16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

What exactly is spam on email?

by usdgadget
16 replies
I want to know if someone give me his email to send information about a product and i send him the email without an autoresponder is considered spam or unsolicited email? Sould i use an autoresponder to avoid spam? I want to start without an autoresponder because i dont have a huge list of emails and i can write content for a specific country or person. Any feedback would be apreciated!
#email #spam
  • Profile picture of the author TechNik
    If they give you their email address for more information, there is no problem with fulfilling that request...

    That said, it's good practice to use a double opt-in method. Most autoresponders should offer some version of this. It means that after they sign up for your mailing list, they will receive an email with a link they must click to verify the subscription so that you know the signup was genuine and not someone else using their email address.
    Signature
    Easiest Web Hosting
    • WordPress hosting from $0.84/month. Perfect for small projects and aspiring bloggers.
    www.EasiestWebHosting.com/blogstarter.html
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10502799].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    No, spam has nothing to do with the method used to send email.

    You also do not need explicit permission to send someone an email.

    Your email must conform to the CAN-SPAM act:
    https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/busi...guide-business

    As you can see- there is nothing about requiring an opt-in or permission to send someone an email.

    The main thing is to not use false or misleading information.
    Clearly identify yourself with contact information including a mailing address.
    Give recipients an option to opt-out of future mailings and honour those requests.
    And if you are using a 3rd party service you must ensure they comply with the CAN-SPAM act.

    Sending someone an unsolicited email that they find irritating is not spam if it conforms to the CAN-SPAM laws.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10502801].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
      Originally Posted by onSubie View Post

      No, spam has nothing to do with the method used to send email.

      You also do not need explicit permission to send someone an email.

      Your email must conform to the CAN-SPAM act:
      https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/busi...guide-business

      As you can see- there is nothing about requiring an opt-in or permission to send someone an email.

      The main thing is to not use false or misleading information.
      Clearly identify yourself with contact information including a mailing address.
      Give recipients an option to opt-out of future mailings and honour those requests.
      And if you are using a 3rd party service you must ensure they comply with the CAN-SPAM act.

      Sending someone an unsolicited email that they find irritating is not spam if it conforms to the CAN-SPAM laws.
      Thank you for sharing that link with us.
      The problem is that you can comply with all the requirements of the CAN-SPAM act and your email could still be viewed as spam by people or by spam filters.
      There are other guidelines you have to take into account if you don`t want to see your emails marked by spam.
      Try to avoid the following:
      - using phrases like "click now"
      - excessive use of the exclamation points
      - using ALL CAPS
      - using red or green color fonts
      - creating HTML content that is just an image (spam filters can`t read images and they will assume it is spam)
      - using the word "test" in the subject line
      - sending to inactive lists (the open rate is an important factor for the spam filters)

      After analyzing all the factors the spam filters give your email a spam score, and if that score is larger than a certain threshold the email is sent to the junk folder.
      @OP: In your case, you have the permission of the recipients to send them emails. Some people recommend using a double opt-in method but it`s not a mandatory thing yet.
      Signature
      HCF - Where Every Affiliate is Happy, Calm & Focused
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505303].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author onSubie
        Originally Posted by HCFGrizzly View Post

        The problem is that you can comply with all the requirements of the CAN-SPAM act and your email could still be viewed as spam by people or by spam filters.

        Yes, there are many filters and protections from unwanted emails. And there are things you can do to increase your deliverability.


        But there is a lot of confusion about the difference between real SPAM and simple annoying and unwanted email.


        A lot of people still think sending email to someone who did not request it is spam. Or that buying and selling email lists is illegal.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505395].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author onlyexist
    Anonymity: The address and identity of the sender are concealed
    Mass Mailing: The email is sent to large groups of people
    Unsolicited: The email is not requested by the recipients

    if you got some time later maybe, check the history of spam on Wikipedia! there were some big companies sent spam, and they didn't figure it was spam years later! lol,
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10502810].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author onSubie
      Originally Posted by onlyexist View Post

      Unsolicited: The email is not requested by the recipients
      The CAN-SPAM act does not require the recipient request the email.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10502823].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author niksto82
    Always try to write natural e-mails. In this day and age, it can go a long way and secure some important partners for you. People are sick of dealing with robots. If you can write your own mails and if you have the necessary time, its better if you do so. In your case, it is not considered spamming.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10504282].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author takticz101
    Email spam is annoying and can be dangerous like there may be viruses. So people dont open theese.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10504324].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnPeter11
    Spam is unsolicited email. if your friend asks you to send an email its not spam. They only time you need to worry about spam is if you're mailing millions everyday, then Microsoft will sue you, and it will be expensive.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10504337].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PaulSch
      Originally Posted by JohnPeter11 View Post

      if you're mailing millions everyday, then Microsoft will sue you,
      Please enlighten me about why Microsoft will sue.

      Or even better, just remove your totally ludicrous post.
      Signature

      Get FREE Access To Over 180 Webmaster Training Videos here. Did I mention they are totally free?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505162].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rayden78
    If someone has given you clear permission to send the email offer, then it is not spam. However, even though double-opt in is not a requirement in many can-spam acts, it is always advisable to go through the double-opt in method. This is because most people have short memory and sometimes when you end up receiving lots of unsolicited emails, you hit the mark as spam button for all those promotional emails.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505135].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author topcoder
    SPAM is usually flag, when you are sending bulk email to a ton of people. Sending transnational emails or occasional correspondence is not considered spam.

    How many times has someone said, you should email "soandso@whatever.com" - They never asked for an email from you? They never Opted in. Just because you send a transaction email or if you reach out to an individual or organization (it's not considered spam). Now if you do it in bulk and you repeatedly do it after you're told to stop. Then it's considered spam.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10505876].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author onlyexist
    Spam is sending email to a recipient without having their permission!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10520432].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jacks009
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10525978].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
      Originally Posted by jacks009 View Post

      Spam means that not rules followed by search engine or data center.
      I see that Google Translate is not working pretty good this morning.
      Signature
      HCF - Where Every Affiliate is Happy, Calm & Focused
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10527677].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bashca03
    Spam on emails are those electronic mails that normally have "deceitful" links that looks like any other common websites. The moment you click it, will surely lead you to entering your username and password to a page where you have an account with (Facebook/Twitter/income generating accounts). These emails are unsolicited and its purpose, most of the time, is for phishing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10529378].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ProjectBreakthrough
    Don't use too much bold text in your mail and you should be fine :-)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10529390].message }}

Trending Topics