For the past two years I’ve used one Gmail email address when I sign up to email lists, so I was bit surprised when my friend Scott Drake told me my email bounced back to him when he sent out an email for his most excellent upcoming giveaway: (side note: you still have time to sign up as a contributor).
I went to check it out and sure thing the addy is dead as disco. I get this error message:
Remote host said: 550 5.2.1 The email account that you tried to reach is disabled
Not sure what’s going on and Google’s Gmail support isn’t very good so I have no clue what is going on. I use one main Gmail account (which still works fine) then I have the other Gmail addresses forwarded to my main Gmail account. So I actually haven’t logged into that newsletter email addy in a couple years since I just get the emails forwarded to my main account. So not sure if that’s part of the problem.
So now basically, I’ve been unsubscribed from many Internet marketing lists in one swoop. The funny things is that I’ve always meant to spend time cleaning up my email subscriptions and opt-out of crappy ones, etc. but never got around to it (aside from one at a time unsubscriptions to really bad lists). That’s now a moot point since Gmail has forced my hand to do some spring cleaning of my email list subscriptions.
At first I was bit freaked out but then a calming force came over me. I’m basically starting new. A lot of folks don’t bother building a relationship with their mailing list instead they just flog product after product anyway so how can that be a loss to me?
I used to think it was so important to see what everyone was mailing so I could learn from them but, since most Internet marketers send the same stuff using the same old tired lines it’s not that big of a learning tool as I thought.
As I made an inventory of lists I definitely will rush out to re-opt in, I only came up with around 10. Wow, only 10 out of the probably 50-100 lists I was on. Maybe even more.
This has really made me think. If this happened to one of my subscribers would they rush out to re-subscribe to my list with a new email address or would they not even bother?
When I thought of the reason why I’m running out to re-subscribe to certain people’s lists vs. not giving a damn on the other ones–it comes down to a simple reason: value. Marketers like Lee McIntyre, Lynn Terry, Jim Cockrum, John Thornhill, and others. Their emails provide quality information and that is of great value to me. They provide free quality information that is worth more money than the stuff the others are flogging for $17, $27, $97 a pop.
Their promotions are always well researched and reviewed. Not just “hey buy this because I tell you and I’ll get a commission. I know that if I’m buying something they promote it will be a quality product.
That all adds up to value for me. And as a subscriber it’s important that I’m seeing a two way street. I’m getting valuable information/prodcuts you get a commisson or sale of your own products. That’s a win-win.
That is the email list I strive to run myself. Every time I send out an email to my list I’m going to think back to this day and I’ll ask myself: If this persons email address would suddenly die would they run out to re-subscribe to my list with a new email address? Or would they not even care/notice?
Alan,
So true how the newsletters pile up and the “I don’t want to miss anything” comes into play with staying on lists way too long. There’s many other ways to get the “buzz” now, too, other than email.
It’s so good at times to assess and start over, realizing what core info I actually consume from the emails I receive. I agree that long term value is what keeps me on many lists. I hope to be able to provide that kind of value to readers.
Have a great day, thanks for sharing this.
best for now, Mary
Hi Mary,
It’s now been almost two weeks and my in-box has been blissful. And guess what? I haven’t missed a thing. I still know about all the hyped up launches going on.
Thanks for commenting!