It amazes me how much spam our company gets. With hundreds of Viagra like ads on both our emails, blogs, as well as other ads, we in the tech community are inundated with marketer’s desire to make a dollar, wasting a companies time, resources and bandwidth. While I appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit, companies do not really care about the libido of their employees, if they use an e.d. enhancing drug, and do not feel this is an adequate use of their company networks, computers or equipment.
While the spam law is clear to anyone reading it, spammers are relentless regarding their emailed advertisment. The law clearly states:
The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act requires unsolicited commercial e-mail messages to be labeled (though not by a standard method) and to include opt-out instructions and the sender’s physical address. It prohibits the use of deceptive subject lines and false headers in such messages. The FTC is authorized (but not required) to establish a “do-not-email” registry. State laws that require labels on unsolicited commercial e-mail or prohibit such messages entirely are pre-empted, although provisions merely addressing falsity and deception would remain in place. The CAN-SPAM Act took effect on January 1, 2004
What can be done?
Spammers have gotten very creative, using the “opt-out” to verify that your email address is a valid address, and then while removing your email from their spam list, selling your now confirmed address to countless other spammers.
In an effort to cut back on the quantity of spam and unsolicited email, I tried several spam filters, but found that the ‘filter’ was cutting out communication and deleting my email communications from my clients. I then tried a company called Spam Arrest located at www.spamarrest.com
Spam arrest uses a white list philosophy. It never deletes the email, but puts unsolicited email into an unverified cue that allows me to scan, open and read if I desire, or delete by bulk this spam email. Internet DesignWorks, SearchWorks and other companies we are affiliated with using Spam Arrest cut our spam from almost 10,000 spam emails a week to 300 valid emails. You are also able to allow email by domain name (e.g. anything ending in @yourdomainname.com)
I have been so impressed with Spam Arrest, that I offer it on all our company websites. Spam Arrest will allow you to regain control of your email inbox. The company offers a 30 day trial, and stops spammers in their tracks. Try it today and save your company’s spam problem.
In the quest to draw people in, communication is the key. No where has this become easier than with a business website that is geared towards the people they represent. A website should have components that allow for updates on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Facebook – www.facebook.com
As a centralized communication center, Facebook has taken the lead in social networking. Out ranking even search engine giant Google as the most visited site on the Internet, Facebook allows you to connect with people both from the present as well as many others keeping them abreast of current news and events about your business. Once you know how to utilize Facebook, it can become a powerful weapon in the quest of spreading the word about your business.
Oovoo – Video conferencing in a group setting – http://www.Oovoo.com
So your board meets on Saturday, and really, it takes time out of their schedule on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to meet with you at the church or your home. With Oovoo you can do it anywhere you are, and message up to six people (monthly subscription of $39.95 maximum) at one time.
It is a free program for two users, but costs when you do three or more. It could be a great time saver and worth the money with regards to meeting ministry time constraints. I challenge you to try it. When you first download it you can use the full version of the software for 30 days, utilizing all six seats.
Skype http://www.skype.com
Using Skype for communication is a fantastic way to utilize communication with your business, and allow the curious to have a conversation with you in a non-threatening manner. It’s easy to use platform that allows for video, chat and internet-to-telephone communication (small fee required) can provide possible opportunities that did not exist before. You can even put a link on your website, that will allow users to download the application and communicate with your business right away. Try it here:
Using Skype is a perfect way for anyone to communicate back home to current event happening from their location. With it’s video communication technology, ministries can easily utilize this two way communication with their fundraising and support efforts from around the world. Utilizing a projector, Skype can easily become a broadcasting tool to impart messages to any group of people also.
Twitter – Microblogging: Up To The Minute News www.twitter.com
Twitter is a free micro-blogging interface application that uses 140 characters of text called ‘tweets’ that announces individual and business events to ‘subscribers’ to specific accounts that it’s users are interested in. that let people get to know what is happening around the world. Founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams in March 2006 it was released to the public in July of the same year.
Twitter was brought to the world’s attention, during the Mumbai attacks in India on November 26, 2008. The first headlines and photos did not come from FOX News, CNN, National Public Radio, or even the New York Times. Average everyday people who were on the scene, witnessing the event, wrote the very first headlines of the Mumbai attacks. They used this relatively new web based technology called Twitter. Just minutes after the attacks, the world was informed by the following broadcasts on Twitter’s site:
Fossiloflife: “gun battles happening at two strategic points of south Mumbai” 10:34 am Nov 26, From the Web
Urvaksh: “mumbi is in chaos. 18 dead, 40 held hostage at Oberoi, a five star hotel, Firing going on at a JW Marriot.” 11:33 a.m. Nov 26, from the Web
Hours later CNN, FOX News and others picked up on the story. CNN even ran a story titled, “Tweeting the Terror: How Social Media Responded to Mumbai.” Thus Twitter was launched into worldwide Internet fame.
‘Tweeting’ can drive traffic to your website easily and effectively. What if 2000 years ago the disciples of Jesus were using Twitter?
Peter: “Lazarus was dead, now out of tomb in burial rags. Pharisees very upset, mentioned killing Jesus.”
JohntheBeloved: “Jesus sent masses away, would not leave. Took boys lunch and fed 5000 men and their families until full. Next event on website.”
You can see the potential. Twitter is an excellent way to get feed back on your business ideas for those that care to follow your tweets.
The debate between the best search engine will go on I am sure for generations to come. I have found both search engines function relatively the same. The search engine by popularity is Google. It is more known even becoming a word in the English dictionary.
Yet concerning relevance does Google measure up, or does Yahoo! hold more weight concerning relevance?
Read more...
Our blog will be dedicated to giving you tips and tricks with regards to search engine marketing. We can help you gain ranking on the search engines, gain visibility on the search engine results pages (SERPs), and keep you informed with regards to search engine technologies. Of course you can always contact Internet SearchWorks and we can consult with you regarding improving your website visibility online.
