Who can believe it’s been 4 years since CAN-SPAM became part of our lives?!? This important piece of legislation was introduced to help fight Spam. But unfortunately the elimination of Spam is a lofty goal since there will likely always be people who respond to Spam! 

Let me rant about this reality for a moment….

Spammers and their “spray and pray” strategy drives legitimate email marketers like me crazy! It’s true. But I almost go crazier when I think about the morons who get hooked by Spam and its almost always ridiculous offers! I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but really! What part of the equation are people missing?

Oh gee, if I send this person I don’t even know my bank information including my PIN #, they will be kind enough to send me 5,000,000 ($, pounds, pesos = choose whatever currency you’re in the mood for)! And how sad that this complete stranger (who even has a typo in her name) is also a widow since the tragic murder of her husband, King whoever, in Nigeria. C’mon people!!! Stop the madness!

Anyhow, back to CAN-SPAM… According to reports from a recent Spam Summit hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington, the overall feeling is that CAN-SPAM is having a positive impact ~ and that the legislation must be enforced, not changed at this point in time. In fact, reports indicate that legitimate email marketers are not contributing to Spam. Instead it’s criminals who continue to be responsible for much of the harmful SPAM being sent today. Like we didn’t know this already? Anyhow, let me move on…

So while I support the US government and its desire to enforce the law, I also believe there needs to be greater consumer awareness about Spam. A good starting point would be: ”If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” Consumers really need to wake up and smell the Spammers! The only reason Spam exists is because it gets results. The only reason Spam will stop is if consumers take back the inbox and reserve their responses for emails that are timely, meaningful and relevent from people/organizations they know and trust. The key is trusted inbox relationships!! It’s really not rocket science.

Oh to dream…

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