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If You're a Professional Then GET MY NAME RIGHT!!!!

by Sheryl Polomka
68 replies
Hey {firstname_fix},

One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
#professional
  • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
    Well, don't get on my list then...LOL.

    I sent everyone an email last week and they were ALL called Tina.

    Talk about red-faced!

    Tina
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    • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
      Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

      Well, don't get on my list then...LOL.

      I sent everyone an email last week and they were ALL called Tina.

      Talk about red-faced!

      Tina
      I'm on your list, Tina, and I didn't notice that! Probably because when I get an email from you I go straight to the content to see what you've got to say.
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    • Profile picture of the author K_tir
      Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

      Well, don't get on my list then...LOL.

      I sent everyone an email last week and they were ALL called Tina.

      Talk about red-faced!

      Tina
      lol....
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    • Profile picture of the author JasonParker
      Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

      Well, don't get on my list then...LOL.

      I sent everyone an email last week and they were ALL called Tina.

      Talk about red-faced!

      Tina
      lol... ya I hear ya Tina.

      Don't get on my list if you expect me not to make a mistake here and there.

      To me that has nothing to do with professionalism, just human error.
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    • Profile picture of the author DawnMarie
      Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

      Well, don't get on my list then...LOL.

      I sent everyone an email last week and they were ALL called Tina.

      Talk about red-faced!

      Tina
      I wonder what your open rate was on that - have you checked? Because if people are thinking they're somehow reading someone else's mail, your open rate could actually go up (human nature, people are nosey!)

      Who know's, you may have a new marketing technique on your hands.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom B
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!

    I absolutely agree, Charlie.
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  • Profile picture of the author satrap
    Yeah it is kind of wired especially coming from marketers who have been around for a while. From newbies, you may expect a mistake like that, but someone who claims to be a professional marketer, shouldn't make such simple mistakes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by satrap View Post

      Yeah it is kind of wired especially coming from marketers who have been around for a while. From newbies, you may expect a mistake like that, but someone who claims to be a professional marketer, shouldn't make such simple mistakes.
      Sooner or later, you, too, will make a simple mistake. Just because someone has been around for a while doesn't make them perfect. And you know what? Most mistakes ARE simple like that.

      Tina
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    • Profile picture of the author Rich Blondi
      Originally Posted by satrap View Post

      Yeah it is kind of wired especially coming from marketers who have been around for a while. From newbies, you may expect a mistake like that, but someone who claims to be a professional marketer, shouldn't make such simple mistakes.
      I couldn't agree more satrap. The only thing stupider than a mistake like that is spelling the word "GUARANTEE" wrong not once, but twice in your own signature. Only a completely brain dead dope could manage that one, eh?

      Like they say, when you point a finger, there's always some pointing back at you.

      Rich
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom B
        Banned
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        • Profile picture of the author Battra
          Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

          The Rob guy - I think I went to school with him I remember a guy at school who's name was Robert and he himself always spelled it Rodert - so we all called him Rodert!
          Considering the other word you can use to call him, that was very nice of you

          Originally Posted by Rich Blondi View Post

          I couldn't agree more satrap. The only thing stupider than a mistake like that is spelling the word "GUARANTEE" wrong not once, but twice in your own signature. Only a completely brain dead dope could manage that one, eh?
          Actually I just PMed a fellow warrior who mis-spelled 'guarantee' on his sales page. I guess sometimes it's like when you are taking exam, 1 + 1 = 3 no matter how many times you check, until after the bell rings.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Ok, firstnamefix,

    Will do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    Nice post firstname_fix,

    but come on....everyone makes mistakes
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  • Profile picture of the author CyberSorcerer
    It's all ok unless when I check paypal it says $27 paid by firstname_fix
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Baker
    I agree! It only takes an extra minute or two to test the email before sending it out.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ralph Moore
      It isn't always the marketer. Sometimes it is the software.

      I ran Autoresponse Plus (ARP) for a number of years. It has a default setting of "Friend", or something similar, that you can set as a backup default setting in case the First Name field is left blank.

      All I can say is with the Internet, email databases, software and people...

      sometimes stuff happens.

