I regularly suspend accounts every day for doing this, and it's for doing something that many people believe is OK, and that nobody knows they are doing it. Unfortunately for them, it means they are permanently banned at StartXchange, and I do know they are doing it!
What is it I'm talking about? Making spam complaints! But you'd never take the time to contact my ISP or report me to Spam Cop right? No, but you might be clicking that little "This is Spam" button. Which is even worse.
That button is powerful because it does two things: It tells your email provider that I'm a spammer, and it tells me that you think I'm spamming. So I'm then forced to not email you again, because if I do not only will your email provider think I'm a spammer, they'll know I am.
It's all about reputation baby, and when I agree to be whitelisted I agree to process these complaints FAST and to never email to that address again. So before you go click that spam link, think twice. If it's one of my emails, you'll find yourself banned from my services. Permanently.
Edit: A few hours after writing this post another traffic exchange owner reported my email as spam. Suspended!
{ 37 comments }
Good for you Tim – most have no clue the behind the scene work to provide this service to them and its a matter of showing some respect. Keep the communication open – most of us owners answer all our emails personally – so why can’t they email us if they have a problem. One of my pet peeves also – thanks for posting.
Good point and 100% right, Tim. I didn’t write to my members about this problem, just suspending them. I guess I’ll have to, now that I know how you have problems. Even if I don’t have so much members, this could grow into big issue.
Hello Tim
This is only to let you know, that BusinessAndTraffic.com also has
the StartXchange logo on the start
page since some days -:)
best regards
vondi
I think you talking about “Reporting spam” from your mail box. There are few things to do actually,
1. Delete email from startxchange or timlinden without reading (I sometime did that).
2. Unsubscribe or close account.
Clicking “This is spam” or “Report spam” is for unethical and lazy user.
Blog Tactics lastest blog post..Getting traffic and links from humor viral page
Yeah exactly. StartXchange even gives you the option to unsubscribe without deleting your account, and there are two ONE CLICK links at the top and bottom!
Just who are these trigger-happy spammy reporters? They need their trigger finger removed.
Mike
Just dumbfounded Tim
I hate spam like most people do.
I have been on your list longer than I can remember but never have I felt u spammed me. I can only put it down to people who are envious of you running a successful Web enterprise.
Boot them for sure we don’t need people like that anyway. keep up the good work.
Just dumbfounded Tim
I hate spam like most people do.
I have been on your list longer than I can remember but never have I felt u spammed me. I can only put it down to people who are envious of you running a successful Web enterprise.
Boot them for sure we don’t need people like that anyway. keep up the good work.
Regards
Rob P. aka Cruisin
Yes, this could grow to be a major problem. When I owned my 4 exchanges I only got that button hit 7 times and only once on Traffic Heroes but I imagine when you have been around as long as StartXchange has and has as many members it can multiply fast.
Having a Traffic Exchange owner do this is unimaginable.. How about naming names when it comes to other Traffic Exchange owners so we can suspend them from our favorites and Bookmarks! This is so wrong on so many levels!
Rich Morris
Agree Tim spam buuton for genuine spam to get rid of it.
Well dine.
Donaldo
Sorry about spelling mistakes on previous comment, must still be drunk from last night, lol
Donaldo
Ok, Tim please tell me how do you know someone clicked the report as spam button in their email? I will do as you do and suspend them if I know how to tell for certain.
I know the answer is real simple……..:0)
Jonathan
You need to register your mail server with the email providers through “Feedback Loops” (FBLs). It’s quite the process, and many require you to be the only person sending from your IP.
Hi Tim,
I’d be interested in learning more about that. I also would like to know how I can find if my website is considered a source of spam.
There is one domain of mine that I did the mistake at the beginning of setting up a “catch-all” email address, meaning that all email addresses to that domain would be routed to the specified catch-all email address.
I soon found out that spammers loved it! I began to receive spam addressed to every combination of possible email addresses that looked like [email protected]. I also noticed that From field in the spam emails was also an email from my domain. This is why I wonder if they sent their spam to other people using my domain name in the From field and if that resulted in my domain being blacklisted.
Would I have been notified of that in anyway if my domain had been blacklisted?
Thanks!
Lucie
I hope you let all of us know somewhere private who did False spam report I hvae no reason to surf there anymore IF I am.
Hmmmm, I never thought about what the spam button meant. I thought it just meant that it moved certain emails to my spam box. Didn’t realize it was a mark on the sender, although most of them do deserve it. I really don’t need any of my appendages enhanced, if you know what I mean!
Yes, that’s why I made this post.. To let you guys know! The average user doesn’t know what it does really, but owners definitely do.
How True!
I had to do extensive searching through Yahoo’s Help and TOS to find out how they interpret the use of the ‘SPAM’ button! You would think that they would explain it to you CLEARLY, before you do use it ‘indiscriminately’, but NO!
I only use the spam button when the email doesn’t contain any unsubscribe link and replying to it prooves impossible, as it was spoofed or proxied somehow.
I haven’t had any complaints from anyone mainly because I don’t mail out in BULK or to anyone who has NOT e-mailed me first, or completed a form, for which they get 1 e-mail and that’s it.
I use a method of ‘Chain Linking’ my messages, so that, if they want the next in series, they’ll have to click on a link in the previous message to ‘POP’ it from my server.
