"Oops, I messed up the link I sent you in my previous email,"

Sometimes people mess up. When they do, it's embarrassing but they get through it.

Some seem to make a habit of it. I can usually draw two possible conclusions. One it's a trick, and the marketer assumes I'm an idiot. Or two, the marketer is sloppy and therefore less to be trusted to get things right in the product.

I did get one today that made me laugh as I unsubscribed...

The email said it contained the correct links to the videos he sent out the day before. When I checked, I couldn't find any email from the day before - not in the inbox, junk folder, trash, no place. The only conclusion left was that the sender was trying to put one over on me, so he was not to be trusted. I'm no longer on his list...

I get those often...at least once a week! I have actually gone back to test the first email and those first "incorrect" links have worked 95% of the time. I'd say based on my experience that the ones I've been receiving have been a marketing trick to get more emails opened...I guess people like to read about other people making mistakes! I think there are still some legitimate ones that go out like that though because I've done it myself when I really did make an error!

If they already have it loaded up into their series then they are being deceitful.

But obviously, it is a bit hard to know if they have done it ahead of time or not.

A couple big name marketers have shown some of the follow up emails in their speaking conferences which reveals their true nature.

I've gotten my fair share. The ones that make me laugh are when they have clearly forgotten to include their affiliate link and have linked directly to the site itself. Those are tough to explain away when the link seemingly goes to the same site.

It means their affiliate redirect isn't working and they had to change it or something.

I have had many of these over the last month, and I always check.

In every single case they either are sending the exact same link again or didn't email me any link previously.

"Oops, I messed up the link I sent you in my previous email,"
translates as
"You didn't click my link, do it this time"

The really sad thing is I have had up to 7 of these in a row from the same person, and guess what.

Yes, each link was the same.

I have replied in several cases telling them they may need to seek counseling of some form, but the crap continues.

In case you didn't pick up on it, this has been annoying me for a while.

Here we go again!

Yes, sometimes we as marketers (read: human beings) really do make honest mistakes. It's not because we're SLOPPY, it's because we made a mistake. If you want to unsubsubscribe because we aren't perfect, then please do - we will never be able to match your shining example of all that is perfect.

On the other hand, if it's the same marketer and the link is the same, it's habitual, or no previous link was sent; then that's lying in my book and they aren't worthy of having me on their list.

All the best,
Michael

Dear God, my head hurts, please make it stop.

Tell me something. What good does sending out an email that has a non working link, generates zero sales, and gets you a ton of complaints in your inbox do for you?

From what I can tell, it does nothing for you but empty your aspirin bottle.

People are human, they make mistakes, and if you don't like it, look for a list operated by extraterrestial beings and subscribe to that instead.

Geez. :rolleyes:

Yes, people are human and yes they make mistakes, but I left one list because every other email was "Oops" I am sorry but that many mistakes is no mistake. Every once in a while, sure that is no problem and I can overlook it but don't send it out every week because it tells me that either a) you are not taking the time necessary to make sure you are getting it done right, or b) you need to fire whoever it is that is doing your email writing and get someone that knows what they are doing or c) you are a lying sack of bull and you really don't want me on your list. In any case, why would I want to stay on his list if he is making these mistakes every week? "Can you say DOH!!!"

Has anyone ever seen one that actually was a mistake?

I haven't and I have seen many of these emails recently.
Everyone had either resent the same link, or hadn't sent me anything before.

I see it all the time, that's why I don't open that mailbox anymore...lol

Ah, so you assume that marketers only sell affiliate products?

I can't say it enough.

We make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes involve links.

If you want to unsubscribe, no problem. But hopefully you can keep your streak of perfection going.

IF it's a marketing trick, then go ahead and unsubscribe - I do.

But seriously, is it really so hard to believe that someone can mess up a link? If you say no, then my guess is you don't have a list, or you haven't sent a lot of messages with links.

As Paul said, sometimes it's not even our mistake that a link doesn't work.

Also, my apologies if I'm coming across as defensive, but I think it's funny how some people in THIS forum always assume the worst when it comes to marketing. If you think it's always a ploy, then best of luck to ya! You'll need it.

Assume the worst, and that's what you'll get.

EDIT: Lest you think I've done this a lot, let me add that it only happens to me about once or twice a year, at most.

All the best,
Michael

I have sent out broken links before .

I just found out today an assistant deleted over half of a series . She didn't do it on purpose but I am going to need to contact everyone on the list and explain to them that the series is broken and I will not be adding it back ( I just don't have time to go through 68 emails that focus on a step by step.

Bet it loses some subscribers for me . Will it ruin my business ? Not by a long shot .

So many people have the attitude that unsubscribing from a list is the most devastating thing they can do to an email marketer .

