Got an email recently from a business consultant who contacts me a few times a year.
That’s her first mistake. A few times a year and people forget who you are or why they signed up on your list. Or IF you signed up on your list.
But I remembered her and didn’t send her email to spam.
Unfortunately, even though we’ve spoken, she didn’t remember me.
Her email started like this: “Hi David”.
So far, so good.
Then it said, “As a female entrepreneur or professional who provides a service paid by the hour, or by the session, I would love your thoughts.
I am doing important research about business women like you and would much appreciate 15 minutes of your time.”
Yeah, not female, don’t charge by the hour, don’t have sessions.
And that’s why I usually don’t segment my lists and when I do, I keep it simple.
Because if you make a mistake, you lose credibility and subscribers.
Put me on a list of professionals or consultants or brilliant minds, we’re good. Put me on a list of people who haven’t bought, ditto.
Or, put me on one list, along with all of your subscribers, and don’t sweat the details.
Then you can write, “If you’re a female entrepreneur. . .”
And not worry about making a mistake (or trying to clean up your lists after you hear from a bunch of subscribers who are on the wrong list.)
Now. . . don’t misunderstand.
When you do segment your lists and you know precisely to whom you’re speaking, it’s good to be able to show them you know who they are and what they do.
When you write to a niche market, for example, you want to talk about issues that pertain to that market. You want to use industry-specific terms and tell stories about people in that niche.
When you do that, your readers see that you “get” them and you often get a higher response.
Just be careful. Make sure you haven’t messed up your lists.
And if you’re not sure, make sure you say, “If. . .”.
