Hi John Carey,
Thank you for taking the time to reply so thoroughly and well.
It is very true that media outlets are, indeed, advertising and marketing houses. TGAMM FM Radio demonstrates very well here on Adlandpro how to use this media, including forums and email, in a responsible, intelligent and effective manner.
About spam, safe lists (agreed to spam ) and the rest, I don't see where anyone here inside ALP can offer a valid complaint over these messages. :-) First of all, I do not include the words "agreed to" with the word "spam." I DO agree that many or most of the emails going out through the direct contact link are NOT spam, as whether members realize it or not, they have agreed to accept these emails by being a member of Adlandpro.
Spam is anything that has NOT been agreed to. For example, if you had come to this thread, posted a message in it that simply said, "Buy my stuff," and that's it, it would be way out of context and annoying.
Similarly, those who send ads in first contact messages (Friends invitations) are simply spamming, regardless of the rules.
Spam does far more harm to the sender than to the receiver and can ruin his or her communication lines completely.
A BUSINESS WITHOUT A SIGN IS A SIGN OF NO BUSINESS
That, also, is very true. Signs are great when they are put where people can see them without blocking their view of what they want or need to see. (did you see that? lol!)
However, just as it is insane to jump in front of moving traffic with a big sign in the brick and mortar world, it is crazy to put up signs in the online world where they are an annoying nuisance to the observer rather than an effective communications tool.
Your post is a good example of proper usage of a sign. You have included a link to AD HEAVEN in your post that goes very well with the flow of what you have written, fits perfectly in this thread, and helps the reader to remember your business without blocking their view. There is nothing wrong with advertising like that unless it is expressly forbidden.
Signature files are also an absolutely great and spam free way to advertise (where is yours?) as they are expected in both emails and forums almost universally.
They are the billboard signs along the information super highway and need to be used a lot more by everyone.
God bless,
Dave
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