How NOT To Craft An E-mail

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Ok, I know there have been multitudes of threads on how to write e-mail properly, and everyone has their own view of it - how often to mail, when to sell, when not to, how hard -


But, regardless of where you stand on this issue this is hands down a no-brainer when crafting an e-mail -


You DO NOT tell them there is nothing for sale, and then TRY TO SELL SOMETHING!


Now, before some of you get TOO defensive, this post is made while I laugh inwardly at the obvious blunder that this MIGHTY WARRIOR made - yes, one of our own -
and I am not hitting un-subscribe right away either.


Actually, I often get relatively good content on this list, plus I bought a WSO from this person and want to stay on the update list.


This was written as much for FUN as anything else, I guess.


I just want to point out that you have to be a little more careful, and honestly put a little more REAL THOUGHT into your e-mail messages you write if you truly want the masses to read them and keep returning for more.


I just received this in an e-mail the last couple of days, and I have edited enough to try and mask the senders identity so as not to embarrass him or her if someone did recognize the wording. So, if you do, just laugh inwardly with me.


But, I had to laugh when I saw this - I think it PROVES what is at the forefront of our mindset.


Here are the paragraphs in mention:


2nd paragraph----


I'm not pitching anything or trying to sell you on a product so I hope you'll accept the fact I just wanna help you avoid some of the same mistakes!


Now, if you are on this list and recognize any of this, just laugh and let it go, but then here is the closing of the e-mail:


P.s Before I forget I wanted to tell you all about a brand new WSO my good friend ( Mr nobody) will be launching xyz product.......etc., etc., etc.




and it's off to the pitch from there.


What? You dared try and sell me something!? After you promised that you weren't! Oh, well, I got a laugh anyway!


Ok, some of you will find that common, but I just feel our messages, especially in the IM niche, when someone is trying to TEACH others the proper way to do things, should be written a little more personally and carefully, as though we actually DO care about the success of those we market to.


Guess it bears asking the personal question -
What is your mindset - MARKETER or MENTOR?


Hmmmm!:confused:
Robert
#copywriting #craft #email
  • It depends on the list and its saturation with email
    marketing.

    If you're on a Make Money Online list, you're almost
    100% certain to be bombarded with 23 emails trying
    to sell you something...

    ... And the funny thing is, as internet marketers,
    you're probably aware of it.

    Awareness alone is a high delete certainty unless
    you have a certain branding that would attract
    your customer to open the email.

    There's an exception though... Unless the email
    is trying to sell something that is perceived to be of
    high quality. That's usually why some lists work with
    2-3 emails filled with sales pitches at the very start..

    ... Until the customer gets sick of it.

    I hate it when marketers think like marketers. Their
    brains are filled with "how to market this" instead of
    "how to give what the customer wants".

    For non-MMO niches, I feel the ratio of valued
    information to sales pitching can be much lower as
    compared to the MMO niche.

    One of the highest email open rates I've had was
    through a *ezine-email*... Usually in non-MMO
    niches.

    As to your thread question...

    ... Many marketers now are trying to grasp onto the
    demand for Internet Marketing courses and hence
    trying to play "mentorship" when they obviously do
    NOT know what they are doing...

    ... Neither do they have actual experience.

    Repackaging would be a more apt description.

    However, there are real mentors out there who have
    already made all the money they need... Not out of
    students. They teach because they enjoy the
    intrinsic benefits!

    Kind Regards,
    Grain.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Grain,

      I think you caught my intention. I have no problem with anyone selling.
      If we didn't, we might as well close shop and go home.

      My actual thought was do we only think with a Marketer mindset - i.e., sell, sell, sell -
      Or do we write with a Mentor Mindset - help, help, help.

      There is still plenty of room for selling with a Mentor mindset, and in most cases the recipient will realize that and be more apt to respond favorably. - Or at least I do!

      Not saying everyone can be a mentor, but that mindset can still be prevalant.

      You are joking right!

      To think that just because it is an affiliate link that everything changes is utterly absurd.
      If you write the e-mail, and you stick in the product link, YOU become the seller, whether you own the product or not.
      THAT IS THE INCONSISTENCY that the seller stated UP FRONT they weren't selling anything, yet included an affiliate link.

      Like I said, I actually thought it kinda funny, but begs to make us look how often we do the same or maybe worse.

      Are we truly concerned about our potential customers, or do we just haplessly e-mail the crap out of them till they buy or go away.

      This marketer obviously FORGOT they said they weren't gonna sell anything, or didn't care, one or the other.

      But, attempt to sell, they did. Regardless!

      Best,
      Robert
  • Where is the inconsistency? The email states that s/he will
    not be selling anything but didn't say that his friend will
    not be selling something. The P.S. talks about his/her
    friend's WSO and not his/her own.

    If that was an affiliate link I don't know because you didn't
    indicate.

    On the other hand, some people are apologetic about selling
    as though they are embarrassed about it. If you are selling
    just sell. Don't apologize.

    If you know your product has value then why be shy about
    it?

    -Ray Edwards
    • [1] reply
    • WOW...I could spot the inconsistency in a New York Heartbeat.

      I can understand what the OP is saying...that's probably why most of my emails from mailing lists go directly into the spam folder -- never to be seen.

      I know I'm probably not the norm, but I believe email is almost a dead science.

      Sure there are those who swear by it...usually small time marketers with lists that still buy their BS...and the marketers are happy to be able to pay the rent.

      There are better ways now that are gaining popularity to get your message across.
      • [3] replies
  • Most marketing emails ARE going to sell you something so it's better to be upfront about it. I believe honesty is the best policy. I used to do telemarketing and other types of sales and trained staff to do the same. One thing I always told them.. if asked if they were trying to sell something, they should answer "yes but it's up to you to decide if you want to buy it once you have heard all the facts."
    It's a non-pushy, non-threatening statement that entices people to listen because it's refreshingly different.
    I used it myself and got a lot of sales that way because people appreciated the honesty.
  • In the end it all comes down to intentions. While a good writer keeps the audience in mind, a great writer remembers why they wrote the letter in the first place.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Lots of people making tons of cash with email--and it's not going away. They're building lists, developing relationships with those lists, and providing good quality content/products related to the wants/needs/desires/problems that list is dealing with. Take it from a guy on the inside--this is not a dead science.

    However, for those of us in the IM world who get bombarded with email pitches every day and see right through them, it may seem like it's on the wane. But in OTHER niches, where the audience isn't so jaded like we are, marketers are continuing to clean up.

    Is there a place for mobile? You bet. But email's not going anywhere anytime soon.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
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    How NOT To Craft An E-mail

    Ok, I know there have been multitudes of threads on how to write e-mail properly, and everyone has their own view of it - how often to mail, when to sell, when not to, how hard -