Hate to tell you, but… They think you’re a Spammer
Posted on | March 18, 2010 | 22 Comments
Spammer?
No way, not me!
You sure about that?
A spammer is someone who sends out spam…
Unwanted electronic messages. Basically junk mail.
It’s worse than being called a liar. Worse than being identified as one of Tiger Woods’ mistresses. Maybe even worse than being called a terrorist.
Okay, so you don’t sell anti-itch vagina cream. Or pyramid schemes. Or the wonder-diet pill. And you don’t use devices that send out bulk messages. So why should you worry about it?
Because you might, unintentionally, be acting like a spammer. Or, raise suspicion by looking “spammy”.
7 Ways to get mistaken spammer identity
Do these things, even innocently, and you may unknowingly be labeled the “S” word…
- Send out bulk email without unsuscribe options – If you’re going to send out bulk emails for marketing purposes, you need to give people the ability to tell you to stop. Otherwise you might receive some nasty emails.
- Develop poor commenting practice – There’s a technique to making comments online on social media. If you don’t know the unspoken rules, people can think you’re a spammer.
- Submit the wrong articles on social bookmarking sites - Learn the rules of these sites. If marketing/selling articles are not allowed, or not considered favorably, you risk damaging your online reputation if you submit the wrong articles.
- Over-stuff with keywords – Keyword stuffing is when you use too many keywords on your webpage to get search engines to notice you. This is more about using questionable SEO techniques, but can look spammy nonetheless.
- Too many ads - Take a look at your website. Bright, flashing, overpowering banners or excessive ads can look spammy.
- Sell too soon – This is what happens when you haven’t got rapport with someone yet, and you start a sales conversation. Like direct messaging on Facebook Twitter, after posting on someone’s wall twice, to start selling. Imagine what that person will think of you. It’s as much about common-sense as it is about showing respect for the medium you’re in too.
- Over-sell or over-contact - So you have permission to make contact. There is an expectation, that you’ll provide value. If your selling communications out-number your value-adding ones, don’t be surprised if your followers drop off. They may think you’ve crossed the spammer line. This can also go for contacting someone way too often.
Don’t let the risk of false spammer identity stop you promoting
Facetious remarks aside, this article’s purpose is meant to help you avoid damaging your online persona. But don’t let it scare you from promoting yourself.
Where I’m from, self-promoting can be difficult. In Australia, we have this cultural thing called a tall-poppy problem. People who stand out from a crowd can have a hard time. For this reason, self-promotion is not well-received.
It’s a fine line, sometimes. If you believe you’re doing internet marketing, or any kind of marketing appropriately, then stuff what anyone else thinks. What one person thinks is spammy, may not be to another. So, often, you have to make your own call.
Not everyone’s going to like what you do, so don’t try to please everyone.
And look, if you unintentionally make mistakes, most professionals will overlook it. After all, everyone’s done some of the above things at one time or another. Especially in the beginning.
What do you think about the fine line of being a spammer? Do you disagree with anything in this blog post? If so, say so, and start a healthy debate to benefit us all.
Lina Nguyen © 2010
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8 comments
March 19th, 2010 @ 1:32 AM
Lina,
You have certainly hit on some core points here, for the Internet Marketer. Points to take into consideration when working on the Internet. I have taken these on board.
Sandra Sentance´s last blog ..Time Management
March 19th, 2010 @ 2:07 AM
Here we have a young lady ,who not only knows what she is talking about, she has a very uncanny way of getting the message across.
Spam on the web today is one of the major problems, just as Lina has pointed out, no one wants to be labeled as a Spammer!! May be some are ignorant of exactly what a Spammer is & do not realise the implications….. hmmmm
Fisherman
Allen Sentance Fisherman´s last blog ..Open Minds Create Wealth Introduction
March 19th, 2010 @ 6:24 AM
I totally agree on lina’s opinion about spammers,
there was a case when i received 3 comments on my blogger post and they were overstuffed with some coded links which were really irrelevant off topic talk .
March 19th, 2010 @ 7:25 AM
Hi Lina,
Yes – mail or email without an unsubscribe option drives me insane. I receive junk/direct mail from one source who never includes any sort of phone number or unsubscribe option. Sure I could look them up, but I shouldn’t have to. I thought we had direct mail standards which guarded against this kind of practice. Thanks for the nice consolidated info.
David Moloney´s last blog ..Successfully Choose a Great Business Name
March 19th, 2010 @ 9:40 AM
Hi David
I know, that’s an annoying position to be in. Because you’re left with having to email them to explicitly request removal from their list. That’s inconvenient, and can be embarrassing – for both parties. Best to make sure you’re using an email program that has unsuscribe options.
March 19th, 2010 @ 12:45 PM
Hi Lina,
I too hate it when I cant find an unsubscribe option, now if there is none I just send it straight to the spam folder, at least then my inbox is not full of unwanted junk emails.
Rita
March 21st, 2010 @ 8:57 PM
Very true Lina.
You’ve made some good points here on how to avoid being seen as a Spammer. Its a sure turn off for most people if they are just being sold too all the time.
