Stopping Spam

Even now, controlling spam continues to elude most users. According to one survey by messaging and Web security firm MessageLabs, the average annual spam level reached just over 86 percent last year. Though heightened e-mail security helps, the rate at which spammers are reaching inboxes is still not good if you want your salespeople to stop wasting valuable time deleting junk. We offer a few tips below to can some of that spam:

1. Set Up Filters Earlier
Set up a filter that stops spam before it even gets to your local area network. This can provide a first line of defense.

2. Outsource Solutions
Many small companies are far too bogged down with generating business to follow up on spam control. If you're in over your head with spam filters, try outsourcing the problem; some services exist for less than $10 a month per user.

3. Control Your Users
One of the best ways to avoid spam is to keep your e-mail address as private as possible. Tell workers not to use their work e-mail address for shopping, personal travel or other non-corporate endeavors to limit potential access to spammers.

4. Check the Sender
One way to stop spam is to set up sender allowance screening systems, so that those who send e-mails have to verify themselves to gain access to your e-mail system. Doing so keeps your employees from sifting through unwanted e-mails and ensures that only prospects, clients and business contacts get through to sellers' inboxes.