I Am Joe’s Email List – An Open Letter To Internet Marketers

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in Internet Marketing, Social Media, World According to Rick

I am joes emai list open letter to internet marketersHi,

I am Joe’s email list.

Joe calls me his list, his peeps, and sometimes just “the list.”

But, I am not a list, really, I am not a crowd, or an audience. I am not “everyone out there” as they teach new broadcasters to say.

I am me.

One single person with hopes, dreams, stresses and fears.

In many ways I am just like you – the way you describe yourself in your hungry years before you went to that life changing event, read the book, and started making money online.

I get email from you Joe.

I can’t remember for sure, but I think I “joined” one day when you offered a free report or video and I had to put my email address in – and confirm – in order to see it.

In my inbox, Joe, your email looks just like the personal emails I get from my daughter or son, and sometimes, sadly, from my ex.

Now that you’ve been sending me email – as well as some of your “good friends” – I have begun to be able to see in a glance that they are just offers, sometimes disguised as important messages, sometimes blatantly, not.

Whenever I see the word “this” in your subject lines, like – “this won’t last long” – or “have you seen this?” I know it’s an offer.

Since the Product Launch Formula I and especially II – I’m amazed at how many times per month I am literally inundated with emails from so many people all about the same exciting product.

They arrive over multiple days, culminating in a bonus orgy that is just overwhelming.

I read a clever post in a forum once, that “the bonuses are so comprehensive, it makes me wonder what is covered in the course, that is not already covered in the bonuses!”

That made me laugh.

I’m writing you today, to share something important about myself – and I hope you’ll take the time to consider my feelings, ok?

I have to get off of some of these lists.

The volume of email and the distraction of chasing the offers is just crippling my time, my focus, and my ability to get things done.

When Rick Butts asked his readers to consider unsubscribing from the people who sent you Stompernet Launch offers IF they had not provided any useful content in the last month – he really got me thinking.

Then Ed Dale made a video saying, basically, that no one is holding a gun to your head and that if you wanted to stop getting offers – stop bitching – and just unsubscribe.

But here’s the deal. I’d LIKE to learn from you Joe – and to be able to know that being on “your list” is valuable to me, my business, and my future.

So, please don’t think me a big whiner, I’m a customer, and here’s what I respectfully request:

1. Slow down the frequency of mailing to me, Joe.

Do not email me every day – that’s just way too much now.

2. Don’t mail me offers all the time.

I’m reading a lot more RSS feeds from bloggers who are putting out great content. If you are using Feedburner or Feedblitz or Aweber’s blog notification service that mails me when you update your blog – then, cool. I’m good with that.

3. If you do mail me an offer PLEASE don’t cut and paste the pre-written one from the creator of the product.
Do you know how stupid that makes you look to me? And, how insulting it is to get them from multiple people?

4. Try giving me some TRUTHINESS in your communiques to me.
If you are really making money in the non-marketing-to-Internet-marketers, then tell me some useful tips that are working for you. No, you don’t need to tell me your market niche but hey, every once in a while how about your show me how valuable I am to you buy sharing one of those SECRETS?

5. Show me some stuff that made less than $1,000,000.00.
I’d be immensely interested in real world examples of success I can get my head around. I’m never going to build a big list of “biz-op” peeps and hammer them with a big JV launch. Show me how I can make $500 a week – then be able to replace my income and quit my skank job.

6. Stop bragging about your zero-gravity dives and how you are spending my money in outrageous ways.
Trust me, this is a lot more fun for you, then it is for me to read about it. You may excuse it as “inspirational” but I dont’ even think that works in MLM anymore. It just annoys me. A little “high life” goes a long way and I’m more impressed by how Internet marketing lets you enjoy your family.

7. Please, please, please, for the love of God, stop participating in these dreadful launches!
Let me believe you are successful enough without having to bend over and schlup me and the rest of my list mates through your embarrassing attempt to get me to “buy from you” and help you win a contest.

The reason Rick Butts wrote about the 12 Biggest Whores, without naming anyone, is that we have all watched the emergence of about that many well known marketers who cross-promote each others stuff so regularly it is hard to imagine that they do anything else.

I think that gives you a pretty good idea of the kind of things that would make getting email from you valuable again – and persuade me not to unsubscribe from you forever.

Final thought…

The blowback from the “unsubscribe” and “launch fatigue” has been to accuse me and my list mates, the little people, of being whiners.

And while there is no shortage of whiners in the world, I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart – I am pleading with you to not dismiss me so easily.

What most of us really want is for you to provide us with value, treat us like a long term relationship, and we will, certainly reward you for helping us get to the next level.

Now back to check my email, I think there’s a Traffic Secrets 2.0 launch today?

Sincerely,
Joes List

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{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Dr. Dana Myatt July 16, 2008 at 10:42 pm

Please tell me where to find your instructions about how to get my icon (or picutre) in my posts? I know you did a post on it once but I can’t find it… (Dammit Marlon, I’m a doctor, not a web geek!)…;-)

2 Rick July 16, 2008 at 10:59 pm

Hey Dana – thanks for reminding me. I was going to post this again because so many people don’t have an icon showing up for their blog posts.

