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Newsletters I never signed up for...

By
Education & Training with Tech and Social Media Consultant

Like many of you I used to go to conferences, networking events and other events and happily pass out my business card.  Shortly after which I started seeing email newsletters show up in my inbox.  I tried a different tactic.  I now hand out custom laptop stickers that have my website, twitter and facebook page but not my email address.

The Mike Mueller Tramp Stamp ver2.0

That works better – but not completely.  So, out of frustration I started a new blog.  It’s not here – it’s over at Tumblr. (http://newslettersofshame.tumblr.com/)

It’s simply called “Newsletters I never signed up for” and is exactly that.

The first question most people are going to ask is WHY? So I put it right on the sidebar.

newsletters I never sign up for

My name is Mike Mueller 
I go to a lot of conferences. 
I hand out a lot of biz cards. 
My site is pretty popular. 
My email is very easy to find. 
Not once have I ever said… 
"Add me to your List" 
"Send me your newsletter" 
These are actual newsletters that hit my inbox. I’ve never signed up for any of them. (That’s actually against the law) They say, ignorance is never an excuse. 
We can do this better – can’t we? 
Lets.

Once a day I take a screen capture of an unsolicited email newsletter that arrived in my inbox.  I’ll try to capture the email header but I’ll make no attempt at blurring or hiding any information.

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I also wanted to make this more of learning experience for those that come to the site.  I have a 2nd page entitled “Why is this wrong?”.

On that page I point out a few facts people might not realize like…

According to the CAN-SPAM Act each separate email in violation of the law is subject to penalties of up to $16,000!  Did that get your attention?

I also realized that most of the unsolicited bulk email (newsletters) come from 3 main email providers, Constant Contact, AWeber, and MailChimp, so I put links to their guidelines or rules right there.

Hey, it’s also just plain rude to add someone to a list without their permission.

Most often I hear, “But there’s an unsubscribe link at the bottom” as an excuse. Sorry but that doesn’t cut it.  Unless I specifically asked to placed on a list it’s against the law for you to have put me on that list.

On a side note: I also have a newsletter.  I’ve never added anyone to it.  If you want on, you have to add yourself.  As for me it’s the simplest of things.  It’s completely automatic.  Each time I write a blog post a newsletter goes out.  People can read my blog post in their inbox as they have chosen to do.  It’s a pretty simple and perfectly correct way to do it.

Comments (7)

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

How can I get a laptop sticker?

I like the way you handled the unwanted newsletters that you receive. Hope it helps Mike.

Jul 17, 2011 05:35 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Mike, been there done that!

  Are these people accessing the list of attendees?  Are they just automatically putting everyone they encounter onto their email list?

Jul 17, 2011 05:35 PM
Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

This is great information for us to have.  I have to say, I like your style!

Jul 17, 2011 05:48 PM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

I feel your pain!  Love the sticker btw.  :)

Jul 17, 2011 07:25 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Spam will never stop. . .they will always find a way.

Jul 18, 2011 12:28 AM
Mike Mueller
Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Tom - You'll have to meet me at an event!  

Fred - Nope.  Some are scraped from my website and/or virtually every network profile I'm on.

Janna, Irina - thanks!

Fernando - True, but I should have mentioned that these are typically hard working people like us, not the offshore Spam Factory types.  It's the Agent or small business who doesn't know better I'm trying to reach.

Jul 18, 2011 03:11 AM
Mike Mueller
Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Andof all things - Tumblr is down.  Today's entry went live at 8 am.  Maybe I broke tumblr?

Jul 18, 2011 04:29 AM