      (But usually it's the marketer)
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Someone wrote to me to ask why I called him Dipwhistle in all my emails to him. I explained that he must have signed up using that name.

    He seemed kind of embarrassed when he wrote back, saying he sort of remembers using it because he just wanted the freebie and planned on unsubscribing, but liked the content and stuck around. He'd forgotten that.

    I told him he could change it by clicking the link at the end of each email, but he said he'd grown to like it, so he gets called Dipwhistle all the time.

    I have a bunch of Aunt Fred's on my list too. I used to have that prepopulate the name field, so if they didn't change it, that's their name on my list.

    Sincerely, {firstname_fix},
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    • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Someone wrote to me to ask why I called him Dipwhistle in all my emails to him. I explained that he must have signed up using that name.

      He seemed kind of embarrassed when he wrote back, saying he sort of remembers using it because he just wanted the freebie and planned unsubscribing but liked the content and stuck around. He'd forgotten that.

      I told him he could change it by clicking the link at the end of each email, but he said he grew to like it, so he gets called Dipwhistle all the time.

      I have a bunch of Aunt Fred's on my list too. I used to have that prepopulate the name field, so if they didn't change it, that's their name on my list.

      Sincerely, {firstname_fix},
      LOL, maybe when I sign up to lists I should just sign up as {firstname_fix}
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    • Profile picture of the author M Thompson
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Someone wrote to me to ask why I called him Dipwhistle in all my emails to him. I explained that he must have signed up using that name.
      Yeah i can relate to that, i stopped using any personalization after i called someone F**kwit.

      As a by product of leaving out the name part in signup forms I've seen a small increase in conversions....


      While we are on the subject of sending emails one thing I learned early on... never start an email with a question i.e How are you today or Did you enjoyed the report i sent ?

      Because you then need to spend 5 hours answering the emails you get answering the question! Don't ask me how i know
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Someone wrote to me to ask why I called him Dipwhistle in all my emails to him. I explained that he must have signed up using that name.

      He seemed kind of embarrassed when he wrote back, saying he sort of remembers using it because he just wanted the freebie and planned on unsubscribing, but liked the content and stuck around. He'd forgotten that.

      I told him he could change it by clicking the link at the end of each email, but he said he'd grown to like it, so he gets called Dipwhistle all the time.

      I have a bunch of Aunt Fred's on my list too. I used to have that prepopulate the name field, so if they didn't change it, that's their name on my list.

      Sincerely, {firstname_fix},
      I often sign up to lists with fake names, mostly for tracking purposes. If I sign up to a list for traffic tips under the name "Dopey" and then I start getting emails addressed to Dopey from other pen names or marketeers for unrelated products, that tells me a lot about the marketer.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gavin Abeyratne
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Someone wrote to me to ask why I called him Dipwhistle in all my emails to him. I explained that he must have signed up using that name.

      He seemed kind of embarrassed when he wrote back, saying he sort of remembers using it because he just wanted the freebie and planned on unsubscribing, but liked the content and stuck around. He'd forgotten that.

      I told him he could change it by clicking the link at the end of each email, but he said he'd grown to like it, so he gets called Dipwhistle all the time.

      I have a bunch of Aunt Fred's on my list too. I used to have that prepopulate the name field, so if they didn't change it, that's their name on my list.

      Sincerely, {firstname_fix},
      LOL. this made my day
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      • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
        Tina, sounds like you have a theme going on there with colors as last names.
        It gets better. Golden is my birth name and Black was my first husband's name. We were high school sweethearts and graduated together.

        Wanna guess what the school colors were?

        Tina
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  • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
    Yeah everyone makes mistakes, I just seem to be getting a lot of these lately. I mustn't be on your list Tina because I didn't get any addressed to Tina

    And as Mike says - don't people test their emails before sending them out???
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

      don't people test their emails before sending them out???
      I test every email and every link in it.

      Last night, I still sent out 600 emails that... according to reports from the field... cannot be read on Firefox. The email simply appears blank. Since I don't use Firefox, I had no idea this would happen. Since I am reading the test email on the same GMail site most of my users do, I had no idea this would happen.