Since it’s nearly instantaneous, they are usually already in their e-Mail account, waiting for the response to come in, so the request is both ‘FRESH’ in their minds, and on demand (at their most recent request!),
I have written to Yahoo several times about ‘undisclosed’ features and they refuse to respond with any meaningful explaination or even an attempt at an excuse!
What really IRKS me is when spammers put my own e-mail address in the reply to field as well as the from field and Yahoo doesn’t catch it as SPAM! How is THAT?
Jason
Spamming is such a nasty problem for Online Marketers that the more we know the better to confront the problem.
Still not aware of where your’report spam’ button appears – can’t see any reason for it being in your newsletters or messages to verified subscribers.
If a subscriber chooses to use their ISP spam button instead of deleting or changing their account settings, I don’t think they expect to stick around anymore.
Question: Most ISPs like Yahoo or Gmail will automatically filter messages into a spam box
If you do not retrieve them, will these also be treated as if you actually clicked the spam button yourself?
No it’s only when you click the button, because then it’s a human calling is spam not an algorithm.
Ok, using my website email address to send newsletters through the TE system, where would I go to check if that email has been flagged as SPAM? I didn’t quite understand the feedback loops comment above. Maybe I’m not awake yet and need more caffeine, but I didn’t get it lol!
It’s a good idea to check your spam box for legitimate emails before trashing them. I’ve had legit emails go to spam for no apparant reason and I’m very careful to move it to my inbox, or hit the “Not Spam” button. I think a lot of people do not take the time to do this…it’s very important!
Please delete me from you blog and don’t send me any more emails related to it.
I only use that button for the most DESPICABLE and OBVIOUS spam. If you are on a shared server you can get banned if a spammer uses your shared IP. They then leave and you are left with their mess. This was a great post-if you have a double opt-in that should not be held against you.
I didn’t understand the use of the spam button until a few months ago, but had been using it to stop emails inundating my account.
I then found out about the wonderful features of GMail and since then only send real spam to that area.
Every one should learn about the features of gmail where you can put emails into folders without them being seen in your main account. Great feature. You still can read any you want, but are able to delete those unwanted ones quickly.
Excellent post, most people have never read the Can-Spam rules.
They have no idea how much damage
they do to the website they hit that button against.
Since most of us are Business owners,
think what this might do to you, before you do to another.
Tim,
I don’t blame you one bit. In fact, the other day I got my first spam complaint. It caused me to dump an old list entirely. I know it either had to be my subject line, “This is for you and you alone” or it had to be because I sent it to an old list. Out of sight, out of mind, and into the spam folder we go. Either way, I didn’t want to take any more chances with that list at all.
Dennis
Social Media Tipss lastest blog post..Newbie Training Giveaway Event
I agree that you should get rid of the people that report spam on you Tim. I learn alot from your blogs and look forward to them.
I would appreciate a list of the TE’s
that did this so I know not to join or cancel my membership.
Thank you
Does that mean if I don’t open my spam box and just hit empty that I could be reporting someone as a spammer, that is not?
No – it’s only when you select an email and click Spam ;-)
Hello Tim,
I totally agree with you.
I receive spam complaints too from time to time. I am an affiliate in different programs, but sometimes my domainname was flagged as spam, so my site can’t be reached. Most people who do this are also entrepreneurs and think by doing it this way, they would have a greater chance to sell something, however they do not realize that a website could be suspended for this matter, and they will also NOT earn money this way. I think the spam rules should be adapted. If Amazon or other business advertise it’s called advertising, and if online entrepreneurs do this it could be flagged as spam. It’s the same if i am watching Television. If i don’t like a program i choose another program.
Marja Opsteegh
WOW Tim
you picked a good 1 today, lots of answers.
My 2cants worth, I have noticed the “Y” one will eventually move some of the TE’s to spam if I do not open them often enough; & w/ a lot of TE’s that happens quite often.
Have not had this prob. w/ Gmail.
I also think that if someone hits spam button, they should not have any recourse. {unless mistaken]
Have a Great Day Dave
First, I am a plat startxchange member and I cannot believe that Tim has to waste his time writing this type of article. Holy Moly! You agreed to receive his blog and you need to use your head for something other then holding your hair. Spam is for mail that you do not wish to receive. Dah? I am a small TE owner myself and I know what bounced emails and Spam complaints can do. What I do…I leave any emails in question on the online server and download them to my POP3 on a different computer.
This way, I can read it or delete.
By the way, most of Tim’s blogs I check out because they are straight up-front and no BS. You folks that are clicking Spam are missing out!
Ron
Pronto Hits Admin
Wow Tim I do not know how to do this and I am glad I never did it to u. I love StartXchange and do not want to be kicked off ur site at all.
I could see this happening if you’re surfing many sites at once and not paying attention to where you click. Thanks for the insight-I myself will before more alert.
I am shocked that people would hit the spam button on your emails. People have to request it. Why don’t they just cancel when they change their minds about receiving emails from you. I also hope you tell who the te owners that have marked you as a spammer because I do not want to surf there. Most of us love hearing from you so keep up the good work.
Hi Tim,
I totally support you in suspending those accounts. Easiest way for anyone not to receive anymore mails is by unsubscribing. And if they don’t want to receive any info in the first place, they should have read through everything and unchecked the necessary options!
Rgds, Alston
Comments on this entry are closed.