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Danielle Hatfield

A Little Lesson in Respecting the Inbox

September 10, 2013 By Danielle Hatfield 2 Comments

10 Sep
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It happens to all of us.

We check our email only to find that a hoard of people we barely know have signed us up for their email newsletter, openly copied us along with all of their contacts to promote their website/event/product or gave/sold our emails to businesses looking for “free press” at their next event or trade show.

Let’s get one thing straight. . . just because you have a person’s email address, doesn’t give you the right to abuse it.

— danielle hatfield (@dhatfield) September 10, 2013

Email Newsletter etiquette seems to be a big challenge for most people.

If you think that signing up all the people in your address book for your newsletters is a good idea. . . . WRONG! You are doing more damage than good. (at least that’s my opinion)

I don’t get the warm fuzzies about any company, person or brand as I spend time unsubscribing (for those who actually have that option) from their newsletters. I may come off sounding like a bitch to some when I defend my right to not be bombarded with thinly veiled sales pitches, but dammit. . . it’s MY inbox! This sign up tactic reminds me of the cold call telemarketers that would interrupt dinner. Remember those? NOspam

You want to have meaningful interactions with me? Talk to me online, send me a note, pick up the phone or send me an email that isn’t part of a canned pitch. Have a new newsletter that you want to share? Let me know personally and ASK me if I want to be signed up for it.

To quote Scott Stratten, aka @Unmarketing, from The Book of Business UnAwesome “Newsletters are a great way to stay in front of our market and position ourselves as experts, but only when done with respect.”

If you sign me up for your email newsletter just because you just met me at a networking event and I will politely, but firmly let you know that is a boundary you should not cross. I may even point you to the CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business. This does not mean I don’t like you, or never want to support you/your company. It means I want you to respect my inbox.

This type of newsletter spam, to me, is a spray and pray approach that uses the “better to ask forgiveness than permission” mindset. This is NOT connecting with me, the recipient, in any meaningful way, especially if I didn’t opt in. Again, just because you have a persons email address, doesn’t mean that it’s open season to sign them up for your newsletter, regardless of how awesome you think it is.

“Your entire goal of sending a newsletter to your audience is to have them open it, react to it and spread it. ” – Scott Stratten

Okay, so you’re wondering when I’m going to get off my soap box and share my little lesson in respecting the inbox.

Here you go!

I treat my business email like a do a private phone number.

Here’s a tip : I use a separate email address for all newsletters I opt in for. This has really helped me cut down on the amount of time I spend on email per day.

 

A few good reads :

10 Rules to Reverse the Email Spiral

Show Inbox Mercy With Proper Email Etiquette

Thirty Quick Email Etiquette Tips

 

Join the discussion on Facebook : http://ow.ly/oJL1m

—

Do you have newsletter horror stories? Share them in the comments below. I’d love to know how you handled it.

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Filed Under: Business, Email, Uncategorized Tagged With: can spam act, Email, email etiquette, Scott Stratten, The Book of Business UnAwesome

About Danielle Hatfield

Owner/Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm - DIYs, recipes and sharing my 2 cents on social media

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I love to share recipes, DIYs, and my two cents on social media.

I am also proud to be the Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm where I have worked with my partner and husband Brandon Pierce since 2009.

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daniellehatfield

I love #DIYs, #recipes, and sharing my 2 cents on social media.

My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍 My de My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍

My dear @thebrandonpierce found it at the local #HabitatReStore and it’s a near match for a desk he inherited that once belonged to his great grandfather. 

I have BIG plans for this beauty!

It will become home to my new @singersewingcompany heavy duty sewing machine and all of my sewing notions. 

This means I can *finally* begin sewing curtains, cushions, and tackle a few other upholstery/restoration projects. 🤗
#HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce. #HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce.
Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time outside this morning. 

With temperatures in the mid 60s and a cool breeze ahead of the thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow - it is the *perfect* weather to show our #GardenLove.

This #Iris is one of many transplant successes … I moved it a few years ago and it is nearly waist high! 

Is our #CottageGarden picture perfect? No. 

But slowly, with patience and hard work, it’s more lush and colorful… I dare say it’s well on its way to resembling #BeatrixPotter’s beloved garden. 

Now, about those children’s books I’ve been meaning to write and illustrate…🤔
A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley l A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley last year. 

I didn’t share this #watercolorpainting before because I thought it was mediocre at best. I still feel that way - but that’s okay. 

#WatercolorPractice never makes perfect…it makes improvement. 

I’ll probably paint another portrait of him this year to see if I’ve improved my fabric, skin, and hair painting skills. 

I’m thinking maybe the next painting will be a still from his 1968 One Night With You special...or of him in uniform from WWII. 🤔

Do you have a favorite memorable photo/video of #Elvis?
I’ve been encouraging the #dandelions. I’m I’ve been encouraging  the #dandelions. 

I’m harvesting leaves for sandwiches/salads and transplanting volunteers into pots in our small #CottageGarden.

Some see a weed - I see Clara’s #DepressionEra salad and #DandelionRoot tea. 😍
@thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest # @thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest #springflowers from our #cottagegarden. 😍
#SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#Wha #SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#WhatIsThisPlant?
My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month surprises coming with TWO books by @jamesgurneyart! 😍

If you need me, I’ll be sipping coffee and getting lost in a wealth of #ArtInspiration.
#PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻 The first #waterc #PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻

The first #watercolor #painting (on the left) I finished last year. Good, but a bit dull. 

After receiving all of my new #artsupplies this month (thank you @thebrandonpierce 😘) I *HAD* to paint it again… isn’t she a beauty?! (on the right)

I’m slowly working to improve mixing skin tones, painting eyes that have a bit more depth, and a fabric that doesn’t look splotchy…

This #watercolorpractice is inspired by the February 1927 #PictoralReview #CoverArt by  #illustrationArtist #EarlChristy. 

#WatercolorPaint & #Paintbrushes: #KingArtCompany 

#WatercolorPaper: #cansonpaper 140lb cold press
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