What would be considered spam?

[kenmtb]

Hello-
I am using hostgator for a wooden toy making website. I would like to contact potential buyers including businesses but I don't want to be accused of spaming.

1) Is it OK to send targeted unsolicited emails?
2) If so is there an email management tool so I can keep track of things including people who want to opt out?
3) How do you make an email look inviting and not like spam?

Thanks

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Have you considered the "old fashioned" way of calling them first and asking to speak to the buyer for the firm?

Then if they are receptive to the idea, ask if you can email your information or at least a link to the site for their perusal at their convenience.

Although more time consuming and costly (thinking long distance charges) this might be a more effective way to get your message across and you avoid the problem of being accused of sending spam.

[kenmtb]

Thanks for the ideas. I am very small scale (PT/hobby) so calling would be too expensive right now. I was wondering if a personalized email would be considered spamming.

[drmike]

Yes, it;s spam.

Here in the US spam is determined by a three item checklist.

- Is it commercial?

- Is in unsolicited?

- Is it email?

Looks like you would hit all three.

[ElectricChoice]

There are a couple of great email marketing sites out there if you've got your heart set on using an email campaign (though other methods might be better for you).

Anyway, if you wanna do that, check out Lyris HQ or iContact. Both are great, have real live people helping you with everything, they aren't too expensive and they specialize in professional, non-spam marketing and maximizing your deliverability.

[kenmtb]

Hello-
Thanks for the responses.
It looks like emailing is not a good idea. I do not want to spam anyone. The next bright idea would be to set up a blog on my site. That way I could add the latest and greatest prototype pictures and encourage networking.

So after I set up the blog, would rss feed be a good way to broadcast my blog? I would like to duplicate it on the social networks like twitter and myspace etc;
Thanks.

[ElectricChoice]

Sure, a blog's not a bad idea. Easy to update/change your content and you can still build a subscriber base! Use your RSS feed wherever possible (and allowed). There are also plugins to help you with your SEO and marketing, as well as FeedBurner plugins to help with your RSS feeds.

Social marketing might be a little ways off for you considering your business type. Try to start building links for yourself in a reputable manner - and guess what, you're already in the perfect place to learn about and start that process!!

[kenmtb]

Hi-
I am near the top of Google for my keywords wooden toys and wooden trucks. I have a pretty good link base I guess.

Is there a good blog rss tutorial. I am a total noob at those kind of things.
thx

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by kenmtb

Is there a good blog rss tutorial. I am a total noob at those kind of things.
thx

If you were to use Wordpress (preferrably self installed on your own server, it's free!) it comes with an automatic pinging service called (pingomatic.com).

A pinging service notifies blog directories and such you have a new post in your blog.

You have to be careful how many pinging services you use as some duplicate which means your pings would be considered spam.

[seoserviceproviders]

Intersphire is a good one for email marketing. Try to stick with permission marketing.

[holyground]

Hi ken, to answer you questions:

1.) NO
2.) NO
3.) NO

I would suggest you to learn how to generate a list of email
prospect yourself so that you will have their permission to
send emails.

I am doing this for about 2 years now so far no ONE accused me as
a spammer!

I can give you a free video to show you how to do it, just drop me
a PM.

Proson

[drmike]

Originally Posted by holyground

I am doing this for about 2 years now so far I've not listen to anyone call call me a spammer!

Fixed.

Five bucks says if we were to know what specifically you were selling, I;d have you in our logs and records of reports being made.

[medcmagz]

Hi Ken,

I guess if you're sending email one by one to potential customer that you know (those people you actual know them by name in the company but they may not know you) is not consider spam. Its like you walk in to their office and ask to speak to their marketing head.

[carwell]

Originally Posted by drmike

Fixed.

lol, selective hearing i'd say

[webspider20]

spam is when it is a solicitaion to someone who hasn't promted that they have any interest in what you have.

[drmike]

Originally Posted by webspider20

spam is when it is a solicitaion to someone who hasn't promted that they have any interest in what you have.

As noted up above. That's for repeating what's already been stated.

I see that holyground now has a site in their sig. While that domain isn;t blacklisted at our routers, the IP address that it sits on has been blocked a number of times already this year. Not saying anything but please feel free to infer whatever you choose.

edit: The nameservers that the poster's site uses for that domain is connected with a known host that ignores complaints as well.

[Cricket]

Not sure if you noticed it or not drmike, but he said he has permission to email them.

Originally Posted by holyground

I would suggest you to learn how to generate a list of email prospect yourself so that you will have their permission to send emails.

[kenmtb]

It looks like spamming is a pretty well defined crime. I will stay away from cold contacts.

Wordpress, Intersphire seem like something I have to look into.

Thanks for all of the great ideas.

[achinaseller]

i need that thanks for anyone

[drmike]

Originally Posted by Cricket

Not sure if you noticed it or not drmike, but he said he has permission to email them.

Without knowing the method they're obtaining this "permission", I call that into question. I get hundreds of spams every month promoting mailing lists that they have "permission" to email those folks.