      So am I supposed to test every browser and every email reader, too?
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      • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        I test every email and every link in it.

        Last night, I still sent out 600 emails that... according to reports from the field... cannot be read on Firefox. The email simply appears blank. Since I don't use Firefox, I had no idea this would happen. Since I am reading the test email on the same GMail site most of my users do, I had no idea this would happen.

        So am I supposed to test every browser and every email reader, too?
        Well no I wouldn't expect you to do that. I was just having a rant because I'd just received an email with this 'firstname_fix' and had received heaps lately and it irked me - just a rant!
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  • Profile picture of the author indiatext
    its is something which one won't like for sure...but please don't be hyper...its really ok untill and unless the email is worthy to read...
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    Sheryl,

    Just checked my AWeber thingie. The "personalization" field option can use any of the following, assuming the appropriate field has be included in the form used to capture the name by the mailer.




    So Sheryl, it could have been worse. They could have begun...


    Dear {!ad_tracking}, I want to thank you personally for signing up!

    Your information will be safe and I will never share your name with others.

    And please, {!signdate_long}, if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate emailing me.

    Thanks Again, {!date_sd+1}. Look forward to a meaningful relationship!

    Talk soon!
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    • Profile picture of the author garyv
      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      What is that custom_fix clickbank id variable? I've never seen it before and curious as to its function.....Google gives me nothing!
      I think aweber allows you to add custom variables. That is probably a custom variable.
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    Dear firstname_fix,
    I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for ranting about my inability to send properly the email I wish for you to act upon. datesign_long I wish that all subscribers could be like you and relish the fact that you stand out tops above the rest of my firstname_fixes if you don't mind, could you share a little about your success in doing so that I may share with all of my firstname_fixes in the im world?
    thanks in advance Personalization_firstname

    now sheryl the thing is that some ar's screw up not the person sending them test or no test mail I know some who have sent out emails detailing great things only to have a link and a line of text with unsub link in it.
    Sometimes technology as great as it is FAILS epically
    cheers
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  • Profile picture of the author Sagar Mehta
    The OP does have a point, but yes, mistakes happen.

    Personally, I don't mind the occasional 'firstname_fix' as long as it's fixed the next time

    I wonder though, what would it be like if people talked like that in person? I, for one, would hit the guy after he's called me that twice

    Regards,
    Sagar
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  • Profile picture of the author enSo
    My theory is that people rarely use their real first names when signing up to a newletter so using the first name variables just makes it all the more weird.
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    • Profile picture of the author Diana Lane
      Originally Posted by enSo View Post

      My theory is that people rarely use their real first names when signing up to a newletter so using the first name variables just makes it all the more weird.
      I don't think any of my friends refer to me as 'Diana' in their subject lines - they assume I know the e-mail is intended for me because it's hitting my inbox. They just bung in something quick and descriptive and press the 'Send' button. I don't think I do any different either. Nothing says 'marketing e-mail' louder to me than something that has my name in the subject line, especially since most of the people I know in real life just shorten my name anyway.

      Never mind, Sheryl. All you need to do to redress the balance is release a crash hot product with a crash hot affiliate program. Chances are, the marketer who dismisses you as !firstname_fix will immediately think warmly of you as 'my valued friend' and will send out lots of e-mails to his list to tell everyone
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  • Profile picture of the author HiAbby
    Oddly enough, I typically get better conversions when I ask for email only. I'm so used to seeing emails with my name that I am almost way more likely to click on something that's like "yo, did you check this out yet?"

    <3 Abby Elaina
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    • Profile picture of the author pappyy3
      I don't mind those kinds of errors. I just forward the email to {Firstname_fix} to make sure they don't miss any important messages from the sender -- problem solved
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  • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
    That's a great thing though? They were probably thrilled that you asked and had some real personalisation in there - made you appear approachable. If you replied to all of them then their opinion of you would have grown too.
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  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    that's right. I totally agree. Get the the name right sheesh.
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  • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
    Sheryl,

    My pet peeve is a related one that you might share, since you also have a first name that can be spelled more than one way.

