_____ FEATURED ARTICLE _____________________


           Hail, the Mysterious Lunchmeat!


Did you know that by sometime next week, the 6 billionth can of 
SPAM will roll off the assembly line?

Seriously!

Not only this, but SPAM is also "celebrating its 65th birthday 
this year in grand fashion," says Hormel Foods.

And, if that doesn't tickle your fancy, try this on for size: 
Americans consume 3.6 cans of SPAM every second.  As a matter 
of fact, in the time it takes you to read this article, over 
1,000 cans of SPAM will have been opened (and presumably eaten).

But, SPAM isn't just an American meat, it has become a 
worldwide food selection.  After all, it doesn't have to be 
refrigerated, and it has an indefinite shelf life.

Think about it, what other luncheon meat is immortalized in 
song and sculpted into art, while being eaten for breakfast, 
lunch and dinner?  Yes, there are actual SPAM parties where 
guests sculpt with SPAM.  One such sculpting was a rendering of 
Stonehenge, modeled to scale.  Oh, and did I mention edible?

Certainly, by now, you are seeing the sarcasm in the tone of 
this article.  However, have you ever wondered how in the world 
the term "spam," defined as unsolicited commercial bulk email 
(UCE), came to be associated with the delectable pink meat SPAM?

By the way, Hormel Foods has trademarked SPAM, but does not 
object to the use of the slang term describing UCE as long as 
it is not associated with their product, and as long as all 
letters are not capitalized when referring to UCE spam.

While you'll find different versions of the origin of the term 
"spam" floating around, the generally accepted version is 
explained by Hormel Foods at their official SPAM.com website, 
"Use of the term "SPAM" was adopted as a result of the Monty 
Python skit in which a group of Vikings sang a chorus of 'SPAM, 
SPAM, SPAM...' in an increasing crescendo, drowning out other 
conversation."  You can view the entire SPAM sketch and 
explanation at this link:
http://www.homebusinessonline.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?p=228

The analogy?

Like the drowning effects of the Vikings' SPAM song, UCE spam 
drowns out healthy internet growth and legitimate marketing 
practices.  There cannot be business as usual.

Joyce Graff, Gartner vice president, told E-Commerce Times, 
"There is now 16 times as much spam on the Internet as there 
was just two years ago."

Spam isn't just an unwanted nuisance or annoyance to simply be 
deleted.  At least, not anymore it isn't.  No, it's become a 
real problem.  And, if you do any business online, spam is a 
topic in which you should take great interest.

There IS a price tag you must pay for too much spam.  But, this 
price tag has nothing to do with your ISP fees or bandwidth.

Indeed!


- PRICE TAG #1
  Loss of Time
  
  Spammers use software to scan websites looking for email 
  addresses to add to their lists.  There are tricks for hiding 
  email addresses from email harvesters on a website, but Dave 
  and I didn't feel they were very user-friendly.  Knowing the 
  consequences, we still chose to make our email addresses wide 
  open to our welcomed visitors...and, consequently, to 
  unwelcomed spammers.
  
  With dozens of email addresses on our websites, between Dave 
  and myself, we receive well over 1,000 spam email messages 
  each and every day.  Have you any idea how much time is 
  wasted day-in-and-day-out on wading through all those 
  unwanted messages?  How about the customers that don't get 
  answered right away as we take the time to sift the wheat 
  (customers and subscribers) from the tares (spammers)?

  Don't think our experience is unique.  There are many who 
  deal with thousands of spam email messages daily.  As you do 
  more business online, it's not a matter of IF this will 
  happen to you, it's a matter of WHEN.


- PRICE TAG #2
  Loss of Money

  While wading through the sea of spam, your time robbed 
  prevents you from doing more productive, money-making 
  activities, especially if you are a one-man/woman business.  
  As well, important emails missed or over-looked due to the 
  volume may be opportunities missed.

  Futhermore, if you are losing legitimate emails, you have to 
  ask yourself how many of your messages, newsletters, sales 
  offers to your customers are also being lost or overlooked 
  due to the volume they receive.  We're no longer competing 
  with spam messages in our customer's email boxes, we're being 
  squeezed right out.


- PRICE TAG #3
  Loss of Customers and Relationships

  We've had customers as well as people wanting to do joint 
  ventures tell us they had emailed, but I haven't seen their 
  emails.  I have to wonder how many of those might have been 
  inadvertently deleted with spam emails.  Quite likely.  If 
  you don't answer emails and, as a result, don't provide good 
  customer service, your customers and prospects will go 
  elsewhere.  I believe this tag has a particularly high price 
  on it since keeping a customer is much more valuable than 
  gaining another.


- PRICE TAG #4
  Loss of Legitimacy

  Obviously, you aren't taken seriously if you are already 
  paying the three prices listed above.  However, there is an 
  even greater, more global price tag that loss of legitimacy 
  carries.

  Spam is globally choking eCommerce!

  The internet, and especially email marketing, is getting a 
  black eye due to irresponsible, desperate spammers.  Not only 
  this, but consumers will hold back more and more on using the 
  internet as they see how easily their personal information 
  can fall into the wrong hands.  Privacy policies will 
  eventually mean nothing.  In fact, they may invoke suspicion. 
  You and I will lose our legitimacy if things continue at the 
  speed of spam.


So, what can we do about spam?  There are no easy answers.  
However, I would strongly suggest that you 1) become 
knowledgeable on the subject, up to date on spam issues, and 
2) participate in forums and discussions.

Putting our heads together is the only way to come to the best 
conclusions.  You will be amazed at what can come out of a 
mastermind group.

With this said and done, no, I won't be serving up SPAM for 
dinner this evening.

------
Join a mastermind group to discuss spam at 
http://www.homebusinessonline.com/community/forum/viewforum.php?f=14
------
About the Authors: 
Heidi and Dave Perry are successful entrepreneurs and 
founders of HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com.  
Receive free issues of their popular HomeBizBytes newsletter:
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb
-----
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in its 
entirety with the credits above.



_____ FACTS: STRANGER THAN FICTION _________


It's hard to believe people actually fall for these things; 
but they must since the same types of spam keep coming in 
droves.

Case in Point:
Since last week's issue of HomeBizBytes I received spam email 
for...

25 - Nigerian scam
67 - Sex/porn-related (not including viagra)
46 - Soliciting or encouraging spam

Then, of course, there are hundreds of other spam email 
messages for viagra or a knock-off, questionable business 
opportunities, outright scams, and every other product and 
service you could possibly imagine.

Poor Dave receives 3 x's as much spam as I receive!  Hard to 
believe, but true.



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