Re: legitimate unsolicited commercial e-mail vs spam

From: Ken Dardis <kdardis_at_audiographics.com>
Date: Tue 02 Nov 1999 14:41:08 -0500

Having read through a couple of replies to David Ross's
question "legitimate unsolicited commercial e-mail vs spam",
I'm wondering how many people are beginning to see the
difference between any unsolicited' email and that which
comes from a source exercising common business courtesy.

There have been times when unsolicited email was near to my
needs, and I was grateful to receive the tip. There have
been far more times (tens of far mores,) when it was plain
spam.

But, just like junk snail mail, I'm beginning to tell the
difference at a glance. Is anyone else?

On three occasions, I have sent out a copy of our weekly
newsletter to a group of approximate twenty carefully
selected names. The heading is as follows:

"Good Day:

This is a one-time mailing of our radio ad sales newsletter.
If you do not want to receive these in the future do
nothing. You will only be added to our weekly mailing if
you send this back by clicking 'reply' above.

Our intent is to be a learning tool, not an annoyance."

It is followed by my name, company and phone number.

I get five to seven replies with each - a very good
response. The folks who ignored the message are placed on a
refused' list, where they are cross-checked against future
mailings. And I go out of my way to make sure they never
hear from AudioGraphics.com again.

I've had email from people thanking me for exposing them to
our web site and have received no complaints. My obvious
argument is it's only twenty names, which is our way of
exercising business courtesy.

As the Internet matures and the business implications become
more clear, fewer people will take such an across-the-board
distaste for unsolicited email. Besides, are we to call
someone and ask if they will accept email? Although we have
opt-in sign up on our web sites, is the ultimate goal to
drive people to the site to sign up or visit the site?
Expanding our newsletter list is an objective to help us
meet our goal.

I certainly don't like being bombarded by get rich quick
pitches, and I know there are a lot of people who have
strong emotional reaction to any form of unsolicited email.

But I don't mind receiving something that increases my
knowledge, and I'm beginning to think others share this
feeling.

Where do you draw the line?

Ken Dardis
President,
Audio Graphics, Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio
440-247-1928

http://209.57.80.48
AudioGraphics.com




Received on Tue Nov 02 1999 - 13:41:08 CST