Comments on: How to make a profit from spam http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html eBay & ecommerce made easy Fri, 25 May 2012 16:11:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23780 Chris Dawson Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:27:17 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23780 You can't market to past customers at all unless they've signed up to your eBay email marketing. Tips: 1) Rename the default eBay lists from "General Interest" to "Special Offers", "Sale items" etc - things that might tempt people to sign up. 2) With every parcel/despatch email send a discount voucher for signing up to your website email list - no sign up, no voucher ;-) 3) Add a link to your email signature saying "Click here to be informed of special offers and discounts - use email to reply to all ASQs and potential buyers will see it. At the end of the day you can't change the past and you can't market to previous eBay customers if they've not already given their permission, but you can change what you do in the future to encourage them to let you market to them :-) You can’t market to past customers at all unless they’ve signed up to your eBay email marketing.

Tips:
1) Rename the default eBay lists from “General Interest” to “Special Offers”, “Sale items” etc – things that might tempt people to sign up.

2) With every parcel/despatch email send a discount voucher for signing up to your website email list – no sign up, no voucher ;-)

3) Add a link to your email signature saying “Click here to be informed of special offers and discounts – use email to reply to all ASQs and potential buyers will see it.

At the end of the day you can’t change the past and you can’t market to previous eBay customers if they’ve not already given their permission, but you can change what you do in the future to encourage them to let you market to them :-)

]]> By: Paul http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23779 Paul Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:19:14 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23779 Priceless. Wish I'd done it to every one of those mobile retailer cold callers who say they're 'part of' Orange, etc and it's time to renew my contract. (They always tell me that they got my number from the network directly). Here's a question. I haven't gone out of my way to encourage Ebay buyers to subscribe. Result is just 5 subscribers over many hundreds of sales. These sales are on item specific communications accessories used for business, often bought privately on Ebay to use with work equipment. Many are return buyers or recommendations from buyers. I often have half-price sales on an accessory for a particular brand. If I was an end user who'd previously bought a similar item, I'd be happy to know about a new offer as it relates to me or my colleagues. Without falling foul of Ebay regs, any suggestions on here on how to market to these past customers? Do I email them to ask if they mind if I email them? I have their non-Ebay email address from Paypal notifications. Do I send them an E-Christmas card with a 'subscribe' link in it? (how naff can you get...). There is absolutely no point in sending them unrelated offers as it's wasted effort and annoying, but I'm missing an opportunity here. Any ideas? Priceless. Wish I’d done it to every one of those mobile retailer cold callers who say they’re ‘part of’ Orange, etc and it’s time to renew my contract. (They always tell me that they got my number from the network directly).
Here’s a question. I haven’t gone out of my way to encourage Ebay buyers to subscribe. Result is just 5 subscribers over many hundreds of sales. These sales are on item specific communications accessories used for business, often bought privately on Ebay to use with work equipment. Many are return buyers or recommendations from buyers.
I often have half-price sales on an accessory for a particular brand. If I was an end user who’d previously bought a similar item, I’d be happy to know about a new offer as it relates to me or my colleagues.
Without falling foul of Ebay regs, any suggestions on here on how to market to these past customers?
Do I email them to ask if they mind if I email them? I have their non-Ebay email address from Paypal notifications.
Do I send them an E-Christmas card with a ‘subscribe’ link in it? (how naff can you get…). There is absolutely no point in sending them unrelated offers as it’s wasted effort and annoying, but I’m missing an opportunity here.
Any ideas?

]]> By: John http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23778 John Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:36:02 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23778 It is worth pursuing - we use this message first and then report abusers as promised - the majority remove them quickly without argument. The copyright on the image used in this listing belongs to me. I appreciate that images can be found on the internet and that you may have used it thinking it was free to use. If you wish to continue to use it you are welcome to buy a licence for your own use at a cost of £25. If you do not wish to do this please remove it immediately. If the image is still in use in 12 hours the matter will be reported to eBay who may take actions up to and including suspension. There is more information on image theft at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/image-text.html It is worth pursuing – we use this message first and then report abusers as promised – the majority remove them quickly without argument.

