When is it Spam?
Angela A. posted an article, "I got my first ping spam today!" and, upon reading it, I had to leave the following comment:
OK, when I finally get around to releasing some music for sale on the internet, where would be the proper place to tell my Gather friends about it? I find it hard to consider it spam if I make one post about my song (and a link to where to hear/buy it), and put it in some groups. If, on the other hand, I constantly pinged, e-mailed, or posted on Gather Broadcast the same 5 bulletins every day, like some bands on MySpace do with their bulletins on that site, that would be spam, for sure. What are your thoughts? (I think I will post this)
So, would it be spam if I made a posting about a song I produced, with a link to the site where it can be bought? Would it be spam to put a message about this post on Gather Broadcasting. I don't mean to be argumentative, here, I just want input.
It is terribly irritating when I see the same 5 posts over and over again from some of the bands I have friended up with on MySpace. There are two or three bands on MySpace that do this to me, and I wish they would quit. But some of the other bands will post one message, two or three times, about a gig they are going to play or a CD they just released. This I don't mind, at all, but then again, I am interested in helping promote the local music scene. If any small time business person wants to send me a message about their services, I feel they have the right to do so.
It's when they keep sending the message over and over again that leads me to call it spam. If I didn't bite the first time, I am probably not interested, so quit bothering me.
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Comments: 36
I agree that a constant barrage of email from the same individual would be annoying. You can block individuals using your mail controls.
IT is not considered spam that type of posting where you posting any link were you profit is a violation of gATHERS tERMS OF sERVICE/TOS AND WILL GET YOUR ARTICLE FLAGGED AND IF YOU DO IT REPEATEDLY YOU WILL BE PERMANETLY BANNED from Gather.
But what you can do is write an informative articlke telling about your music and that you are excited aboutthis telll the song titles provide a sample of music , link to a song and tell people in that informative article that i=f they are interested to please email you and then you can discuss it in private which is not a violation of the TOS
As per gather staff when i ASKED THOSE EMAILS FROM THE BROADCASTING GROUP ARE NOT CONSIDERED SPAM BECAUSE YOU SIGNED UP INTO THAT GROUP. lIKE WISE IF ONE OF YOUR FRIEND CONNECTIONS IS ALWAYS SENDING YOU EMAILS ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT SOMETHING 5 -10 TIMES THAT TOO IS NOT CONSIDERED SPAM BY GATHER STAFF. 9 I am not yelling my key cap gets stuck and I have to vacumm it like I just did, but I was not going back and retype my comments above.) If you do report them as spam to gATHER STAFF THEY EMAIL YOU PRIVATELY AND TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT i HAVE JUST SAID.
Like if I followed the link to a site, where the person would gain money from me going there.
And, sending any information to a person, without them requesting it first, is spam.
That ping, the person sent me was without my permission, and therefore spam.
But, if you say, posted an article about your music, and sent me a message, asking me to view it, through a group, that is not spam.
But, if you put a link in your post, and it leads to a website to purchase said music, that's against TOS.
Just talking about your music is fine. And, putting a link to that music, without asking for payment, I believe would be okay.
Is the message/post self-promotional or commercial in nature?
Does it direct you to another website outside of Gather?
Is it solicitous in nature?
Is the post/article educational or entertaining beyond the scope of being promotional?
The above questions should all be taken into consideration when determining if content or messages on Gather are spam.
The answer is yes, and members could legitimately report your posting. However, as April mentioned above, if you included background information about the song, lyrics or other relevant text or images in addition to your link and 'promotional verbiage', then you will likely be OK.
Anyway, having interested parties e-mail me for a link sounds like the safest way to go.
Linking to content you have on Gather does not violate the Terms of Service. You could upload a snippit of your music to Gather as an audio or video file and include a link to a website where you can purchase or hear more. Per the Terms of Service, this is allowed.
Someone just like you posted a music video that he did and no one saw it. He posted it to my group and I loved it and accepted it in my group. A month or so later I saw it again and only a few people had seen it. I thought more should see it because it was wonderful (my opinion) so I told all my friends via email and also joined Gather Broadcasting and ask people to look at it. Thousands didn’t run to see him but a good number did.
He had the web site on his post but he was not “selling” his song as much as he was telling us about it. It also was not JUST a video of him singing, but a work of art.
You can see what I mean if you
click here
Good luck.
It is also spam if it comes in a can with a key.
I agree that it's reasonable to make people aware of your product and find approriate place to launch your message.
--Joe B.
http://www.squidoo.com/book-isbn-1419650513
I have had similar experiences. It's some kind of salesman testosterone, where they think they can sell anyone anything.
Spam. Slice it thinly
and paste it to the
windows. The room glows pinkly.
Have a wonderful, magical day...
Angel
And you too Bob!
But you better get that recording done!!!
Don't make me come out to Carolina
(BTW, I do have connections there)
and have to go all executive producer on you!
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 7,400 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
And as well Merry Christmas... and Happy Holidays... :o)