[epub] Re: What is the best policy? What's your policy?

[Cathy Stucker <cathy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 07:47 AM 9/13/2005, Maria Marsala, The Resource Queen wrote:
> However, I've been meeting speakers who have been adding everyone
> who attends the event to their elist.  I"m wondering if that
> crosses the line in permission based marketing or if you do that, too.

NO! I get added to email lists all the time without permission, and it does 
not give me a good feeling about the mailer. Because they happened to be at 
a breakfast meeting where you spoke does not mean they want to get email 
from you. The way you do it (asking them to check a box to be added to your 
email list) is fine. Note to everyone with an ezine: The fact that I gave 
you my business card does not mean I want to get your ezine.

> The reason I ask, is that I've purchased products and end up on
> mailing lists without being told.  The thinking is that since I
> purchased something, that's the permission I need.

I have less of a problem with that. If they have chosen to do business with 
you, they may be interested in hearing from you again. I would not add them 
to the distribution list for my ezine, but might do other mailings to them. 
For example, follow up after the order to ask if their order arrived safely 
(or they were able to download it) and, oh by the way, I have this online 
newsletter if they would like to sign up. Or let them know about a new 
product they might like. I would be cautious about this, though, and not 
overdo it.

It is easy to abuse permission. There is one aggressive marketer who sends 
several emails every week, and each one is sent twice, with slightly 
different subject lines. At first I thought I might learn something about 
email marketing from reading his emails. What I have learned is this: Don't 
annoy the customers. My delete finger is getting tired.

Cathy

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