Alpine Internet Solutions: Targeted Email Marketing

What is targeted email marketing?

Targeted email marketing is also known as permission-based email marketing, or opt-in email marketing. The key concept here is permission, which breaks down into two categories, implied and expressed. Implied permission means that somewhere along the line, a customer or visitor contacted you in a manner that suggests they may be interested in receiving your email newsletter. This could have taken the form of a pre-checked consent box on a web form, placing an online order with your business, or contacting you via email for additional information.

Expressed permission means that a visitor has clearly and unambiguously told you that they wish to receive your newsletter. This could be as high tech as a specific newsletter sign-up form on your website, or as low-tech as a sheet of paper on your reception desk that says, “I wish to join your email list.” Whether you are dealing with an expressed or implied audience, permissions-based emailing can go a long way in helping you communicate with your constituents.

Spam.  Why is unwanted email called Spam?

Unfortunately for  Hormel Foods, maker of the canned food product SPAM "Spiced Ham" luncheon meat, the term "spam" has today come to mean unwanted or junk email.

Most people agree that it came from the spam skit by Monty Python's Flying Circus. "Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, lovely spam! Wonderful spam!" is repeated over and over, it gets quite obnoxious, just like unwanted email.