Spam vs. internet marketing: what's the difference?

Smart internet marketers know that the line between marketing and spam is blurred. They structure their marketing efforts to get as much attention as possible without risking being labelled as spam. While the definition of spam is open to interpretation, most people agree that spam is the same as the junk mail you receive at home.

Spam is defined as unsolicited email sent as part of a marketing campaign. Spam can also refer to messages on message boards that are primarily for the purpose of advertising. The contrasts between effective internet marketing and spam are discussed in this essay.

Firstly, we will look at how message boards can be used for internet marketing. Message boards are essentially online meeting places for people who share a common interest to discuss ideas, ask and answer questions or simply chat. Users can register and post messages in these discussion forums. Most message boards contain a set of rules that users must adhere to when posting. These criteria can vary widely, with some being very strict about what is and is not allowed, while others are far less strict. Failure to adhere to these criteria may result in your account being deleted by the administrators and other members paying no attention to your messages.

Message boards are great for internet marketing as they can connect a business with a specific target audience. If you are looking for employees who want to work from home, you can join a discussion board dedicated to working from home to find people who might be interested in your services. Here you can learn a lot about the concerns of your target audience.

If appropriate and within the guidelines of the forum, you can also use this opportunity to add links to your website. This is considered effective internet marketing. On the other hand, if you respond to every post with a link to your website, even if it's not relevant, and you don't give any useful advice to other members, your messages are likely to be seen as spam. This can be damaging as these members may avoid visiting your website even if they need your services.

If you don't do it right, e-newsletters and email advertising are an area of internet marketing that is most likely to be considered spam. Unsolicited emails are not welcomed by most internet users, especially if they do not relate to a topic that interests them. This is often the case when business owners buy email lists and send their adverts to everyone on the list. Since you are unlikely to reach a large portion of your target audience, this is ineffective.

In addition, the recipients of the e-mail can block your e-mail address so that future messages are forwarded to the spam folder. Some recipients may even report you as a spammer to their internet service provider, who may investigate this claim.

Only send e-newsletters and adverts to previous customers who have specifically requested them and to potential consumers who have requested further information. This is the better way to approach the concept of email marketing.