Okay Bill let's take a look at this and see why you consider it spam. First off, I do not see any links on this blog post to indicate some sort of spam. I do know that if I follow the link to the user profile that there is a link to their web site. The link to the web site of the user from their profile is not considered spam. The profile link is part of the service that ArtMetal offers to all of its members.

Now, if they had put hard coded links to their site on this blog post and put the advertising jargon you find on most spam, then I would have immediately deleted the blog post and suspended their membership. But the way it stands right now, they really have not violated any of the spam rules established by ArtMetal.

It will be interesting to hear what you and other members think about this subject. Is this really spam?

QuiQue,

It looks like spam to me, because the language is pretty much taken from the web site linked on the profile, the message is generic rather than directed to any one person or group of persons, and there's nothing personal about the message such as, "My name is Buford Heliotrope and I've developed some techniques for editing photos of shiny things to make them look more appealing and reveal detail better. I'm interested in learning how many of you here feel that thismight be a service you would pay for, or need, yada da yadada yada, etc." The biggest flag for me, though, is the use of the website name as the member's name. When you come to a social networking forum, you usually use your name or nickname, not your business name.

Yes, it conforms to the rules established, but it just smacks of spam to me.

Rich

Hi again!

Didn't know that my message would cause such negative response... The aim of it was to introduce myself and my occupation and I've read all the rules before registering.

Here's my version in short. I was reading different messages on this network and of course I'm interested in everything connected with my work profile so I was looking at the home pages mentioned in users' profiles. That's how I found the site that belongs to Bill Roberts. So I thought my service could be helpful for his business and wrote a letter to him (found the e-mail address mentioned in the contacts area on his site).

I think there is a big difference between "unsolicited mail sent in bulk" (c) wikipedia and a letter containing business offer. In case Bill Roberts doesn't want to receive any letters of such kind he should have stated it on his site.

Regarding my nickname. I guess it's my right to take any nickname I like and I've been using particularly this one for quite a long time on other resources. Moreover my name is stated in my profile and any other member can read it any time.

Warm regards,
Andrew

P.S. Thanks to webminster for standing up for my first message here! Glad to join this community and hoping that my other messages will cause only positive response :)

Jewelry is worth being beautiful!

Andrew,thank you for offering your service to us. I do appreciate your offer and can see the difference your service could make in my sales presentations. Art Metal is not where I attempt to market product. I use it to gain the prespective of others of my work. Here's a thought for you, because I know that any art related business is difficult to get started at best. People selling estate jewelry would be in need of your services. Everything from Rolex watches todiamond rings to Atocha treasure could benefit from your services. There are ways to reach the independents. E-mail me and I'll open a door for you. Thanks Brad

Hello Brad!

Thanks for your message! Wanted to contact you but didn't find any contact info in your profile. How can I find you?

Looking forward to an answer from you!

Regards,
Andrew

Andrew I sent you one. Brad

Andrew,

Now *that* message was the sort that I would have expected for the first post. That tells us a bit about you, the person, and doesn't just promote your business. To me, and I think to Bill, that would not have looked so much like spam. In marketing we all know that first impressions are crucial to getting in the door. Perhaps there is a good lesson in this.

All that aside, I don't come here to read ads, nor do I want them in my email. I come here for the free exchange of ideas with other artists/craftspeople. I don't come here to *sell* my ideas and abilities, I come to share them freely. That's *my* idea of what this forum is all about. Maybe I'm a radical, but that's the way I see it.

Rich

I agree with Rich on this one. The first thing that made me think it was spam was..........that I got the unsolicited email, trying to sell me something that I didn't want or need, IMO. Then saw it again.....here on Artmetal. Had the sound of an advertisement. Maybe if I hadn't gotten what I considered SPAM off list before seeing it on list........would have altered my first impression. BIG maybe.
Most folks with web sites get emails like this all the time. And must admit...most are for "optimizing" your site, so the search engines "find" you easier. This was the first that said they could make my images better. :) Being familiar with Photoshop and what's possible, and having looked at his site, I didn't see anything that I was interested in. With all due respect....the examples on the site ....show.....under exposed images and over exposed images. I find one version as bad as the other, IMO. IF he is representing the "over exposed"/"after" versions as the better images..........well I don't agree. I know....opinions are like Belly Buttons....everyone's got one. LOL
that's just my two cents......
Bill