[epub] Re: Does permission expire? WAS Re: ezine relaunch

["Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian" <drmani@xxxxxxxx>]

Janet asked:
> > >
This makes me wonder if permission ever expires without an active 
unsubscribe, assuming as I said before that you don't change the 
newsletter so much that it becomes vastly different from what people 
signed up for originally.
> > >

I've seen that folks sometimes take the wrong end of the stick, looking
at *legal* or *correctness* or *technical* issues, rather than the more
important one of BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS with subscribers.

Now, from a legal standpoint, if you can prove someone signed up to your
epub and did NOT ask to be removed, they still have implied they're
continuing with their permission to receive email from you.  Maybe it
means even *explicitly* granting permission - and I don't think THAT
expires.

Is it correct?  The answer will depend upon your point of view, with the
group as a whole being pretty evenly distributed, I'd guess.

Technically, you'll face the issues of bounces from changed email ids, etc.

But the bottom line, most important reason of all to e-publish is to
build relationships.  And there's no way to get around that hurdle than
by seeking your permission all over again.

I think of it like this.  I go on holiday.  Meet a nice person who has similar
interests to me.  We exchange addresses.  For a while, we correspond.  Then
stop.  For a year.  Then, I suddenly remember her.  Or him.

What would I do?

Continue where we dropped off, assuming s/he still has similar interests?
Or cares to hear from me again?

Or would I drop her/him a short note saying I'm sorry for not being in
touch, and would s/he like to resume our relationship?

I'd guess the second way would be more likely to build a longlasting
relationship.  And that's why I'd argue for re-seeking permission.

The time frame isn't quite important.  A year.  Six months.  Hey, even a
month, sometimes, is enough to forget someone or something that you
once thought HOT!

So, just as my stand on double opt-in is inviolable, despite its more
cumbersome nature and the risk of losing some sign ups, I'd send out
a reminder note to all old subscribers, maybe with a copy of my latest
issue (or a link to it, might be better) - and hope I've positioned myself
in their mind strongly enough to get them to rejoin and reaffirm their
permission.

Because I'm in this for the long haul :)

Hope this helps

Dr.Mani
Ezine ANTI Marketing - build trust in relationships
mailto:anti-info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



        Please support our sponsor: EmailUniverse.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--> Get the Best Minds in the Business for under $1000! <--

Put your email-publishing product or service where 25,000+ pros
 in e-publishing and e-marketing will see it with a flexible
    ad package on the EmailUniverse.com Resource Network.
    Make CONTACT, Build INFLUENCE or Get MAXIMUM IMPACT.
     Enlist EmailUniverse.com in your next ad campaign!
      http://opt-influence.com/nl/pl.cgi?emailuniverse
-----------------------------------------------------------------