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[H846]How To Avoid Spam

by Charles Goldie, Cha

When you first start out on the internet you will get a lot of people and articles telling you not to spam. This is a very well know subject area because its so important for you to learn the ropes as far as spamming is concerned.

What Is Spam?

In a nutshell (Unsolicited Commercial E-Mails). When you go to the mail box everyday you see a lot of garbage or that is what we call it in our house. But its just another word for junk mail.

We get a lot of it and I suppose you do to. I can't understand why you can't do this on the internet when its ok for a company to send you things that you don't want or didn't request in the first place.

Emails are for communication purposes and not for selling things like goods and services to people this will be considered as spam in the eyes of many.

It also annoys people to get spam in their email boxes, sure there is still people that do this everyday but its not worth it if you get caught.

The Spam Rules

Here are some guidelines that you can use without reading though a lot of paperwork.

Never use email for advertising or opting into a program that your promoting. Don't send numerous emails out to someone that doesn't request it. If you do get permission to send advertisements to someone make sure you have an opt-out option there for the person that your sending the emails to. Don't mislead anyone in an email (like make money tomorrow and become rich).

If you follow the above rules and stick to them it will keep you out of trouble as far as sending unsolicited emails out to people that don't want them.

The best way to think about spam is common sense just take take a look at yourself and ask yourself would I like a lot of bulk emails coming though my email box everyday?

On the other hand if someone fills out a form on a website that you have and requests that they want more information on a product then this will be ok because your getting permission of that person to do that.

Be Careful With List Offers

If someone is selling a CD and it has three million email addresses on it don't be tempted to buy anything like this because you will be accused of spamming them if you do.

There are lists of email addresses you can buy that are double opt in email addresses. Now what did I mean by (double opt-in) is the person has consented twice to receiving information though email this is the best list to buy.

Summary: Sending emails in a legitimate way is the only way to go as far as spam is concerned always protect yourself when sending out emails to people. Never get caught up in spam complaints there is nothing worse.

Copyright (c) 2009 Charles Goldie

Spammers who need fresh email addresses release software spider programs that comb the Internet and suck email addresses off Web pages, guest books, and anywhere else you might post your email address.

Once they get your email address, spammers will trade it around like 5th graders with a new pack of Pokemon cards at recess and you can expect the avalanche of email to begin flooding your inbox.

In order to combat this still rampant practice of stealing email addresses from websites and sending people email they don't want, the following tips should help protect you.

** Break It Up **

Obviously the best way to avoid getting picked up by an email harvester is not to post your email anywhere on anyone's website (including your own).

If the only way someone can get your email is if you give it to them, that creates a similar situation to operating with an unlisted phone number.

If telemarketers can't get your phone number, they can't call.

If you must post your email address, post it in a way that a robot won't recognize it as an email address. Instead of posting YOURNAME@YOURDOMAIN.COM, you can put YOURNAME (AT) YOURDOMAIN.COM and then, in parenthesis, put (replace AT with @ to email me).

Though it seems like an extra step for legitimate email, you'll find it a very effective technique.

** Use An Image **

Currently, online spiders (ANY spider, including search engines) cannot read text that appears in a graphic or picture. If you must display an email address on a page, then do it by typing your email address into your favorite graphics program and saving the image as a .gif or .jpg. Then post the image onto your web page so people can see the email, but spiders cannot. This too creates an extra step for people because they must type in your email address, but it's an effective solution if you must display an email address on your own website.

** Use An Email Form **

Another way to cut down on spam originating from your own website is simply not to display an email at all.

Instead, allow customers and prospects to contact you through a form where they fill in fields, click a button, and your website emails you their message.

A note of caution: make sure the form script you use does not keep your email address visible in the form code.

If the form code contains the email address, spam robots can find it even though you don't see it on the page.

** Make It Hard To Guess **

Sometimes you'll get unsolicited email because a spammer guessed your email address.

It's not a far stretch to imagine that someone probably has the email Jim@yourdomain.com, so spammers will do a "dictionary" attack on common usernames.

One way to defeat this is to place a "dot" (.) in your email address, such as Jim.Edwards@yourdomain.com. The dot makes it virtually impossible for spammers to guess your email address.

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Both Charles Goldie & Admin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Charles Goldie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cancer, The Internet and Home Based Business. Charles is currently at college and will be until next September where he hopes to get his diploma in Medical Coding. He is writing articles in his spare time when he gets the chance. He has a new blog at:. Charles Goldie's top article generates over 5400 views. Bookmark Charles Goldie to your Favourites.

Admin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Infidelity, Tax and Class Action. Jim Edwards. Admin's top article generates over 368000 views. Bookmark Admin to your Favourites.