ISPs Block Some Legitimate Email
from the how-do-they-judge? dept
A new study sponsored by those who say they're in the "legitimate" opt-in email marketing business have found that, in their effort to stop spam, most ISPs block many legitimate marketing emails. In fact, 17% of all "permission based" emails were blocked. While I don't doubt that ISPs are blocking legitimate messages, I'd like to see more details on this study. How did they determine what was a "legitimate" message. Were they "double opt-in"? Or were they just from a list where the company claimed it was opt-in? The real question isn't how many marketing messages didn't get through, but how many people were upset that they missed certain messages. If people don't even notice they got blocked and aren't upset that they missed the messages, is it really that big of a deal? I'm against systems that are overly aggressive in blocking emails, but I'm also skeptical of email marketing companies coming out with studies against spam filters.
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Lost Opportunities
Suppose I discover a new online store that I like, and I sign up for their mailing list. A few days later, I've forgotten all about it. If I receive an e-mail from them, that's great and maybe I'll find out about a new product I'm interested in. If not, it probably won't occur to me that I've missed anything at all. In this case, a blocked message severely impacts the marketer (they don't make a sale), and it moderately impacts the consumer (they don't find out about a product they would have liked to get). It's a net negative, but it doesn't rise to the level of "I'm really angry that this e-mail was blocked."
This kind of missed opportunity can be devastating to a small business. It can also seriously affect non-profit groups that rely on opt-in newsletters to get their message out and attract donors.
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Re: Lost Opportunities
Perhaps a better test would be some sort of combination. That is, show the recipient all the "legitimate" email that was blocked and then ask them if they would have liked to have received this missed email.
Does that work?
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Re: Lost Opportunities
As in most things tech, it depends on how it was implemented.
This would be the same has having the "junk mail" folder in hotmail. Ie: Sure, my inbox isn't flooded with spam, BUT, I still have to wade through hundreds of spam just to see IF there's something in there I WANT to get.
The end result is the same...
However, this IS better than just a plain ol' inbox flooded with spam mind you.
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My ISP blocked stuff I wanted.
I have at least two friends that have spam blockers set up on their accounts and I can't send e-mail to them. And they say this happens to them all the time. Most of their friends can't get through. But they have no spam. Why have e-mail if you restrict it so much that your friends can't get a e-mail to you.
I say get over spam, delete it and go on. If you are a business person you have to get your e-mail address out there and you have to be able to look at all your mail. What if one good business account sends you e-mail that is blocked out and you miss a business deal. Not worth it for me.
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Re: My ISP blocked stuff I wanted.
Still, if you run a business over email and don't discuss potential spam blocking with your ISP, that's not smart.
Just don't tell me to "get over spam." I'm all in favor of you having whatever spam blocking you want on your account. Why should you care what spam blocking I have on mine? As I said, everybody should be able to have the spam blocking they want.
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how not to block legitimate email
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spam filtering by ISPs
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