I’ve been thinking about SPAM over the last few years. Basically, when I’ve had legitimate mailings to make, for example, to things like:

• my wedding list or
• people I know are interested in something I’m doing, like performing or speaking
• even groups as small as 25-50 people

if I run mail merge, one of my accounts starts rejecting emails at greater than 10 per hour. 

Basically, the only spam I receive benefits

• pharmaceutical companies
• the porn industry,
• a few Internet scams
• a smattering of chain letters

Where things get uncomfortable, for example is if I’d like to start an initiative. Right now, I would like to see if the organic living community is open to starting a “BioChor” in Vienna, Austria. The thing is that I have to jump through major, and I mean MAJOR hoops to get a email mailing out. People who own lists want payment, and then I need special technology just to be able to send a mailing out to more than 50 or so people. 

That is an incredible constriction. It really is! 

I mean, I can’t talk to 50 people at a time, using mailmerge to send them separate, personalized emails (I mean, I read and personalize each one)? 

Imagine what happens if you have a new product, a new idea, an innovation that you want to share with the world. 

Well…I guess that is what opt-in listbuilding is for. 

Best for now, 

Dainis