Hello friends, I continue to receive so many blatant ads in personal messages - and I just don't get it. There is no introduction, no relationship building - just an ad. Why would I read that? Now, I open every personal message I get and when it's an ad, I just delete it. I am wondering are those who are just sending the same old ads NEW to networking? Don't they know how ineffective that is? Personally, I enjoy getting to know new friends - networking - and I am much more likely to be interested in your products and services after I get to know YOU. So, if you want to tell me about your business, tell me about yourself first. It's like dating. Ask me out for a couple of dates before you try to sell me something...lol - or give me something of value. Actually, I believe it is against the policies here at Adlandpro to send unsolicited ads through personal messaging, but apparently it is not enforced. Is it just me? What do ya'll think? And how do you handle ads you receive through personal messages? Or heck, tell me if YOU are having success sending unsolicited ads to members! Looking forward to your replies! :)

Linda, That's an interesting topic because just a few days ago I was thinking on the same lines. I asked myself, why am I getting a PM about something that should be broadcasted via a forum? One reason that strikes me is that a PM carries with it a personal touch that gives people the impression they are special and will likely pay more attention to it than a notice of a forum or thread. To answer your question, No, I don't truly read them, but I do skim through quickly to gather the gist of what is written. And what I have gathered is that the PMs are often written like a car salesman's pitch. Only one have a skimmed and then read and followed up on. Take Care, Don

Hello again, I live by two creeds. 1. Never make problems out of things that do not have to be problems. 2. Learn to tell people what you think and feel with out stomping on their toes or spoiling their fun. To me those ads are a source to get to know people and who knows, by my own actions I just might teach them how to network with people. They might like my approach and follow my example. No matter what I do consider them friends and prospects regardless of how they approach me with their ads. My job is to find a way to serve them as a friend and provider. The more people I serve the more money I make and the more friends I have in the world. To strive for success is to strive to be your very best. Dan Mills

Hi Linda; No, I don't read them. I don't even skim them. I just delete them. I have had people I know send me things to look at. You know what the difference is? They write a *real* letter explaining why they think I might be interested in having a look. The kind of letter a *real* friend would write. They don't just paste ads in and hit send. So, if it's just ads - I just delete. : ) L

Hi, Linda, I'm with you 100% on this. A personal message should be just that - we are not exactly short of places to advertise in Adland, Fortunately, most people promoting using personal messages are honest enough in the heading that you can safely delete most of them without having to read them. (In case anybody wonders why I would want to delete a personal message (ad) without reading it - it is because they invariably contain exactly the same execrable wording as the ads that pour into my email in boxes. They have nothing new to offer!) Where an ad is part of a real message from a friend or colleague who has actually used the service or product and is promoting it as part of an open forum where open comment is invited - that ad will get read. Web sites will be visited. Comment and or purchase (not often the latter) will follow. A dialogue opens. The advertiser gets the chance to convert me! I get a chance to learn something I didn't know. The forum owner gets the chance to see how much support the product has. I get to see if I am, possibly, too far outside the envelope. Much better! Yes? Regards