I received the following email last week from an employee at LegalZoom:

Hey Steve,

I’ve been doing some research into legal issues and how they are represented online, specifically focusing on blogs. Your site has really grabbed my attention for the wealth of topical writing you have done and your involvement in the online legal community.  I currently work for a company that maintains a website that offers online legal document services. We are nationally recognized, and very unique in the comprehensive services we provide on the internet.

I’d like to see if you would be interested in working together.  My primary value to you would be in article writing. I have a small staff of writers who are eager to explore recent legal trends and are looking for a palette for their creativity. We are also very interested to see what other opportunities are available within the law blogosphere and would love to hear any other partnership ideas you can think of.

Thanks and keep up the great work,

Employee name
fname@legalzoom.com

The problem I have with this email is that I wasn’t the only one to receive it. This identical form letter-style email was blasted to a huge number of law bloggers. How do I know? Well, first of all I write a number of blogs. But an even more incredible concept… Guess what LegalZoom? Some of us actually know each other! I know, I know. It’s an incredible concept. Shhh. Don’t let our little secret get out.

Next time you want to spam someone, please leave me off your “blogger outreach” program.