Solving The Spam

Solving The Spam

by: Ed Williams

Spam…..

Notice how you cringe up just a tad when you read that word? I sure do. For our purposes here, we’re not talking about the well known food product known as Spam. I know that kind of Spam gets made fun of sometimes, but I actually like eating it. Some thinly cut slices slapped between two pieces of bread with some mayo worked into it is not a bad sandwich. Not a bad sandwich at all. But, for this week’s epistle we’re not talking about Spam de la ham, we’re talking about computer generated spam. And I know that y’all have to be cringing for real right about now.

Most of y’all out there know what computer spam is it’s those disgusting advertisement emails that get sent to your computer from literally all over the world. The emails that you never ask for, the ones that just show up. Just today, I took a look at a program that I use to filter email. It shows me how much of my email is composed of spam, and how much is legit. For the past month alone, the spam that has come into my computer comprises 88% of all the emails that I’ve received. That’s right, 88%! Doesn’t that make y’all want to gag, it makes me want to cuss more than a short changed streetwalker. And to give y’all an idea about the nature of some of these ขspams,ข here are the actual titles of a few that have come just while I was writing this column:

ขAlternative to Viagra.ข

ขStop paying for your mature adult channels.ข

ขGet medication online and save.ข

ขRolex, Cartier replicas look like the real thing.ข

ขMy husband is gone, and party is my middle name.ข

ขConfirm your South Beach Diet cookbook delivery.ข

ขWork at home, stay bored, but get paid.ข

ขWeight loss pills, muscle relaxants, and more.ข

ขHow often does a deal like this fall on your lap?ข

ขAuto Loans Bad credit, no credit, no problems!ข

ขBetter than Botox Hydroderm Beverly Hills!ข

ขMake red light cameras ineffective!ข

See what I mean? And these are just a few examples, I would’ve never been able to type out even one day’s worth of these spam email titles in time to get this column out. That’s how bad this problem has become.

To his credit, I’ve noticed here in Georgia recently that Governor Perdue has noted this problem, and is trying to get something going that will help all of us internet users out. I sure wish him all kinds of luck in this endeavor. And, I wouldn’t be a good citizen if I didn’t offer up some suggestions for him to consider as to what to do for punishment for people convicted of sending spam out here in Georgia:

For six months they should have to watch endless repeats of every Miss Cleo commercial ever made, or listen to Perry Como songs or Carrot Top monologues for the exact same period of time.

They should be forced to stand inside a Krispy Kreme restaurant while the doughnuts are being made, but never be allowed to take a bite of one.

They should have to walk up to Zell Miller and tell him to his face that he’s too passive about his political views.

They should have to go to the City of Macon and stay there until they get all their financial records straightened out.

They should have to eat raisin bran for breakfast, chili dogs for lunch, Mexican food for dinner, and then go out for an evening at the opera.

They should have to walk up to any woman who has big ankles and tell her.

See? Don’t y’all think that one of these six options would straighten out those spammers? The best thing about them would be that Governor Perdue could use any of them and not add to the overcrowding of our jails. That’s always a good thing. After all, we don’t want to throw spammers in jail with real hardcore criminals like politicians, lawyers, modeling school proprietors, and Michael Jackson, now do we?

Ed’s latest book, ขRough As A Cob,ข can be ordered by calling River City Publishing tollfree at: 8774087078. He’s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: [email protected], or through his web site address at: www.edwilliams.com.

About The Author

Ed was born June 19, 1956, to Ed and Barbra Williams in Forsyth, Georgia. He was raised in Juliette and is a proud product of the Monroe County public school system. He graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1974, obtained an Associate’s degree from Gordon College in 1976, a BBA from Georgia College and State University in 1978, and an MBA in 1991 from the same university. He and his family currently reside in Macon, Georgia.

Ed’s life took a decided turn in 1995 when he bought a home computer and began writing down wild old stories about his upbringing in Juliette.These stories, through an unusual series of events, were published in 1998 in hardback under the title, ขSex, Dead Dogs, and Me: The Juliette Journals.ข

Ed’s book started out in four bookstores in Macon, Georgia through word of mouth and the internet eight months later he was being stocked nationally in the Books A Million chain, and other large bookstore chains were also considering stocking him. Edกs second book has recently been released, entitled ขRough As A Cob: More of The Juliette Journals.ข It is published by River City Publishing.

