Am I doing this correctly??

have theese people signed up for a mailing list concerning your forum.

Its if you allow them to unsubscribe its not spam.

um well i just send them this ...

Hi my name is Ben and I started a forum just for YOOPERS like you and me ... I dont have very many members and any people I can get posting in my forum would be fun. sorry to bother you with this message just thought you would be interested.. if you are go to http://www.yooperforums.funurl.com

Thanks
Ben Lewis
Yooper Forums

where did you get the email addys

Hmmm, it's a fine line! Basically this is spam unfortunately, if the person didn't ask for it then it's unsolicited ergo spam.

Sorry Ben, I know you're only trying to get that forum off the ground but there are better ways. Also I'm intrigued... How did you get those e-mail addresses?

well uh... many places
1. forums anyone with a listed email that were from the specified area, Michigan
2. guestbooks on local websites

Oooh, so you harvested peoples e-mails without their consent. That's pretty bad, in fact aren't there laws about doing that sort of thing these days?

You shouldn't do that at all. If people are interested in a forum like yours, they will more than likely search, and they will find you. Just be patient.

Perhaps finding an actual host (not a free forum host) and coding up a site would appeal more, because the forum you have just looks horrible...

read this --------------
FROM http://www.spamlaws.com/state/mi.shtml
MICHIGAN COMPILED LAWS
Chapter 445. Trade and Commerce

UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL PROTECTION ACT
(added by 2003 Mich. Pub. Act 42 (H.B. 4519), effective September 1, 2003)

§ 445.2501. Short title

Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "unsolicited commercial e-mail protection act".

§ 445.2502. Definitions

Sec. 2. As used in this act:

(a) "Commercial e-mail" means an electronic message, file, data, or other information promoting the sale, lease, or exchange of goods, services, real property, or any other thing of value that is transmitted between 2 or more computers, computer networks, or electronic terminals or within a computer network.

Commercial im not considered Commercial

Okay, well, so maybe it's not illegal, but the people that receive this email are probably going to get a little ticked off with the spamming and avoid your forum altogether. Just a little tip: don't go after them, let them come to you.

IF this is the correct definition for SPAM

Definitions of Spam on the Web:
[][=-1]

[/]

[/]Definitions of unsolicited on the Web:
[][=-1]

[/]

THEN this is also SPAM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: sharon nelson <[email=sharon81_2003@yahoo.com]sharon81_2003@yahoo.com[/email]>
Subject: Hi ben
To: [email=bennielewis@gmail.com]bennielewis@gmail.com[/email]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0-1429520590-1125789367=:56002"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
--0-1429520590-1125789367=:56002
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Hi,
Hey ben just thought I would say hello..

And I'm thinking of you..

Love
Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--0-1429520590-1125789367=:56002

[/]

Yes, I agree, it is. But your email is the annoying kind of spam.

that is an email from my wife so its spam right ??

I didn't request it!

so why do we list email addresses anywhere if people can't "harvest" them and send a friendly letter .. i could see if i were selling something but i'm not!

mscreashuns

10 people joined my forum the emails! so far !!

Yes, I just said that could also be considered spam, and so could the packaged meat in a can, but this is different. You are collecting people's email addresses off the internet and emailing them. That is not right, and all I'm saying is you are going to turn a lot more people away that way than you are going to draw in.

No, you aren't supposed to email them at all!

ok mscreashuns that is no help at all

so your not allowed to send someone email anymore is that it?

I think you are just taking everything the wrong way. I was just saying that instead of emailing people and inviting them to your forum, let them come to you. And I was also saying that making your site more appealing may draw more people in, instead of the unwanted email technique.

Thanks for the help. I will try some different methods.

Lol! Lol!

Quote: that is an email from my wife so its spam right ??

Nope an email from your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/ would be exempt because of "prior arrangement" or "existing relationship"

Hmm! I too have had emails inviting me to look at forums, Mostly they get deleted without a second thought. Occasionally I do join the forum and make one post, Berating the person who's stupid idea it was to spam me!!!!

Forums need useful members who join through being interested, to get off the ground. a few random signups by people who read spam emails are definitely not what you need initially.

grrrr

I would say ignore these people, sending a friendly e-mail to people won't get you thrown in jail, especially as you are not selling anything. Don't get caught up into the politics, it's not like you're selling viagra to millions of e-mail accounts times infinitum for god sake..

The forum doesn't look bad, i like the blues in fact. If you could have an introduction message on it that would be great. Why don't you do a sydnicated news page for Michigan?

-Rob

Technicly its spam but no oene is going to care its only one personalised email and your not selling the emails