Do directory listings lead to email spam?

**derjavina** · 02-04-2008, 02:32 AM

I run a few web sites, all with a contact email address displayed as usual.
I never had any problems with email spam until recently, and only with one particular account. The besieged email address is for what is probably the least viewed of my web sites, so the only reason that I can think of is a recent submission to the hotfrog directory.
I submitted the site about 2 months before the sudden onslaught of spam.

Is this a coincidence, or do directory listings have this effect?

**chrishirst** · 02-06-2008, 09:52 AM

Yep.

especially as some directories seem to be only there for collecting email addresses to send spam to!

**ssandecki** · 02-07-2008, 02:52 PM

Geez, never thought of using this as another reason to not waste time with web directories, looks like I can add another one to my list of reasons.

**blue-dreamer** · 02-07-2008, 09:52 PM

When I used to do submitting to directories I used a unique variation of an email address for each submission, ie directoryname@mydomain.com and routed them all to a single pop account - it soons became obvious which directories were selling on my info. To stop receiving the spam it was simply a case of diverting all mail for that address to the bitbucket

**ADAM Web Design** · 02-07-2008, 10:34 PM

If you give away your address to a site with no clear privacy policy (as is the case with most directories), operate under the assumption that your Johnson will be too small, that you don't gamble enough, that Hoodia is the be-all and end-all cure for weight loss, and that starving 18-year-old Russian women all want to marry you.

**ipodman** · 02-08-2008, 04:44 AM

Hi,

For me I have found the answer to be yes, that is why i always use a spam e-mail address when adding links to web directories.

but its also not just directory owners who do it, the directories that list our e-mail addresses as well can increase the spam

-Dan

**shahab6** · 02-15-2008, 09:46 PM

Yes most do, some even open directory to collect e-mail addresses, and spam Webmasters, so you might want to create another e-mail address and just use it for directories

**Himalayan** · 04-08-2008, 03:38 AM

We don't know the purpose behind of any directory but suggested to submit your website properly after navigating it from SEO point of view.

**x3mario** · 04-08-2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derjavina

I run a few web sites, all with a contact email address displayed as usual.
I never had any problems with email spam until recently, and only with one particular account. The besieged email address is for what is probably the least viewed of my web sites, so the only reason that I can think of is a recent submission to the hotfrog directory.
I submitted the site about 2 months before the sudden onslaught of spam.

Is this a coincidence, or do directory listings have this effect?

Yes. I also encoountered that problem. I already received an email from them and minute ago another email come.

**sizzler_chetan** · 04-13-2008, 09:44 PM

Not all directories, but i have to agree that directories use your email addresses for spamming.
I feel really bad about that, and think why to have a directory for that? This makes the clients really angry.

**tamar** · 04-13-2008, 10:26 PM

Rule of thumb: Make sure the directory is high quality. Check the sites that are linked. If they're lousy websites, chances are that you're getting a free link but you're also getting added to spam lists. And chances are that the lousy directory won't really help your rankings.

**Feydakin** · 04-13-2008, 11:04 PM

ientry is notorious for using directories as email harvesters for their newsletters.. They've been buying up and/or building dozens, if not hundreds, of directories since their big one Jayde..

I always use a junk email address when submitting to any directory.. I leave it live long enough to confirm any listings and then away it goes..

**sizzler_chetan** · 04-13-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feydakin

ientry is notorious for using directories as email harvesters for their newsletters.. They've been buying up and/or building dozens, if not hundreds, of directories since their big one Jayde..

I always use a junk email address when submitting to any directory.. I leave it live long enough to confirm any listings and then away it goes..

Yep the owner of ientry contacted many directory owners for buying their directories, and once i had submitted a website to their directory, and since then i am getting 3-4 spam mails per week in my inbox.
None of the mails is useful for me

**Funny Guy** · 04-14-2008, 02:25 AM

Its a good way to get active emails ... and many dir owners wud b selling too

and I don't think email spam will stop anytime ...

**sizzler_chetan** · 04-14-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funny Guy

Its a good way to get active emails ... and many dir owners wud b selling too

and I don't think email spam will stop anytime ...

It would be the worst thing a directory owner is doing by selling the email addresses lists to anyone.
Its something unprofessional.

**webmastery** · 04-14-2008, 01:47 PM

Only lame directories do that. If you are sending out U.C.E. for a directory, you can get nailed for CAN-SPAM violations. All email without a double opt-in is basically not allowable these days.

**samoris** · 04-18-2008, 02:18 AM

I don't that directory owners would do anything like this.

What you are call not-so-quality webdirectories are owned by people who start it just to earn money and lack knowledge for promoting it or making it quality.

Getting spam emails is just coincidence. I have an email which is quite personal and never never use it anywhere for submission etc, but last week i got an email about winning a microsoft lottery worth $500,000. Spammers find their ways. They don't need to open a directory and invest in hosting, desiging etc to get people's email.

**vicdigi** · 04-30-2008, 06:09 AM

It goes without saying that if you submit your site to 50 directories then you will receive spam from at least one of them.

More often than not they are to do with viagra and the so called lottery winnings you have won!

**johnlloyd** · 05-01-2008, 08:30 AM

Yes, other directories collecting email's for spamming purposes, you will receive more often once you submit your site.