The Fine Line Between Internet Marketing And Spam
The Fine Line Between Internet Marketing And Spam by Chas. McDuffie
Savvy business owners who take advantage of internet marketing realize there’s a fine line between marketing and spam, and orchestrate their marketing campaigns to gain the maximum amount of exposure without running the risk of being viewed as a spammer. The definition of spam is open to interpretation, but most people agree on the fact that spam is equivalent to junk mail you receive at your residence.
In general, spam is unsolicited e-mails which are part of an advertising campaign. The term spam can also apply to message board postings, which are posted solely for advertising purposes. This article will examine the differences between effective internet marketing and spam.
First we’ll consider the use of message boards for the purpose of internet marketing. Message boards are essentially online meetings places for internet users, who share a particular interest to exchange ideas, ask or answer questions or just socialize. These message boards allow users to register and post messages.
Most message boards have certain guidelines which the users must adhere to when making posts. These guidelines vary widely with some being very strict about acceptable content, and others not being nearly as strict. It’s important to follow these guidelines because failure to do so, may result in the moderators deleting your account and other members not paying much attention to your posts.
Message boards are ideal for internet marketing because they can provide a business owner with access to a specialized target audience. If you’re in the business for finding jobs for employees who wish to telecommute, you might join a message board dedicated to working from home to find members who may be interested in your products.
Here you may learn a great deal about the concerns of your target audience. You can also take the opportunity to post links to your website when appropriate, and in accordance with the message board guidelines. This is considered to be smart internet marketing. However, if you opt to respond to each and every post with a link to your website even when it’s not relevant, and don’t offer comments of value to other members, they’re likely to view your posts as spam. This can be damaging because these members may opt to avoid your website, even if they need for your services.
E-newsletters and e-mail advertising are one area of internet marketing, which is most likely to be viewed as spam if not done properly. Most Internet users don’t appreciate unsolicited e-mails, especially when these emails don’t pertain to a subject that interests them. This is often the case when business owners buy e-mail lists and send their advertisements to everyone on the list. This isn’t effective because you won’t reach a large population of your target audience.
Additionally, recipients of the e-mail may block your e-mail address so future communications are automatically sent to a spam folder. Some recipients may even report you to their internet service provider, who may investigate the claim that you’re a spammer. A better way to approach the concept of e-mail marketing, is to only send e-newsletters and advertisements to past customers, who’ve specifically asked to receive such e-mails, and potential customers who’ve requested additional information.
Charles McDuffie is an article writer and businessperson for ASB Enterprises, an ongoing educational and business enhancement venture showing individuals how to generate business achievements in home-based businesses and affiliate programs. Visit his website at: http://www.legacyofwealth.com
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