Those of us that are true list builders are not happy to see any one go. It is not the end of our online existence by a long shot .

Most people that are so petty that an occasional mistake makes them want to unsubscribe are not the target I am aiming for anyway .

Marketing ploy? Dang, I never even thought of that....

When I've done it (and I actually sent out 2 IN A ROW like that...yeesh...bad week), it's been an honest goof up. Once was back to the sales page of my site, another was back to an article I'd just posted on my site.

As soon as I realized it, I just sent out an email that tried to make me not sound like a complete moron - LOL. In fact, I think the title to a follow up email I had was something along the lines of "CR@P - I screwed up the link!".

I just simply goofed....

This is something similar to say "sorry... wrong link"

I agree sometimes it is a trick to get an email more opened. Well I guess people won't unsubscribe, at least I won't.

But marketing sometimes more about get your link more opened...

Hey All,

It's just plain amazing to me how for some reason the IM savvy crowd doesn't allow for mistakes. (Edited after rethinking and one cup of earl gray) (deception bad)> I'll just unsubscribe if it is that irritating to me.

Back to my real rant, mistakes are made, my goodness, Frank Loyd Wright has leaky buildings all over the place, actors on stage blow their lines all the time.

An IMer admits to a mistake and sends another link and we are ready to trash him. Why do IMers have such short fuses?

And embarrassing? I've sent out wrong links by mistake and wasn't a bit embarrassed. In fact I was proud of myself to have the good sense to catch the mistake and resend the links.

End of rant.

George Wright

Hi guys

ive had it a few times and its the quickest email that gets me opting for the unsubscribe button!

kind regards


sam
X

I do do this kind of mistakes and I think it's nothing wrong as we are humans and we humans do does things wrong.

Cheers,
iYingHang

I've had a couple of these this week and the fact that 2 or 3 IMers chose to do this screamed that it's some marketing ploy they learned somewhere.

Fast unsubscribe. I don't mind ignoring 99% of the foolishness they send to the list, but I resent being treated like I'm a complete idiot.

Mistakes do happen but in the main I get a couple of emails a week like that so now know it's mainly a marketing ploy in the main!

One purpose for the dead link email is using it in the prelaunch stage of a new product.

You are sending emails as frequently as you can to build the momentum for the launch and using the dead link is a way to add another email.

The dead link email still contains a message pertaining to the launch and gives a test email to see the click rate on your copy for that link.

The same day after an adjustment is made, you get to see if more people have responded.

Remember that not everyone that is getting the email is clicking through to the dead link. Which means that they would not have clicked through to the live link had it been live.

By sending another email, you are trying to take a second shot at getting more clickthroughs.

I've messed up with links sometimes too, specially when I try to cloack affiliate links.

I know email marketeers who use this tactic just to track how many suscribers actually open their emails, another common headlines are "URGENT: you will be removed from my list", "You've supose to receieved this yesterday...", "My aPologies.... ", "Do not click this link". Most readers open the email moved by curiosity.

I think those subjects that appeal to the curiosity, and the urgency are valid tools to deal with your suscribers, and if it add some value to the reader in the content, even better.

Anybody can make this mistake, but....

Sadly this is becoming more and more common place. I use to see this once or twice every couple of months now its seems like it every couple of weeks. A little while back, I received that same email message from 3 different lists the same day. I unsubscribed from those 3 lists (under those names). Now I'm dealing with their "alias names" or their mystery partners.

It seems to me, if these marketers checked their links in their email or autoresponder messages this would maybe not happen as often.

James

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

When it happens more than once within a short period of time then that generally means it is time to unsubscribe. Sales on a list are expected but this type of thing clearly says to me that they have no more value to provide me.

It's become so bad I automatically delete the "Oops..." messages most of the time as a reflex without even opening them.

It's almost as bad as the "Here's Your Free Download" messages, with a link to an opt-in form to an affiliate product. This is fine, unless you're subscribed to several lists whose owners are promoting the same product. In that case, brace yourself for the onslaught.

I would have to say that the funniest "Oops" email I got was from a guy who sent out the "Oops" email 2 days before he sent out the product email that supposedly had the broken link in it. Needless to say I signed up 15 more times because the guy was so honest in his dealings...NOT!

It's a marketing ploy because I've seen it used several times by different marketers, I usually hit the delete button. They could at least change the wording.

Yes I would like to go on record that I too believe that most of the oops emails I get are actually mistakes.

I don't automatically think the worst in people. On the contrary, like Michael Oksa I too have the respect for people expecting the best from them until they show me otherwise.

The example email series above in #39 is something that I read from a marketer.

I do not accept that as a way to market. Just as I would not tell someone that I only have one blue car left on the lot when that is a lie too.

Just didn't want people to think that I market like the example above. Or that I think all marketers are cheats and liars. I don't.

