To SPAM or not to SPAM

[Jeffrey Dietsche]

How many of you have ever been invited to a party or social event? And when you were walking around, introducing yourself or responding to others did you start out by saying " Hi, my name is ____. I have been using the 100% Get Rich Quick Easy Profits Wealth System for about 1 year now... blah blah blah ", you get the picture. " I would never do that " YOU say. " People would consider me a fool " YOU say. YOU'RE RIGHT! And the same applies when you send me comments or emails or "dressed up" click ads that you think may get my attention. IT DOES! I instantly say to myself, " I will NEVER do business with this person ".

I am posing the question to everyone here: What are your thoughts on this?

How does this make YOU feel? and How do you react to these SPAM mails?

If we want to create successful businesses online we need to start ATTRACTING and stop ANNOYING.

Ponder the questions in your mind for a while and get back to me.....

[Sumner M. Davenport]

I LOVE spam, whether in person or email.

When someone spams me they have just given me permission to return the favor. It's part of that Golden Rule philosophy.
What I send them is a link to a class on "appropriate niche marketing", or a class on how to "discover your best business fit", or "how to set and reach goals" or similiar. It may be one of my affiliate links to a business course or mentor. It depends on what their email content is.

One of my clients has this same attitude and she returns the favor with whatever her special is that month. She has increased her sales through this "opt in" method.

The spammer may get excited to get a reply and usually opens the reply email. Sometimes to delete, and many other times will read and follow the links.

Many of my business email accounts have an auto responder that provides links to products and services, so the sender immediately get my message in return.

I have a similiar attitude when spammed at physical events. I ask the person how long they intend to tell me about their business unsolicited, because I request the same amount of time. When they give me a time, i usually say "great, so I'll start first and I promise I'll stick around to hear you." Some will look at me as if I am crazy and walk away, some will stay and we will have a business conversation different that they first expected, because my business conversation I will be asking questions not forcing my information on them.

Somewhere over the years, many businesses and salespeople have forgotten that it is easier to produce a sale when the customer has a known need for it, instead of something you want them to buy.

[Jeffrey Dietsche]

Sumner M. Davenport said:

I LOVE spam, whether in person or email.

When someone spams me they have just given me permission to return the favor. It's part of that Golden Rule philosophy.
What I send them is a link to a class on "appropriate niche marketing", or a class on how to "discover your best business fit", or "how to set and reach goals" or similiar. It may be one of my affiliate links to a business course or mentor. It depends on what their email content is.

One of my clients has this same attitude and she returns the favor with whatever her special is that month. She has increased her sales through this "opt in" method.

The spammer may get excited to get a reply and usually opens the reply email. Sometimes to delete, and many other times will read and follow the links.

Many of my business email accounts have an auto responder that provides links to products and services, so the sender immediately get my message in return.

I have a similiar attitude when spammed at physical events. I ask the person how long they intend to tell me about their business unsolicited, because I request the same amount of time. When they give me a time, i usually say "great, so I'll start first and I promise I'll stick around to hear you." Some will look at me as if I am crazy and walk away, some will stay and we will have a business conversation different that they first expected, because my business conversation I will be asking questions not forcing my information on them.

Somewhere over the years, many businesses and salespeople have forgotten that it is easier to produce a sale when the customer has a known need for it, instead of something you want them to buy.

Thank you Sumner for your elaborate input.

Many may consider this method to be unethical. When we were little we were always taught, "If someone annoys you, don't stoop to their level." However, all is fair in Love, War, and Business. If this method works and creates leads and/or business partners that is fantastic!

Thank you again for another positive point-of-view!

Jeff

[Larry Brauner]

I have used a bounce back approach too, but I don't send a link right away.

I send a reply asking, "Are you a real person?"

If there is a person on the other end, that usually gets a reaction.

Then you can ask, "How's your business going?"

The main problem is that the person on the other end is not the type of person I'm looking for.

[Jeffrey Dietsche]

Larry Brauner said:

I have used a bounce back approach too, but I don't send a link right away.

I send a reply asking, "Are you a real person?"

If there is a person on the other end, that usually gets a reaction.

Then you can ask, "How's your business going?"

The main problem is that the person on the other end is not the type of person I'm looking for.

I have tested this method myself several times. It usually ends up like this,

Spammer: Hi, Have you realized that XYZ health crazy wealth system is the Greatest thing in the world? I have been using it for the last 3 months and have already made $10,000! You NEED this system, come check out my site and sign my guestbook, etc. etc. etc.

