What are your thoughts on using "DUDE" in your email subject line?

They are sheep. Frank does it so they think it works.

What they forget to understand is that Frank has a very different type of relationship with his list than most people. Would you walk into a local business client meeting and call them dude? No. So you shouldn't be doing it with your subscribers either.

The amount of people you risk alienating by using a word like that will far outweigh those that find it endearing. A lot of my data and the data of others actually shows your typical IM'er is in the 50-65 age group nowadays because of the state of the economy. Can you really see those people being warmed up by being called 'dude'.

The other thing Frank had going for him at the time was that nobody else had used it when he did and he was also portraying himself as a surfer 'dude' (that was his angle) -- so it all fit in to his message. Having said that I don't think he ever used it to address people in his emails, I only ever saw him use it as a subject line -- it was merely a pattern interrupt he was testing to get more people to open his emails.

Dude, don't do it.

What matters is what language your target market use
most frequently.

If the market you're targeting use words like 'dude' a lot,
then test it out.

If your target market don't use 'dude' much or ever, then
using 'dude' in your e-mails will only alienate you from them.

Also, you do realize that the surfer dude of Frank Kern is
a fabricated persona right? Instead of being a laid back
'surfer dude' Frank Kern has busted his balls and worked
his ass off night and day for years.

Personally, I find the word 'dude' too informal and no one
that I actually know calls me that. I'd never use it.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

Frank probably meant Dud, lol.

Yeah I remember that first email where he used "dude" in the subject line, but then the opening line read something like: "So I've decided to test using "dude" in a subject, let's see how that goes "

Something like that. But now I see more and more people (99% are spammers, though) using it. I don't mind it personally, but as you said, I believe that 99% of people won't appreciate being called dude. As you said, most marketers (or people looking to make money online) these days are aged above 30 (age 50-65, as you said, there are lots of them).

It's not a smart strategy, unless you're selling surfboards/skateboards as an affiliate, only then will it possibly be a smart move.

And yes, Frank is many, MANY years ahead of most of us with 500k+ subscribers (probably 1mil+ by now), so risking that dude-strategy with a small list can be disastrous I think.

You will alienate women.

I have no idea about it.However I don't like a person calling me dude in his first email.

the thing is, most people know frank within our industry so what works for him may not always work for you

i sent an email to my list a few days ago joking around about calling them "dude" and said if i ever call them "dude" in any of my emails please unsubscribe lol

i always keep my emails quite entertaining and just say things how they are, if you come across as too official of try to be too serious that will put people off as well

find what works for you, but don't just call people dude if that is not the way you speak

weather you call people dude, mate, buddy, my ol mate, my rockstar, (darling if you really want to) what ever you want just make sure it's something you continue to do because that is what your subs will get used to and they will know that is how you talk

This was already discussed in depth in this long thread

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...l-me-dude.html

Mr.,Miss.,Mrs. are professional language to contact with anybody at the time of first conversation.
Please don't get out of professional for this kind of business ,professionalism can make you advance.

If you have a huge list like Kern then I suppose you can get away with it. Let us not forget Mr Kern has successfully branded and positioned himself as an expert.


Spark

When I first saw the thread title, I guessed wrongly that it was going to be a comic/ironic question, not a serious one.

No, there are no circumstances under which I'd consider doing this.

I think using the word "Dude" or "Crazy" in subject lines is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen.

If I ever see anything like that, my respect for the product owner plumits out of sight.

That's probably horrendous overkill, but I'm just being honest.

I´m definitely NOT a dude.

I think it depends on the message and the audience. Perhaps it would work with that program I've seen about "picking up women". But for my stuff it would offend and alienate a lot of people. Know your target and communicate with them the correct way.

It's shocking!

"dude, bro, pal,"

Not very professional is it? What is it University lingo? Would you seriously think they are professional business people?

I think there are circumstances where it could work. If people are on your list mainly through your blog or info products, and you have a "dude" sort of personality in your blog/info products, then showing that personality in your emails probably won't hurt anything. It's what people expect of you. They're most likely on your list as much for you as for what you're selling anyway. If you go all formal and business-y, you may turn them off because they want to feel a connection with you.

On the other hand, if people come to your list through a more formal business route, they're probably expecting a business relationship. If you've always been formal and you suddenly start throwing "dude" at them, you'll come across as contrived at best and flat out dishonest at worst. Who wants to buy from someone they can't trust?

As has already been stated, it totally depends on your style and the relationship that you have developed with your list. For Frank Kern, it is totally natural. In this case, copying what one person does successfully doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you (unless you already have that persona and style).

I'm subscribed to a few newsletters in the Dating advice for men niche and it's rather common to be referred to as "Dude" in a lot of them. Some of these guys are pushing or well over 40 which makes it seem silly but for that niche, it's probably fine.

I've never done it myself as I prefer, "Hey man" or just "Hey." "Dear Friend" sounds a little too informal but I just go with what I'm comfortable with.

Dude, some of these guys are like helluh smart marketers!

Not professional at ALL.
Even in your industry you don't put words like "Dude, bro, man, coolio, Yo Mang, Word Up".
Industries on the internet are like real business people and not a "ghetto" street gang.

In my personal opinion everyone should be addressed by name, or Sir, Mr. Mrs - etc.
it's all about how you present yourself on the internet, much like how you make an impression when you first meet with someone; the same can be said for an email.

Firstly, I'd never use DUDE although it's my style.

The problem with dude is that I cannot possibly know who'd like that and who'd not.

The truth is that I don't look carefully at my demographics so I take a big risk by sending DUDE to my list lol.

Although I really like the subject line -"Hey"

It works great for me.

Frank kern...it's his style and I'm pretty sure he is from the first ones to use this in the IM niche.

HOWEVER, the most important thing is the FROM field.

Whenever I receive an email from frank kern I don't give a damn what the subject line is and same goes for some of my subscribers.

I don't use it, dude.

As a newbie it certainly isn't an expression I would think of using. In fact I haven't built my list yet but when I do my plan is to look at the way I am being marketed to and try and use some of their techniques and subject lines and put my own spin on it.

I think only once you have positioned yourself as a superior in a particular field can you then get away with with using some slightly more risqué techniques.