Sending Spam or Bulk email using the Internal Email System... Hurts Your Reputation

[UPDATE: There is now a limit to ANY bulk email sent via the internal email system.

NO more than 5 impersonal emails can be sent!

That means that if you are going to send a bulk email you can not send it to more than 5 un-named members. The point of inSide919 is to make relationships with another local person - we have "Groups" where like minded individuals can connect with shared interests.].

We Need to stop any form of Bulk Email here as it's simply not the place..

If you'd like to add a Newsletter sign-up form to your Profile and use some of the tools (we have members who are in this business and can help) to send newsletters that people have requested - I invite you to do that - but I must say again that when someone be-friends us they are NOT signing up for unsolicited emails (bulk email/Spam).

One of the things we would like inSiders to know is that this is NOT the place for Bulk email or Spam.

The main reason for this is that YOU will end up hurting YOUR Reputation and Brand Message.

SO... Do Not use the Internal Email system to send Bulk email, promotions, deals, notices, thoughts for the day or solicitations of any kind.

Basically... ANY email that is not Personalized may well be considered Spam by the receiving party.

When a person accepts your 'Friend Request' they are not agreeing to 'RECEIVE' anything from you - they are simply agreeing to be open to forming a business relationship with you.

Here are a few examples* that may help.

1. If you send me a one-time individual solicitation for a product, service or business (meaning that it includes a personal message to me, not a cut-and-pasted canned message), I don't consider that spam. If I don't respond and you solicit me more than twice, it's spam.

2. If you send me a solicitation, promotion, or notice in a bulk e-mail that's simultaneously going to a number of other people, that's spam.

3. If you post solicitations on my comment wall, that's spam (unless that solicitation is a RELEVANT response to something I "Inquired about" somewhere on the Network or "Requested" in my Profile).

4. If you send me a one-time invitation to an event that's designed to benefit me (whether I buy anything from you or not) that's NOT spam. If your "free event" is a thinly disguised sales pitch or "business opportunity meeting," that's spam.

Most messages sent to more than 5 people at the same time will most likely fall into the questionable area.

When in doubt... don't sent it out! - Internal Email is for relationship building not broadcasting ones message.

Here is a valid question we get;

Q) Is it EVER appropriate to use the "send all" function?

A) Let's say you're looking for a Referral (e.g. my air conditioning is broken; can anyone recommend a good HVAC repair company?), then it might be appropriate to use the send all function. But that doesn't include "hiring" new distributors for an MLM company. We have Forums like "I'm looking for..." for this purpose and everyone is helped.

If you feel that we are missing a way for you to engage other interested members please let me know and we'll try to find the most compatible way to do that. I truly want you to have success inSide919 - but need to remain vigilance against spam.

If you receive an Email that is outside the bounds of the above please report it to Pat Howlett so we can help educate that member.