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SPAM

Per our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) we do not allow any sort of spamming or activities related to spamming and will terminate without warning any customer found spamming. The majority of SPAM complaints we have to deal with are Email related. Using Email, if done correctly, is a great way to keep in touch with your customers and market your site or store. We realize that most people do not spam on purpose. Most of the time when we receive these complaints it is due to a lack of understanding of what spam is. The following information is provided to give you a better understanding of the proper use of Email and how to avoid being labeled as a spammer.

What is SPAM?

On the Internet there are several types of spam including using email, newsgroups, message boards, blogs and any other digital media.. Almost all of them include the sending or posting information in an attempt to force the message upon people who would normally choose not to receive it. Most spam is product related, often for dubious products, get rich quick schemes or quasi-legal services. Being labeled as a spammer is the quickest way to ruin your reputation on the Internet as well as to have all your website and email services terminated.

Why we take a hard stance against spam

  • Spamming is illegal, there are both federal and state laws regarding the sending of spam.
  • Our upstream will disconnect our connection to the Internet if we allow spamming, taking all of our customers off-line.
  • Other mail servers can blacklist our mail server for sending spam, preventing everyone from sending email via our servers.

  • Bounces caused by spamming places a heavy load on our mail server causing problems for everyone.

  • 80% + of the mail we see on our mail server is spam. We block a large percentage of this.
  • We are required to respond to every spam complaint we receive. Each response can take 1/2 hour or more as we investigate the complaint.

Best Practices and Procedures (How to avoid being labeled as a spammer.)

  • Do not use mailing lists obtained from 3rd parties, even if they say they are an opt-in list. In almost all cases they are not.
  • Make sure any mailing list you use is clean. All ISPs require that to send bulk email you correctly handle bounces and immediately unsubscribe bounced messages. Failure to do so can get you listed as a spammer.
  • Only use mailing lists where the subscriber is required to double (closed-loop) opt-in. Further information about double (closed-loop) opt-in mailing lists can be found below.
  • Use a service or program that automatically handles bounces and unsubscribe notices. We offer a hosted solution, Accrisoft E-Mail Marketing, designed to meet these needs.
  • Retain proof of ALL opt-ins.
  • Only send out emails relevant to what the subscriber signed up to receive. For example, if you sell hot sauces, only send out hot sauce related newsletters or emails.
  • Make sure you understand the US Can Spam act of 2003 and its requirements. If you send to recipients in foreign countries make sure you are familiar with their laws regarding privacy and spam.
  • Do NOT send from an unattended email address, otherwise you will not know about bounces.
  • Always include a physical address and contact information in all your emails.
  • If you use a list from a parent or other organization make sure that the subscribers opted in to receive emails from partners, affiliates or other vendors. Failure to do so may violate privacy laws.

I have been accused of spamming, what should I do?(Am I going to be cut off?)

Depending on the nature of the complaint your account may be terminated without notice.

You should take the following steps to resolve this issue.

1. Delete the recipient from your mailing list.
2. Make sure that you have proof of opt-in from all list recipients.
3. Clean up your list, if you have one bad email you probably have more than one.
4. If we have received more than one complaint we require proof of recipient closed-loop opt-in. If you are using a closed-loop opt-in system for your mailing list you will be required to provide the URL used for your opt-in page and other documentation.
5. If you are not using a closed-loop opt-in system for your mailing list you need to contact us.

 

We like to see all of our customers be successful in their Internet business. We would rather work with you than terminate your account for AUP violations. We can help you correctly setting up a closed-loop opt-in system and clean mailing list. Please contact us for further information.

Do not let it happen a second time.

Other Resources

Accrisoft E-Mail Marketing
SpamHaus.org
Wikipedia