UKNM: RE: marketing spam

[RHS Linux User]

As yet none seems to have discussed the merits of 'opt in groups'. This

is where individuals subscribe to recieve information from a given

category.


This has a range of benefits regarding the targetting of mail and the

ability to unsubsribe. (Can you imagine what the response rates could

be?)


However what interests me is its implication for regulating spamming in

the future. If people subscribe to a category which is controlled by a

recognised agency, the spammers would then rent the names from the

agency.


This would put all the responsibility onto the agency, in order for the

agency

to build a reputation it would have to handle the names and spamming

issues with

integrity.


Has this topic been covered yet?


Ben







James Tarin wrote:


> >Tim Jackson in his FT column a week or two back was not the first to

point

> >out that the economics of spam are different from dm generally.

Because the

> >incremental cost of delivering additional messages is close to zero,

there

> >is no significant disincentive to spamming.

>

> What about the costs associated with damage to brand equity? This

could

> easily be a consequence of spam as opposed to useful mail, and in my

> eyes a significant disincentive to spamming.

>

> Just because the direct response numbers add up does not mean that the


> overall economics are viable.

>

> jim

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> James Tarin

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