The copyright on the image used in this listing belongs to me. I appreciate that images can be found on the internet and that you may have used it thinking it was free to use.

If you wish to continue to use it you are welcome to buy a licence for your own use at a cost of £25. If you do not wish to do this please remove it immediately.

If the image is still in use in 12 hours the matter will be reported to eBay who may take actions up to and including suspension.

There is more information on image theft at:

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/image-text.html

]]> By: Lino http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23777 Lino Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:26:21 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23777 There are 100s of listings on eBay from other sellers using our images. Is it really worth persuing? There are 100s of listings on eBay from other sellers using our images. Is it really worth persuing?

]]> By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23776 Chris Dawson Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:59:06 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23776 That's not a consumer issue - it's a B2B issue. I would be thinking about a DMCA takedown or similar. That’s not a consumer issue – it’s a B2B issue. I would be thinking about a DMCA takedown or similar.

]]> By: Bigpoppa http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23775 Bigpoppa Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:58:12 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23775 If someone was using my images, this is images that were either taken by me or for me or provided to me exclusively, I would phone them immediately and have it out with the person in charge... If that didn't work <strike>I'd send the boys round</strike>then I would let my solicitor write the letters. If someone was using my images, this is images that were either taken by me or for me or provided to me exclusively, I would phone them immediately and have it out with the person in charge…

If that didn’t work I’d send the boys roundthen I would let my solicitor write the letters.

]]> By: Yael http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23774 Yael Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:18:05 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23774 On a tangent and not to do with spam but with getting money for being wronged, I've just this evening found a large wholesalers using my descriptions and images on their site without my permission and I wanted to write a letter demmanding a one-off charge for their use. I don't suppose you can give me some pointers Chris on what I should say or how much I should be asking for. On a tangent and not to do with spam but with getting money for being wronged, I’ve just this evening found a large wholesalers using my descriptions and images on their site without my permission and I wanted to write a letter demmanding a one-off charge for their use. I don’t suppose you can give me some pointers Chris on what I should say or how much I should be asking for.

]]> By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23773 Chris Dawson Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:32:40 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23773 I pay for MailWasherPro to stop spam. If these companies/individuals didn't bug me I wouldn't have to. Also it's hard to stop SMS spam which is what I charged the company in this story for. I pay for MailWasherPro to stop spam. If these companies/individuals didn’t bug me I wouldn’t have to.

Also it’s hard to stop SMS spam which is what I charged the company in this story for.

]]> By: Bigpoppa http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23772 Bigpoppa Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:58:28 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23772 I think it's a bit harsh (if not a bit geeky) charging these companies for sending you an email, especially when it's very easy to stop spam before it even hits your inbox. Where's Victor Meldrew when you need him... :razz: I think it’s a bit harsh (if not a bit geeky) charging these companies for sending you an email, especially when it’s very easy to stop spam before it even hits your inbox.

Where’s Victor Meldrew when you need him… :razz:

]]> By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2009/11/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-spam-people.html#comment-23771 Chris Dawson Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:28:58 +0000 http://tamebay.com/?p=9901#comment-23771 This is a really tricky one - not least cos I have no idea if you agree that the French company can email you does that give permission for the UK arm to do likewise. If they have an opt out at the bottom of the email I'd probably give them the benefit of the doubt and use it. If they don't I'd send them the spam letter with that as the reason for the charge. I do think it's important if you're going to send the letter that you're sure you haven't given permission, although equally if I'm certain I haven't I'll be charging in the future :-) This is a really tricky one – not least cos I have no idea if you agree that the French company can email you does that give permission for the UK arm to do likewise.

If they have an opt out at the bottom of the email I’d probably give them the benefit of the doubt and use it. If they don’t I’d send them the spam letter with that as the reason for the charge.

I do think it’s important if you’re going to send the letter that you’re sure you haven’t given permission, although equally if I’m certain I haven’t I’ll be charging in the future :-)

]]>