You might not know that the term SPAM developed from a 1970 Monte Python sketch where the characters are trying to order breakfast from a menu that contains SPAM in every dish. The characters repeatedly sing “SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM” to mock the notion of pushing spam on everyone whether you want it or not.

We are all familiar with email spam and junk mail spam that we deal with on a daily basis. But I think the category is much broader than that.

Throw in tv ads, radio commercials, billboards, direct mail… the list goes on.

Why?

Here’s a new definition:

SPAM = marketing without permission

Anytime you don’t have my permission, you are interrupting me… and that is SPAM.

I was working with a direct mail company last week that was bragging about their 2% response rate.

So… 98% ignored you. That’s successful? And that’s not SPAM?

The problem is SPAM is easy and quick. Real marketing isn’t.

It takes time and hard work to establish permission.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 8:17 am and is filed under Marketing & Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.