Me: That's fantastic, but, did you know that MY system is the greatest thing on Earth and everyone should be using it? Please get back to me.

Spammer: Wow, that's cool, but MY system really works for EVERYBODY and You NEED to check this out!

Me: Well, thank you for your offer, but MY system is really INCREDIBLE and nothing on Earth is greater would you please try?

Spammer: No thanks, I'm not interested but could you do me a favor? Whenever you get interested in XYZ health could you please make sure to get back to me personally? I would really appreciate it, Thanks.

THIS IS WHERE IT USUALLY ENDS.

Do you really want to partner in business with people like that? I'm not sure it would work out so great for me.

I believe, Larry, that we are in complete agreement on this issue.

[Sumner M. Davenport]

Gee Larry, I'm not sure where you can suggest my autoresponder could be considered unethical, or stooping to a low level.
Unlike some of the other posts I do not get in a tug of war over whose product is better, my autoresponder simply responds. Most people read in my message that there are better ways to market to me. Unethical emailers generally do not mail to me twice after receiving my autoresponder.

I have experienced that most people jump into being an entrepreneur with the experience of an employee, whether it’s a new business idea, a MLM or a franchise and everyone is doing the best they can with what they know at that time. Some people never take the time to investigate how to effectively market their product, and their sales pitches are more fear based attempts to make a sale, than actual marketing.

I am receptive to hearing about business and product offers and I give every salesperson the initial respect they may not give me. I will be listening (or reading) for WHAT’S THE BENEFIT TO ME? Why do you believe that I, personally, will benefit from your product? Not why their product “generally” is the best, or everyone should have it. I wrote an article once about how I eliminated 68 pounds of excess weight. Afterwards several people started sending me weight loss products sales pitches. No one made a sale – they failed to find out that I no longer needed to lose any more weight.

In person, when I turn the table on a sales approach, my first question is – why do you believe I am your perfect customer? Like I said in my previous post, I ask questions. If I don’t’ see it or hear the answer to this initial question within the first 30 seconds, they have lost me. One of my favorite mentors Zig Ziglar, said “people will buy what they believe solves their need, not what solves yours.”

There are honest as well as dishonest businesses who market through the mail, by phone, in person as well as the internet. It is saddening to hear of people being taken advantage of in any of these methods.

I believe I attract to my business in relation to what I focus on. If I hate something, I will get more of what I hate. I have heard from people who hate spam that they seem to get a lot of it. My email boxes receive more legitimate business offers than hoaxes, and some of my best clients are those that once spammed me. I still love spam.

Happy 2009 - May it bring you awesome and continuing success.



DIV>
Thank you Sumner for your elaborate input.

Many may consider this method to be unethical. When we were little we were always taught, "If someone annoys you, don't stoop to their level." However, all is fair in Love, War, and Business. If this method works and creates leads and/or business partners that is fantastic!

Thank you again for another positive point-of-view!

Jeff

[Larry Brauner]

Sumner,

I think you meant to say Jeff, not Larry.

Larry

Sumner M. Davenport said:

Gee Larry, I'm not sure where you can suggest my autoresponder could be considered unethical, or stooping to a low level.
Unlike some of the other posts I do not get in a tug of war over whose product is better, my autoresponder simply responds. Most people read in my message that there are better ways to market to me. Unethical emailers generally do not mail to me twice after receiving my autoresponder.

I have experienced that most people jump into being an entrepreneur with the experience of an employee, whether it’s a new business idea, a MLM or a franchise and everyone is doing the best they can with what they know at that time. Some people never take the time to investigate how to effectively market their product, and their sales pitches are more fear based attempts to make a sale, than actual marketing.

I am receptive to hearing about business and product offers and I give every salesperson the initial respect they may not give me. I will be listening (or reading) for WHAT’S THE BENEFIT TO ME? Why do you believe that I, personally, will benefit from your product? Not why their product “generally” is the best, or everyone should have it. I wrote an article once about how I eliminated 68 pounds of excess weight. Afterwards several people started sending me weight loss products sales pitches. No one made a sale – they failed to find out that I no longer needed to lose any more weight.

In person, when I turn the table on a sales approach, my first question is – why do you believe I am your perfect customer? Like I said in my previous post, I ask questions. If I don’t’ see it or hear the answer to this initial question within the first 30 seconds, they have lost me. One of my favorite mentors Zig Ziglar, said “people will buy what they believe solves their need, not what solves yours.”

There are honest as well as dishonest businesses who market through the mail, by phone, in person as well as the internet. It is saddening to hear of people being taken advantage of in any of these methods.

