Welcome

Is it just me, or do you get an obscene amount of spam these days? I'm talking about digital spam (emails, direct messages and texts). It can't be just me! I'm getting unsolicited spam in my email, in my Twitter stream, in my Facebook profile and pages, in my LinkedIn account, even on my cell phone by way of text messages. It's everywhere! I'm getting signed-up and opted-in to everything I come into contact with directly or indirectly. With so much unwaranted, unsolicited and unasked for marketing messages, sale inquiries and junk hitting me every day, it makes me want to jump off the "grid" altogether.

Being in the recruiting industry, I've found that in order to be successful, you have to be open. This means dropping pieces of your digital identity everywhere you go online. My details are now everywhere. You can find my work and cell phone numbers, as well as personal and work emails in social and business network profiles, job postings, user groups, associations and countless other sites. In my experience, you need to find creative ways to attract talent and bring them to you. This means being open and sharing ways to reach out to you directly. Now while this has really helped my recruiting game over the past several years, it has also opened the flood gates for anyone and everyone to reach me. The reality is hundreds pieces of unsolicited spam find me every day. 

Quick disclaimer: I admit that I've been guilty of sending a piece or two of unsolicited email in the past. Who hasn't? I bring this topic up because it has reached an unprecedented level. A great deal of individuals and companies have taken it upon themselves to "opt" anyone within their reach into their messages whether they want it or not.

Here are three specific examples of how we live in the "Opt-In Age" and why we have no choice:  

1. Connections on social and business networks. Belong to a few? I bet you do. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are among the most popular for business or personal use today. These networks are by far and away the best places to grab contact information on you. This is the #1 place I've witnessed spam originating from. Why? Because it's so easy. If you leave your email address on any online profile, know that anyone can simply grab it and add you to their marketing list. It's unfortunate but it happens. I've noticed many LinkedIn members have become very opportunistic, with some putting "fine print" in their profiles. They state that if you connect with them, you are subject to "updates" from them. Updates? Huh? When you become 1st degree connections with another LinkedIn member, they can see your contact information, including your email addresses. Take a look at Chris Shoulet's profile on LinkedIn and see what I mean. Also, don't get me started on the rash of @ and direct message spam flowing on Twitter. 

2. Companies you use products or services from currently. I'm currently a paying customer using products and services from several companies. You would think this would be enough for them, but it isn't. I get bombarded with newsletters, special offers, promotions and much more. I NEVER asked for it, but I've sure been getting it. I have purchased products or used services from Monster, Hilton Hotels, LinkedIn, Network Solutions, Sodexo, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes in 2009 to name a few recognizable companies. I was careful not to sign-up for any lists or give my consent to receive spam messages from these companies. Yet the unsolicited email marketing and messages were delivered to me anyway. Just know that if you use a product or service from any company, expect to be added to their supposed "opt-in" email lists whether you really did or not. It only gets worse if you are no longer a client. You will receive double the messages you did before to "come back."

3. Free items, Product Demonstrations and Beta Invites. You exchange your email address to receive a whitepaper or eBook on a hot or timely topic. You demo a new product or service online with any company. You sign-up to receive a beta invite for a new product or service online. In any of those cases, congratulations you're now on a list. Good luck getting off it. Why? Because nothing is really free. I'm sure you know that by know. There is a cost associated with everything. When an individual or company gives away content, products or services for free, the thinking is that a percentage of those people will upgrade to a paid product or service at some point. That's why you get hammered with spam from them, even if you try opting-out. Also note that if you sign-up for free webinars online, expect to get blitzed with unsolicited emails monthly.

Now I know you may be thinking I'm being very negative. These are some of my experiences (not all), but a sampling to give you an idea of my frustrations. So how do we fight back. Get a product like Postini which helps clear out spam, try Norton email products and cross your fingers. Make sure not to check the box that states you are opting-in for company messages, special promotions or newsletters next time you check out somewhere online, and also be careful to guard your privacy on online sites. Facebook for example recently put new measures into place for privacy control with your pages. But, no matter what you do, my experience has showed that most of this doesn't matter. Individuals and companies will either ignore your requests to opt-out, or just scale back what they send you, thinking you'll simply forget in a few weeks. As much as you try to limit the amount of spam you receive, more will continue to come your way as long as you leave a trail of information about yourself online, as I do.

UPDATE: (Repeat Offenders List):
Here is a list that I will update frequently to reflect those companies that LOVE to SPAM! Since there is no way for me to get off their lists, there is no way to get off of mine! 

Expedia, Amazon.com, FedEx, Jobserve, Eventbrite, Network Solutions.

[ This post entitled Welcome to the Opt-In Age (You have no Choice) originated by the blog of recruiting leader and sourcing consultant Geoff Peterson. ]