    It really irks me when someone has my name spelled correctly right in front of them and then they type in, "Hi Marsha," which in your case would be "Hi, Cheryl."

    It doesn't take more than 5 seconds to make sure you are spelling a person's name the way they spell it... which is the proper way.

    Marcia (not Marsha) Yudkin
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    • Profile picture of the author M Thompson
      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post


      Marcia (not Marsha) Yudkin
      Consider yourself lucky out of about 80 people who go to the local bar here 8 are called, Mark

      I was in a skype group chat with 5 people today 3 were called: Mark

      I'd love a name that is at least a bit unique ..

      Call me Mark Or Marc just make sure it's me you want when you call
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by M Thompson View Post

        Consider yourself lucky out of about 80 people who go to the local bar here 8 are called, Mark

        I was in a skype group chat with 5 people today 3 were called: Mark

        I'd love a name that is at least a bit unique ..

        Call me Mark Or Marc just make sure it's me you want when you call
        You think you got it bad?

        Try being a Mike or Michael!!!!

        I seriously can't the number of times I've been in public and heard somebody say "hey Mike", only to discover AFTER saying "hey" back that they were talking to somebody else.

        D'oh!

        At one of the places where I used to work, when I used to have a boss, 60% of the people in my department were named Mike.

        However, it's my last name that has been the source of the most problems. It's ONLY 4 LETTERS!!! And I have heard it mispronounced in countless ways. (It's pronounced OAK-suh; like 'okra' with an 's'). Now, I can understand thinking the 'o' is the short vowel sound, but Oska, Okska, Osaka, Orca, Okasa, Okasuh, Okseola, Ahsko, are just a few I have heard over the years.

        My guess is that only 5% get it right on their first attempt. Also, it never fails...when talking to somebody over the phone that needs my last name, I will say "Oksa". They then say, "how do you spell that?" I reply with, "O-K-S-A"...and this is what ALWAYS happens, they say "oh, just like it sounds".

        Idiots!

        </rant>

        LOL

        But I still like my name.

        All the best,
        Michael
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        • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
          My guess is that only 5% get it right on their first attempt. Also, it never fails...when talking to somebody over the phone that needs my last name, I will say "Oksa". They then say, "how do you spell that?" I reply with, "O-K-S-A"...and this is what ALWAYS happens, they say "oh, just like it sounds".
          At least your last name is slightly unusual, so it is understandable being asked to spell it. My last name used to be "Black" and I can't tell you how many people would ask me how to spell it.

          "Um...like the color?" was usually my reply, in my best "yes, you ARE a moron" voice.

          Tina
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          • Profile picture of the author Tony Shepherd
            Originally Posted by cosmokid View Post

            Tina, sounds like you have a theme going on there with colors as last names.

            My last name is Shepherd and even when I'm talking to someone who went to Sunday school every week, telling them, "You know, as in 'The Lord is my...." doesn't help them to spell it right. Most people, it turns out, don't know how to spell the actual word.
            I know where you're coming from with that one mate!

            Tony Shepherd / Shepperd / Shepard......
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        • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
          Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

          You think you got it bad?

          Try being a Mike or Michael!!!!

          I seriously can't the number of times I've been in public and heard somebody say "hey Mike", only to discover AFTER saying "hey" back that they were talking to somebody else.

          D'oh!

          At one of the places where I used to work, when I used to have a boss, 60% of the people in my department were named Mike.

          However, it's my last name that has been the source of the most problems. It's ONLY 4 LETTERS!!! And I have heard it mispronounced in countless ways. (It's pronounced OAK-suh; like 'okra' with an 's'). Now, I can understand thinking the 'o' is the short vowel sound, but Oska, Okska, Osaka, Orca, Okasa, Okasuh, Okseola, Ahsko, are just a few I have heard over the years.

          My guess is that only 5% get it right on their first attempt. Also, it never fails...when talking to somebody over the phone that needs my last name, I will say "Oksa". They then say, "how do you spell that?" I reply with, "O-K-S-A"...and this is what ALWAYS happens, they say "oh, just like it sounds".

