Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I think I made my 1st mistake when starting my new business.  Ever since I formed my LLC and registered with my state (NJ), I put my personal e-mail account on the form. WOW, now I`m getting slammed with tons of junk e-mail.  I have also started getting junk mail sent to my home. What a pain!  I guess I should have set up another acct. under my provider just for this reason.

I had the same thing happening with me when I started my soul
proprieter. I bought a paper shredder! I use the sheddings as
packing material. Of sourse not 100%. But a large majority is
junk mail.

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Been there, dealing with that, too.  I didn`t have a business number when I started my business because I was very small.  So, I registered for my business license using my home-phone...  BIG MISTAKE.  If the BBB calls me one more time, I`m going to have a meltdown.  Because they have it listed as a "business number", they can ignore the "do not call" requests.  I have had to get testy with several people and tell them this is my HOME PHONE and they better not call me anymore on it. 

I also have the junk mail issue, but, I find that easier to deal with than having to answer my phone 20 times a day. 

~Kim

ScrapBiz

The best thing for you to do is create an email address like customerservice@yourcomany.com and put a spam filter on it at the server level. So it can filter out only the e-mail that you want by entering the person`s address on your spam filter list. Or set a spam filter on  your outlook works good if you integrate Norton Internet Security and activate your spam filter.
This works good for me.. I get 560 spam emails a day but none go to my daily use email address . Then when I feel like going over the spam folder to assure it`s not a customer I hit the delete button. Try that out.

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

thanks for the advice Nuevolution!

I listed my email address in a forum post.

then I got spam once google indexed my email address.

Now whenever I post messages online, I use the format  

xxxxx[at]company.com  -

I figure if someone in a forum really wants to contact me they can figure out my email address. If they are not smart enough to figure out my email address, they wont waste my time since I wont hear from them.

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Laurie Champagne
CMO
Groove Rock Gear, Inc.
grooverockgear.com
grooverockmusic.com
grooverockradio.com



email: laurie[at]grooverockgear.com

rocknroll333
That`s a great idea ([at]) instead of (@).

I use a JavaScript on sites showing my email address because of spam. The script is not 100% effective, but I get very little junk email compared to others I know...

I think you`re right. If a person was serious about contacting you, they will take the necessary steps to find you. Of course I am not saying a 20-Step plan needs to be implemented. But just to hand type the email into the send area…. Why not make people do that, in order to avoid spam.

Another reason I like the idea is because I don’t use the application, which takes over when I click on an email link. For example, your email could say; “vincent wilcox" but be linked to vince[at]elusivetreasures.com. There have been some cases I had to open the application that automatically starts and copy & paste the email address to the email application I do use. By the way, does any one have an answer for this? (I am on a G4 Mac, OSX)

Anyway, great idea.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Dreamweaver has a plug in you can use to encrypt your email address so it appears like your real email address but robots cant grab the text. I use this only on real websites. When I`m posting blogs, its just easier to use the [at] technique.

To prevent the email application from opening (for me it usually opens Outlook) "copy" the Email address instead of `clicking` on the email address. Clicking the hyperlink activates the email program to open up in a new window. Using your mouse to highlight email address and use the copy and paste function.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

p.s. I am a finalist in the Win a Vacation Contest. Please vote for "Rocknroll333"

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Laurie Champagne
CMO
Groove Rock Gear, Inc.
grooverockgear.com
grooverockmusic.com
grooverockradio.com



email: laurie[at]grooverockgear.com

Hope you used a PO box for the mailing address.. if not wait until all the MC/Visa mailers start flowing.. then the supply catelogs.. oy vey..

There are some great ideas here! Thanks guys!