(Usually because even if they DO have a favicon – it is attached to a different email address than they used to comment).

Here’s the post!
http://rickbutts.com/246/gravatarscom-how-to-get-your-picture-on-lots-of-blogs/

3 Gary C. July 17, 2008 at 3:45 am

Hello again Rick,

One question please. What is going on? I know the article on Joe’s e-mail list was great but what gives.

Lately my e-mail box is crammed full of e-mails form some guy named Rick Butts! Is this a copy-cat or is it truly you? Are you trying to join the ranks of the scuzzy Gurus? Is this a big lesson or joke on all of us?

Should I unsubscribe to your list to get you to stop? Just kidding, I’m not. Pretty please, knock it off.:>)

I like you and your information but this is so unlike you that I am beginning to wonder if your record player needle (remember those?)is stuck.

Keep the good stuff coming. Its time for a new song. I will stay subscribed and hope that you will return to e-mails of value.:0) Thanks Rick!

4 Rick July 17, 2008 at 4:25 am

Gary,

I’m not sure what you are talking about.

The only list I use is one that notifies subscribers when new content is posted here?

I’m sure as heck not mailing offers.

5 Kim Harrison July 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

I think Gary needs to just unsubscribe to the comments.

6 Rick July 17, 2008 at 10:50 am

Thank you to Kim Harrison

To EVERYONE…

Comment notifications are sent auto-magically – I’m not bombarding you with email.

One of the cool features of blogging – for helping people participate in the discussions.

You can stop getting these email updates on a per post basis by following the link at the bottom of the email notification post.

Thanks,
Rick

7 Ryan Healy July 17, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Rick – Great post. My favorite excerpt from your article (because I’m a copywriting nerd)…

Whenever I see the word “this” in your subject lines, like – “this won’t last long” – or “have you seen this?” I know it’s an offer.

Ryan Healys last blog post..What Is Hype?

8 Rick July 17, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Hey Ryan – yeah the word “this” is a dead giveaway. It’s shorthand for “I don’t have enough room in the subject line to describe the offer – so I’ll bait you with a vague pronoun to get you to open the email.”

I’m looking at some meeting space over at Belleview and I-25 by Pappadeaux for us to have a Colorado meetup of profit minded Internet marketers here in Denver.

Talk soon, Rick

9 Gary C. July 17, 2008 at 11:44 pm

Rick,

I apologize! Now I understand the numerous e-mails.
Thanks for explaining it. Go for it.

It is nice to see your e-mail about Joe’s list become a classic of what needs to be corrected. I hope it wakes up a sleeping and obtrusive Giant!

10 Vicki Flaugher July 18, 2008 at 5:34 am

Rick,

Over the last several months, I too have been slowly unsubscribing from email lists, mostly for the perpetual pitch (with no other value add info ever) and also aggressive techniques. I buy lots of stuff, but very very little of it is impulsive items that cost thousands of dollars. I’m a bit of a researcher and I like to check stuff out a little before I buy. But, I do buy.

I did a piece on how IMers are making some terrible mistakes marketing to women. If you want to check it out, you can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/5eyvv2. Even though I have received mucho traffic from writing that particular piece, my About Me page still ranks the highest in traffic volume. Conclusion? People care about being treated like people and want to know you as one! They don’t want to be treated like a piece of meat.

Thanks for a great post. Love it!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

p.s. For the record, I like affiliate progams. I just think their promotion should be done more skillfully within the context of a marketer’s content providing. Lots of people do it and it works.

11 Rick July 18, 2008 at 10:41 am

Hey Gary –

Yeah, it never occurred to me that if you were subscribed to multiple conversations when one of these comment things really took off – that you’d be getting bombarded with emails.

But, really these are only notifications. They don’t require any thought, just choose to come see what’s going on or not.

And, in Gmail at least, they all stack up to show multiple posts to a thread so they don’t take up the whole Inbox.

Thanks
Rick

12 Richard July 18, 2008 at 11:22 am

While we are venting… ;)

There’s another thing that really bothers me about getting product launch recommendations from the big guru names. I would be really pissed if I was a paying member of Immediate Edge or Stompernet and then got a letter asking me to buy someone else’s product. Screw that… that’s what I’m paying you for! I would expect those guys to buy the product, find the important and innovative ideas and then change what they are teaching.

Since I’m NOT a member of a guru site, I would still expect guys like Ed Dale (who I love) to focus on their product. Tell me how the new product compares to what is being taught to Immediate Edge members. Tell me why it wouldn’t be better for me to just join the Edge for 4 months rather than buy John’s product. But since they get paid either way, I guess they don’t have to make the effort.

13 Rick July 18, 2008 at 1:26 pm

Richard

This is an EXCELLENT point that I hadn’t considered.

If you offer a comprehensive “course” or a membership site that has a web marketing strategy you are teaching – the only reason to mail your list to try a conflicting strategy or course – is whoring out for the money.

1 – Few people have the capacity or time to do multiple strategies – at least the people buying a course to LEARN a particular strategy to make money online.

