Privacy Protection Statements- Because we hate spam as much as you do!



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Privacy Protection Statements- Because we hate spam as much as you do!
By Christopher Knight

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More than a few years ago, thanks to A/B split testing, many discovered (including my own results) that adding a privacy protection statement below your subscription button helps to increase conversions.

While that is true, is it possible to go too far?

Today, you will see a critical distinction in transformational vocabulary that I hope will help you increase your new subscription conversions.

Here are some example phrases that are in bad form:

"Because we hate spam as much as you do!"

"We hate spam as much as you do! We never sell or disclose your name or e-mail address to third parties. For more information, please see our privacy policy."

Why is this bad form?

Whatever you are FOR;
Strengthens YOU.
Whatever you are AGAINST;
Weakens YOU.

"Hating Spam" puts you against something. Being for privacy protection strengthens your position.

Another example of less than perfect form:

"Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure."

Why? Because anytime you tell a person to "Don't worry"...what is the first thing you do?

If you answered, WORRY, ding ding ding, you are correct. Better to state it in the positive such ask, "We promise that your e-mail address is totally secure and we will never rent or sell your address".

Here are some example phrases that are in good form:

"Your privacy is respected and your information is NEVER shared with anyone."

"Privacy: we will not disclose your email address to anyone for any reason."

"Your information is NEVER shared with anyone."

"We will never rent or sell your personal info. You can remove yourself from our mailing list at any time."

"PRIVACY POLICY: Your privacy is important to us. We will never sell or rent your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time."

In doing research for today's Ezine-Tips, I found a few other foolish things that you should avoid:

Don't make your potential new subscriber adhere to your privacy policy. This is foolish. Your privacy policy is in place to protect your user, not bind them.
Worse than making the mistake of putting a negative privacy policy or 'hate' based words in your privacy protection pitch, is failing to give any type of protection statement at all.

Can you still achieve success with bad form? Yes.

What if bad form or the 'hate' word in the privacy policy creates more conversions than a positive tone? Go with whatever creates more conversions for you. Yes, test it for yourself.

Me? I won't be using the word 'hate' as I'd rather state the privacy policy protection statement in the positive form.

Yes, this is transformational vocabulary for those with training in it. :-)

This Ezine-Tip was submitted By Christopher Knight -- Email List Marketing Expert, author and entrepreneur. Get your weekly dose of Email newsletter publishing, marketing, promotion, management, email-etiquette, email usability and deliverability tips by joining the free Ezine-Tips newsletter: http://www.emailuniverse.com/subscribe/.

Ezine-Tips for August 07, 2006

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Privacy Protection Statements- Because we hate spam as much as you do!By Christopher Knight

Here are some example phrases that are in bad form:

Another example of less than perfect form:

Here are some example phrases that are in good form:

In doing research for today's Ezine-Tips, I found a few other foolish things that you should avoid:

Privacy Protection Statements- Because we hate spam as much as you do!
By Christopher Knight