Definition of Spam

If you're a computer user then you have almost certainly heard about spam. Spam isn't just a canned meat product that has a questionable taste. When we talk about spam on the internet we are actually talking about unsolicited email. Spam simply means that people are receiving emails which they haven't actually asked for.

What is Spam For?

Spammers will often use these emails to try and sell something to you. Another common reason is to try and trick you into giving up some of your personal information.

As marketing tools they aren't actually very effective. A recent study came to the conclusion that a shocking 12.5 million spam emails need to be sent in order to make a single sale.

The reason spam isn't successful is for a number of reasons. Firstly, most people don't read these emails because they are so common. Another reason is because this form of email marketing isn't targeted. This means that most people aren't interested in whatever it is you are selling even if they do actually bother to read the email.

Why is Spam Still Used?

Internet marketers learned a long time ago that spam doesn't work so why is there still so much spam floating around on the internet? There are a number of reasons for this. The most common reason for spam is because of people trying to con you and steal your identity.

Types of Spam

When we talk about spam most people will only think about email spam; however spam can actually affect any type of electronic communication. Spam can be delivered through mobile phones, instant messaging and even in the form of blog comments.

The types of products advertised in spam can vary between drugs, sex pills, porn or anything that people are trying to sell. Spam is a major problem because it makes up around 80% of the total volume of email sent.

Problems With Spam

Spam is more than just a nuisance because it is also making these electronic communication platforms much less valuable than they would otherwise be. Thanks to spam, it's very common that people miss reading important emails.

Everyone is aware of spam and has a spam blocker. This could prevent anyone from reading many of their emails because they get marked as spam accidentally.

Be Careful with Spam

Chances are if you have an email account you already receive more than your fair share of spam messages. When you do receive spam, the important thing is to make sure that you don't click on any of the links. Also, never purchase the products; even if you actually want these products and the offer is genuine you are still supporting spam.

Spam is the curse of the internet and it's high time we banished it forever. Make sure that spam never works for these criminals and then you will be able to improve the health of everyone's inbox.

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86% of email addresses posted on websites are used by spammers to send unsolicited emails?

63% of all "Remove me from your list" requests are not honored.

Spam accounted for 80% of all e-mail received in 2004, up from 62% in 2003