any type of list, is many are created with no confirmation or using only single opt-in. In a single opt-in, people submit an e-mail address and ask (opt) for specific e-mails or newsletters to be sent to them. The problem with a single opt-in is that people might submit their name inadvertently, or someone may have submitted their name for them, against their wishes. Someone may even forget that they requested the subscription, or may now not be interested. They may complain to your ISP, web host, or your newsletter service provider. The best way to protect yourself is using a confirmed opt-in format for creating or verifying your lists. If there is any complaint about your e-mail or newsletter's, you have protected yourself. You can show that you required the confirmed opt-in feature. This will deflect the criticism, and you have met most ISP's standards.

What is "Confirmed opt-in"?
Confirmed opt-in is an enhanced permission that tackles these issues listed above. With confirmed opt-in, the submitted name is not immediately added to a mailing list. Instead, an e-mail is sent to the address, asking to confirm that their name should indeed be added. If the recipient of the confirmation e-mail does nothing, the submitted address is taken off of any mailings. The name is only added to a distribution list if the recipient responds to the confirmation e-mail.