Well I have had a ton of these ....
making a mistake happens I have done it I resend the email Immediately after noticing saying -link resend I apologize.
it is a definite ploy sometimes it is not but I have received them from different marketers same subject line promoting the same product so I will differ with you on that one
-WD

Edited to add,

I actually yesterday dealt with two of them in one shot I sent the email from one to the other and vice versa and I included you know as a fellow marketer I am all for making cash but using cookie cutters like these just makes you look unprofessional and cheesy

Nobody is saying that it is NEVER used as a ploy.

It is.

BUT, if you think that it is a ploy EVERY time, then, with all due respect, you are being purposefully ignorant.

~Michael

No i am not saying it is everytime Michael I am just saying it is a ploy just like here is your affiliate check or your commissions are waiting etc when the subject lines are the exact same from all sorts it is hard to believe they are legit that is what I am saying
-WD

If it is being used as a ply, then unsubscribe.

If it's an apparent habit, then unsubscribe.

If it could be an honest mistake, then cut us some slack. It's not like we're happy that we have to send out an "Oops!" message. We're marketers, too and understand what the perception is.

~Michael

In truth, I have had to send a couple of them out due to honest mistakes.

The problem is that people are sending them out as marketing ploys, so honest geezers feel stupid when they have to admit to being human i.e. - making mistakes.

I am subscribed to many (probably too many) lists too... but this was never a reason to unsubscribe.
Here's why.

I am an Internet Marketer (I cherish myself as one, although some people thought it is debatable ) and as such, I've chosen to subscribe to as many fellow marketers I can, whenever possible.

I have the chance to look for trends this way.
I am also able to spot the diamond in the pile of rubble (guys, if my metaphors don't hit it with you, do not worry, it is my fault not yours! English is still a Foreign Language to me...)

You may or may not imagine, how many well established marketers (cough Gurus cough) are faulty of being lazy or uncaring for their lists...
A good example being whenever a new IM launch happens - and I get my Inbox flooded with the same subject lines taken from the affiliate tools pages of that product.
Maybe a good, proven converting swipe email can be used when promoting a product launched last year, in a follow up sequence or such, assuming it will be seen by new (fresh meat, sharpen the knives!) people who came online since then...BUT to send it when everybody else is doing the same?

Anyway, even then, I do not unsubscribe for at least a couple of months, usually till after they finish the initial follow up sequence for the main product I signed up, starting to promote only affiliate offers through broadcasts.
Even then, if they take the time and write a more 'personal touch' message to me, I keep staying, watching, studying, learning new things...everyday!

As for the reading...obviously I do a lot of delete before I even start reading the few remaining. And the deleting starts with the same subjects, as I said, but also all the other gimmicks like the "Ooops..." kind.

No harm in staying subscribed and reading only what I want, right?

On a side note, I goofed myself too.

I launched a RAP script based website.
I tested everything with PayPal Sandbox option.
I prepared the tracked links to look for conversions, etc...
I cloaked them to include the call to action.

All was good, the links were working next morning in my email, BUT...

I forgot to remove the tick from the Sandbox (test mode of RAP)
So people couldn't buy my product, but rather (if they had a Sandbox account) were downloading... paying with play money, lol Stupid, huh?

As such, I wrote a new email, but I honestly explained what happened.
And never used the "OOOps..." model.

Steve Lorenzo SEOVirtuoso

LOL - I didn't realize we were at this time again... you know, the thread about those "Oops" emails - are they real, etc.

*yawn* Guess I'll go back to bed. I've been down this road MANY times.

Rule #1 of a good affiliate - check your links. Cus if they don't work you don't make money.
Any marketer who sends out an Oops link deserves to be unsubscribed from whether it was deliberate or not.
Thats my fine wisdom on this snowy, blowy day

Oops, these are still showing up in my email. Today from a fellow Warrior. Maybe it was an error - and not a slimy trick. - I may never check, but my trust factor on this person has dropped because of the email title.

Fair, probably not - but I'm just sayin...

If only there was some way to find out if software, Web sites or email worked before releasing them to the public. Perhaps some day, such a futuristic vision will become reality.

And chill...

Let me give you a helping hand here..

When the first email came through I was sat here at my comp and heard a little ping noise, it was Outlook. Outlook is an email client - it allows us to receive email the instant they are sent (more or less.. you can alter how often it checks). I felt excited to be one of the first people to receive the email and as the guy is one of my fav marketers I read the email and clicked his link to check out his bonuses.

Great. Didn't think anymore of it.

Then a second email comes through today saying he was sorry for the broken link..

Have I explained it clear enough for you now? You're making a real song and dance about something which really isn't a big deal.. it's just a marketing trick for Christ sake.