          Idiots!

          </rant>

          LOL

          But I still like my name.

          All the best,
          Michael
          I know what you mean Michael - everyone spells my surname wrong and everyone asks how to spell it. When you look at it, it is spelled exactly as it's pronounced - it really isn't that hard!
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          • Profile picture of the author David Uebergang
            Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

            I know what you mean Michael - everyone spells my surname wrong and everyone asks how to spell it. When you look at it, it is spelled exactly as it's pronounced - it really isn't that hard!
            LOL I say that as well but it doesn't make people spell or pronounce it right.

            It can be funny receiving letters addressed to "Mr. Ugang" - lost in translation?

            Nonetheless I love my last name and some pretty sweet nicknames have come out of it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

      Sheryl,

      My pet peeve is a related one that you might share, since you also have a first name that can be spelled more than one way.

      It really irks me when someone has my name spelled correctly right in front of them and then they type in, "Hi Marsha," which in your case would be "Hi, Cheryl."

      It doesn't take more than 5 seconds to make sure you are spelling a person's name the way they spell it... which is the proper way.

      Marcia (not Marsha) Yudkin
      Yes Marcia I get Cheryl all the time and another one I often get is Sherly - which I know is probably just a mistake in typing - dyslexic typing, I suffer from that myself quite a bit!

      But yes I do get the Cheryl all the time even if they have my name in front of them with the correct spelling.
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    • Profile picture of the author MerlynSanchez
      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

      Sheryl,

      My pet peeve is a related one that you might share, since you also have a first name that can be spelled more than one way.

      It really irks me when someone has my name spelled correctly right in front of them and then they type in, "Hi Marsha," which in your case would be "Hi, Cheryl."

      It doesn't take more than 5 seconds to make sure you are spelling a person's name the way they spell it... which is the proper way.

      Marcia (not Marsha) Yudkin
      I know I have an unusual name but people seem to have an unusual amount of difficulty spelling or pronouncing it.

      I could understand spelling my name, "Merlin" but it also gets spelled as Marilyn, Merlene, Marlin, and practically every other variation under the sun.

      And the same thing when people try to pronounce it. Does "Merlyn" look like it would be pronounced "Marilyn"?

      And of course, 9 times out of 10, I'm addressed as Mr.!

      LOL!
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  • Profile picture of the author testaccount1234567
    At least that is just a technical error, this has literally happened to me on a handful of occasions when I will be either PMing or emailing people:

    bla bla bla
    Cheers,
    Tristan

    Hey Christian,

    Thanks for getting back to me bla bla bla
    lol
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    • Profile picture of the author TristanPerry
      Originally Posted by Tristan Bull View Post

      At least that is just a technical error, this has literally happened to me on a handful of occasions when I will be either PMing or emailing people:



      lol
      I get that a lot too

      Christian, Tristian, etc.
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      • Profile picture of the author Battra
        Originally Posted by M Thompson View Post

        Yeah i can relate to that, i stopped using any personalization after i called someone F**kwit.

        As a by product of leaving out the name part in signup forms I've seen a small increase in conversions....
        Maybe I should only ask for email. Not sure how someone would react if my email says 'Hi Mickey Mouse'.

        Originally Posted by M Thompson View Post

        While we are on the subject of sending emails one thing I learned early on... never start an email with a question i.e How are you today or Did you enjoyed the report i sent ?

        Because you then need to spend 5 hours answering the emails you get answering the question! Don't ask me how i know
        Good to know! Thanks for the tips

        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        It really irks me when someone has my name spelled correctly right in front of them and then they type in, "Hi Marsha," which in your case would be "Hi, Cheryl."
        Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

        However, it's my last name that has been the source of the most problems. It's ONLY 4 LETTERS!!! And I have heard it mispronounced in countless ways.
        I hear you! My first name is only 4 letters and it's been abused to death including by telemarketers who can forget about getting business from me ever. My last name, on the other hand, is 10 letters and no one outside my country can spell it right

        And I know a person who couldn't even spell 'Rob'. This guy kept saying 'Rod' no matter how many times I corrected him :rolleyes:

        Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

        I often sign up to lists with fake names, mostly for tracking purposes. If I sign up to a list for traffic tips under the name "Dopey" and then I start getting emails addressed to Dopey from other pen names or marketeers for unrelated products, that tells me a lot about the marketer.
        I just unsubscribed today from a (supposedly well known) marketer who did just that, plus I suspect he's using fake address in the newsletter emails.