I believe I attract to my business in relation to what I focus on. If I hate something, I will get more of what I hate. I have heard from people who hate spam that they seem to get a lot of it. My email boxes receive more legitimate business offers than hoaxes, and some of my best clients are those that once spammed me. I still love spam.

Happy 2009 - May it bring you awesome and continuing success.



DIV>
Thank you Sumner for your elaborate input.

Many may consider this method to be unethical. When we were little we were always taught, "If someone annoys you, don't stoop to their level." However, all is fair in Love, War, and Business. If this method works and creates leads and/or business partners that is fantastic!

Thank you again for another positive point-of-view!

Jeff

[Jeffrey Dietsche]

Sumner M. Davenport said:

Gee Larry, I'm not sure where you can suggest my autoresponder could be considered unethical, or stooping to a low level.
Unlike some of the other posts I do not get in a tug of war over whose product is better, my autoresponder simply responds. Most people read in my message that there are better ways to market to me. Unethical emailers generally do not mail to me twice after receiving my autoresponder.

Sumner,

First of all, I would like to correct you. Larry had nothing to do with that comment. It was written completely by me and in no way was in reference to your autoresponder. An autoresponder "opts" people into your newsletter, website, or whatever you are trying to link them to automatically when they sign-up and give you their "permission" to do so. When someone sends you a SPAM email, that does not necessarily mean that they are interested in You or anything that you are even offering. Most likely, they are interested in trying to get YOU interested in THEIR product or service. If they sent you a message in the email that said " Hey Sumner, I am interested in your product. Please send me more information " then you have the right to send them a link leading anywhere you want it to. What you are doing is taking their SPAM message and reverse SPAMMING them. When I get emails in my mailbox from Eben, Frank Kern, John Reese, or even Larry Brauner it is because I am EXPECTING to receive information from them because I asked for it. When Sally ( fictitious name ) sends me an email from a NING site promoting her product she figures that it is o.k. because she is on my friend's list. It is NOT o.k. and I NEVER asked for the information in the first place. Sending her a reply email with a link to my business would be considered, to some, as SPAM and therefore unethical. Again, to SOME people, not all. As far as the "Tug-of-War" between businesses goes, this is not something I do on a regular basis. It was simply a "test" to see how someone else's mind works. Please do not take this as criticism in any way, shape or form. People handle their businesses in the way that best fits them. Thank you for taking your valuable time to add input into the conversation. I wish you all the best in your endeavors for '09!

- Jeffrey Dietsche

[George]

It all depends on your point of view. Personally and professionally I detest any email that is anywhere close to SPAM. As an Email Marketing Professional and Consultant I also run into the ignorant point of view that "their" email message couldn't possibly be SPAM. One of the first questions I ask is how did they build their email list. I've had responses like, "oh, our assistant browses the web and whatever he finds goes into our list." That is completely SPAM by most people's definitions. However, that potential client never thought about things like that, only that they have a message to send and they want to send it to as many people as they could. This was a CEO voicing this reasoning, with many years of experience, not a new comer to business. I'm sure he still thinks he knows what SPAM is though. I turned this client down because they refused to change their ways. It's important to educate consumers and business users on what SPAM is and how to fight it. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

The other side of this is the fact that nearly all SPAM email is not generated by the person actually sending it. Most of it is sent through pirated or hijacked computers with the SPAMMER hiding their identity. The SPAMMER doesn't even pay for the bandwidth, the infected computer does. In most other cases they use fake address', IP address, and header information. A SPAMMER will go to great lengths to hide their identity, just like someone robbing you will wear a mask. The longer they hide the longer they can get away with it.

Also, never respond to SPAM email. It's one of the oldest SPAM tricks. SPAMMERS will send out millions of emails with automatically generated email address', like [e-mail], [e-mail], etc. If the email bounces they remove it from the list. If someone responds by saying remove me or replying in some other manner then the SPAMMER knows with 100% certainty that the address is valid. That's the whole point of sending that first message. Once they know your address is valid they can bomb it with everything they have. You just confirmed to the SPAMMER that your email address is real. Most of these messages have limited content, gibberish, blank even. It may even look like a bounce email that you originally sent out, but you don't recognize the sender or the message. They do that to get through the SPAM filters at ISP's, Servers, your computer's SPAM filtering, and to fool you into responding in some way. Once they know your address is real they won't ever take it off their list. There are multiple other ways for them to confirm email message, like hidden or blank images, links, attachments, etc. Educate yourself, install a good SPAM filter, and turn off HTML and images from people you don't know.