This spammer just doesn't learn...

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a spam I received offering me writing services. I thought it was pretty funny, as the sender clearly didn't pay attention to the fact that I am a writer.

About a week ago, I received another spam (again sent through my contact form) from the same person. At this point, I'm seriously wondering whether s/he understands English very well, as evidently s/he (who has an Indian name that prevents me from guessing a gender) hasn't noticed what the copy on my website says.

It doesn't help my impression of the person that the grammar is rather awkward:

We are an on-line service provider for all journalism and publishing related activities - original articles, ghost writing, editing, magazine management etc.

Reliability, maintaining confidentiality and strict adherence to delivery dates is sacrosanct to the organization.

Maybe I should pretend to be a client and try to find out what "the organization" charges. I'm guessing $1.50 per 500 words. What's your bet?

I've been offered writing services!

This morning I received a spam email that had been sent via my website contact form. (If that's not dedication to being a spammer, I don't know what is!) The really funny thing is what the sender was trying to sell me.

The email starts off:

Dear Sir / Madam,

We are a web based service provider for all Journalism related activities. At [removed for publication], we provide on line services for journalism and publishing related activities.

To know more comprehensively about us, please visit us at [removed for publication]

You can count on us for complete and comprehensive services with regard to every aspect of bringing out a publication.

The email goes on to list the company's services. Oddly enough, they sound familiar to the services I offer on the services page of my website! Evidently the sender spammed any website that had something to do with writing, rather than looking for websites where the owner would actually be interested in buying writing services.

While I'm not opposed to "cold-calling" via email now and then, the key to success is emailing companies that might actually require your services. Anything else is just a waste of time.

Spamorama

A few days ago I warned about some interesting -- but no doubt malicious -- spam I got, which encouraged me to go to a suspicious site. I thought I should add to that warning a comment that I have had a lot of spammy messages come through on my contact forms lately (thank goodness I don't post my email address anymore!). These messages usually say something completely inane like "Nice site!" or nothing at all. I have no doubt that they are hoping I'll email them back saying "Who are you?" ... and then they'll add my email address to their list for spam mailings.

If you have a contact form like mine, beware -- these jerks seem particularly active lately. (Summer rush for them too, maybe?) If you don't have a contact form on your site, making your email address available instead, I suggest that you reconsider your "contact" options. At the very least, make sure that your email address doesn't include the @ symbol, as spammers use it to find and harvest email addresses online. Instead, you can insert the word "at" where the symbol would normally go (with spaces around it, of course, so that the whole thing is readable). You can also make the link say something totally different, such as "Email Me."

Busyness

I've been really busy lately, and I'm suddenly remembering last summer's insane work schedule. I'm trying to catch up a little on blogging, writing posts that I've had in mind but haven't had a chance to write yet, because I'd like to launch a new blog in the fall (more on that later). It's difficult, though, with so much other (read: paying) work to do.

I guess I'm not the only freelancer that experiences a "summer rush," as I've noticed a lot of my favorite blogs have suffered the same neglect lately as mine has. I used to daydream about being able to have vacation-like summers as a freelancer. What happened to that flexible schedule that I love so much?

I suppose by the end of summer, I'll be reaping the benefits of being so busy now. But is it really worth it?

I'll let you know when the payments start rolling in. ;o)