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Re: Here is your download link

by Danny Turner
14 replies
I have noticed a few marketers using this as a title to emails.
Inside the email is a sell and link to an affiliate product (or their own) they are promoting.
It is probably increasing their opening rates initially - however .....can I trust someone
who uses sneaky (?dishonest) tactics in their email campaigns?
I think not. short term gain - long term loss - mmmmmmm
#download #link
  • Profile picture of the author FriendlyRob
    I still think the most important element to whether or not we will open an email is who the sender is. There are some that I delete without opening, because I know that its just going to be another sales letter no matter what the subject line is. ( I know, why don't I just unsubscribe, I probably just should)

    By contrast, there are also some marketers that I open even if the subject line is "this is another sales letter" probably because the product will be good quality or they'll be offering awesome bonuses.

    I guess its all about trust and reputation
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    • Profile picture of the author Sonja
      IMO I consider that is enough to unsubscribe especially if I am new on your list and haven't become acquainted with the type of information you send. However, if you are providing relevant and useful information on a regular basis there isn't a need to use those sleezy tactics, even if you are selling something.

      And if someone whose list I was on and I really liked started to do something like this, well then I would immediately begin to question their motives from that point on.
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    • Profile picture of the author steveniam
      I filter out such headings which include Here Is Your Payment to my trash folder.

      Originally Posted by FriendlyRob View Post

      I still think the most important element to whether or not we will open an email is who the sender is. There are some that I delete without opening, because I know that its just going to be another sales letter no matter what the subject line is. ( I know, why don't I just unsubscribe, I probably just should)

      By contrast, there are also some marketers that I open even if the subject line is "this is another sales letter" probably because the product will be good quality or they'll be offering awesome bonuses.

      I guess its all about trust and reputation
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    • Profile picture of the author arepb
      Originally Posted by FriendlyRob View Post

      I still think the most important element to whether or not we will open an email is who the sender is. There are some that I delete without opening, because I know that its just going to be another sales letter no matter what the subject line is. ( I know, why don't I just unsubscribe, I probably just should)

      By contrast, there are also some marketers that I open even if the subject line is "this is another sales letter" probably because the product will be good quality or they'll be offering awesome bonuses.

      I guess its all about trust and reputation
      Exactly. None of these guys who are sneaking their way to open rates or sales will ever be able to maintain that for a long period of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Revolves
    It happened a lot with me. Many a times, it's one of those "Sign up for a free video" kind of thing. Happens a lot during pre-launch period of a product.

    I recall Gary Bencivenga had an excellent bullet on email lists. The concept is simple. Provide great value, and you won't require tricks at all.

    Regards,
    Revolves.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterwrecker
    I have also been seeing these types of emails a little too frequently.

    They are simply deceitful and they trick you into opening an email.

    If you have a list and you are doing it right people will be looking forward to receiving your emails and not having to be tricked into opening them.


    -John
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  • Profile picture of the author moralde
    I don't have a list nor do I send sales emails to anybody, but I don't see anything wrong with using 'here is your download link' as title to a sales email, especially if it's a follow up mail to a 'sign in for a free video'.

    IMHO, this technique will actually filter out non-buying subscribers like accidental subscribers (whatever that means):confused:, fellow marketers and online salesmen who know what you're up to (it takes one to know one), freebie suckers, etc. You don't need these people on your list. It's for your good that they unsubscribe.

    Remember what JohnChow said about keeping your popup sign-in forms alive? Because they work. Being 'in your face' works. They keep away readers who just suck (and use bandwidth) without helping you with your monthly online maintenance bills.

    I don't have first hand experience with this thing, but if popup forms are detrimental, then all those veteran moguls like JohnChow should have stopped using them long time ago. They're still using popups 'in your face', aren't they? I'm also not a spammer and I really hate spammers, but I get this feeling that spamming also works for some particular purpose, otherwise, spamming would have been extinct by now.

    I think advertising is actually the science of 'tricking' people into noticing a product. If we don't want to trick people into reading our marketing email, among hundreds he receives daily (don't kid yourself into thinking you're the only one he is subscribing to), we might as well leave the title header blank, so that the receiver will see us as a spot-clean marketer.

