web90291 - 7:21 am on Mar 14, 2004 (gmt 0)

I work with small businesses frequently, and this is always a bridge to cross. I explain the pros-and-cons of posting email addresses, and then suggest a couple things if spam is an issue for them (when isn't it?).

1. substitute something for @ and then explain it on the page - like this.

contact Joe Smith
joe.smith(-at-)blue-widget.com

To email us, replace the (-at-) with a @ - displaying it this way allows us to greatly cut down on spam. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

- - -

2. create images for the email addresses, perhaps with a similar caveat at the bottom:

Our email addresses are displayed as images, allowing us to greatly cut down on spam. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

- - -

I'll be the first to admit this is a bit kludgey, but so far its been very effective. Having a contact mail form is good, but it is a bit removed from the one-to-one communication that small biz can do very well. If a person is willing to type in an email address, that increases the likelihood of their commitment.