        Back to the topic, if it happens only once or twice then I'm sure it's an honest mistake. Some even gave wrong link, etc but they quickly send another email. Maybe the person was typing that email at 2am after chasing 2 young kids the whole day and doing household chores the whole night. Oh wait, no, that's just me.
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        • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
          Originally Posted by Battra View Post

          I hear you! My first name is only 4 letters and it's been abused to death including by telemarketers who can forget about getting business from me ever. My last name, on the other hand, is 10 letters and no one outside my country can spell it right

          And I know a person who couldn't even spell 'Rob'. This guy kept saying 'Rod' no matter how many times I corrected him :rolleyes:
          LOL I had a telemarketer ring the other day and ask for Mrs Polominika so I just said no-one by that name lives here and hung up

          The Rob guy - I think I went to school with him I remember a guy at school who's name was Robert and he himself always spelled it Rodert - so we all called him Rodert!


          Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

          I love how disgruntled people say "That's it, I'm unsubscribing." (Like in the grand scheme of things that really matters.)

          Demanding that they get your computer-generated name right is kind of odd.

          (Haha)
          And everyone else that thinks I'm wrong for unsubscribing - read the whole thread!!!! I have already mentioned this happened on a day when I was very stressed, I had a few of these emails come through prior to this one and so in the mood of the moment I wasn't happy!!!

          I also have already mentioned that I didn't unsubscribe just for this reason but I considered the mailing list that I was signed up to and hadn't had any real benefit from being on it so this was just the final straw that made me unsubscribe.
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  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},!
    Hey Sheryl,

    I am such a klutz, i had an error in my last email, just in case you missed reading it before, here it is again in all of its glory, please enjoy reading it for second time.

    wally wanker
    your old school dropkick marketer
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    | > Choosing to go off the grid for a while to focus on family, work and life in general. Have a great 2020 < |
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Maggs
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

      Yeah everyone makes mistakes, I just seem to be getting a lot of these lately. I mustn't be on your list Tina because I didn't get any addressed to Tina

      And as Mike says - don't people test their emails before sending them out???
      In my case, testing did no good. Because when I got the test mail, it said Hi Tina...so I thought it was done correctly and happily sent it off to that list.

      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      I'm on your list, Tina, and I didn't notice that! Probably because when I get an email from you I go straight to the content to see what you've got to say.
      Audrey, thanks for the compliment - you don't know how much that means! But I didn't do it with every list so you must be lucky enough not to have been on that one.

      Originally, I started with just asking for the email as I've always figured my market knows darn well these aren't personal mails. I've started a few with a name field just to see if there really is a difference like tons of people have told me.

      I think I should just go back to the email only optin. No chance of messing it up that way then.

      Tina
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      • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
        Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

        In my case, testing did no good. Because when I got the test mail, it said Hi Tina...so I thought it was done correctly and happily sent it off to that list.


        Tina
        Tina, I hope you didn't think I was aiming that sentence of 'don't people test their emails' at you - I wasn't. Now that I look at that post I did write it directly under my sentence to you - but I actually meant that about the 'firstname_fix' people And yes I can see how a test email for you would have looked correct
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    • Profile picture of the author DawnMarie
      Originally Posted by Rob Maggs View Post

      I quite like the name one of my subscribers signed up with... Guru

      So every mail sent to him goes Dear Guru, that one made me smile

      Ha! I've GOT to borrow that idea...

      Maybe I'll also join lists as "Miss Universe" and "Multi-millionaire" and "Miss Too Funny For Words" and ....

