Question about "spam" email in re: To tos

[dreamchaser]

hey all-

after reading up on a few things, it's clear that i need to get some hosting.

i'm looking at getting an unlimited domain acct so i can develop some of my names, and i'd also be keeping a domain set up mainly to have a decent email address when fishing for end users (i've also read that xxxx@hotmail is not an ideal email to send an offer of sale with, and am trying to remedy that).

i was considering hostgator, when i come across this in the tos:

"4. Any unsolicited e-mail being sent will result in suspension or termination of the offending account. We take a zero tolerance stance against sending of unsolicited e-mail and other forms of spam."


so, if i send an email to the owner of xxxx.net, and tell them i have the .com version available for sale, would a hosting company consider that spam?

has anybody had any similar issues happen after sending an email to a potential end user?


i want to make sure i understand it clearly before i just sign up with whoever looks good.
any info given is greatly appreciated.



all the best-
michael

 

[nielsencl]

Great question!

Almost ALL hosting providers have something that says if you send SPAM, they will close your account. Some specify what spam is and what spam is not. For the most part, spam is bulk unsolicited email. This means if you put together an email that is business-related and send it off to a bunch of people you don't know, you are spamming.

This may or may not be a problem for you depending on:

1) If anyone reports you, which they may.
2) How strict your ISP is, and that may depend on what you sent and if they realize you sent the same thing to 100 people or not.

Personally, I hate spam and the reason I am still using the same email address that I first got back in 1999 is that I actively report spammers. In fact, I just reported one tonight that sent me a message that a domain with a different extension than a domain I own for sale for $49. They have spammed me a number of times before and my patience ran out. I reported them not only to their hosting provider, but also their domain registrar(Some registrar will supend your domain if they find out you spam. Domainsite is one of them), and their Internet access provider.

Harsh? Maybe, but I just report the activity, I don't make the rules that these people break.

Now, here is my advice and I'm going to offer it because I think you just might be open-minded enough to consider it. I already know you are more responsible than most, because you checked into the rules first. (By the way I host with HostGator and they are great!)

If you are going to use unsolicited email for marketing, there may be a small percentage of risk that you will email to a nutcase like me on a bad day and get reported. I think you will lessen the risk if you:

- Send a really professional email. List your contact information.

- Visit the web site of the person you are contacting. Mention something about their site. Don't write crap, find something to comment on that shows you are writing a personal message.

- Find the name of someone so you can use it in the email and send the message to them. Make this a personal message, then it's not spam.

- DO NOT tell them to contact you to be taken off your list. I HATE that selfish junk. If you have a list, let them know how they can subscribe. Otherwise tell them that this is a one-time contact and that they don't have to respond if they are not interested. BE CONSIDERATE!!!!!!!

I know this is more work, but I think it is worth it. Too many domainers send out these junk emails and don't realize that with a little more work, they can do several things:

Your emails will stand out because you are making an effort and not just sending spam. People may not care, but most will respond if you treat them nice. They may not want your domain now, but they may want it or another one later. Or they may have a friend who needs a domain. Use these emails like they are an investment, not to make a quick buck.

Creating a more professional image also helps with the "trust" factor. If you seem professional, people will take you more seriously than just another "cyber-squatter". And if you seem like a professional and not some 16 year old who spent $7 on a domain and now wants $1,500 for it, you are less likely to have a big fight over the price.

Ok, that's all I have for now. I hope some is useful... I urge you and others to do a test: Just take some time and send out 5-6 emails like this and see what happens. I bet you make at least one valuable business contact that makes it worth the time you spend. Good Luck!

 

[dreamchaser]

to follow up......

not sure how any specific company might handle such a situation, but hostgator just told me that as long as they weren't "mass" emails, i wouldn't have an issue.

edit: i type a bit slow.... didn't see this reply yet.

hey nielsencl-
thanks for the reply.

all very good points you make.
the "professional image" is what brings me to this point.
as i said, i've read and understand why a "hotmail" account is no way to do business. setting up a domain with a decent email addy is something that i think will completely change how my offers are received, and how they perceive me as a businessman.



i don't really plan on hounding people with sales pitches.
i figure i'll send out an email, not form-letter style, but an individual email with relevant content, and see what happens.
yeah, it's a little bit of extra work, but i know how much i hate mass spam, and wouldn't want to proceed like that business-wise.

i certainly don't see a need to email someone once a month to sell them something they didn't buy the 1st time i offered.

as i said, the live chat guy over at host gator told me that if i wasn't mass emailing, i'd "never have an issue".
this was after explaining my intentions to him quite clearly, with examples given.

i think he reassured me well enough, that the few emails i'd be sending out a day wouldn't get me into any hot water.

sometimes the "better to ask for forgiveness than permission" way of doing things can be the most difficult.


thanx again.


all the best-
michael