NONE: Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Newsgroup Postings/Reciprocal link guidelines
Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Newsgroup Postings/Reciprocal link guidelines
DfrntDrums_at_aol.com
Tue, 10 Feb 1998 23:44:05 EST
In a message dated 98-02-10 23:08:09 EST, andreag_at_rocketmail.com writes:
<< <- do not publish URL's (especially to big commercial sites) in newsgroups,
<< regardless of how relevent they may seem do not mail webmasters, suggesting
<< they link to your site from theirs
<Does anyone out there agree with this/have had similar experiences? If I
follow <this advice, I need to cut out 2 big areas of my work.
<Are people that sensitive about receiving emails requesting links? So far,
I haven't <received any negative feedback about linking, but who knows? >>
It is my understanding that there are newsgroups that are specifically set up
for these kinds of announcements. The fact that you got flamed for it makes
me wonder if the ones you chose were indeed "relevant" - i.e., did you read
the FAQs first to determine if that type of posting was allowed - and just how
many times you posted. There is a measurement tool called the Briedbart
Index, and posts that go over the limit are considered usenet spam. (Somebody
else will have to explain what the BI limits are in numbers, however - since I
never post commercial messages to usenet I never took the time to learn the
math. :}
As for mailing webmasters and asking for reciprocal links... that's risky
business in the current environment. Unsolicited commercial e-mail is simply
not acceptable in any way, shape or form due to the abominable abuse by
spammers. If your letters are personal and specific enough so that the
recipients know without a doubt that they are not receiving a boilerplate,
perhaps you could get away with it. But since the spam issue is not about
content but about messages sent unsolicited and received postage due, it's a
crapshoot at whether or not you're going to be labeled a spammer - which is
the quickest, easiest way to destroy your reputation and credibility.
Below is an illustration of my personal definition of the fine line between
UCE and legitimate networking. I'm certainly not talking for the internet
community here, and think I can safely state that many people would not
consider any unsolicited approach legitimate.
Last week I received an unsolicited e-mail from a webmaster of a free
classified ad site asking if I would list his site on my page of free
classified ad site links. I personally considered this valid business
networking, as it was obviously person-to-person, specific, and relevant to my
business. I replied that I would certainly take a look at his site and
consider it for my page.
A day later, I received a boilerplate from the same person, addressed to a
mailing list, and inviting me to advertise in his free ad site. This was
obviously a result of harvesting e-mail addresses from classified ad posts. I
reported it as spam, and will neither advertise on his site or list it on my
page. I don't do business with spammers.
I don't know if I helped you or confused you further. My general advice would
be don't send unsolicited commercial offers.
Leah Roberts
Trail Blazer Enterprises, Inc.
http://www.ao.net/waytosuccess/index.html
http://www.ao.net/waytosuccess/nospam.html
NO UNSOLICITED OFFERS - All Spam WILL Be Canned
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