How do I reach merchants by email or LinkedIn without breaking anti-spam rules?
Store data tools make it easy to build merchant lists. The rules on contacting them are still strict.
- Can we email merchants from store lists?
- What about LinkedIn?
- What do we offer?
Build a small, targeted list of stores that fit, using store data tools, then contact the decision maker with a specific offer tied to their store. In Canada, CASL requires consent for commercial email, with narrow exceptions; in the US, CAN-SPAM requires honest headers, an address and an opt-out. Rules elsewhere differ. Keep volume low, track replies and honour opt-outs.
Rules by country
| Country | Key rule |
|---|---|
| Canada (CASL) | Consent needed, with limited exceptions |
| US (CAN-SPAM) | Opt-out, address, honest headers |
| EU and UK | Stricter consent rules for many messages |
A useful offer
- A specific observation about their store.
- A free setup or audit.
- A relevant case study.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We build compliant outreach and track replies and installs. Personalized outreach without spam covers the method.
- Thousands of cold emails.
- Ignoring CASL.
- No opt-out.
- Generic messages.
- Small targeted lists.
- Rules checked by country.
- Opt-outs honoured.
- Specific offers.
What developers and Shopify say
Here is what regulators and developers say.
Consent and unsubscribe rules in Canada.
Read the CRTC FAQ →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll build compliant, targeted outreach.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Is LinkedIn safer?
Different rules, same need for relevance.
Can we use store contact forms?
Treat them like any outreach.
Does outbound work for apps?
For higher-priced apps and Plus stores, it can.