Marketing Responsibly on the Internet – Social Networking

Now that Social Networking has wrapped it’s arms around the Internet I’m seeing more spam originating from these networks landing in my email box.

My frustration level with these newbie marketers has grown to a point that now I’m turning the tables on them.

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 clearly states that using deceptive emails in order to “pitch” your opportunity is in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act yet for some reason these social networkers think that if you reply to their email, they are in compliance.

Social Networking certainly has it’s place in today's world of electronic marketing, but it isn’t in my mailbox and I’ll venture to guess that it’s not in your mailbox either.

Clearly for those looking for home business ideas or an online business opportunity, a social network could provide them with a plethora of information. But no more information than if they had used Google or Yahoo.

How many of you have received a request for information about your business that looks like this:

Hello,

I am requesting more info on your business ad and how it works. Is an investment required?

Looking forward to hearing more.

Name of Sender
Email of Sender

The first few I got I took the time to answer that question in a thoughtful manner only to get this:

Thank you for the email. I am screening people who have home businesses that would like free advertising in what is the “My Space” for business people. I am associated with many thousands of networking professionals that may also be interested in your offer.

You are invited to post a free profile on my site. And I will send some business contacts your way.

Many serious entrepreneurs, from around the world, will view your contact and business information.
http://www.directmatches.com/XXXXX

Join for free… Advertise for free in The Business Directory.

“As relationships mature, incomes grow.”

Name of Sender
Email of Sender

Clearly I’m not a social networker. I did not start a home base business so that I could grow relationships. I started my business so I could earn money.

So how have I turned the tables? Quite simply. When I receive these requests for information, I reply with a short note that directs them to my website to fill out my Auto Responder form. I tell them that because I am in 100% compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 that this is the best method for them to learn more about my business.

This usually is enough to stop the spam but not always, so I added the CAN-SPAM Act to my website and direct them there. Their curiosity usually gets them onto my website.

Because they have requested information about my business I am now also in compliance with the act and can send them my promotional emails. Technically I could add them to my list, but I don’t because I prefer to have a clean list of only people who have opted in because they are interested in my home based business.

If you are into Social Networking and using the types of techniques included in this article, wouldn’t your time be better spent doing things that actually drive traffic to your website or educating yourself on your chosen business instead of cruising online classified ads archives harvesting email address’s?

Like many multi level marketing business’s, my advertising budget is limited. I have to maximize each dollar I spend to achieve the maximum benefit for my business.

I make a conscious effort to ensure that each method I use in my promotion of my primary business has at least two functions. Showing that I am knowledgeable about my business and driving traffic to my site. Once they land on my site I’m able to build trust based on my knowledge.

This is a more productive way for me to build that “relationship” and by example they have the opportunity to learn how to earn money online with a home based business.

The email used in this article was an actual email that I received this month. Interestingly enough the email address it was sent to has never been used in any open ad campaigns for any of my business adverts, but only as an administrative contact.

MLM’s reputation has suffered over the years, however it is still the best opportunity for regular people to earn extra income or replace the income from their “JOB”. Lets give our newcomers the best chance of actually building a respectable business and lead them by example as well as provide them tools that work in today's electronic world.

Learn more about compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003

Addicted to Domain Names?

There I’ve said it, I admit it and now I’m doing something about it!

Over the course of my online business adventure, I’ve managed to acquire quite a large number of domain names. You know the different dot.com’s that you use to promote different aspects of what ever you are doing online.

Well I sat down and started evaluating the different domains I had and man did I feel a bit foolish. I had so many that it was costing me a small fortune to renew them through out the year.

I don’t discount that at the time I purchased most of them, I had a specific need. But once those needs have passed…let it go!

The process of weeding out the ones I no longer want to pay for wasn’t too hard. I first checked each domain to see where it was pointing.

Once I knew that I had to evaluate if I really needed a specific domain for that page. Most of the time I didn’t and could house those pages on my main website.

The next step was checking to see if they had any pagerank or value. Much to my surprise several of them did. Those went on my keeper list and I knew I would find another use for them.

I also learned that when you have a domain name with longevity it becomes more valuable. So I had to consider those poorly thought out domain names I had purchased early on in my Internet adventure.

Honestly, most of those were chosen at a time when I didn’t have a clue about how to build a website let alone what keywords were. I’ve learned so much since that time that I let go of many of those cutesy domain names opting to keep the ones that were newer but keyword rich.

I ended up dumping probably 8 domain names and will now keep a watchful eye on the rest of them as they come up for renewal. And I’m putting those with pagerank to use for some of my promotional stuff and information sites.

One thing I also had to learn was that an emotional attachment to a domain name just isn’t a good enough reason to keep it. You know…the first domain I ever bought…I didn’t want to let it go, but the bottom line was I seriously didn’t have a use for it so I bit the bullet and let it go.

And then there are the “deals” you get offered when you are purchasing a domain name…I got a deal on what at the time seemed to be a great idea…instead I’ve come to realize that www.IGotLit.com (for my candle business) actually appears to be the domain of a heavy drinker and it’s mine until 2008!

Take your time when purchasing a domain name. Consider some good keywords to incorporate into the domain name and above all remember to let go of the ones that aren’t working for you anymore.