Spammers – Who Are You Listening To?
- Image by Jim Carson via Flickr
Just the other day I was having a conversation with one of my good friends Jamie Pelaez. Anyhow we where talking about spammers and how annoying they are. That conversation led to this post I am writing for you. You see spammers seem to think its okay to be totally annoying. what is worst is these so called self proclaimed marketing experts don’t know a dam thing about internet marketing. Instead they prey on the emotions, fears and lack of education of innocent people who are coming online to try and create a better life for themselves.
Spammers – It Comes In Many Shapes And Sizes, It’s Still Spam All The Same!
First things first! We need to really talk about what spam isn’t, I am sure those of you with email marketing list already deal with this. What cracks me up, are people who literally opt in 2 times to receive my email messages and are shocked if I promote something.
In fact these folks are so mad at me for promoting something they find it necessary to send me a prompt reply telling me that they aren’t going to buy anything else and if I don’t stop SPAMMING them, they are going to report me.
First off for the record! I don’t spam. In fact I hardly promote anything at all and when I do it is something I strongly believe will benefit the person I am promoting too. More important than that, it is against the law to spam and it is against pretty much all T.O.S agreements on all sites….
Spammers – Where are they coming from?
- Image by Kenn Wilson via Flickr
It’s being taught right now, even as I write this. You see spamming actually works. There are certainly thousands of unsuspecting souls out there who are buying into all the bullshit that is spread online. You see real spam comes out of nowhere. It is unsolicited and usually misleading. It can also involve hype that plays on peoples emotions…
People want to believe what is being told to them. Mostly because they are in a situation of total desperation for anything to work. Ever wonder why the failure rate online is so high? It’s because most people are trying to market online out of being in a desperate situation. Doctors, lawyers, school teachers etc.. Don’t do what they do because they are in a desperate situation.
Warning: Hear me loud and clear. If you buy into the hype and you are taught spamming tactics. The person teaching them to you could give a rats ass about you or your business. All they care about is making their quick buck and moving on to the next victim.
Spammers -Â How To Find The Perpetrators
- Image via Wikipedia
This may offend some people, ah so what!
Facebook Spammers – This is a person who spends their day on facebook constantly promoting every pre-launch known to man. People like to be informed of stuff. People do not like to be hammered with promotions. I know I have blocked a ton of people from ever posting to my wall again. (Note: It is not okay to ask to be friends with someone and then go to their wall and post an affiliate link)<— That Is Just Lame! Ditto for all other social type networks.
Email Spammers – True email spam is lacking 2 things.
- Physical Mail Address
- Unsubscribe Link
Generally speaking if you are reading an email with those two things, sure enough you physically and willfully opted into that list. Granted you may still get blasted promotion after promotion. While I think it is a bad policy to constantly slam your list with promotions technically speaking the person really isn’t doing anything wrong other than not knowing how to properly build trust with their subscriber.
Skype Spam - I find this type of spam to be the most annoying because it is pure ignorance. Rule of thumb –> Don’t make friends with the sole purpose to earn a buck from that person. Actually try to get to know them a bit and maybe even develop a friendship with that person. Real networking has little to do with what businesses people are in and has everything to do with leveraging the assets of others. (In a tasteful mutually beneficial way!)
Spammers -Â Wrap Up
Ideally you always want to provide as much value as possible with everyone you connect with online. Spam comes with the territory. So many people get mad when they get spam. I don’t I just delete the stuff and move on. What type of spammer bothers you the most?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I actually think that any form of marketing has the sole intention of manipulating someone, or else no one would buy a product.
The thing i don’t agree with though is the definition of spam. ‘Unsolicited email that people don’t want.’ Does that mean if we talk rubbish then our speech could be considered as spam? What about a kid bullying another kid online through email, do they fit into the spam act and deserve a huge fine?
Twitter: larryrivera
Hi Peter thanks for stopping by.
I think if you are talking trash that is considered more flaming than it is spamming
I think really anytime someone is pushing something commercially without the consent of the person they are pushing it on is spam.
Wikipedia says: Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems (including most broadcast media, digital delivery systems) to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately.
While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, wiki spam, online classified ads spam, mobile phone messaging spam, Internet forum spam, junk fax transmissions, social networking spam, television advertising and file sharing network spam.
Spam is not good for bloggers. Spammers wasting our time and it is the worst.
I must say this is dead on! When I first started out, I bought into the hype BS and talk about being annoyed!!!! Spammers have made it difficult for newbies looking to get quality information on how this whole web business works. Is there a spam hell??
Lisa recently posted..One Creative Way To Increase Facebook Fans
Twitter: larryrivera
Hi Lisa thanks for stopping by.
I agree with you, because of spammers it makes it very difficult for honest hard working people to make money online.
Hey Larry, I remember when I use to do this and now I can really see how annoying it is. I hate it when people would IM me on facebook to ask me how i’m doing, and then go straight into their pitch. Need I say more?
Thanks for sharing!
Sherman
Sherman Smith recently posted..YOU WANT YOUR BLOG TO GAIN POPULARITY- RIGHT
Twitter: larryrivera
Hi Sherman happy holidays bro. I think all of us were guilty of that at one time or another thanks for stopping by.
I am amazed that Facebook users will accept a friend request from someone they do not know. I personally only use Facebook to stay in contact with people I have known at some point in my life. A fan page is obviously different, but a personal profile should not be used to be friends with anyone who will let you in. I can’t imagine going to my wall or news feed and seeing a bunch of promotional messages. What a nightmare!
I do agree that if a person signed up for a newsletter and they are receiving a good deal of offers from that newsletter they should not label it as spam. However, the person sending so many emails to their list is in danger of losing a good chunk of their subscribers.
Thanks for the post.
- Andrew
DUBturbo recently posted..Ever Wondered How To Make Rap Beats
Twitter: larryrivera
Thanks for stopping by again, I agree you can not abuse your subscribers or you will loose out in the end.
What truly breaks my heart is a newsletter I signed up for many years ago that had tons of truly wonderful information and I purchased a few of his products. In the last couple years, however, it’s become him simply pushing other people’s products constantly, with only one or two newsletters that are even somewhat informative –but there’s always a pitch there, too. I think the only reason I’ve hung on as long as I have is because I really believe his products helped me and are extremely useful, and just don’t want to admit he’s joined the category of junkmail.
Delena Silverfox recently posted..Network Solutions Offer Code
Twitter: larryrivera
Hi Delena, thanks for stopping by and posting. Ya I have had similar experiences.
Thanks for sharing
Spam comes with a territory. If you ever use the internet you are going to get plenty of it. It sucks if someone puts your email on the list you can not unsubscribe from, but that what the junk email folder is for. As you mentioned spam works very well. If you send out millions of emails promising people to earn lots of money with little effort, some people will respond, creating a market for spammers. You should treat a spammers like a fly. You do not stop going outdoors just because a fly may bother you, just try not to pay too much attention. Spammers should not prevent a person from giving out their email. You get spam, you simply press delete button.
David recently posted..Interior painting in Dallas
Twitter: larryrivera
Hi David, thanks for stopping by. I agree with you.
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