Its also annoying to constantly recieve Spam comments on my blog, with text that makes no sense and a url.
Thank god they invented Akismet.
Cade´s last blog ..Boost your Success with your Trading Success Profile
March 22nd, 2010 @ 10:42 AM
I agree to Lina you have hit on some points here that a lot of marketers should read i wonder if they. i will take on board what you have said. thanks.
Richard Colum´s last blog ..Tips for First Time Home Buyers
March 22nd, 2010 @ 12:49 PM
Hi Cade – The first time I got hit with 200 spam comments on my blog, I sat there deleting them all. Akismet is so good. I think it saved me from about 1000 spam comments last month!
Hi Richard – When you’re new, you can get away with newbie mistakes… for a little while. That’s if people are as forgiving and tolerant as I would hope they’d be. But it won’t take long for people to get annoyed if you keep making the same mistakes, over and over. And they’ll respond by deleting you from their list. In the worst case, bad-mouthing you.
March 22nd, 2010 @ 5:22 PM
Hi Lina
Do you know what is worse than Spam? Getting 270 Diggs and still not Front Page on Digg. That is worse than Spam. Those guys really suck sometimes – LOL.
Your article deserved an FP on Digg. Great choice of topic!
Sean Rasmussen´s last blog ..Stuck On You – Lionel Ritchie
March 22nd, 2010 @ 5:25 PM
LOL Sean. I have to admit, I do hate spam more than not getting on front page Digg! But, getting front page Digg, or front page of anything, would be nice!
March 22nd, 2010 @ 6:13 PM
2 things I hate, 1. spam or spammy (bordering on spam). 2. Being accused of doing something wrong when it was just an honest mistake. I will definitely take your advice to avoid spamming and so avoid the accusations.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery
March 22nd, 2010 @ 6:19 PM
Thanks Wal. But, I repeat what I said in the last section of this blog post. Don’t let it scare you off from being yourself, or promoting yourself. Sometimes, people can get a bit precious about what’s spam and you just have to make the call. You’re a smart dude, Wal. My observation has always been that you interact very appropriately online.
March 22nd, 2010 @ 6:59 PM
Hi Lina,
Spammers drive me mental… I receive so many and some don’t even stop when you unsubscribe. It’s destroying the internet.
I loved your post and I’ll be sure to follow your points. I also got a laugh out of your witty Tiger Woods comment. LOL.
Cheers,
Jon.
March 22nd, 2010 @ 8:44 PM
You make some important points Lina. Also, what one person considers spam, another may not, so there is quite a bit of grey area. It will definitely depend on what sort of relationship you have with that person and what sort of website / media that is used.
An online persona needs to be carefully protected, given it would be easy to get labelled as a spammer as a result of a silly mistake or two.
Tom´s last blog ..Website Terms of Use – Boring to Read But Important to Know
March 23rd, 2010 @ 1:49 AM
Hi Jon – If you’re still getting messages after unsuscribing , that is definitely the definition of spam. Not sure if I’d rather be called one of Tiger’s playgirls, or a spammer. Tough call to make! Both are horrible!
Hi Tom – Thanks for your insight. Yes, your persona’s your brand which is your reputation. Which is everything online.
March 23rd, 2010 @ 2:01 AM
Great topic. What bugs me the most about spam or any type of mailing is not having the “unsubscribe” link. I don’t mind being marketed to, or frequent messages as long as I know I always have the option to make it stop!
Dimas´s last blog ..WordPress HiFi Plugin — Head & Foot Injection
March 23rd, 2010 @ 11:30 AM
Hello Lina,
I’m glad you have done this, as I am sick of spam with an average of 90 – 100 daily YUK ! The last thing I’d want is to damage my own online persona as it takes time to build it.
I think all commercial emails of any type should, as has been said, have an easy to find / use UNSUBSCRIBE button which works instantly.
Cheers
Harry
Harry Lynn´s last blog ..How Proud Can One Be ?
March 23rd, 2010 @ 1:22 PM
For the past couple of years I hadn’t received any spam on my work pc until a few months ago. I can now get “Best Price!!!” drugs from Medical Online Store and according to Rupert Hornandez, I can finally “Become Her Passionate Lion”.
I like Mailwasher where you get to bounce the spam back to the sender before it gets downloaded to your pc.
March 23rd, 2010 @ 2:11 PM
Hi Dimas, Hi Harry, Hi Colin
I notice there’s a trend now for the “unsubscribe /opt-out” button on emails to be under the “Manage Your Subscriptions” link. Must be part of one of the popular email marketing software platforms. Not as obvious as “If you want to be removed, click here”, but still good.
March 24th, 2010 @ 10:15 PM
Touchy topic. I have written articles about this too. One persons spam is another persons advertising. In the online world it is very important to respect people’s online real-estate and not trespass. Thanks for the thoughtful article and advise how not be spammy.
Terry Tiessen´s last blog ..Ad Unit Magic
March 25th, 2010 @ 8:34 PM
Hi Terry – “Online real estate”. Good way to think about people’s websites. Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.