One of the most common problems I run in to while networking is spam, repeatedly posted bits of advertisement that invade social networking sites everywhere. They do no good for the business or the consumer. So why avoid spam?

1. Because everyone else does – A very small percentage of the community purposefully respond to spam. That small percentage is quickly dwindling into nothing as most everyone has adapted to the online environment and they understand the difference between junk and genuine. Connecting, posting, and responding in valid, meaningful ways is much more effective than spamming.

2. Because you don’t want to get blocked – Most websites have evolved to avoid spam at all costs. They have systems, both automatic and manual, that prevent spam from being posted. Most websites, some more strict than others, will permanently block you once you have violated the spam restrictions enough times. Even some sites that are huge SEO goldmines can block you if you spam tags on pages and blogs that you post.