Do You Know Whats in Your Trash?

A hearty welcome to all the spam fighting filters and programs created to rescue us from the deluge of unwanted e-mail! There is practically a "solution" for everything. But as with most online "solutions" filters and programs are only tools that users need to make some effort to use properly to reap the benefits.

You have to learn how to use these programs to your advantage or you can experience the unexpected downside. How can there be a downside when we're talking less spam you say? Unfortunately, all too often legitimate and expected e-mails are being eaten by filters and are ending up in the trash!

Twice this week I received terse e-mails from new clients awaiting my response on certain issues. Because they were new to working with me, they didn't know that I usually respond within an hour to most e-mail. My responses were not returned as "undeliverable" so what happened? Where are they? In both instances I called my clients only to find my messages had inadvertently landed in their junk or trash folder because of their ISP's filtering systems.

When communicating with clients and in my day-to-day communications, I do not go to extremes to alter certain words that may trip filters in my day to day communications. With folks I know, that shouldn't be an issue because they are supposedly expecting my e-mail. In addition, I always instruct new clients and subscribers to add me to their address book, approved or white list.

Plus as I am sure you'll agree, you've seen all those funky ways of spelling certain words with characters or spaces that are unnatural. I believe they ruin the flow of your message because the reader can't help but take pause to notice.

Before you send off a terse e-mail complaining or assuming no response, be sure you have covered the following:

1) When you know you will be communicating with a specific person on a regular basis, make sure you add them to your approved list or address book as soon as possible. Many onliners now use Web based e-mail such as Yahoo! and MSN that allow them to control who they receive e-mail from. Just as the majority of ISPs now give you the ability to filter e-mail based on level of spamminess or by adding e-mail addresses to your list so they can get through. Be sure to use these tools to avoid trashing wanted e-mail.

2) Same goes for Web sites or eZines you sign up for. Add their dot com to your list as soon as you sign up. Most legitimate eZines use a double-opt in subscription process that requires you respond or click on a link within an e-mail from them before you get formally added to their list. If you don't get that e-mail to respond to it-you will not be added.

3) Before you empty your trash or junk folder-go through the trash! Take a quick peak and look at the Sender: and Subject: fields to see if names are familiar or for a topic that is expected. Otherwise you risk wanted e-mail going out with the trash!

Three simple little steps can help ensure the e-mail you do want lands in your inbox. The e-mail you are waiting for may have already arrived!

About the Author:
Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored Technology Muse who has played @ http://www.TheIStudio.com for over a decade. Check out her popular Software, Programming and Web Design Cheat Sheets @ http://www.LearnAndThrive.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Spammer in the Slammer: Jeremy Jaynes Sentenced to Nine Years

Will other spammers take heed? Don't count on it.Jeremy Jaynes... Read More

Fight Spam and Fortify Your Web Site with RSS

RSS is the answer to the Spam epidemic of the... Read More

Invasion of the Email Snatchers

They're sneaky. And stealthy. They're quiet and mostly unobtrusive, but... Read More

Pst... Pass It On... I Found Out Its a Hoax

When you receive an email telling you about a virus,... Read More

Is Spam Affecting Your Business Email?

5 Ways Spam Is Affecting Your Business And what we... Read More

Wiki Reek-y Havoc

The Vandals are coming! And this time they're after your... Read More

Dont Look Spammy!

We all hate spam and get way too much of... Read More

Im Guilty Until Proven Innocent

No doubt about it."Spam" (unsolicited commercial email) threatens to paralyze... Read More

What SPAM Means: Stupid People Annoying Me

English, German, Italian - It's All SPAM To MeHas anyone... Read More

How Spammers Fool Bayesian Filters - And How to Stop Them

Effectively stopping spam over the long-term requires much more than... Read More

All About Spam

Spam is annoying. Period. Why people would want to send... Read More

Is There A National Do Not Spam List?

You may have already received a do not spam list... Read More

Protecting Yourself With A Porn Filter

The harmful affects of pornography use and addiction are well... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: Outsourcing

It's no secret that the US economy has slowed down,... Read More

Corporate Email Policies Lower Unnecessary Legal and Security Risks

What comes to your mind when you think about your... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: Information Overload

We receive so much information on the Internet, especially via... Read More

20 Words That Kill - At Least When It Comes to Spam Filters

Spam, spam, spam. It's terrible not only for those of... Read More

What Exactly is Spam?

Spam, as defined in the context of computers, the Internet... Read More

Is Your Website Blacklisted?

A blacklist, as the name implies, is a list of... Read More

Spam The Spammer - Will It Work?

Spam is everywhere. It's the "in-box lunch meat" nobody likes,... Read More

Spammer Stole My Email Address?

Do you get bounced, or rejected emails sent by someone... Read More

How to Write a Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy can be defined as the policy under... Read More

Evict the Spammers from Your Inbox

Block Spam and Other Email Threats From Entering Your Gateway... Read More

Three Faces of SPAM

Like everybody who will ever read this, I get spam... Read More

How To Identify Spam

Most of us have opened our email program and found,... Read More

The Trouble With Spam Is....

Each day we all face the same challenge. Spam. It... Read More

Spamicide: Man Spammed to Death While Checking His E-mail

Death by spam is now possible with a new device... Read More

What Is Spam?

If you've been around the interenet any length of time... Read More

Spam Filters Explained

What do they do? How do they work? Which one... Read More

How Can I Stop Getting Spam?

Are you getting too much spam? We all are, but... Read More

Kill The Messenger (Service)

You are familiar with the software applications that you run... Read More

What To Do When You Get Spam

When you go to your mailbox and find pieces of... Read More

How You Can Avoid The New Dangers Of Spam

Until recently, spam has been an annoyance, a definite load... Read More