If you work in email marketing and rarely visit the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website, you’re taking an unnecessary risk. Not because you’re doing anything wrong. But because you might not realise what’s changing. The ICO Isn’t Just Enforcement — It’s Insight Most people think of the ICO as a regulator that steps in when … READ MORE »
Data is the lifeblood of email marketing. Your subscribers trust you with personal information, and safeguarding that data isn’t just compliance — it’s essential for your business’s reputation and profitability. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides clear guidance on what’s expected. Ignoring it can be costly. Why Data Security Matters in Email Marketing A … READ MORE »
Data protection might not be the most riveting part of email marketing, but it's the most important — especially for SMEs handling subscriber data on a daily basis. A useful starting point is the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), including its practical GDPR self-assessment for small businesses. This tool is quite helpful for … READ MORE »
As financial pressures weigh heavily on SMEs, especially those relying on email marketing, some important reminders may have slipped under the radar. One of them? Data Protection Day – marked every year on 28 January. The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) certainly didn’t miss it. This year, the ICO used the opportunity to urge the UK’s 5.5 … READ MORE »
As you can imagine, I have to do a considerable amount of research with regards to the intricacies of email marketing in order to validate what I post on here. I’ve recently spent time on the Information Commissioners Office website, https://ico.org.uk/ . During periods of change, it’s almost a second home for me as it … READ MORE »
With the end of Covid restrictions in sight, if you have good eyesight, you are probably feeling a little euphoric. Maybe your short-term problems are over. A return to normal-ish email marketing campaign planning is surely just around the corner. It’s not a return to the ‘old days’. There are a number of factors with … READ MORE »
It might be fair to say that many email marketing companies view the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) with a degree of trepidation. They take pleasure in listing the latest penalties they have imposed on their website. It’s enough to make anyone nervous. However, they normally also list the criteria they will use to judge you, … READ MORE »
The Information Commissioner’s Office has, presumably under instruction, accepted that those companies with personal data are experiencing significant difficulties during the lockdown; and none more so than us in email marketing. It promises to approach the law with all the flexibility allowed, and that it will concentrate on the greatest threats. It’s not a carte … READ MORE »
The ICO (the Information Commissioner’s Office) polices data protection and, with our, hopefully massive, email marketing lists, you’d think we should be wary of them but it’s just the reverse. We should look upon them as a valuable asset. It is almost as if the ICO doesn’t want a lot of bother. It’s the easy … READ MORE »
We’ve covered what constitutes a data breach and how to plan for one in previous articles. If one occurs there probably is a requirement to notify the ICO. In judging whether a specific breach needs to be reported it is not simply gauging the risk to your email marketing list. You have to establish the … READ MORE »