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

I’m SO thrilled.

I also gained 278 new subscribers in the last six days.

What this means is that I’m better defining my newsletter to appeal to the people who will follow me through the next big story arc, through the next big change. It means that people are self-defining, and that they are along for the ride for what we’re experimenting with, and what findings I’ll share with them.

If you’re counting to see who has the most, and if you’re counting only growth, you’re missing an important point. Growth isn’t important. Valuable growth is important. Getting your email newsletter tuned up to serve your desired community is what matters.

Make sense?

What do you like (or NOT like) about the newsletter? What are you doing with your own communities? How are you tuning everything up?

I’m doing all those things wrong on my email newsletter.

Blogs are a whole different matter. Those are where we can expound, should we feel the need. But even then, thinking with brevity in mind has a great opportunity to pay off.

Delivering the payload of an idea briefly is a really great benefit to your audience.

Do you agree?

Photo credit, Maui aina

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Prefer to get my posts in email?

(There’s not a chance of spam. I don’t even get your email address when you subscribe that way. I’ll spam you other ways. :) )

Finally, if you want even MORE information (completely different than what you find here), there’s also a free newsletter. It comes out twice a month.

I’m glad you’re here, and thanks for your support. The people who comment and spend time at [chrisbrogan.com] are some of the best, most engaged people in social media that you’ll meet on your journey. Believe me, the folks leaving comments could give keynotes on social media and hold there own (heck, some do!).

Thank you. I’m so glad you’ve given me your time and attention. More to come.

Photo credit, alosh bennett

1.) I sent mail via the address you provided me by agreeing to link to me via LinkedIn.
2.) I sent an introduction to a service I thought you might want, because you’re in my circle of contacts and because for me, they’re one in the same (my passions about social media, and my contact list).
3.) I sent the introduction with a clear opt-out option so that you could choose to never receive emails from me in that format again (per the canned spam) law.

I use Blue Sky Factory for my email distributions because they have a high standard of what goes out from their platform. They are up front with how they deal with perceptions of spamming, so because I’ve followed their recommended methods for sending an introduction to such an email, I feel that I’ve done it “appropriately.”

Is every email you didn’t ask for spam? No. Is asking someone who considers themselves in my professional circle whether they want to also receive my newsletter spam? No.

There’s a huge difference between spam and “I didn’t want this.”

Or I think there is.

What’s your take? Let’s talk about it here.