Subscribe Feed (RSS)In My Eyes, It’s SPAM
December 3rd, 2008 by Lauren | Filed under Business Building, Internet Marketing.I always capitalize SPAM when I type it for some reason – could be because it makes me so frustrated! Not so much the “enhancement” ads, and other “Hey dude, increase your stamina… She’ll love you even more” type of SPAM. Those just make me laugh, roll my eyes and then I can send them into SPAM-oblivion with a click of my mouse.
The SPAM that frustrates me the most is that which comes from uneducated website and business owners who, I guess, don’t know any better – but should.
- If you took my email addy off of another website, and you’re contacting me to see if I want to be invited to join your site – but you don’t have your site listed, or any way for me to check out what site you’re talking about – I consider that SPAM!
- If I receive an email sent to every email addy off of one of my sites (eg. Lauren@, newsletter@, schedule@ – all @the same site) with an offer to join your mailing list – I think you’ve harvested all the mails off of my site, and I consider that SPAM!
- If I find that my email addy (whichever one it is) is listed along with every single email addy in your address book to receive your offer, or Specials – I don’t appreciate you circulating my email address to the other 25 people on the list and, I’m sorry but, I consider that SPAM!
- If I am continually being invited to join membership sites by someone I barely know, or who’s name I have to look up somewhere to recognize – I may not report it as such, but I consider that to be SPAM too!
- If I receive your newsletter out of the blus, and see down at the bottom that I have the option of opting out of receiving any more of your newsletters, BUT I never had signed up to receive your newsletter in the first place – yep, SPAM!
No, I don’t report everything that I consider SPAM, most often I just delete them. Occasionally I’ll even respond with a polite request to be taken out of their address book, or at least off the “invite list”. If I know you, and we’ve built a relationship then I am usually appreciative of the thought, and will consider the invite.
I guess what it all boils down to is – know who you are sending your emails too. Do not send unsolicited offers, or invites to people you really don’t know. NEVER grab emails off some random website. Have an opt-in list with a legit sign-up that has given you permission to send those recipients your offers, etc.
You save yourself, and others a whole lot of time, and have a better chance of getting your message in the right hands – not in the SPAM folder!
No, it’s not spam and the reply I got back from her proved it. Why so defensive and calling me out as not being business friendly? Oh because you are guilty and you know it and you haven’t researched how much I have and continue to help business owners. lol
I HATE STUPID PEOPLE! They can go have a chat with the FCC and their email and newsletter providers about it. I don’t have time to educate those that don’t want to learn.
I concur! I was very surprised to get one of those emails as mentioned on your last bullet point, from a legitimate looking website about essential selling – NEVER heard of them before but I think they got my email off a coach network that I’m part of.
I emailed one of the two names on the SPAM message and asked how they got my email addy and this is what she wrote back “Tia, Honestly I am not sure, it could have been my business partner.”
That’s it!! NO apology, no explanation. Nothing! Just passing the buck .. yeah right, like you don’t know what your email capturing policy is..
It amazes me that people still do that – way to go to build trust, ensuring I will never work with them.
Thanks for the article, LOL
Nope – not too harsh at all! Dead on 100%!
All the points you made drive me insane! But the membership site one really burns me. Especially when someone I might know (but barely) bombards me with every social network known to man! (or woman, lol!)
I don’t have time for ALL those social networks to begin with AND – I barely know them!
The third point really gets to me too. One that I’ve been dealing with for a while now. I have a friend (again, not that close of one though) and she’s been doing that. I’ve been wanting to tell her it’s a big no-no. Just not sure how to do it.
She is a sweet person and I know she means no harm but she needs to know what she’s doing is wrong. Ya gotta choose your words carefully on the ‘net. It’s awfully easy to mis-read what someone really means.
Oh I despise SPAM! (I’ll capitallize it too! lol)
Great topic Lauren – you tell em girl!
Thanks for the comments – from reactions here and on Twitter I can see I’m not alone in my thinking!
Val – You’re referring to the WAHM-Spammer who took our advice to her about her spamming practices as a threat, and responded with “Tell me do you find joy in trying to scare people who are sharing a great website with the other members?” – No, we are simply trying to help you save your reputation!
Tia – Thanks for sharing that. I once had someone blame their VA when asked how I ended up subscribed when I KNOW I didn’t sign up myself. It is amazing that people think this is an okay business practice.
Anita – It is almost harder sometimes to offer that kind of advice to a friend, yet at the same time, better that she hear it from you than hurt her business by having someone else complain or report her.;)