In the last few weeks, I’ve been opting out of email newsletters, with which some of my colleagues have been marketing for years. I have to admit, I feel a little guilty as the email opt-out screens pop up and I answer “why?” to my friends and colleagues. Yes, I actually take the time time to provide an explanation!
A few days ago I watched Seth Godin’s presentation, Sliced bread and other marketing delights. Spend 18+ minutes and watch this – I love the part where he says people don’t want email, they want “me-mail.” And, that is exactly where I am at. I am listening to radio station WIIFM, aka “what’s in it for me.” At any time, I can probably find what I need online or ask my online connections to help me. Pushing emails at me on your time schedule (not on mine) is a waste of time.
I solved the email-opt-out-guilt problem. Instead of writing that I was “so sorry to opt out because email became too much for me,” I now write, “I’m cutting back on email. Can we connect on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn instead?”
