Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Unsolicited commercial e-mail

Donna Dolezal Zelzer (djz_at_efn.org)
Sun, 20 Oct 1996 19:53:27 -0700

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At 4:58 PM 10/19/96, Vriginia Ikeda <editor_at_chinanews-aapg.com>
wrote these words:>

> In RealSpace, media centers have been the distribution centers for "news"
> and publicity. These included a few major businesses and other such places
> as well. With the Web, Web Sites themselves are now broadcast media, and as
> such, are slowly being thought of as the logical distribution centers for
> news releases in their related industries. They're not used to getting this
> kind of treatment and think of these E-posts as "SPAM" -- not really
> understanding what's happening to them. They've just been upgraded in class
> and distinction: they are now a NEWSMAKER INFLUENCER or NEWS DISTRIBUTION
> POINT.

This is an interesting (and perhaps correct) way to look at it. However, I
believe that it is the business of the people who send out news releases to
send them to places/people who might actually be interested, and not just
send them to all the e-mail addresses they can find, because it's so
inexpensive.

Approximately 3/4 of the press releases I've received via e-mail for the
small, very targeted (midwives and other birth practitioners) magazine I
work for have nothing at all to do with our editorial. (and you'd think our
e-mail address "midwifery_at_aol.com" would give a clue, even if they don't
have the actual title of the magazine.)

Plus, there's a big difference between a nicely written, informative,
press release and some all caps, exclamation-point-infested attempt to sell
something.

>
> In five years' time, when these working aspects, as opposed to the
> theoretical aspects, of the INFORMATION AGE have settled into a routine, no
> business will ever think of refusing "SPAM." It will become one of the
> primary sources of information, leads, tips, etc., for business. I welcome
> every such business SPAM because attached to it are the senders' contact
> information. I can reach them. I can sell to them. I can send them my news.
> I AM DOING BUSINESS -- WITH THEM -- NOT WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T REACH ME.
>

I think it depends on how you define spam. If you mean unsolicited e-mail,
then ofcourse, businesses need to read it, because who knows when a
customer or potential customer will write.

Donna

---------------------
Donna Dolezal Zelzer <djz_at_efn.org>
Starlady's Home Page: http://www.efn.org/~djz/index.html
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http://www.efn.org/~djz/birth/birthindex.html
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