Field Guide to Reducing Spam E-Mail
(Updated August 2008)
Unwanted, unsolicited e-mail is a frustrating problem for almost everyone who uses the Internet. Spam e-mail clutters inboxes, slows down Web servers, and costs time and money to manage. Spam can't be prevented entirely, but REALTORS® can reduce the amount of unwanted e-mail that comes into their inboxes. And on the flip side of the coin, REALTORS® who use e-mail to find and work with clients can take steps to ensure that their own electronic communications aren't seen as spam. Find out more about what spam is, how to reduce the amount of spam you receive and how to keep from sending it yourself with the articles, websites, and other resources on this page. (A. Siudzinski, Information Specialist)
Contents:
Avoiding Spam | CAN SPAM & the Do-Not-E-Mail Registry | Useful Websites | Don't Send Spam | eBooks & Other Resources
Tips for Fighting Spam
Check the website's privacy policy when you are submitting your e-mail address
Use separate e-mail addresses for personal messages and chat rooms and newsgroups
Choose a unique e-mail address, such as jd5102oe@whatever.com
Use an e-mail filter
Forward unwanted/deceptive e-mail to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov
Complain to the sender's Internet Service Provider
Forward spam to your Internet Service Provider's abuse desk
Source: You've got spam: How to "can" unwanted e-mail, (Federal Trade Commission, Apr. 2002).
Avoiding Spam 
A magic number to avoid spam?, (PCMag.com, Mar. 4, 2008).
Tips to avoid spam, (McAfee, n.d.).
How to protect your business from spam and virus attacks, (Portland Business Journal, May 18, 2007).
Help with spam and phishing. . .and other e-mail pests: The basics of spam, "phishing" and other e-mail pests, how they got your address in the first place, and what to do now that you're inundated, (SpamPrimer.com, 2006).
Get relief from annoying e-mail, (PC World, July 2006).
Anti-spam strategies, (REALTOR® Magazine Online Exclusives, Aug. 2005).
NAR White Paper on Spam E-Mail, (National Association of REALTORS®, Apr. 2003) - Includes FAQs on what spam is, how individuals and firms can reduce spam, and a list of features to look for in antispam software.
CAN SPAM & The Do-Not-E-Mail Registry
Does your marketing comply? How the CAN-SPAM changes affect your company, (RISMedia, July 14, 2008).
CAN-SPAM for wireless devices now mandatory, (REALTOR® Magazine Daily Real Estate News, Mar. 29, 2005).
CAN-SPAM Webcast, (National Association of REALTORS®, Feb. 23, 2005).
The CAN-SPAM Act: Requirements for Commercial Emailers, (Federal Trade Commission, Apr. 2004).
Quiz: CAN-SPAM Act, (REALTOR Magazine, n.d.).
Useful Websites
Federal Trade Commission - Spam - The FTC's spam center includes tips for both consumers and marketers, information filing a complaint, FTC studies, and more.
E-Mail Preference Service (e-MPS) - This free service from the Direct Marketing Association will take your name off of their members' e-mail marketing lists for one year.
CAUCE - Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail - Global volunteer organization promoting ways to stop spam e-mail. Includes tips, FAQs, links to other online resources, etc.
Don't Send Spam
Spam checking tools and tips to avoid your newsletter being filtered, blacklisted or marked as spam, (www.masternewmedia.org, May 24, 2008).
Why you should avoid sending unwanted emails and spam, (Internet Marketing, 2007).
How to run an ethical bulk-mail operation, (www.rickconner.net, May 6, 2006).
Guerillas don't spam!, (www.gmarketing.com, 2005).
Me? A spammer?!, (REALTOR® Magazine, Aug. 2005).
The perils of spam; You don't want it, so don't send it, (REALTOR® Magazine Online Exclusives, Mar. 2002).
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Blocking Spam & Spyware for Dummies® (Adobe eReader)
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Effective Online Marketing
Field Guide to Do-Not-Call, Do-Not-Fax, and Do-Not-E-Mail Laws
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
