There are illegal and there are legal ways to make money online. Spam -- unsolicited email -- is one of the illegal methods, but don't let people tell you that spam has killed email as a communications tool.

Spam may have reduced the effectiveness of email, but, if you follow some recognized guidelines, email is still one of the best legitimate ways to make money online.

Email marketing is also one of the most reliable ways to make money online.

Here's why:

• Email is cost-effective: With no postage or print costs, email is one of the cheapest ways to communicate with your target market.
• Email is easy: Using software or online services, you can send an email to thousands of people on your list.
• Email is targeted: Thanks to the powerful personalization features available through email marketing, you can personalize your emails so it sounds like you're writing directly to each and every recipient.
• Email is popular: Yes, despite spam, people still check their email inboxes every day. Email has become part of modern life for many, many people, because it's so cheap and easy for them to use. So, despite the problems with spam, it's not likely to go away soon.

So, there you go. Five reasons why email is still not only one of the best legitimate reasons to make money online, but one of the most reliable ways to make money online.

Thanks to the Can-Spam Act, senders of illegal spam email can be fined and even jailed, but email is still one of the best legal ways to make money online if you follow the requirements set out in the Can-Spam Act, including:

1. Keep records of how and when people are added to your list.
2. Track requests to opt out, and remove people who opt out of your list immediately.
3. Post your privacy policy on your web site and opt-in form, and abide by it.
4. Investigate third-party service providers before signing any contracts for email services.
5. Be careful when using rental lists.
6. Use a real return email address with enough storage space to receive your bounce backs and opt-outs.
7. Provide easy instructions on how to unsubscribe from your list.
8. Provide a valid physical postal address of the sender.
9. Use a consistent "from" address.
10. Use an authentic, non-misleading subject line.

The best way to keep yourself informed about the latest developments in spam laws is to visit www.spamlaws.com. It's a great resource site for finding out what's going on with both state and federal laws, as well as the anti-spamming laws of other countries.