Comments on: Opt-in E-mail or Die http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html Social media strategy, training for associations, non-profits Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jesus http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-903 jesus Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:54:21 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-903 I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.<br /><br /><br />Sara<br /><br /><a href="http://smallbusinessgrant.info" rel="nofollow">http://smallbusinessgrant.info</a> I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sara

http://smallbusinessgrant.info

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-256 Anonymous Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:28:00 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-256 “Mobile E-mail—Exact Target reported in 2007 that 37% of business people regularly read business emails on their mobile devices, up from 30% just a year ago. When your members rely on their Blackberry or other mobile device for mission-critical e-mail, a sudden, un-solicited influx of e-mail shows a lack of respect for their time and attention.†<br/><br/>This a useful stat. I use 123Together (http://www.123together.com) for Hosted Exchange tied to my Blackberry with a special email address only my clients know about to cut down on spam and the expense of unwanted emails. I only let in the important stuff that way which is what you are talking about. “Mobile E-mail—Exact Target reported in 2007 that 37% of business people regularly read business emails on their mobile devices, up from 30% just a year ago. When your members rely on their Blackberry or other mobile device for mission-critical e-mail, a sudden, un-solicited influx of e-mail shows a lack of respect for their time and attention.â€

This a useful stat. I use 123Together (http://www.123together.com) for Hosted Exchange tied to my Blackberry with a special email address only my clients know about to cut down on spam and the expense of unwanted emails. I only let in the important stuff that way which is what you are talking about.

]]> By: Lindy Dreyer http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-255 Lindy Dreyer Fri, 09 May 2008 20:03:00 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-255 Exactly, Dennis. Not only is it easier to classify an opt-out subscription as spam, it's more predictable. Meaning I know exactly what will happen when I click the spam button. (Mine is one-click, so it's just that easy.) If I click opt-out, who knows how many steps I'll have to take?<br/><br/>I also like your point about putting the listserv in context with all the other e-mail you send. If you're already taxing your members' inbox, it's not likely they'll be open to getting more e-mail in any form.<br/><br/>I hope readers of this thread will check out your other e-mail insights, which I always find very valuable.<br/><br/>http://www.ddmcd.com/managing-technology/category/email Exactly, Dennis. Not only is it easier to classify an opt-out subscription as spam, it’s more predictable. Meaning I know exactly what will happen when I click the spam button. (Mine is one-click, so it’s just that easy.) If I click opt-out, who knows how many steps I’ll have to take?

I also like your point about putting the listserv in context with all the other e-mail you send. If you’re already taxing your members’ inbox, it’s not likely they’ll be open to getting more e-mail in any form.

I hope readers of this thread will check out your other e-mail insights, which I always find very valuable.

http://www.ddmcd.com/managing-technology/category/email

]]> By: Dennis http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-254 Dennis Fri, 09 May 2008 18:01:00 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-254 I would prefer the initial email to members be a request to join (opt in). Too many email subscriptions are ignored because it's so easy to classify something as spam given that so many "unsubscribe" processes are cumbersome and multi step.<br/><br/>I suspect that many of the emails that people talk about with comments like "Look at me I have 350 emails in my inbox!" are of the "opt out" variety. It's just easier to get them and have them routed to a spam folder than take the extra step to opt out.<br/><br/>Another consideration is whether the listserv has a web page option for viewing and posting, and whether the options to bundle (e.g., get just one digest a day) are available. <br/><br/>Finally, I'm going to assume that any association putting together an email subscription service like this is going to look at the whole range of uses it's already making of member email addresses before it decides opt in or opt out. I would prefer the initial email to members be a request to join (opt in). Too many email subscriptions are ignored because it’s so easy to classify something as spam given that so many “unsubscribe” processes are cumbersome and multi step.

I suspect that many of the emails that people talk about with comments like “Look at me I have 350 emails in my inbox!” are of the “opt out” variety. It’s just easier to get them and have them routed to a spam folder than take the extra step to opt out.

Another consideration is whether the listserv has a web page option for viewing and posting, and whether the options to bundle (e.g., get just one digest a day) are available.

Finally, I’m going to assume that any association putting together an email subscription service like this is going to look at the whole range of uses it’s already making of member email addresses before it decides opt in or opt out.

]]> By: Lindy Dreyer http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-253 Lindy Dreyer Wed, 07 May 2008 12:31:00 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-253 Thanks for the example, Mads. Of course--correct me if I'm wrong-- your membership isn't drowning in e-mail and clutching their Blackberry for dear life the way some other groups do. <br/><br/>I'm sticking by my argument...though I'm glad you had success. Thanks for the example, Mads. Of course–correct me if I’m wrong– your membership isn’t drowning in e-mail and clutching their Blackberry for dear life the way some other groups do.

I’m sticking by my argument…though I’m glad you had success.

]]> By: Maddie Grant http://www.socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-252 Maddie Grant Wed, 07 May 2008 02:06:00 +0000 http://socialfish.org/2008/05/opt-in-e-mail-or-die.html#comment-252 Nice summary! I have been (sort of) following the debate also, but I have to say I am on the opt-out side. I think you have very valid points, which I distilled into "respect your audience". But I would argue a simple solution to that is the very first introductory email, which says, we have set up this listserve on your behalf for discussing these topics and for these reasons. To make things easier for you, we have automatically subscribed you, however you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking here."<br/><br/>I actually did this for the regional listserve I set up with a group of ten associations in the same field as mine, the group having decided that "group membership" was a prerequisite for participation in (i.e. ability to post events to) the listserve. Out of close to 1,000 emails imported the first go round, I got 2 unsubscribes. Total! Nice summary! I have been (sort of) following the debate also, but I have to say I am on the opt-out side. I think you have very valid points, which I distilled into “respect your audience”. But I would argue a simple solution to that is the very first introductory email, which says, we have set up this listserve on your behalf for discussing these topics and for these reasons. To make things easier for you, we have automatically subscribed you, however you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking here.”

I actually did this for the regional listserve I set up with a group of ten associations in the same field as mine, the group having decided that “group membership” was a prerequisite for participation in (i.e. ability to post events to) the listserve. Out of close to 1,000 emails imported the first go round, I got 2 unsubscribes. Total!

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