Recently, Ed has appeared on the Georgia Public Radio program, ขCover to Coverข, he writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column called กFree Wheelinก,ก and has won two prestigious online reader’s poll awards for his book. He is in demand as a speaker, and is already being compared to some of Georgia’s most noted humorists.

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 27

by Ed Williams

8 Things I have Learned As An Internet Marketer

8 Things I have Learned As An Internet Marketer

by: Dirk Wagner

I started as an internet marketer, like I am sure a few of you have with various mlm programs. After little success with these types of programs I finally decided it was time I make my own website and get serious about marketing on the internet. Although I have not been doing this as long as some, there have been a few things that I have learned along the way that have helped me achieve much more success than my previous ventures in mlm. I would like to share with you 8 things I have learned since becoming an internet marketer.

1. Choosing The Right Program

Choosing the right program to affiliate with is still a relevant way of making money on the internet. I learned not believe all the hype surrounding every affiliate program on the net. Instead I look for affiliate programs that pay at least 30% commissions and are run by reputable internet marketers.

2. Choosing The Right Tools

I learned quickly that you need much more than just a website to become successful. Choosing the right tools to optimize your internet business is crucial if you hope to succeed. Tools like auto responders, professional emailboxes, and software that help with linking and submitting your site to search engines is very important information to have. However, some of these tools can be expensive, but the return on investment is priceless.

3. Targeted Traffic

Getting the right people to your website is something all internet marketers are constantly working to achieve. In this business you find a lot of tire kickers, these are the people that may download a free product or tour your site but they have no intentions of ever buying any of your products or services. Finding targeted traffic is what you need, people that our looking for a homebased business or a product or service you are selling.

4. Quality Leads

Quality leads are very important when talking about targeted traffic. there are plenty of companies that offer leads and subscription services, and I suggest trying a few different companies out, because you just do not know what type of leads you will get. One of the first companies I used to buy leads from provided me with leads from people all over the world, most of whom did not speak English, or they wanted me to either give them money or go out on a date! So I learned to ask around and investigate a few companies out before I invest in leads.

5. Publishing A Newsletter

Publishing my own newsletter is very important, probably more important than I first realized. With your own newsletter filled with relevant content that can help your prospects, you gain trust and credibility. Your prospects are more willing to buy your product or service if they feel as if they know you.

6. Reciprocal Linking

This was a powerful lesson to be learned. Search engines love reciprocal links when deciding your page rank and position in their search engine. This was an eye opener. With the right software I was able to make reciprocal linking work to my advantage, without having to manually do it myself. Reciprocal linking has helped me with my alexa ranking as well as in the search engines.

7. Finding JV Partners

Finding Joint Venture (JV) partners is also very important is building a successful online venture, in a sense reciprocal linking is a JV partnership in that you are hoping your link on someone else site will bring you visitors and viceaversa. However, there are also other JV partnerships available and are quite easy to find, if you know where to look ( see below). I have a few JV partners that I work with to mutually make our businesses profitable. It is the old adage of ขyou scratch my back, I scratch you backข where each partner brings something different to the table and combined they form a JV partnership.

8. Business Forums

I found reading and posting to business forums to be invaluable to the success of my business. These are great places to learn from people that have been doing business for a long time. I also told you about finding JV partners, well business forums is where to find people you would like to do business with. Most forums allow you to use a signature file that you can use as ขfreeข advertising for your business.

In closing, I would like to add that there are probably a hundred more lessons I have learned since starting my online business. I continue to learn something new everyday that only helps me in my goal of becoming a successful internet marketer. Good luck.

Copyright 2004 Dirk Wagner

About The Author

Dirk Wagner is CEO and owner of http://team4success.biz and the free, easy to install #1 home business toolbar with automated updates.A website dedicated to helping the homebased business entrepreneur start and succeed with there very own homebased business.

My name is Dirk Wagner. I started my internet business in the past with the helping hands of TOP Internet Marketers like Stone Evans. My goal is helping others who are just starting their business and so I have created the #1 Home Business Toolbar.

This article was posted on May 04, 2004

by Dirk Wagner