When Newsletter Subscribers Cancel – Good Or Bad?

[activetrader]

Sometimes people indicate the reason they've un-subscribed is because “Newsletter doesn't give much information other than "don't you wonder" and then the link to buy the book. And in todays economy, it is too expensive.” or “I am broke and just needed help but the newsletters don't give any information without buying the book which I can't afford”.


My question is – is it better to answer their questions in a newsletter and drop the link to the book in case someone is nice enough to buy it after they've gotten their questions answered? Is it really effective?


What is your opinion on list maintenance? Do you strive to keep each and every subscriber on your list or weed out the ones who are not in the market to buy?

[Traffic-Bug]

Since it depends on the individual choice, its their option to remain in the list or opt-out of the list. If they think the newsletter adds sufficient value then they will remain in the list. If not, they will unsubscribe.

[activetrader]

Originally Posted by Traffic-Bug

Since it depends on the individual choice, its their option to remain in the list or opt-out of the list. If they think the newsletter adds sufficient value then they will remain in the list. If not, they will unsubscribe.

Thank you for your response. I guess what I was saying is from marketing standpoint what is more effective? Give them plenty of free info hoping they will like it so much they will buy something? Or give them a teaser that will want them to buy books? This is what I have been doing so far. I have to say that once upon a time I had a blog that had nearly 1,000 unique visitors per day. People loved it. They came and read it and complimented it as the best info they've even read. My income was a couple of bucks a month from Adsense. As soon as I stopped giving too much free info and started selling books instead I started making money

[dsmpublishing]

Some people will unsubscribe for the hell of it. Never get upset just because of the odd unsubscriber only worry if your unsubscribers suddenly become higher than usual.

My majority unsubscibers actually come because they will be on more than one of the same kind of lists have seen some of my squeeze pages and filled in more than one at the same time.

thing of it this way - those that you do lose would they really have bought from you if they had unsubscribed.

[activetrader]

Originally Posted by dsmpublishing

Some people will unsubscribe for the hell of it. Never get upset just because of the odd unsubscriber only worry if your unsubscribers suddenly become higher than usual.

My majority unsubscibers actually come because they will be on more than one of the same kind of lists have seen some of my squeeze pages and filled in more than one at the same time.

thing of it this way - those that you do lose would they really have bought from you if they had unsubscribed.

I thought of it that way too. I know some list owners write long informative newsletters and I was wondering if perhaps this is a better strategy because people forward those to each other and grow list that way. Then on the other hand I see some people with massive lists; I don't know their selling stats but they provide lots of great info. I've been on some lists like those for a long time and have not bought anything from those people even though I did not need that info that made me subscribe in the first place anymore I have stayed because it was fun to read their emails. But as far as the bottom line goes I have not done much for those lists that is why I thought was that really effective to keep providing great info and keeping subscribers who never buy anything?

[Tyrus Antas]

Unsubscribes are natural. Should it be worrying? It depends on your newsletter strategy. Some people don't mind a few unsubscribes here and there if it gets them more sales.

Tyrus

[dvduval]

I would be interested in knowing what a normal rate of unsubscription would be per newsletter sent. It seems to me that you should be able fine tune how often you send the newsletters based on the rate that people unsubscribe.

[Ronnie Nijmeh]

The question you have to first ask yourself is: "Am I providing valuable content in my newsletter?"

If the answer is yes (and not just by your account, but by some of your subscribers!), then you're fine.

My take on it is that those unsubscribers were never going to be your customers. I mean, what would you rather have...

A targeted, responsive, active list of buyers...

...Or a big list of deadbeats mixed in with the odd gem?

If you're sending out valuable stuff, then keep doing it. Whether or not they stick around is a pretty good indication whether they are ever going to buy anything from you.

And a couple other notes:

1. If the majority of people unsubscribe because of a *specific* message, then you need to look at that message! It may be offensive or annoying.

2. If they're not buying the book, find something that they WILL buy! There's gotta be something that strikes the right chord with them.

Ronnie

[MarkWrites]

Your goal for your newsletter is to somehow increase your sales.

Your subscribers goal for staying subscribed is that they want to get the information they need or want.

You somehow have to find the perfect balance for your niche, subscribers, and sales goals. Give them what they want and in turn you might get what you want.

[JohnMcCabe]

Originally Posted by activetrader

Sometimes people indicate the reason they've un-subscribed is because “Newsletter doesn't give much information other than "don't you wonder" and then the link to buy the book. And in todays economy, it is too expensive.” or “I am broke and just needed help but the newsletters don't give any information without buying the book which I can't afford”.


My question is – is it better to answer their questions in a newsletter and drop the link to the book in case someone is nice enough to buy it after they've gotten their questions answered? Is it really effective?


What is your opinion on list maintenance? Do you strive to keep each and every subscriber on your list or weed out the ones who are not in the market to buy?

I was watching an old sit-com the other day, and a girl was asking about how far she should go with her date, since she really, really liked him and didn't want to lose him. The reply she got was, "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

Sounds like your weeding out the subscribers who just want the free milk. Unless it's a recurring theme, I wouldn't worry about it.

If it starts happening a lot, I'd back up a step and look at the sources of my subscribers and see if I'm somehow targeting the broke and the freebie-hunters.