You Don't Know Them!

I get asked this one quite often -- 3 times today alone. If one has something of interest (usually of interest only to those who e-mail me this type of question) to share with all those names in the To: field; (even if they don't know them) would it be improper to send an e-mail to any of them with your comments or about your business.

Yes, it would be immproper. These folks don't know you... And it would be spam.

Just because your friend didn't respect their contacts privacy by displaying e-mail addresses in To: field (instead of protecting those addresses by listing them in the Bcc: field) does not give anyone listed permission to e-mail the others. No matter how important you personally feel your advice or information is.

If you don't know them and/or are trying to sell them something they didn't specifically ask you for -- that's spam. No matter how noble or important you think the topic is, you simply do not e-mail folks you don't know.

Also, when you are a recipient of an e-mail with a long list of others in the To: field that you don't know, always make a point of responding to the sender only -- never use Reply to All.

I also have an article on this topic you can review:

Don't Brush Off Privacy