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. The definition of spam is open to interpretation, but 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 in forums 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 follow 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 can result in your account being deleted by the administrators and other members not paying attention to your posts.

Message boards are great for internet marketing because they can connect a business with a specific target audience. If you are looking for employees 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 in accordance with the forum guidelines, you can also use this opportunity to insert links to your website. This is considered effective internet marketing. On the other hand, if you reply to every post with a link to your website, even if it is not relevant, and do not provide useful advice to other members, your messages are likely to be seen as spam. This can be harmful 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 regarded as 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 it is unlikely that you will reach a large part of your target group, this is ineffective.

In addition, recipients may block your email 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 past customers who have specifically requested them and to potential customers who have requested further information. This is the better way to approach the concept of email marketing.