In the Lord of the Ring book series by acclaimed novelist J.R.R. Tolkien, Frodo Baggins carries the weighty burden of delivering a much-prized ring to the fires of Mordor where the flame that forged the ring can also consume it. The ring has caused only hardship for those that have possessed it for a time.



This ring tended to mirror a form of addiction for those who carried it. The problem was the most evil life form in middle-earth, Sauron, wanted the ring and if he possessed it all that was good in Middle Earth would be destroyed.

If you've never read the books you may have trouble following this so I won't even bring up Orcs, Ringwraiths or Samwise Gamgee.

Sauron did everything possible to retrieve the ring for his own purposes while making it very difficult for Frodo to actually destroy the ring.

On so many levels the actions of this dark lord of Middle Earth was a bit like spam blocking. He did not want the ring destroyed so he worked to block every attempt Frodo made to reach Mordor.

When an online customer determines they are not interested in receiving certain types of unwanted email they will rely on a spam blocker to do its best to disallow these emails from getting through.

The public view on spam emails is extremely negative and they go to great lengths to keep them out of their inbox. This is why it is extremely important for you to make sure you send emails to those who have either opted into your list or expect email from you.

If there are issues with a spam blocker even after a customer has opted in you may ask them to consider white listing your emails so they will be delivered to their email account.

Email marketing can be an exceptional way to keep clients and potential customers in the loop on what your site has to offer as well as providing other reasons to drop by your site including occasional discounts and personalized specials.

Like Sauron, email systems will do everything they can to keep you out. Unlike Sauron, spam blocking is not an evil that needs to be vanquished, but a tool of consumer privacy that should be respected.

As more and more unscrupulous email marketers attempt to spam the greatest number of people possible the resulting fallout is heavier restrictions on more legitimate online business ventures.

Knowing this may help you come to terms with the realization that you should do everything you can to legitimately get your message through.

Like Frodo, you may face some obstacles along the way to your Marketing ?Mordor?. You may experience setbacks and questions about your legitimacy. And just like Frodo you need to preserver and refuse to back down, let up or give up. Make sure the customer wants your material and work to make sure they get it.

J.R.R. Tolkien would have never imagined his books to be the setting for a lesson on spam blocking, but as with all of life there are lessons even in the most unexpected places.