30 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
30 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is it legal to contact site owners through their site and offer them seo services?

by sam770
26 replies
Guys,
Many times service providers visit my site and contact me via my "contact us" page. Is it legit? Is it legal?
I am being offered seo services, content services, link building services and more...

These emails comes from the contact form on my site (and not directly via my email address) and they are offering services that are relevant to the promotion of my site (and not Viagra, games or other non relevant products/services...).
But on the other hand - they come without my permission to receive them, without intent to buy anything from me (but to sell me something instead...)

What do you say guys?
#contact #legal #offer #owners #seo #services #site
  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    You put up a contact form, you are going to get spammed. Simple fact.
    Signature
    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012823].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sam770
      That's not what I asked.
      I asked if its legit / legal

      Originally Posted by RogueOne View Post

      You put up a contact form, you are going to get spammed. Simple fact.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012825].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
        Originally Posted by sam770 View Post

        That's not what I asked.
        I asked if its legit / legal
        Of course it's legal. You put up the form that says "contact me."

        It's not like they scraped your email or something.
        Signature
        Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
        All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012854].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author sam770
          They did not scrape my email address but they DID scraped my contact us page url :-)
          Also, the txt on the email looks generic, as if they send the very same thing to many other sites, spammy text

          Originally Posted by RogueOne View Post

          Of course it's legal. You put up the form that says "contact me."

          It's not like they scraped your email or something.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012867].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Myles Sinclair
        Originally Posted by sam770 View Post

        That's not what I asked.
        I asked if its legit / legal
        What you're describing comes under the heading of unsolicited commercial email. You would need to check the laws in the jurisdiction where you live.

        If you reside in the U.S. it is legal, providing certain criteria is adhered to - CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012863].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
          Originally Posted by Myles Sinclair View Post

          What you're describing comes under the heading of unsolicited commercial email.
          No it doesn't. It comes under the heading "solicited contact."

          You put a form on your site saying "contact us" and then have a problem when people do?

          What did you think would happen?
          Signature
          Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
          All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012888].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Backlinks Explorer
    I'm not sure about the law, but they are probably using automated scripts so you can cut them down by confusing them.

    e.g. if your message field is called "message", try giving it a random name and add another field with ID / name "message" and use CSS to hide it from the viewer.

    Chances are that the automated script will fill in the message field - when your script sees that field filled in it knows to bin it.

    I wouldn't use a captcha personally as that can put off genuine enquries.
    Signature

    Do you buy competitor backlink data from the likes of MajesticSEO / SEOProfiler / SEOMoz / AHRefs?

    Manage it with Backlinks Explorer to help you get more backlinks more quickly.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012861].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lattlay123
    I wouldn't say it's illegal. Annoying perhaps, but not illegal. Contact forms are not only used for the intent to buy and no one needs permission to use a contact form IMO

    If you want to stop unsolicited contacts, then perhaps use a captcha or have a message that says unequivocally that people who are trying to sell you something will not be replied to.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012903].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Luis Vaugier
    I really don't think that's illegal, but anyway better check with an expert
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012914].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    It can't be illegal as they are using your contact page. However, being ethical is another question. Simply ignore them.
    Signature

    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012922].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NataliaF
    A couple of times I saw how websites provide information on which issues they can be contacted and on which not. Not sure if it helps.
    That's really annoying, I know. I experienced the same situation once.
    Signature

    Content and Design have never been closer than today, because neither can win alone. Both Copywriting and Designing delivered by one person http://contentsia.com/

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012953].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sam770
      Where you saw these messages? On their contact us page? Or on their general "terms of use" page?

      Originally Posted by NataliaF View Post

      A couple of times I saw how websites provide information on which issues they can be contacted and on which not. Not sure if it helps.
      That's really annoying, I know. I experienced the same situation once.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012970].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    it is certainly unethical for them to send such emails [i get many from them as well]
    but it is certainly not illegal.
    Signature

    Free Private Label Dating Guide Book _ _ _ _ _ The Best Dating Affiliate Program
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8012998].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Legal. Unsolicited email is legal too, so long as it is not fraudulent, has accurate headers, contact info, etc - per CAN Spam. There is a First Amendment issue in trying to prohibit any message that is accurate.

    There are assumptions on the thread that providing information on a contact form is the same as email. I would not assume submitting a contact form results in an email. Many times yes, but not necessarily. There is no way for the sender to know. If the person receiving the form elects to receive it as an email that is strictly their decision.

