What Is Spam?

[Herb Stalk]

We are fast becoming a growing and helpful community...which is fantastic. So with that in mind, I posted this discussion as to what people consider to be spam. In a community like ours, where we have website owners helping website owners, self promotion of one's services and products are obviously essential for one's success. I am curious as to what actions people feel are crossing the line. We want this to be an excellent community of learning, friendship and business success but we are also concerned as to what most feel is "too much".

For me, I would prefer that member's personal profile pages be just for them and stay personal (for their OWN business needs) and we don't have members inserting their own self promotion in a profile page that is not theirs. A minor mention or link is fine but giant graphics and widgets. I am not too sure about that. I would think keeping your promotions to your OWN page, blogs and groups is best.

Obviously, the community must speak to this. So tell me what do you think?

[Debbie Nemitz]

I know that some people think spam is anytime they receive an email that they "don't want" or never requested. While I too get tired of all the spam in my inbox, I too think that advertising is a part of life. So while advertising might be considered spam, I don't think it should be illigal. Afterall look at all the junkmail that we get through the post office. If you don't have need of the advertisement then you trash it. In email you delete it. That is my opinion.

As far as on this site, I would think it wrong to do a big advertisement on someone's profile page. However, I don't see anything wrong with us letting each other know what we do briefly so that if interested we can follow up. I often offer to show someone how they can improve their relationship marketing by receiving a free sample account to test out Send Out Cards. I don't consider that spam but just a friendly offer to help them out. If they choose to accept great but if not that is their proragative.

[Martin]

I prefer to use my own page to set out my sites and what I do.

I would not send a direct message to people promoting my services or an affiliate product and, within a forum such as this, I do not appreciate receiving messages like that.

The purpose here is to help others and, if you provide that help most people will take a look at your page - if only to establish how credible you are! That's where your promotion should take place - in my view.

Cheers, Martin.

[Lisa Simpkins]

I feel that placing banners,widgets etc. is a wrong way to do marketing to begin with.I can understand using a signature line after your message maybe on someones comment section,but to place advertisements..
well we see it enough and besides that is what your profile page is for or other proper places such as groups,blogs,forums etc..You invite your friends and they visit your page,they then see what you are into etc.I can also understand that some people are new to marketing and OR have not been trained properly in network marketing and are learning to do so.For those individuals the Admin to the site should explain to them how to properly network by placing a special blog,forum etc. for them to visit and read.

[Herb Stalk]

I like the idea of a special forum. That may be a solution if spamming gets out of hand. Up til now we have seen no complaints but before things get crazy , we wanted to hear from our members and see what they thought was a good solution.

Lisa Simpkins said:

I feel that placing banners,widgets etc. is a wrong way to do marketing to begin with.I can understand using a signature line after your message maybe on someones comment section,but to place advertisements..
well we see it enough and besides that is what your profile page is for or other proper places such as groups,blogs,forums etc..You invite your friends and they visit your page,they then see what you are into etc.I can also understand that some people are new to marketing and OR have not been trained properly in network marketing and are learning to do so.For those individuals the Admin to the site should explain to them how to properly network by placing a special blog,forum etc. for them to visit and read.

[Herb Stalk]

Please! No advertising or promotions on OTHER peoples profile page. We have seen a few instances and although no one has complained yet, let's refrain from doing it. Save it for groups and your own profile page. Also, if when in a group and commenting, ONLY comment on the subject of that group. Don't advertise or promote your electric-powered turtle neck sweaters in a group about web design.

Thanks

[brian2009]

I am quite happy to hear about what other people are doing. I agree that it is a little rude to advertise your products on someone else's space, you would not put an ad in your neigbours garden or in their window without their permission. I don't consider that as spam its flyposting.

However I would be happy to hear about what other people are promoting, in fact I encourage it, if it inspires creativity and healthy competition, I don't have a problem with people emailing me to let me know, in fact if you got a good idea I think it would be rude to keep it to yourself. If i don't like an email or I think it is just some cut and paste marketing speal I can just ignore it, or delete it.

Feel free to email me your ideas guy's its how we learn.

[Nelson Tan]

Credit must go to Herb for keeping a sense of control as the moderator of the network and to those people who want to promote, please resist posting ads in discussion or group threads when they are other talkers too. Putting "a 1 million visitors free" ad banner just makes the thread hits the wall and everyone becomes speechless!