Everyone gets unsolicited email and I’m no exception. It’s usually from complete strangers but sometimes it’s from people I know (or knew), who apparently believe that because I know them, or subscribed to their list at some point or bought something from them in the past, it’s okay to continue to send me offers even though I opted out or never opted in.
It’s not okay. It’s annoying, and doesn’t make me want to do business with them. No matter how attractive their offers might be.
Why do they go to the bother? Because they get enough response to their offers to be profitable and not enough complaints to deter them.
Word to the wise. Don’t be that guy. Don’t send unsolicited commercial email, even if it works.
For one thing, it may violate the rules of professional conduct and anti-spam laws in some countries.
It’s okay to send a personal email to someone you don’t know, inquiring about or inviting them to something you have reason to believe might interest them, but don’t sign them up for your newsletter or put them on an email list.
But also don’t be that guy who refuses to offer free information (or services) because you don’t want to be tarnished with the same brush as those spammers. Offering free information or services to people who ask for it is not only a respectable way to market your services, it’s a great way to market your services.
It can help you get more inquires or leads, more sign-ups for your seminar or followers for your channel, help you build a bigger and more responsive mailing list, and bring you a lot of new clients.
Just use a little common sense. And treat people the way you’d like to be treated.
Always tell people what you will do with their email when they sign up, e.g., subscribe them to your newsletter or send them your report, and also what you won’t do, e.g., spam them or sell their email address to third parties. Tell them you respect their privacy and they can opt out at any time.
Your prospects and clients will respect you for respecting them, and reward you for it.