    One possibility I have not seen is trying to setup your online site to be the equivalent of an offline business, with a no soliciting notice, and arguing that someone submitting a form in violation of the notice is trespassing on your site.

    Then you are in a position to assert they did not have your permission to use the contact form.

    But just putting a contact form on your site - that is what it is for.

    .
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013051].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SunilTanna
    Originally Posted by sam770 View Post

    Guys,
    Many times service providers visit my site and contact me via my "contact us" page. Is it legit? Is it legal?
    I am being offered seo services, content services, link building services and more...

    These emails comes from the contact form on my site (and not directly via my email address) and they are offering services that are relevant to the promotion of my site (and not Viagra, games or other non relevant products/services...).
    But on the other hand - they come without my permission to receive them, without intent to buy anything from me (but to sell me something instead...)

    What do you say guys?
    Unless you say specifically what kinds of contact you want, and what kinds you don't want, then how are they supposed to know what you consider acceptable? Telepathy?
    Signature
    ClickBank Vendor?
    - Protect Your Thank You Pages & Downloads
    - Give Your Affiliates Multiple Landing Pages (Video Demo)
    - Killer Graphics for Your Site
    SPECIAL WSO PRICES FOR WARRIORS + GET THE "CLICKBANK DISCOUNT" TOO!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013181].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Cip
    If you consider this kind of email as spam, you should mention in your contact form that you only want to receive inquiries from your readers. Tell the person who try to contact you what kind of email you reply to.

    I have heard it is possible to set up a keyword spam filter that automatically erase any email containing unwanted keywords.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013397].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DateinaDash
    Of course it's not illegal you have put a 'Contact Us' form there for that very reason. I know how frustrating it is though as i'm always getting these e-mails from 'Best SEO company in India' offering me all kinds of crap!
    Signature
    DateinaDash.com - Speed Dating & Singles Party Events in London!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013434].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    I'd say it's more sleazy than illegal.

    Kindof like that sleazy insurance salesman who invites you out to dinner, then starts pitching (rofl).

    Don't be that dude
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013436].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Keep it easy for legit inquiries and just delete the spam.
    Switch to an email provider that has a mass delete function
    if it's really that much of a time waster.
    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013450].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author theimdude
    If somebody knocks on your door at home and want to give you a flyer offering a service or you park you car in town and somebody give you a flyer offering you a service do you also start a thread in a home forum or car forum asking the same as you just did. I just purchased a .biz domain and 2 days later got a email somebody offering me a web design service. i do my own so just ignored it but don't think it is spam or illegal. They just offering a service thats all
    Signature
    Do you want 30 back-links in my PRIVATE BLOG network for ONLY $20 ???
    [LIMITED ACCESS + FREE ARTICLE INCLUDED OR YOUR OWN]

    CLICK HERE NOW
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013480].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author happyday
    You putting the 'Contact Me' form, means one thing-you are willing to be contacted.
    It now behooves on you to specify what you want people to contact you for.
    It's absolutely legal; because they think you might need some SEO brush-up or something, and well enough,you understand what they meant in their mails.
    You have no control on what comes in this case, but you sure know what to do if you aren't interested.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013497].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    You can't stop it deal with it. Use one or more of the anti-bot tools and consider that you can get good exercise for all ten fingers pressing the delete key.
    Signature

    Robin



    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013509].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author emini_guy
    Originally Posted by sam770 View Post

    Guys,

    What do you say guys?
    It can be annoying, but it's hardly illegal. I don't like it that much, so I usually ignore it, but then again, it's not like I am being bombarded by these type of emails. Most end up in my bulk folder, and those that don't often come from those who are actually more than just mere spammers.

    Just my 2 cents.
    Signature

    Wally
    You too can make $200 a day. Or more.
    Is e-mini day trading for you?
    A premier site for e-mini futures traders

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013537].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Are you saying that if I have a WELCOME mat at my door I
    cannot go after someone for trespassing? I mean the mat
    says "WELCOME".

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013553].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    I’ve received many messages from people offering their services through the contact form of my websites. Most of them send their offer only once. The fact that they don’t insist makes them differ from spammers.

    You cannot expect to receive messages only from potential customers as you may desire. Sometimes you will receive messages also from sellers or from people who want to work with you.








    Signature
    Join my Affiliate Program and Sell Original eBooks
    Scientific Dream Interpretation – A Solution to All Problems

    How to Be Extremely Successful in Life
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8013891].message }}

Trending Topics