March 24, 2010 192 Comments

Stop Adding Me to Your Email Newsletter

According to sources, it’s not illegal to add my name to your email newsletter list if you’ve done some kind of business with me in the past. Evidently, this means that it’s perfectly fine to add me to your list if you’ve sent me an email. Ever. Because I’ve gotta tell you: I’m subscribed to a LOT of email newsletters that I didn’t sign up for, and I’m not very pleased with it. To me, it’s spam, whether or not that’s the legal definition.

I’m not sure what to do with this. Unsubscribing is the easy next step, but then what? I sure don’t feel vindicated just by unsubscribing and saying, “I never signed up to begin with” as my reason for leaving. So, to begin, I’m going to write this to all of you, and maybe, you can forward the following to whoever adds you without your request to their email list:

Please Remove Me From Your Email Newsletter

Hello!

You evidently mistook access for acceptance. I seem to be subscribed to your email newsletter, and I’m not interested. Now, I realize there’s a click-to-unsubscribe option, but I wanted a moment of your time, seeing as you ate up some of mine by making me go through the process of unsubscribing myself from your mailing list.

I can tell you’re eager to grow your business. It’s clear that you want incredibly smart and engaging people like me to participate in your world. Here’s a hint: blindly adding me to your email list won’t really win you many fans in that regard.

In fact, you know who you get when you use that method? Lazy people who haven’t bothered hitting unsubscribe yet. And if they’re too lazy to opt out (or even report you as spam), how motivated will they be to buy your product or service? Seems like a waste of your database space to me.

So, I’m going to unsubscribe now, and I’m going to wish you the best with your business. You clearly need it, if you think blindly adding me to your lists will ensure your future success.

Thanks and with appreciation,

_____________.

There You Have It

Share that all you want. Copy it, paste it, reblog it. Whatever. Just let’s get people to stop doing this. Okay?

And if YOU are doing it? Stop. Today. Please? Because I’m getting itchy to out you.

Photo credit Pink Sherbet Photography

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philsimonsystems

Jennifer

Great response. I'm going to add you my newsletter now. :)
philsimonsystems

Google filters also work if people aren't responsive, Tim. I use them when there's some type of problem with unsubscribing.
philsimonsystems

Let me propose a middle ground here, Kristi and Chris. In the event that unsubscribing doesn't work, then Kristi's method is pretty quick. Also, you can mark it as spam, as you both know.

I just don't have the patience to manually delete (Shift 3 via shortcut) in Gmail, but that's me.
http://www.compliancebuilding.com Doug Cornelius

What I love best is the ad served up in the feed for this post is an ad for an email marketing company.
timbrownson

Thanks Phil, but I'm the one weirdo that doesn't use GMail ;-)

I kinda hoped a business as well known and supposedly as reputable as Hay House wouldn't resort to such tactics.
http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

Very nice. You don't get edgy that often Chris. You're usually so nice. I like edgy Chris Brogan :-)
http://www.aweber.com/blog/ Justin Premick

A few things that can contribute to this (not saying you're doing any of them, just pointing out things that might be worth looking at if you get this sort of complaint a lot):

-> Sending infrequently (I don't remember what I ate for breakfast this morning; I'm not likely to remember you if I haven't heard from you in a month – and who's to say I opened last month's email? Or the one before? It may have been several months since I actually opened an email from you. That's a long time…). Maybe you should try stepping up your frequency to bimonthly, or maybe just to every 3 weeks.

-> Making major changes to your “from” name and/or address, the design of your emails or (most importantly) the content/substance of the emails (if I'm not getting what I'm expecting, in the format I'm expecting, from the entity I'm expecting, I might as well have never signed up for it – my reaction to it's going to be the same).

-> Sending non-memorable content (similar to the frequency thing – if your last email blended into the other hundreds that I receive, why would I remember it a month or three later?).

