The short answer is no. Constant Contact has a strict permission policy that forbids using lists that are bought, rented, or scraped from the web. If you use one, you risk having your account shut down. This isn't just a suggestion,it's a rule that helps everyone's emails actually get delivered.
Why this rule exists
Email marketing works best when people actually want to hear from you. When someone signs up for your newsletter or buys something from your shop, they're giving you permission. People on a bought list never agreed to hear from your business, so sending them emails is essentially spamming them.
It just doesn't work well
Constant Contact uses shared systems to send emails for many customers at once. Bought lists usually have lots of dead email addresses and people who will mark your mail as spam. This makes the whole system look bad to email providers like Gmail or Outlook, which can hurt the ability of other honest businesses to reach their customers.
What counts as a "bought" list?
It's not just about paying a broker for a file. The policy also includes:
Renting a list from another company.
"Appending" or finding emails for people who didn't give them to you.
Pulling addresses off websites or social media (scraping).
Using leads from another company where the person didn't specifically sign up for YOUR mail.
Better ways to grow
The best way to build a list is to do it right. Use sign-up forms on your website, offer a "Text to Join" option, or ask people at events if they'd like to join. It takes more time, but these subscribers are much more likely to actually read your emails and buy from you.
If you're thinking about using a service to update your current customer info, things get a bit more complicated. There's a difference between adding info to people you already know and trying to find new strangers. We're still figuring out the exact rules for these "gray areas," so for now, it's best to play it safe.
