The following is a Plus Edition article and is available only to subscribers to the Plus Edition of this newsletter. Go to http://www.eogn.com/plus to learn more about the Plus Edition.
NOTE: Many online companies do not want you to read this article. This article describes a simple method of avoiding most of their advertising e-mail messages.
Several of the "big name" genealogy sites, along with thousands of other web sites, like to send e-mail to you. The "offending sites" include Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, CompUSA.com, Travelocity, and several of the larger and smaller genealogy sites. Perhaps you look at one thing on their site or purchase an item from their online e-store. Along the way, you had to give them your e-mail address. You know the rest: you receive frequent advertising e-mail messages from them for several years.
Disclaimer: This newsletter's site at www.eogn.com does NOT send advertising messages.
Technically, these messages are not spam mail. According to the generally accepted "rules of engagement" for sending bulk mail, companies are allowed to send advertising messages to individuals with whom they have a relationship. The term "relationship" is a bit vague, but most interpret it to mean that it is legitimate to send advertising e-mails to present and former customers or even to anyone who has ever inquired about a company's services.
Legitimate or not, the flood of such messages in one's inbox can be offensive. It is common to check e-mail and find five, ten, or even more messages from companies that you recognize, all trying to persuade you to buy something from "this week's unbelievable specials." Whether that constitutes spam mail or not, it is intrusive and usually unwanted.
The problem arises when you purchase something or want to use an online service. Typically, you must enter your e-mail address. Then the company sends you a receipt via e-mail or sends a password to your e-mail address to verify that it is a legitimate address. The problem is that these companies save those e-mail addresses and then send all sorts of advertising messages to each address, time and time again.
The remainder of this article is available to Plus Edition subscribers. For more information about the Plus Edition of this newsletter, look at http://www.eogn.com/plus.
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