Re: legitimate unsolicited commercial e-mail vs spam

From: jeff maier <jmaier_at_directbusiness.com>
Date: Thu 11 Nov 1999 05:43:47 -0500

ADRIAN COOPER WROTE:
> Be absolutely clear on this also - if *anyone* does
> engage in spamming for any reason whatsoever, they will
> definitely not get away with it. Individuals will lose
> their Internet accounts, entire networks from which
> spam originated will be isolated, and many other
> consequences will result including direct legal action.

After reading Adrian Cooper's histrionic post warning
all of us potential spammers of impending doom, I
feel compelled to respond. Get real and get a life.

I would never engage in unsolicited bulk emailing from
dubious lists...and yes I have used opt-in mailing
lists from reputable sources like Postmasterdirect
and Yesmail. However, I have sent email
messages.....wait, cover your eyes, on an unsolicited,
highly targeted way to a contact without their prior
permission. These are contacts who have posted their
name and email address in a "Contact Us" or "Contacts"
area of a web site.

If they weren't open to the possibility of someone
contacting them, don't put up the information.
Frankly, if you think you have something of interest
to me, I'd rather receive a quick email I can handle
when and how I want over a cold call. If this is
spamming I'm guilty. Big deal. Is Adrian suggesting
that if I find a contact on a website, have a valid
reason to contact that person or persons, I should
quickly cold call them first to see if they mind
receiving a 40-word email message?

Nonsense, and frankly I think we've about exhausted
this topic. Bottom line, bulk emailing, no targeting
or personalization is bad....opt-in email campaigns
from reputable list sources is okay....and selective
emails to folks who post their contact information
about relevant subjects is not a sin.

Let's move on.

Jeffrey Maier
VP, Egoware.com




Received on Thu Nov 11 1999 - 04:43:47 CST