As a small business owner, you’ve probably opened your share of spam emails. However, spam is more than just an annoyance. Clicking on the wrong email could damage your IT systems, and in some instances, put your clients or customers at risk. There’s no reason to accept spam as a normal way of life. Business owners need to take proactive measures to reduce the amount of spam they encounter on a daily basis. Here are the top anti-spam tactics spammers don’t want you to know.
- Turn Your IT Systems Over to a Pro
Managing a small business isn’t an easy task, and you probably don’t have enough hours in the day to also handle your IT department. Turning these systems over to a managed IT service, such as EvolvTec, is a better option. Doing so will provide you with 24/7 support and network management. Additionally, you can count on IT professionals to do whatever it takes to protect your business from unwanted spam and other risks.
- Rethink Clickable Email Links
Does your website contain clickable email links? If so, you may want to remove them. Spambots scour the depths of the internet to find vulnerable emails, and they prefer clickable links. Once they obtain your company email, you’ll see an influx of unwanted spam messages. Instead of adding email links, spell out your email instead. You can even add your email as text in graphics. If bots can’t read your email, they can’t spam your company.
- Don’t Acknowledge Spam Emails
Spammers can tell if you opened an email, and they even track if you click on any links. It’s best to ignore spam emails completely. If you do accidentally open one, be sure you don’t open any attachments or click through to another website. Most importantly, never purchase anything from a spam email. Always buy directly from a reputable company instead.
- Think Twice Before Unsubscribing
Senders of spam emails are getting smarter than ever. Many spam emails even contain an “unsubscribe” link at the bottom. This makes the email seem legitimate, even if it’s not. Never click to unsubscribe from a spam email. Doing so will only let the spammer know it’s an active email address, and they will continue to inundate your address with more junk mail. As a rule of thumb, only unsubscribe if you remember signing up for the emails.
- Block Spam Before It Happens
Your company won’t get spam emails if you block them in the first place. See if you can add a spam blocker to your business server. Instead of landing in your inbox, this technology will route them into a junk folder. They’ll still remain on the server, and you’ll be able to go through these email messages before you choose to delete them.
- Invest in a Spam Filter
Some blockers don’t always find spam emails. If this is the case, you may want to invest in a more powerful spam filter. This type of software has the capability of finding more types of spam, including any cloaked messages overlooked by other filters.
- Don’t Sign Up for Marketing Emails
Many websites ask that you join their email list to keep in touch. While you may feel tempted to give out your business email to certain sites, it’s not recommended. Many companies actually sell their email lists to others, and your business email address could end up in a spammer’s hands. Instead, create a separate free email account for any website registrations and newsletters.
Keep Your Business Inbox Spam-Free
It’s annoying to weed through spam emails in the office. However, there are ways to keep off a spammer’s list. Following these proven tactics will ensure fewer spam messages make it into your inbox. You’ll finally be able to open your business email account without seeing any obnoxious spam emails.