To everyone who opts people into their email newsletters:
Please stop.
On one hand, it is illegal in some countries to add people into your email newsletter recipient list without their permission.
On the other hand, it is annoying to receive newsletters that are not written personally to your sender, that the person never explicitly asked to receive, and/or that now need to be unsubscribed.
I unsubscribed from such a newsletter today.
Do not give into temptation
Just because LinkedIn allows you to export your connections to a spreadsheet, you should not add those email addresses to a list of people to receive your newsletter. Email newsletter providers are quick to explain what constitutes opt-in permission.
There needs to be permission from a person to receive your newsletter.
Being your friend on LinkedIn, Facebook, even your local book club, does not constitute consent to be spammed.
Be honest with yourself
I understand your desire to spread awareness about your business or your newest campaign but email messages that are copied and pasted to a bulk set of addresses are no different than direct mail received through the USPS.
Don’t be a spammer.
About Ari Herzog
Trash in trash out.
It won’t work in the end folks stop wasting your time.
I just added a double opt in form to my site today to get newsletter subscribers, but that’s the key word isn’t it? SUBSCRIBERS!!
I feel your pain.
Brian
Great points! I must say that it is tempting to export a list of contacts and send them promotional material. However, I refrain from doing that not only because it is unethical (and purely annoying) but also because I bet unsolicited communication does not generate results either. SO it’s a win win and everyone is happy if the only people who receive newsletters are those who specifically signed up to receive my newsletters.
I agree with every point you made it in the blog . But i have few some suggestions that will ensure that users subscribing to mail unsubscribe from the mailing list.
1) Send mails to users based on their taste . When a user register to a site or blog , they will choose the category which they like to follow . Rather than spamming a user , send mail that are related to their taste and provides enough info to user .
2) Give users reward points and prize based on their comments .
Newsletter is a healthy sources of income with the passage of time. As you get more subscribers, your traffic will be on increasing trend.
Ari, if you have persuaded just one person as a result of this post, you have succeeded in my book
I feel your frustration.