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One of the most frustrating aspects of email
management is the area where people tend to feel the most powerless --
controlling Spam. Spam is defined as unsolicited bulk email sent
indiscriminately for the purposes of commercial gain. Spam is legal if it adheres
to the specifications set out by the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, and it is
important to note that the law does not
require Spammers to secure your permission to email you. For
this reason it is estimated that 78% to 90% of all email is Spam. In addition to being annoying, Spam can reduce
your productivity if it constitutes a large portion of the email you receive
at work. Although there is no magic bullet, there are several steps that you
and your company can take to reduce Spam. Check out the tips in the right hand column for ideas to manage Spam. Best wishes, P.S. Reader
Comment: If I don't know them, I unsubscribe. If I unsubscribe twice and get a third email I mark it
as spam. Wendy Kinney Ready . . . Set . . . Go Make Money! Contact Us: |
EMAIL MANAGEMENT --
REDUCING SPAM Avoid Spam
... Opt-in forms: the industry's best practice
of securing permission from the subscriber ... Attendance lists for conferences, trade
shows etc.: It is hard to control this one, unless you ask to be
left off that list but then fellow participants cannot contact you afterwards ... Fishbowls and business cards: there is no
free lunch ... Purchase/rented lists: make sure your
professional associations are not making money by selling your personal
information ... On-line forums and websites: A Spam Bot
would easily recognize an email address, but may pass over other symbols such
as: ~. Filter Spam Many companies already have email security
appliances, such as IronPort, built into the IT infrastructure. These
appliances are beasts that filter Spam and viruses, and communicate with each
other regularly for updates. Three cheers for the IT teams who maintain this
software for us. If you use web-based email providers, familiarize yourself
with their Spam filtering capabilities. You can choose a provider based on
their ability to protect you from Spam. Report Spam There are a couple of things you can do.
First, you can click the "This is Spam" or "Block"
button if that function is available to you. Depending on your mail
provider and email program, doing this may send an abuse complaint. If your
mail provider receives enough complaints, they may choose to block the domain
of the sender. If you feel that an email you received is
abusive or profane, you can forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov. They will put you in a database
that helps them prosecute those who violate CAN-SPAM laws. Unsubscribe from
Email Marketers CAN-SPAM laws require that email marketers put
a legitimate "unsubscribe" or "opt out" option on every
email they send, and you must be removed from their lists within 10 days.
You'll see one at the bottom of this newsletter. If an unsubscribe link is
fake, can't be found or is not honored, you can report the company to the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by filing a complaint at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
If you are comfortable that the company is
reputable, then go ahead and unsubscribe. Otherwise, be cautious -- some
unscrupulous companies wait for people to unsubscribe as a way of checking
whether your email address is valid. Conclusion Although the Spam issue is complex, there are
steps that every company and individual can take to help control it.
Understand that a completely Spam-free in box is not a realistic goals with
today's technology and laws. If all else fails, there's always the delete
button. . |
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Copyright 2010 *
It's Time To Get Organized, LLC * All Rights Reserved |
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