From Chief Marketer, of interest to anyone who publishes an e-newsletter (as part of conference marketing, or just in general):

No matter how scrupulously ethical your e-mail program is, there’s a good chance that recipients think of you as a spammer. According to MarketingSherpa president Anne Holland, 38% of consumers define spam as “e-mail that tries to sell me a product/service even if I know the sender.”

At the same time, however, Holland says, “consumers and business execs alike are signing up to receive e-mail newsletters in thrillingly high numbers. In fact, in 2005 the average e-mail opt-in list grew at a rate equaling 38.4% a year (yes, that’s after the bad addresses and unsubscribes are taken out).”

In the first of a two-part series, Holland points out common mistakes to avoid if you want to improve the effectiveness of your e-mail campaigns and minimize the likelihood of being reported as a spammer. To read her advice, click here.

I agree with all her suggestions, and look forward to the next installment.

That’s what this article in the New York Times explores, along with how some hotels try to game the system to make their properties look better. There is a problem with all the online ratings systems, for Amazon to TripAdvisor, I think, in that most people are more likely to post something when they’ve had a bad experience than a good one. Just human nature to do that. But I also think hotels are wrong to try to bribe people into writing glowing reviews by giving away spa treatments or room rate discounts. These folks, quoted from the article, have the right attitude:

Del Ross, the vice president for global e-commerce at the InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, says his company closely tracks what is being said about its properties. But the only time it steps into the process is to investigate a documented negative experience that might be repeated. “Every negative remark,” he added, “is an opportunity to improve.”

The Hilton Hotels Corporation, which owns the Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn brands, also follows the ratings sites. But trying to influence the system by prompting employees or guests to write a positive review “would not be ethical,” said Bala Subramanian, Hilton’s senior vice president for distribution and brand integration.

“What’s more, it’s a waste of time,” he said. “If we have a problem with one of our hotels, we want to address the problem, not rig the system.”