      This will make reading my inbox a whole lot more fun!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
    I know how you feel, Firstname_fix. I hate it when they don't capitalize my name too.
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    Dan also writes content for hire, but you can't afford him anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
    I stopped using {firstname_fix} in my IM lists 2 months ago and I haven't seen any ill-effect from going that route. Most folks in IM know that it's code anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.
    Well Sheryl, perhaps you signed up with both first and second names and the "professional" couldn't pronounce "Polomka".

    Maybe you should have married a Mr. Jones :p

    Just my thoughts,

    Jeff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    Why unsubscribe? It's not like you suddenly figured out that you were just one of many thousands on someone's list.

    I don't understand the reason for unsubscribing if you are an internet marketer.
    I guess this one just annoyed me because it came when I was stressed and it came after I'd received heaps of these lately. I wouldn't just unsubscribe if it was a list that I valued, but it was one that I don't need to be on and haven't received any value from, so I unsubscribed
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
      Banned
      I love how disgruntled people say "That's it, I'm unsubscribing." (Like in the grand scheme of things that really matters.)

      Demanding that they get your computer-generated name right is kind of odd.

      (Haha)
      Signature
      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author Adam Roy
    Ehh, accidents happen.

    BUT... BUT... Aweber does have that nifty little feature that allows you to send 'test' emails.

    If it doesn't get YOUR OWN NAME right, time for a redo!
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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    I have had good paying customers get my name wrong. I don't sweat it, but I make sure to keep repeating it in my replies.
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    It is okay to contact me! I have been developing software since 1999, creating many popular products like phpLD.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    I quit using the opening salutation variable a long time ago and never saw any negative. I start the email with a short strong sentence which is meant to pique their curiosity as gmail and many email programs will display part of the beginning of the email. So, I try to make best use of that line that they will skim to try and get them to open the email. I never have thought the whole "Dear Kevin" thing sounded authentic anyway... my real friends dont talk to me or email me that way. So, I think you are wasting valuable real estate by using it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
    Professional doesn't mean perfect. If it's a constant issue, that's one thing, but if you unsubscribe because it happens once, well, you're pretty much looking for a reason to unsubscribe. If it isn't this, it will eventually be over some other minor issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeborahDera
    The funny part is that Aweber will allow you to send a test email to yourself and you can see if that stuff is not working correctly. I send an email to myself EVERY SINGLE TIME I am preparing to do a blast.

    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
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  • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
    Shirley:

    Why do you get so upset at people who obviously aren't so technical minded that they can't figure out how to use their autoresponder correctly?

    Were you that hard on yourself when you were making these kinds of technical mistakes...then why be on others who still have a thing or two to learn about the technical side of business? It's not like this kind of stuff is womb knowledge to most of the world.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Puddy
    because i use both aweber and get response i will take the care in aweber to get it right do the test email, then when i move over to GR i copy and paste

    my head said you tested it aready press send

    doesn't happen often but {firstname_fix} in GR doesnt work
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  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    Hey {firstname_fix},

    One of my pet hates is emails that are addressed like that - they don't even get the firstname thingy right! And I am surprised at how often I receive emails like that.

    If you are a professional and are going to email me then AT LEAST GET THE NAME RIGHT.

    Sorry but I don't know who firstname_fix is so obviously you have sent the email to the wrong person - now it's time to unsubscribe!
    I agree. It is not that hard to get this right and if you cannot get it right, then you should not try to use the name. Just my two cents.

    Benjamin Ehinger
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  • Profile picture of the author magnus1
    LOL... I've never actually received an email like that before. Although I get so much junk, I usually delete most before even opening them. I'll pay closer attention from now on!
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      However, it's my last name that has been the source of the most problems. It's ONLY 4 LETTERS!!! And I have heard it mispronounced in countless ways. (It's pronounced OAK-suh...
      OAK-suh huh? That's not how I've always pronounced it in my head when I read it. I always thought it was pronounced J-O-N-E-S.

      Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

      It gets better. Golden is my birth name and Black was my first husband's name. We were high school sweethearts and graduated together.

      Wanna guess what the school colors were?

      Tina
      If you two weren't the prom king and queen there was something wrong with your classmates.
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      Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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