Of course, sometimes it really is EBCAK (error between chair and keyboard) ;-) But it's helpful to step back and cover all your other bases first.
http://10thfloorpr.com/ alexis

this JUST happened to me earlier today!! the only thing was, they had blasted it out via their personal email, so there was no UNSUBSCRIBE BUTTON. It was a site I had written a guest post for, but they were sending me an email about someone's political campaign who I'd never heard of! I asked them to remove me since I'd never subscribed in the first place, but you're right, that doesn't feel like enough explanation and justification for the infraction. I wish I'd come across this post earlier so I could've replied with your email :-)
http://www.kaplancopy.com/blog Jodi Kaplan

Somebody sent me an unwanted newsletter — as I was reading this post!
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http://www.socialsmarty.com/ Kat Walterhouse, Social Smarty

I've seen the same. Amazing creativity of these people that are stooping to a new low. What value does it bring? Virtually none. Thank goodness for the spam button.
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http://danieljohnsonjr.com danieljohnsonjr

I met a guy from an SEO company at a networking event. We exchanged business cards. One week later, I started receiving his email newsletter – unsolicited. I went through the process of unsubscribing and threw his business card away.

Unsolicited newsletter subscriptions are like auto-DMs on Twitter… the equivalent of asking to go to the hotel room when we've only just met.
http://danieljohnsonjr.com danieljohnsonjr

I think it is important to be clear and obvious, like you said, Thom. I know some people who have a statement in their LinkedIn profile that, by connecting to them, you will get an email update from time to time.
justinmatthews

I saw you had recently posted something on twitter and so I added you to my…Just kidding…I liked this post because it reinforces my ideas about what I want to do with my mailing list. Thanks for the tips so I don't become one of “those” emailers. Of Course if you WANT to sign up for my list….:)
http://thejeffbrown.me Jeff Brown

I think I'm in love with Chris Brogan.
http://TheSmallBusinessTranscriptionist.com/ Erica Cosminsky

I actually wrote a post similar to this a few days ago but mine was rather pointed toward one person who emails his subscribers (from an Outlook address book and you have to CALL his assistant to unsubscribe) several times a day and I took it down off my blog as I had all but called him out by name.

What peeves me off just as much is when you unsubscribe and still get the emails!
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http://www.providentpartners.net/blog Albert_Maruggi

OK OK, it's a legit complaint that can spin into the emotional reaction. What's the real issues here

1) a person needs to grow their business and meets lots of people. ASSumption “meeting people doesn't mean it's a lead” SOlution, if you are going to put them on an email list ask right then if they would like to receive your Yada Yada

2) Some people sign up for stuff they only want to suck the good ideas out and have no intention of being a client, then over time view the email as SPAM – naught y naughty SOlution “do the right thing and opt out

3) You want business right? that means you want a relationship right? ASSumption “you think every business card you get wants a relationship too” WRONG SOlution “work at it, send individual emails uniquely written, especially for the first several interactions. Then send them Chris' email and say “I never want you to feel like this guy. Here's a link to the type of content I put together on a (insert production schedule weekly, monthly periodically) then a line that says, I thought you might be interested in (insert a specific regular section of the content) conclude with “If you will find this useful or are in the market for these kinds of (insert product or service) I'm happy to send it. If not you can always follow on XYZ social site.

All the best,

Yada Yada

This I hope is a respectful way to bridge the gap between blatant spamming and a legitimate way to establish some type of efficient process to go from introduction to business

If nothing else the Yada Yada part makes them smile every time.
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http://www.shashi.name/ Shashib

Hi Chris,

This is very timely. I am now in email hell with newsletters . I will send this reply as I start unsubscirbing to them.

Shashi
http://cimmeronstudios.com/ Debbi Cunnington

Some email programs (Eudora used to do this, I think?) have the ability to BOUNCE these emails. I know that takes some time, but to me, it's sort of satisfying to know the email is BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCING back to them and hopefully…. that will get me off their database. :)
Rob

Great post.
I guess that as an aggressive marketer knowing the line is difficult.
I make very clear that when a visitor gets a quote on my website that I will follow up with them by email.

I get a lot of praise for the value in my follow up emails as well as the frequency with which I follow up. (not too much – not too little) That has taken years to perfect.

I also still get letters such as the ones in this post.
The person complaining entered their email address and name in to my website where I told them I was going to follow up by email.

I would appreciate a response like the one in this post as opposed to subscribers hitting the Spam button in AOL, MSN or Hotmail which simply gets me on their blacklists.

This is an interesting topic.
Thanks.
Rob

(If I click “Subscribe to all comments by email” below here – does that mean you're spamming me?)
http://jessruns.com/ Jessica

This is brilliant! I am going to copy and paste it and use it to unsubscribe to everyone who keeps spamming me! Thanks for the template!
http://www.rosssimmonds.com/ TheCoolestCool

That sounds like the Jokers doing..
http://www.the-generous-husband.com/ Paul Byerly

Rant long and loud on this, Chris. I work for a couple of non-profits, and I think anyone who has ever heard of either one thinks I really want their e-letters. Sigh.