2 – If they are enrolled you YOUR system – and you encourage them to buy another one – they are 10 times less likely to do either one – overload and guilt set in as you sit down in front of your computer to figure out what to do today.

3 – I’m all for making money online – and I love making an affiliate promotion.

But how about having a central theme, something you stand for and believe in – and not just slinging out the next new shiny object for a buck.

14 Melody Campbell, The Small Business Guru July 19, 2008 at 11:14 pm

Were you reading my mind? There was just a big product launch, you might recognize it, something about traffic. I dreaded checking my email. Even people that I normally like receiving emails from were trying to get me to purchase JR’s Traffic Product.

I endured. I think the contest must be over because it’s back to normal.

Thank you for speaking up for all the “Joe’s” and “Jane’s”.

Melody Campbell, The Small Business Gurus last blog post..Affiliate Marketing: Create Multiple Streams of Income

15 JK Swopes July 24, 2008 at 11:11 am

hahahahaha….yes, this is classic.

You know, I really can’t stand when people copy and past the “recommended emails”. It’s lazy!

Even if you are promoting something, let me know what YOU think, not what the creator told you that you think.

Product launches are pretty funny, everyone with an email from “their friend” that has the “best product to hit the net” only to get another round from the same folks next week telling me about the newest “best product on the net”.

I’ve talked about this a few times, and I go through regular purging of my mailing lists. If all you do is promote stuff for me to buy, then I will promptly unsubscribe.

I know people will promote, it’s all a matter of how. If I hit reply and you respond, I usually stay on the list a lot longer.

If nothing you send sounds like it comes from a real person, then, I find myself leaving.

There is an art to it….I just prefer to treat my mailing list the same as I do my blog readers or people in general.

I stay being myself, talk like I do, and if I think something is worth buying, I’ll tell you about it.

16 Reba Collins November 21, 2008 at 9:16 am

Rick, you are SPOT ON with this article. I’m fairly new to the current IM scene having taken a break a few years ago by taking on a day job. I’m back now and it’s unbelievable how these marketers treat their potential customers. In the off-line world, it would NEVER fly.

Thank you for your insightful post, even though I’m a few months late to respond.

Reba

17 Theresa Kruger January 16, 2009 at 5:22 pm

OMG this is sooo true. Thanks for saying it like it is. I finally had to open a new email account due to all the newsletter sign ups filling up my inbox. It’s absolutely ridiculous and very distracting. I’m going to be sick if I hear of one more pre-launch buzz!

18 Brian Foley June 12, 2009 at 1:05 pm

Rick,
You have saved me countless hours since I first read your ideas about unsubscribing from the hucksters.
Every now and then I take a peek at there stuff again, but within a week I’m inundated. I’m going to take ten minutes to save some hours again, right now, and unsubscribe from the usual suspects.

Thanks again,
Brian (a.k.a. Professor Homunculus at The Math Mojo Chronicles)

19 Erin aka netkickstart June 12, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Amen! I wrote a similar missive from the perspective of “JV” lists a while back on my blog in a post called On The Abuse Of JV Lists.

20 David Glendinning June 12, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Great article Rick. I love your contrarian view… and credit to you for sticking your neck out and speaking your mind… there’s not many that do that.

Today is another launch day and I’m clearing my inbox of all the clutter. And you’re right… I’ve had no real content from most of them for some time… maybe they’re just too busy going through all the great strategies they get from the products they buy. It must be great because they keep telling me about it and why I should buy it as well.

Keep at it Rick.

David

David Glendinnings last blog post..Salon Copywriting – Persuasive Words That Sell

21 Jim June 13, 2009 at 6:39 am

Talk about instant loss of credibility,…when I get a review of a product by a “Guru” for his good “friend’s” latest and greatest… and he fails to tell me there is an exit offer sometimes $10, $20 off the regular price.

If I am so important as a customer and his friends offer is so great you would think he/she would let me know to not buy from the sales page but exit first for a big discount?

Now I always exit any sales page first to test for “wait don’t leave” discounts…my guess is about 75% of the products in the lower price ranges ($17-$150) will have an exit offer discount.

I have had only one IM person (Guru) who warns of the exit discount…I wouldn’t think of leaving his list.

Jims last blog post..

22 Rick June 13, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Martin Luther once asked – “If the Pope has the power to get people out of purgatory – why does he ask peasants to pay to get their relatives out? Why doesn’t he just get everyone out?”

Q: If the little circle of people who relentlessly mail offers to you (dear friend) to buy overpriced digital products from (their friends) really believed you were friends – why wouldn’t they just give you a straight link – with no affiliate commission?

A: I’ll tell you why – because they wouldn’t ever send you that email.

Q: Why do people who claim to be making millions relentlessly bomb your inbox with hypie offers?

A: Greed.

23 Russ June 17, 2009 at 11:56 pm

I really enjoyed this post Rick. I love the way you succinctly and masterfully nail the issue and expose the folly and ridicule of it all.
Well done,.. will RT this one!
Cheers
Russ “RussRave” Hall (AKA “The 58 Classic”)

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