You can’t import your list of friends, colleagues, contacts, or address book, without each contact providing permission to be on your email list first.
Let's dive into the details.
As per our Acceptable Use Policy, we require one of the following for all Subscribers on your list:
They've given explicit permission to receive marketing emails from you, or...
They consented to receive emails when they made a purchase from you within the last twelve months.
This requirement protects your sender reputation, as well as ConvertKit’s. This protection helps ensure that the emails you send reach your subscribers' inboxes.
If your subscribers receive an email from you and they either don’t know you, don’t expect the email, or simply forgot that one time, months ago, when you met by chance at a conference, they will likely mark your mail as spam or let it sit untouched in their inbox— both of which are actions that will harm your reputation and deliverability.
If Gmail, Yahoo, or another mailbox provider sees one of these actions, they will assume you are sending emails that are unwanted or unsolicited. As a result, your sending reputation could be damaged, causing emails to land in the spam folder or bounce completely.
How should I add my personal contacts to my email list?
The best way to add your friends, family, and colleagues to your email list is to set up a form or landing page in ConvertKit, and share it with them.
You can send them a link to your form or landing page via your personal email, outside of ConvertKit, or through social media platforms, by text, in person, etc.
The important thing is to ensure you're providing each of your contacts with the chance to sign up to receive your emails on their own accord. Permission is important when it comes to keeping your sender reputation healthy, and it will also help you maintain trust with your contacts.