BASICS OF INTERNET MARKETING

Basics of Internet Marketing
by Dale Clark

Part Two: Bulk Email

Bulk Email-Untargeted
We discused email marketing in Part One and I would now like to touch on the subject of much controversy; Bulk Email! What is Bulk Email? It is simply sending out many emails to a list of addresses that you purchase. If it is "Unsolicited", don't use it because you don't want to contact people who aren't interested in what you're offering. These are known as "Untargeted" lists, I advise you to avoid those like the plague. They are not legitimate and I believe that using one is sending spam. (See Issue # 1)

I don't like bulk email and I don't advise using it. I've been told that there are legitimate lists you can purchase, but you've got to check out the source. You can be sure that many of these lists have been harvested and are sold without the consent of the third parties. That is definately "illegal" and by using such a list you are lowering yourself to the 'scammers' level. You have to take into account that people are not keen on getting tons of offers in their email. They could report you to your ISP and there's a good chance your service will be discontinued. You should also consider that you might well ruin your reputation. You know people will remember your lack of netiquette and never consider doing business with you because of your faux pas'. You just have to use common sense and be careful.

Here's a partial list of anti scam zones and other sites where you can check out a company or service. There are many more.

Scam-Free Resouces
The Netcheck Commerce Bureau
Better Internet Bureau
International Council of Online Professionals
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Bulk Email-Targeted
If you've got your heart set on sending out bulk email, you might want to try an Opt-In Email Campaign. You might want to try a service such as PostMaster Direct.

NetCreations

I haven't used that service, so be advised I'm not recommending it and I can't vouch for the results you could get or whether or not it is ethical. You need to research it and then make a decision. I believe that if the folks at Post Master Direct are legitimately gathering list members then there is probably no problem with it. Is it worth the investment? Will it bring you legitimate buyers or clients? Those are questions you'll have to answer before you spend your money.

I want to emphasize the importance of creating credibility and value. The ultimate goal of creating a business is getting your buyers, clients, and associates "trust". You want to earn their respect and you can only do that by showing them the respect they deserve. Please keep that in mind when you start your email marketing campaign.

Your best bet is to go with the targeted method.