    Just my 0.5 cents.
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    • Profile picture of the author Danny Turner
      Some good points - however I feel it will only benefit short term - I have these from some people who's opinion I respected and noticed my respect diminished greatly after getting one of these - I now will be far less likely to act on their emails (or even read them)

      Originally Posted by moralde View Post

      I don't have a list nor do I send sales emails to anybody, but I don't see anything wrong with using 'here is your download link' as title to a sales email, especially if it's a follow up mail to a 'sign in for a free video'.

      IMHO, this technique will actually filter out non-buying subscribers like accidental subscribers (whatever that means):confused:, fellow marketers and online salesmen who know what you're up to (it takes one to know one), freebie suckers, etc. You don't need these people on your list. It's for your good that they unsubscribe.

      Remember what JohnChow said about keeping your popup sign-in forms alive? Because they work. Being 'in your face' works. They keep away readers who just suck (and use bandwidth) without helping you with your monthly online maintenance bills.

      I don't have first hand experience with this thing, but if popup forms are detrimental, then all those veteran moguls like JohnChow should have stopped using them long time ago. They're still using popups 'in your face', aren't they? I'm also not a spammer and I really hate spammers, but I get this feeling that spamming also works for some particular purpose, otherwise, spamming would have been extinct by now.

      I think advertising is actually the science of 'tricking' people into noticing a product. If we don't want to trick people into reading our marketing email, among hundreds he receives daily (don't kid yourself into thinking you're the only one he is subscribing to), we might as well leave the title header blank, so that the receiver will see us as a spot-clean marketer.

      Just my 0.5 cents.
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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
    This arguement stretches back years into direct mail. Should you make your direct mail look like direct mail or should you disguise it? People will always be split on this.
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    • Profile picture of the author misterwrecker
      Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

      This arguement stretches back years into direct mail. Should you make your direct mail look like direct mail or should you disguise it? People will always be split on this.

      I get the same type of deceiving mail in my regular mailbox also. I will receive letters that say "Confidential" and there will be a fine for opening this letter. They are made to look like extremely important letters from the government or something.


      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
        Originally Posted by misterwrecker View Post

        I get the same type of deceiving mail in my regular mailbox also. I will receive letters that say "Confidential" and there will be a fine for opening this letter. They are made to look like extremely important letters from the government or something.


        -John
        Yes, one school says make your advertising look like advertising so the customer doesn't feel deceived. The other says that the most important thing is to get as many people to see your offer by whatever means.

        Perhaps the trick is to make it not look like advertising AND make it so the customer doesn't feel deceived. Easier said than done I'd say.
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  • Profile picture of the author CurtisN
    Unfortunately, these marketers don't care about "your" opinion. I put that word in quotes because I'm talking about individuals in general.

    No marketer is going to have trouble sleeping at night because he or she upset a few people with a controversial email headline. Sure, a bunch of people will unsubscribe, but the bottom line is that this type of headline is often used simply because it works.

    Sure, you might not like getting those copy/pasted swipe emails. Sure, you might not like all those salesy emails. But the fact of the matter is that they're probably making money, otherwise they wouldn't be using that copy. It's kind of depressing, but what can you do but unsubscribe?
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    • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
      Originally Posted by CurtisN View Post

      Unfortunately, these marketers don't care about "your" opinion. I put that word in quotes because I'm talking about individuals in general.

      No marketer is going to have trouble sleeping at night because he or she upset a few people with a controversial email headline. Sure, a bunch of people will unsubscribe, but the bottom line is that this type of headline is often used simply because it works.

      Sure, you might not like getting those copy/pasted swipe emails. Sure, you might not like all those salesy emails. But the fact of the matter is that they're probably making money, otherwise they wouldn't be using that copy. It's kind of depressing, but what can you do but unsubscribe?
      Quite often people opinions directly effect the bottom line. Successful long term business often relies heavily on word of mouth referrals and their company being regarded positively. I agree though that many marketers, instead of building a long term business plan just re-package and re-brand the same old thing with a new spin and sell it back to the same people. The very fact that this happens leaves a big opportunty as other peoples disgruntled customers can sometimes become the most loyal clients you could ever ask for.
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