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E-mail etiquette: You opted-in, but now your inbox is overloaded

By
Real Estate Agent with Na Pali Properties, Inc.

Last month I wrote about e-mail “use” versus “abuse.” I referred mostly to those unsolicited e-mails we all get – the ones that we get several times a day, within 15-20 minutes of one another, that (thankfully) end up in our Spam folders.

However, after posting that blog I started noticing the now growing numbers of e-mails I’m receiving from those marketers whose e-mail lists I did opt-in to receive.

The original opt-in was to receive a free report – something I, like many online marketers, also offer on my marketing Web site (I'm also a professional copywriter). The first e-mail thanked me and told me how to download my complimentary report. Then, in a few cases, an e-mail follow up arrived that asked how I liked the report. A nice touch, I thought. It wasn’t long after, that things changed….

The tone of the e-mail messages, while still friendly, are now very sales-oriented. I’m receiving e-mails from these marketers 3-4 times a week and, in some cases, daily.

Now, perhaps if their messages provided new tips and pointers, I’d be okay with it, but they’re not. Most of them are a multitude of sales pitches. Some of these pitches even claim how they’re not pitching me – they want to teach me how to sell myself without the “hard sell” – “to be genuine,” they say. I chuckle when I read them. “Debra, there’s still time to sign up for the seminar…” “I have a new model that will make me and you more money than what you were doing before . . .” “Purchase the replay …” (the replay was supposed to be free!).

Have you seen these in your inbox too? You know what I’m talking about. How many of you have signed up for a report, received it and then, watched your inbox fill up with more messages from that same marketer several times a week? Are you still on that e-mail list?

Look, I understand, business isn’t just about helping others, it’s about making a profit. We all have bills to pay. However, when a prospect opts-in to your e-mail list, please don’t start bombarding them with your sales pitch 3-4 times a week. It won’t be long before they opt-out.

Do you agree? What’s been your experience? I look forward to hearing from you.

Kauai Realtor-Associate, Debra A. Jason

Debra A. Jason, RA, ABR
When paradise is calling you, call me!

(808) 826 1846, cell: (808) 635 8031

Na Pali Properties, Inc. - Conveniently located on the highway in the heart of Hanalei

http://kauaihawaii-realestate.com

Show All Comments Sort:
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Debra, great point you make here. It is as much our responsibility to send 'useful' information and not to act like those, you know who I am talking about...

Mar 02, 2011 06:15 AM
Dimitri Matsis-REALTOR® (818) 599-6083
Troop Real Estate Inc. Westlake Village CA - West Hills, CA

Hi Debra,

These guys are the latest to bombard me with all that useful info, RISMedia's Real Estate Advisor [newsletter@rismedia.com] along with Market Leader Team [info@info.marketleader.com] etc...There should be some decorum/etiquette we all adhere to. Besides, have these people never heard of "less is more", "diminishing returns" or...? Would you ever give your business to someone who is smothering you?

The funny thing is I never signed up to be on any of those mailings or receive any reports from them.

I just allocate about 5 min at the end of the day to delete as much as possible.

Thanks for posting.

Mar 02, 2011 06:59 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Debra--yes, I'm always holding my breathe when I give out my email address.  But those organizations that abuse the privilege I simply "unsubscribe" to.  I send only 1 contact a month to my contact list.  That's enough to keep me top-of-mind, without driving people out of their minds!

Mar 02, 2011 12:24 PM
Debra A. Jason
Na Pali Properties, Inc. - Hanalei, HI
Kauai Realtor - Kauai Homes For Sale, Kapaa to Haena

Aloha Praful, Dimitri & Janet.

Really appreciate your comments here. I have always been of the mindset to send information that is useful to my customers & prospects - pointers, tips, guidelines, updates, etc.

While I know there are those folks who now think getting a weekly email may even be too much, I do have one I send weekly - BUT, it's to those people, who when they signed up, agreed they WANTED this weekly scoop. Other folks I may only send my quarterly newsletter to.

You do want to keep "top-of-mind," but there's a balance. As Janet said, you don't want to drive people out of their minds, which could translate to their hands clicking on the "delete" button.

Have a great day & a wonderful weekend.

Debra

 

Mar 04, 2011 05:55 AM