What is spam and 7 tips on how to stay away from or get rid of itby Team AllYourVideogames | Dec 18, 2022 | Content Marketing |
Have you ever received a message in email or on any social network that you didn't ask for? Everyone has gone through this at some point. So we're going to tell you all about what is spam.
This type of practice is very common and has been evolving more and more, always with the aim of excessively impacting a customer, deceiving or taking advantage.
There are several types: from the most innocent to the criminals. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful and know how to identify what is spam and what is not.
And if you send unsolicited messages to your customers or potential audience, read this post too to find out if you're not one of the spammers, the spammer!
WHAT IS SPAM AND WHAT IS IT FOR?
Basically, spam is unsolicited bulk messages that you receive in any electronic communication medium.
They're best known for those emails you get in your inbox, but you haven't even authorized or signed up to receive them.
But spam can also be sent by other means, such as:
- Social networks;
- SMS;
- in blogs;
- Internet forums and groups.
There are many versions about the origin and meaning of the word spam. It can be, for example, the acronym in English of the term “Sending and Posting Advertisement in Mass”, which translated into Portuguese is “Send and Post Publicity in Mass”.
However, the most popular version and also the one accepted by RFC 2635 (a set of norms and rules that describe internet usage patterns) has nothing to do with technology, internet or email.
The term came from the American brand SPAM, a canned pork that you may have even seen in a market. But what does this have to do with sending unwanted messages?
In the 1970s, a British sitcom called Monty Python did a board in a cafe where the waitress described the menu items and everyone had SPAM among the ingredients.
The constant repetition of the name of the corned beef irritated the customer, as she did not want to eat a dish with SPAM. Then the other coffee drinkers, who were Vikings, began to sing.
I believe that watching the scene will make more sense to understand why a brand of corned beef is associated with mass messages that were not asked for:
Several discussions about this “misbehavior” started and some members of these forums remembered this Monty Python scene and that's when the term spam became popular on the internet.
WHAT IS SPAM: TYPES
Anyone who thinks that only promotional and advertising emails are considered spam is wrong. Good if it were, because there are several types. So stay tuned and get to know them below:
PROPAGANDA
This is the most common and oldest type of spam as well. These are emails offering a product or service for which you have not signed up to receive.
Generally, this type of spam can lead to excessive advertising, miracle products, opportunities that are too good to be true, and even illegal stuff.
CHAINS
Ah, only those who lived through the beginnings of the internet know what it's like to receive that chain by email from your aunt and that, if you didn't pass it on to 10 people within 24 hours, something bad would happen.
And "woe" to you if you didn't share, for it would break the chain.
Yes, this is also considered spam. Nowadays, they are more common on social networks, such as WhatsApp, for example.
RUMORS
Yes, rumors spread across the internet are also spam. This type of message is often appealing and alarming to share immediately.
The most well-known type today is fake news, constantly shared on WhatsApp and Facebook.
OFFENSIVE
This type of spam aims to spread violent and aggressive content.
They are messages of racism, which make apology for violence against minorities, xenophobia, baseless denunciations and against specific people and who defend extremist ideologies.
HITS
Scams come in many forms. They are usually spams that promise cures or miraculous earning opportunities, ease of borrowing, chance to earn easy money and without leaving home.
There are also those messages sent by foreigners, commonly with errors in Portuguese, that promise to transfer a large amount of money, as long as the recipient pays a fee.
The same goes for job scams that demand a fee or a course payment in exchange for a guaranteed spot.
STOLIONATE
More common than you might think, swindling spams are messages that trick you into entering a website and typing in important data.
They are those emails or SMS sent, supposedly, by the bank that asks you to enter a link to update the token, or some confidential data.
Or even messages sent via direct promising the Instagram or Facebook verification seal, but which serve to steal an account.
VIRUS
They work in a similar way to embezzlement, but the objective is to install a program on your computer or cell phone to steal, corrupt or delete your data and files.
WHAT IS SPAM: SECURITY TIPS
Now you know what spam is and you probably want to know how to avoid it. We have to say that unfortunately there is no way to get rid of it forever.
But the good news is that there are ways to lessen the damage they can cause. So, here are some safety tips:
- Be wary of all electronic messages you receive containing forwarded information, links or unmissable offers;
- Do not pass on or share publications with information with dubious origin, always research before and seek more veracity data;
- All social networks have privacy settings for you to hide information such as your email and phone number. Check this and enable;
- Don't reply to spam, even if it's to curse the sender. By doing so, you will confirm that your email address or phone number is active;
- Most e-mail servers have a spam or junk e-mail folder, mark the message as spam so that you do not receive this type of e-mail in your inbox anymore;
- The same is true of social networks. They all have a spam report feature and you can also block the sender;
- Keep your device always protected with a good antivirus;
- When registering on sites, read the Privacy Policy, usually located in the footer. We know that most people don't do that, but that's where you tell them what they can and can't do with their data.
Learn More: Inbound Marketing – Content Marketing: The Currency of the XNUMXst Century
WHAT IS SPAM: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE TO EMAIL MARKETING?
A lot of people confuse what is spam with email marketing. Yes, the two aim to make a disclosure to many people.
The difference is that in email marketing there is the authorization of the recipient. An example of this is the registration field that we have here on the blog so that you can e-mail us with news.
Another difference is that, according to the best practices of sending email marketing, the message must have a link or instructions on how to unsubscribe.
To learn more about email marketing, click and read our article.
WHAT IS SPAM: HOW TO AVOID IT?
If you have a business, it is important to think about the possibility of using email as one of your digital marketing strategies.
For that, you need some essential tips to avoid this practice and not be considered one of the spammers by users:
1. Do not make misleading advertisements or false promises;
2. Don't buy mailing lists or phone numbers;
3. In emails and posts, do not use flashy titles that create a false expectation, the so-called “click baits” (something like clickbait);
4. Provide valuable and useful content for those who sign up for your email list, WhatsApp or follow your profile;
5. From time to time, clean up your mailing lists;
6. Do not send messages in any means of communication to people who did not request or authorize receipt. When in doubt, ask if she wants to receive;
7. Always provide an unsubscribe option.
Well, now that you know what spam is and that you shouldn't send an unsolicited message electronically, we've separated some tips on how to create a successful email list.
