What’s the difference between B2B and B2C cold outreach rules?

The legal framework differs significantly between business and consumer audiences.

B2C cold outreach is heavily restricted in most jurisdictions. GDPR requires consent for marketing to individuals. CAN-SPAM allows unsolicited commercial email but requires opt-out mechanisms. CASL (Canada) requires express or implied consent. Consumer protection is the priority.

B2B cold outreach has more flexibility in certain regions. The UK PECR regulations allow unsolicited email to corporate addresses (not personal work email). The EU ePrivacy Directive permits member states to allow B2B marketing without consent, though GDPR still applies to personal data processing.

Key distinctions:

Corporate email addresses (info@company.com) vs named individual addresses (jane@company.com)

Whether the recipient's role makes the contact relevant to their professional duties

Regional implementation of EU directives varies by country

Always consult legal counsel for your specific markets and use cases.