Are You Falling into the Trap of Deceptive Marketing? Stop Squandering Your Resources!

The Deception in Email Marketing

Every day, I come across numerous emails that attempt to deceive me in one way or another. Here are some of the most common lies I encounter in the subject lines or initial paragraphs of these emails:

• "This is not spam since you are either on my mailing list because we corresponded in the past, you sent me a previous email or you posted at my site."
• "We want to join your program! Thanks for sending the information on your program, please take a look at ours!"
• "We Love Your Site!"
• "You Have A New Member"

And the list goes on.

The Art of Email Harvesting

Upon closer inspection, I often find that these emails are sent to one of my autoresponder addresses. I currently manage about 30 autoresponders that work round the clock, distributing various sales literature and free information. All of these autoresponders are susceptible to receiving these anonymous messages.

Other times, these emails are sent to specific addresses like support@homebizlink.com or sales@homebizlink.com. These addresses are never used for promotional or marketing activities. They are typically used to manage incoming requests and information. The only way these marketers could have obtained these addresses is by harvesting them from my site using bulk mail software.

The False Promises and Broken Links

I find it amusing when I receive emails that claim to have visited my site, followed by a hyperlink that supposedly leads to my site but instead redirects to an unknown site. This is a clear indication of a bulk email program gone wrong.

Moreover, the removal addresses provided at the end of some of these emails are often false. There's a 99% chance your removal request will bounce back.

The Consequences of Deceptive Marketing

About two weeks ago, I received a series of sales messages that were vague and didn't specify what they were promoting. All these messages were sent to my various autoresponder addresses, indicating that they were likely from a fictitious address.

You can send me all the covert messages and sales propositions you want, but I will never even consider them. Even if the offer is enticing, it will end up in the trash folder. If I am going to do business with someone, I want to ensure that they are legitimate and won't tarnish my reputation due to their unethical mailing practices.

The Real Victims of Deceptive Marketing

In many cases, the new marketer is not to blame. They are often excited about starting a business and making money. However, they are misled by the hype sellers and bulk email pushers who sell them a false dream. They purchase a disk of 100,000 "HOT" email addresses and a stealth bulk mailing software program, hoping to make a fortune. But they soon realize that they can't even cover their expenses, and they become one of the failure statistics I mentioned earlier.

The Solution: Don't Fall for the Hype!

Don't be fooled by the hype! There are plenty of resources on the web where you can ask questions and get honest answers that could save you a lot of money and embarrassment. Visit forums, discussion boards, subscribe to newsletters like this one. Familiarize yourself with the internet before diving in! Don't start your business by using false addresses, lies, and intrusive marketing programs. You will lose in the long run!