Then there is the openly copied spam with some outdated or never true but of news. I always hit reply all and correct the person, which usually ends me getting mass copied to thing from them again.

Paul – not subscribing you to either e-letter
http://mobilearea.mobi/ adi mobile apps

its make our inbox like trash :(

i sometimes get more than 25 email for newlatter but i never register or submit to get this :(
julietaustin

Just to add my 2 cents to this, Duff. I'm not “famous”, although I have a decent sized list that I have built up over the last 8 or so years….and I get lots of people signing me up to their lists often because they signed up for mine. In my case, it's because of ignorance mostly. Many in my target market (therapists) are not tech savvy and they simply don't know the rules. Nevertheless, I wish they would figure them out if they are going to market on the Internet.
http://www.marketing-helper.com/ Jennifer Bailey

My Social Media discussion group talked about the article, read our conclusions

http://www.marketing-helper.com/2010/03/re-stop…
http://www.creatingluminaries.com/ Larissa Glueck

Hi Chris,

I can understand your points and that of many others here.

After all that complains I red I came to conclude it would be better to write about: How to create a valuable newsletter that people are eager to read.

I am sure some of you have their own newletter or found some valueable ones.

Let us turn that discussion around to create value:
for each of you having a newsletter
for all the people who get newsletters.
and for all the people who are eager to find valuable information.

Larissa
mmangen

Jennifer – I'm dying over here laughing about the ponies (I do love them). I got hit somehow over the weekend with someone who must have sold my email address – I've gotten at least 200 since Saturday and I swear I want to send this post to each of them…..I'm trying to blacklist them through my server but goodness gracious…..I'm out for blood now
http://www.sigmabizblog.com/ Jamie Gorman

After reading “Trust Agent” I would have thought you would take a more educational and revenue producing approach. At 50 newsletters a day, that's 1,000 opportunities a month (assuming monthly newsletters) to sell more books and generate more web traffic! For the malicious spammers there's nothing you can do, but for the folks who don't know any better, like I started out, a quick lesson and link to learning resources will be appreciated and gain you a fan for life.
Ron Donovan

Ok. I'm not famous and it's only me. I'm writing a newsletter, learning about email services, and what has to be done to produce and track the newsletter. I've got a small list and have never signed up anyone who I haven't asked first. But all of this is new to me.

Now, of course I'd like to get my writing into more people's hands. I don't want to spam anyone, so how do I do that?

There is a lot of talk about the rules, the etiquette, even the law in these comments. Is there a place to find these things out?

So how do In introduce myself to someone I don't know yet? Is the first email as much of an irritation and interruption as the first newsletter? So can I email you and invite you to subscribe (with a sample newsletter) or does that put me beyond the pale too? I'm only looking for people who I think might have an interest.

Has the internet killed the desire to meet new people? How do you walk across the room, on the internet or via email, and introduce yourself? If you saw someone in your field whose work you admired, how would you introduce them to your work?

I have to add that I was referred to your site by a friend who thought you were wonderful. But the first post I read was your “don't sign me up.” My first impression is that it was needlessly snarky, not very helpful for someone like me who isn't famous (I've had email for a long time, have subscribed to many newsletters and I just don't get newsletters that I haven't asked for) and smacks a little bit of the actors lament. “Gee, I spent my whole career becoming famous and now that I am, people who don't know me want to talk to me. It's so irritating.”

Alright, sorry. That was snarky too. But the whole world is in “opt-out” marketing mode. I can't drive to the store or walk across the street without seeing a bus or a truck with their marketing message.

Also, from this newsletter newbie point of view, I would be watching my list and sorting it to see which ones are never opened. I'd cull those rather than pay to keep them on my list. Unlike spam companies I have no interest in keeping my numbers artificially high.
http://www.popupbooster.com Alan Green

Are email newsletters still effective?
Who still reads those newsletters?
What news do they bring (of any interest) ?
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I think by the time he got to “incredibly smart and engaging”, his tongue was stuck in his cheek…
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Wow! I feel like this all the time. It annoys me sooo much. To the point that I tweet about it. I find it especially with people who are just starting in their business. Not cool people…not cool.
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Stop Adding Me to Your Email Newsletter

Please Remove Me From Your Email Newsletter

There You Have It

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