How To Opt-Out From Unwanted Advertisers Online & Offline

As online and off-line marketing and advertising grows, marketers are becoming increasingly aggressive in obtaining information about who you are and what you do. In some cases, website visitors are finding out that information is being collected without any disclosure.

Today, there are ways to help protect your information from being seen and used without your consent. These “opt-out” lists and “do not call” registries are free to use and in most cases they can be completed online.

OptOutPrescreen

opt-out prescreen

OptOutPrescreen gives you the option to opt-out of credit card offers from Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion.

Catalog Choice

Choose from a list of merchants that offer an opt-out for catalogs you no longer wish to receive. To read more on how CatalogChoice can help you decrease the amount of junk mail, read more here – catalog choice features

Do Not Call

Do Not Call

To opt-out from telemarketing phone calls sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting DoNotCall

Leave My Child Alone

Leave My Child Alone

A variety of resources for parents and information for opting out of OPTIONAL high school data bases that turn over private information on students to military recruiters. Visit LeaveMyChildAlone

Network Advertising Initiative

Online, many advertisers put cookies on your computer so they can gather information used for online advertising. Network Advertising Initiative is a website that offers a way to block the cookies from participating members of their advertising network. To opt-out, visit Network Advantage Initiative.

Network Advantage Initiative also offers tutorials on how to block cookies if you use Explorer, Firefox and Safari:

If you feel you’re being harassed by marketers, try using these sites to opt out.   Do you know of any other sites?  If so, let us know in the comments.

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Gary Reichel

For over 10 years I have worked as a graphic designer, creating material for print and web. All my designs and layouts focus to improve, or support, a business's identity. I believe there is more to a layout than words and pictures. Therefore, I also focuses on copy that leads to a call to action, with the demographic and method of advertising in mind. As a marketing consultant I coordinate print campaigns with internet marketing. This may require the integration of: direct mail campaigns, print ads and brochures; with web design, landing pages and other search engine optimization or internet marketing methods. When I'm not designing, I enjoy writing and blogging about search engine optimization, graphic design, web design and social networking.

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  • http://mahendrap.wordpress.com Mahendra

    Privacy Choice (http://www.privacychoice.org) is the best site for opting out of online ad networks with more than 50 ad networks included.

  • http://twitter.com/robertmoreno Robert

    Great list! I’m new to this site but you’ve provided me with so much info in such a short amount of time.

  • http://www.stopthejunkmail.com Margotb

    Try http://www.stopthejunkmail.com to opt out of catalogs and other types of direct mail. We have been doing this successfully now for over 10 years. I just had a member the other day say that she used to get 140 catalogs a week and now only gets 2! Her Post man is not happy with her!