Is Spam ever acceptable?

[Morgan]

I think I've been naughty :redface: . When I launched my latest web site (which sells pet bereavement things (cards, coffins, etc) and has articles on how to deal with losing a pet etc) as part of getting the word out I emailed some pet sitters with just short introduction email, saying what I do and wondered if I could be of use to themselves or their customers. I got positive emails back from people saying what a nice site, good idea and they would use me in the future etc and then I get one worded to the effect that they strongly recommend I stop spamming them? I wrote back and apologised for any offense caused as this was not my intention obviously.

To be honest it never even occured to me that what I was doing was spam :redface: I was just caught up in the enthusisam for my new business and genuinely thinking I could be of help. I know if someone would have sent me that email when I first started as a pet sitter I would have used them as struggled to get hold of pet loss cards. Anyway, back to my original question - is spam ever acceptable?

 

[Simon-M]

It's a bit like nosey neighbours I suppose. Technically what you did is not spamming because you have not just blindly emailed people who have no interest in your service. This is where the nosey neighbour syndrome kicks in. Some people believe that it is spam if you email them without them asking you for info, so a cold call if you like. They don't care that your offer is directly related to them and they will call you a spammer. They may even report you to spamcop or the like and your email might get blocked.

If you understand the risks and you are happy that you will upset some people then I personally don't see what you have done wrong. I wouldn't do it myself because I do understand the risks.

So, in a nutshell you are not a spammer but there are many people out there that will give you this label.

Simon

 

[Morgan]

Thanks Simon. If I get reported to Spamcop will my email get blocked for everyone I email? I take it that several people would have to report me in order to get blocked. Can I tell if I have been reported to Spamcop?

 

[Simon-M]

Spamcop are just one of the organisations that keep a database of spammers. Companies and webosts use their lists to block spam at source. They kill any emails that come in with the IP address of the server that sent the email. They all have there own rules too about how much spam constitutes a listing and also for getting off the list. Thats why what you did is so high risk. If you rely on email and you get yourself on these lists you will find that some emails you send will not make it to their target.

All these different lists have a search feature on their site to see if your IP is listed. The IP is the address of the sending mail server so if you sent it from say a GMAIL account it is unlikely that you will get google banned but someone might complain to google direct and then you might get your email cancelled.

Basically, like I said you have done notyhing wrong but there are many many many zealots out there.

Simon

 

[Morgan]

Thanks Simon. The email address is my domain name ([email protected]) I don't know if that's the GMAIL you refer to.

Thanks for your info - most helpful!

 

[Pmax]

Technically what you did is not spamming because you have not just blindly emailed people who have no interest in your service.

Is it that true? I think there are only two features about spam. One is that it is unsolicited and the other is that it is sent in bulk with identical messages.

So even the receipients you emailed to may be interested in your service, you still sending unsolicited messages, which are considered to be spams.

 

[Morgan]

I always thought spam were the emails you get selling rolex watches, porn emails, that sort of thing. I get sent industry related emails from time to time, I may or may not be interested in what they are selling but I'd never classed it as spam. No idea what the official definition is?

 

[Pmax]

You may would like to see more info on wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_spam#cite_note-spamfaq-0

 

[Morgan]

Goodness me - some light bedtime reading for me

 

[AdamJ]

Yes, you are spamming. That wikipedia link seems to cover your use in the description of the various types of spam:

Spam has several definitions, varying by the source.

• Unsolicited bulk e-mail (UBE)-unsolicited e-mail, sent in large quantities.
• Unsolicited commercial e-mail

If you're sending it out to multiple people without them asking for it then technically it is spam, particularly if you want them to buy something - in that there is no difference between v1agra, 'beautiful russin ladies' or pet coffins.

Whether its annoying or not is up to the end user. I reported Chamber of Commerce e-mail to Google as Spam as they wouldn't stop sending me drivel and crappy no-interest offers, and as a result I don't receive them any more. I'm sure most people don't think of the Chamber e-mails as Spam, but they certainly fit the definition above.

Personally I think its down to if you are writing to companies you already have a relationship with (e.g. previous customers) or if you are writing to people who have had no contact with you at all before.

 

[Morgan]

I see so even if it's not a bulk email in that it's sent to one person at a time, it's still classed as the second of the two above and is an unsolicited commercial email.

 

[AdamJ]

It doesn't really matter how you send it, its how the recipient sees it. If they just see an unsolicited email promoting a product, which is clearly being mailed to several people/companies, from a supplier they have no prior contact with, then its spam, no matter if you sent it all at once or individually.

In my post above I didn't actually answer your question though "Is Spam ever acceptable". In your case, yes, I would personally technically class it as spam if I received it as I didn't ask for it, but as long as it didn't land in my inbox every week or month then it strikes me as perfectly acceptable - its no different to cold calling, leafleting, etc. As a one-off they're perfectly fine at work and are normal business practice, its when it gets regular that its gets annoying.

 

[Morgan]

Thanks AdamJ. It was literally a one-off email just to announce the launch - I won't be doing it again!

 

[gazza72]

The way around this is to put in the footer of your email a polite message IN BOLD saying
"This is a one off email under the 1985 spam act, I will not contact you again unless you request me to do so "

People will be less abusive and you may gain a customer or two from your approach

 

[Morgan]

That's interesting gazza72 - is that a true disclaimer then?

 

[gazza72]

That's interesting gazza72 - is that a true disclaimer then?

Not really 100% sure on that, but i have used it many times in the past myself and always got away with it SO LONG as your email is only a one off, I see no problems.

Your comments on this please folks

 

[reggiemental]

I think as long as you point out, at the beginning of your email, that it's not part of a bulk email run, and that you have personally selected every recipient, then it shouldn't be viewed as normal spam. As gazza pointed out, make sure you explain it's a one-off mailing, and you won't resort to pestering them every couple of days. Apologise for taking up their time etc. I've personally made some great contacts from so-called 'spam'. To me, spam is email that has nothing to do with my business, or selling a product I have no need for. If I get an email from a designer offering his/her services, I'd be stupid to bin it, just because I never asked for it.

What you did with your pet mailing I think is perfectly acceptable.

 

[g.harding]

I agree that it is the recipient that should decide if it is spam or not. Maybe a short introduction of why the email was send may help.

Gary

 

[AdamJ]

I think as long as you point out, at the beginning of your email, that it's not part of a bulk email run, and that you have personally selected

Hmm, "you have been personally selected for this £50,000 prize"... Sound familiar??

 

[moose88]

you guys are gonna hate me for this, but i spam all the time... its an easy source of money

 

[Morgan]

you guys are gonna hate me for this, but i spam all the time... its an easy source of money

What/how do you spam Moose? When you say it's an easy source of money how do you mean?

 

[mahutchinson]

Only to eat and even then - debatable.

 

[moose88]

What/how do you spam Moose? When you say it's an easy source of money how do you mean?

I spam craigslist all the time with personals, then when people reply, i send them to a link to sign up with some dating website (they dont lose a penny, but i still get paid woot woot)

edit: when i say easy source, i mean, its simple copy and paste work. and i do 1 hour in morning, 1 hour in midday, and 1 hour at night.. (btw i dont get paid millions from this, probably the same amount as a part time job..liek maybe 15-20 quid a go