Ecommerce can be best described as a
marketplace on the internet, which comprises distributing, marketing, buying,
selling, and servicing of products or services through electronic systems such
as internet or other computer networks. It can be also viewed as an electronic
business application targeted at commercial transactions involving electronic
funds transfer, e-marketing, supply chain management, online marketing, online
transaction processing, automated inventory management, electronic data
interchange, and automated data collection systems.
Ecommerce is indeed the most efficient and
convenient mode of transactions nowadays, but this business needs strict
compliance with laws and related legalities, particularly dealing with
marketing, because you are dealing with others’ money.
If you in the ecommerce business, then strictly
avoid fraudulent promotions, otherwise you could be charged for spamming under the
new CAN-SPAM Act, which was signed by President George W. Bush on December 16;
the Act is a federal initiative designed to regulate the most harmful and
annoying practices of spammers. Violation of the Act can result in the
following consequences:
Therefore honestly promote a legitimate
business to sell real and valuable products or services.
Operate
a legitimate business
Do not use falsifying headers to force your
way into peoples’ inboxes. Avoid using deceptive subject lines, hijacking other
peoples' e-mail accounts or computers to send spam, creating e-mail or IP
addresses specifically to send spam, and sending unsolicited e-mail with sexual
content and emails to people who have requested to be removed from your list.
These are malicious ways of forcing messages into the inboxes of people who
don't want them, which are not only annoying but are illegal and unprofitable.
Plan
responsible e-mail promotions
Always obtain permission from the target
users before sending them emails. A user must never get a mail that he is not
expecting. Avoid buying or renting email lists as they do not promise validity
and at times you end up paying for the addresses that are invalid. If you buy
email lists, find out how those addresses were collected. If people in your
purchased list have not agreed to receive email related to promotion or advertisements,
you might land into the troubled waters.
Be very careful while choosing a subject line;
it should be self-explanatory about the content within the email. Mention the
real return address and place a functional ‘unsubscribe’ link in all the emails.
If you have an exhaustive list of emails you will have to seek professional
help to install an ASP or any other suitable program to manage ‘opt-ins’ and ‘unsubscribe’
requests. You must send commercial or promotional emails/ newsletters through you’re
your company’s official email address.
Finally, stay educated about e-mail
marketing and spam laws. Laws and their definitions are changing; therefore
obtain regular updates on the related laws.
William King is the
director of <a href=http://www.wholesalepages.co.uk> UK Wholesale Suppliers
& UK Dropshippers Products Supplies Directory</a>, <a
href=http://www.australiawholesalers.com> Australia Wholesale &
Australian Wholesalers Suppliers Directory
</a>, <a href=http://www.aidandtrade.com> Wholesale Dropshipping & Dropshippers
Products Supplies Directory </a> and <a href=http://www.dailytrader.com> Wholesale
Dropshipping & Wholesalers Suppliers Trade Products Directory </a>.
He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has
been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion,
marketing and supply chain requirements.