What do you consider Spam?

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jason
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What do you consider Spam?

Post by jason »

Bulk email is one thing. Is spam merely bulk email, or is any email that you didn't ask for (which would mean I get a lot of spam from people I don't know...)

Let me explain. I am finishing up a software project I have been working on, and myself and another friend are getting ready to market and sell the software.

I do NOT want to spam. So, is it wrong to personally email someone or a company you honestly think might really be interested in my product? I would visit the person's site, and then if the person offered up an email address (or a physical address), I would compose a personal email on what the product is, and how I see it benefiting the potential customer. Would this be spam?

I ask for several reasons. First, and most obviously, I do not wish to spam people.

Secondly, if everything that is unsolicited is considered spam, than that's most of my emails. I have had several publishing companies email me out of the blue, asking for opinions on potential books, etc. These were all unsolicited. Does the topic of the email determine whether it's spam?

Again, this is me going to a web site, and personally emailing the potential client. I would do it from my own mail client, and I wouldn't be spoofing or hiding any of my information. From what I can tell, the CAN-SPAM law would allow this, but that's really just permission to spam, something I don't want to do.

I only ask because I have received personal emails from companies who want to do honest business, and frankly, I don't mind those. These are real people who really stumbled onto my site, and actually have something of real interest to say to me.

It's tempting, but I want to get an opinion on this.

Note: Yes, I am working on other means of advertising as well, more traditional means. I am just worried that if in browsing the web, I come across a site that could use the product, I can feel justified in emailing them about it.
magicrobotmonkey
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Post by magicrobotmonkey »

I think it would be fine if you were doing it all by hand and that was obvious. Put stuff in the body so someone can tell that you're a person and that you read their site. That's kind of what salesmen do anyways, except visiting sites. You are using your judgement to determine that a company may have some interest in your product. I would assume that your judgment would be a lot better then some list a spammer just mass-mails to!
malcolmboston
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Post by malcolmboston »

simply: anything i dont want and have never asked for
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feyd
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Post by feyd »

I'd say a good part of whether an individual considers something spam or not is contextual on their scope of interests. If they aren't interested in whatever it is, then generally I'd consider it spam. If the company has a policy that they wish to not have any unsolicited email, I'd respect that. Either way, tip-toeing is called for.
Deemo
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Post by Deemo »

i think that its best to send them the email and tell them that if they dont want any emails sent to them ever again, to reply.
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Weirdan
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Post by Weirdan »

I think if it will be personal email, no one would consider it as a spam.

IMO, any bulk email except opt-in (or even double opt-in) mailing lists is a spam. Opt-out is not an option, as for me ;) . Personally I never reply to any opt-out mails, just tweaking my mailing filters a bit.
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JAM
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Post by JAM »

Tricky... I can understand your consern about this being justified...

I think it depends very much on how the personal mail is written. And by judging from your writing (here, your blogs on the other site and so on) I think you'd pass.

I personally do not like mail stating that "I saw your work here or there and i have this offer..." because, as you say, I didn't ask for it.

I would say go for it. Based on what I know and have seen, you have the writing skills and also the common sence of understanding when sending this kind of mail is justified...

Just by asking this very question proves something (imho)...
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Post by McGruff »

A tricky question. If a marketing exercise gets a dozen returns out of a million emails that's obviously not something which people wanted to receive. If it gets a dozen returns out of a hundred - ie quite a high uptake showing that it was generally useful to the recipients - is that still spam?

I don't think there is a clear answer to this. If they are interested in your promotion, they won't see it as spam. If they aren't, they probably will.
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llanitedave
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Post by llanitedave »

Lots of good replies here.

My perspective would be:

1. Is your return email address "real"? (of course it is!)
2. If they don't respond the first time, will you keep emailing them? (of course you won't!)
3. Are the recipients people who already know you or "of" you?
4. Is your offer something that is related to whatever connection you might share with them? You aren't offering to increase their penis sizes or share your dead sister's Nigerian fortune with them, are you?


Some people -- a lot of people -- define spam as "any unsolicited email". There's a logical disconnect in there: To solicit an email, doesn't one have to send one themselves?

You know the rule aout sexual harrassment: You're allowed one solicitation. After that, no means no. And no response means no.

I agree with those who said "go for it. You can do it right, if anybody can".
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Pyrite
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Post by Pyrite »

Simply: any mail i didn't ask for, or any email that is advertising or solicting something (whether i know you or not) and is spam to me even if you write it in a personal way and I know you as well.
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twigletmac
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Post by twigletmac »

I delete as spam anything we receive at work (at that includes things that are relevant to what we do) that is unsolicited and clearly being bulk mailed. I feel it's better if the mailer has spent a little time looking at our site to see what we do and pitch their product accordingly. But then I hate unsolicited mail of all kinds.

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d3ad1ysp0rk
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Post by d3ad1ysp0rk »

Anything I didn't ask for.

ie. These stupid messanger service messages! I'm gonna kill someone! I shouldn't have to disable a windows feature just because someone decided to be an ass and net send random IPs with their spam messages!!! :(
magicrobotmonkey
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Post by magicrobotmonkey »

Huh someone does that?? Internally? can you net send over the WAN?
d3ad1ysp0rk
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Post by d3ad1ysp0rk »

If you only have their computer name, it needs to be over a network, if you have their IP, it works anywhere. As long as they have it enabled.

So they spam random ips with messages, in hope that one will get through.

It's worse than popups, because it happens when you're not even browsing (ie. playing unreal, etc..)

But i decided I might as well disable net send.. :\
magicrobotmonkey
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Post by magicrobotmonkey »

wow I thought it could only be done internally. I used to write a batch file with just a loop and bug the crap out of my friends during finals... suckers didn't even know how to turn it off.

but, there's got to be some other way to stop it without turning it off. can't you block the port on your firewall or anything? and how'd they get your ip, anyways? I've never gotten one of these?

p.s. sorry for jacking the thread jason!
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