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List subscribers with unreal names - how do you cope?

by 2d0k
19 replies
Hello,

For warriors who are into list building, how do you cope with emailing your list subscribers who did not provide their real names when they opted-in?

Of course, the subscribers would be turned-off if they get to receive emails with salutations with their unreal names..
#cope #list #names #subscribers #unreal
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by 2d0k View Post

    For warriors who are into list building, how do you cope with emailing your list subscribers who did not provide their real names when they opted-in?
    Not asking them for their names is one possible solution. If you ask for their email address only, you'll also get more people opting in, I think.

    Originally Posted by 2d0k View Post

    Of course, the subscribers would be turned-off if they get to receive emails with salutations with their unreal names..
    And some of the ones who have given their real names will also be turned off when they receive emails with salutations with their real names, too, and think "Eew, another spammy marketer trying to sound familiar with me by using my first name when he doesn't even know who I am". Just a thought ... but of course, if you've already decided without testing it yourself that it's "right" to ask for their names and use them as a salutation in outgoing autoresponder email, because "everyone does that, so it must work", it may be of no interest to you at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author 2d0k
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Not asking them for their names is one possible solution. If you ask for their email address only, you'll also get more people opting in, I think.
      Nice suggestion. Got to try it out.. But, wouldn't this make you aloof when you send your e-mails?


      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      And some of the ones who have given their real names will also be turned off when they receive emails with salutations with their real names, too, and think "Eew, another spammy marketer trying to sound familiar with me by using my first name when he doesn't even know who I am".
      I was not thinking that way. I ask for a person's name in an opt-in for the reason that this might be winsome or endearing to hear in an email (though, not generally speaking) - resulting indirectly to a sale..
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        Originally Posted by 2d0k View Post

        Nice suggestion. Got to try it out.. But, wouldn't this make you aloof when you send your e-mails?
        No, it can have exactly the opposite effect (depending on the tone of your emails, of course): it can suggest "this is such an informal, albeit informative, message, that I don't even need to use your name on it, just like I wouldn't use my brother's name in an email to him".

        Originally Posted by 2d0k View Post

        I was not thinking that way.
        I know. I don't mean it rudely, I promise, but that's why you have the "problem"; or rather, that's why this is an issue for you. It doesn't matter which way you're thinking: only which way your customers are thinking.
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Adding to what Alexa already said, I sometimes get a chuckle from the emails sent to some of my more playful phony names...

          Think of getting an email in your box that starts

          "Greetings, Exalted Lord and Master, today I want to show you..."

          or

          "Hello, Jackass..."
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          • Profile picture of the author Lance K
            Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

            Adding to what Alexa already said, I sometimes get a chuckle from the emails sent to some of my more playful phony names...

            Think of getting an email in your box that starts

            "Greetings, Exalted Lord and Master, today I want to show you..."

            or

            "Hello, Jackass..."
            I do that sometimes too. It's so much fun.

            I also use different variations of my real name depending on whether or not it's someone whose messages I want to read. I know which ones to open right away just by the variation of my name. As well as which ones to leave for later, etc.

            I only wish I knew ahead of time who was going to use their list in a manner different than what they promised. So I could sign up with names such as "FREE Viagra", "FREE Porn", etc.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ldimilo
              Personally, I never use "salutations" for most of my lists. Most regular folks in regular markets will give their real name anyway. The only ones I see that give me something other than their name are usually other marketers who are keen to this sort of stuff anyways.

              The only time I address someone with their real name is when they have personally emailed me but that's just me.
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            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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              Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

              I only wish I knew ahead of time who was going to use their list in a manner different than what they promised. So I could sign up with names such as "FREE Viagra", "FREE Porn", etc.
              Call me pedantic, but to make it thoroughly authentic for these people, you should perhaps include the period in the word, too, and make it "FR.EE Viagra".
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  • Profile picture of the author ZaraK
    If I provide an faux name, which indeed I do 99% of the time, then I expect to receive mailings with the saluation to my faux name. It is simply my alternate persona for doing business in a particular sphere.

    I don't really see a problem here.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    I don't even ask for their name. I give them the comfort of complete anonymity. I just want an email address that works.
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  • Profile picture of the author christopher jon
    I wouldn't worry about it. You're splitting hairs over something that isn't important. Forget about it and move on to the next task.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamesburchill
    It's all about building trust and the relationship. In the beginning just asking for the email is fine - it does increase opt ins. Later, once trust is established you can ask them for more information and add it to their records. I appreciate basic autoresponders don't do that terribly easily, but there are follow-up systems and autoresponsders that make this childs play.
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  • Profile picture of the author forfun_cash
    it doesn't matter. If they gave a fake name in the first place, they wouldn't mind if you address them wrongly.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
    They probably just want free stuff anyways
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    • Profile picture of the author Tony Marriott
      You didn't say exactly how you are using the salutation. Generally I know it's used in the body intro (I.e. How are you today Brian,)
      Some people use it in the subject line though.(i.e special Offer For Brian - Today Only).

      I quote from Aweber

      Subject line personalization using the date generated an average open rate of 51.4% compared to personalization using the subscriber's first name generating 40.9% open rate. Newsletters sent without personalization of any type in the subject line generated average open rates of 28.9%.
      Another good tip (again from Aweber) is to use the variable {firstnam_fix} which will ensure just one name in the right format is used. OK this won't fix "Hairy Mary" but it will improve "Bill Smith".

      I have seen more and more people just collecting emails addresses and abandoning first names altogether. I haven't personally tried it but again Aweber state that "the less information you ask for the higher your opt-in rate will be".


      And reading a recent blogpost I noted that one guy who does not collect first names says he personalises his emails by the content and writing style. When he writes his emails he thinks of a close friend that lives in ( his case) Thailand and imagines he is writing to them. He also includes a small snippet of personal info like "We took the kids to the lake this weekend". That way his emails come across more personal. I have no stats to prove that's good or bad but it seems reasonable enough to test.


      My personal opinion is that I don't care either way if I see my name in an email but I do ignore quite a lot when I see my name in the subject. I also notice that many of these also have pretty annoying subject lines too like " Tony - Your password urgent" or " First sale for Tony". I've stopped opening any like that as they just wind me up.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ldimilo
        Once again, I think it really depends on the market. If your market is the kind that gets a ton of emails and likes to opt-in, then chances are good, they are on to the game of personalization. If they aren't, then they will think that it is a personal email addressed to THEM only.

        Marketing to internet marketers? Forget about the tricks. Just be real. They know the game.
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        • Profile picture of the author ZaraK
          "He also includes a small snippet of personal info like "We took the kids to the lake this weekend". That way his emails come across more personal. I have no stats to prove that's good or bad but it seems reasonable enough to test."

          Personally, I feel very strongly that you are not my friend. My friends go to my REAL email. You are somebody I am perhaps looking at doing a business deal with. I don't care if you took your kids to the lake this weekend or any other weekend, or if you had Boiled Chihuahua for dinner, or whatever else.

          I care that you are sending me useful, actionable information, or you will be summarily dismissed from my inbox.
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          • Profile picture of the author creative producer
            Originally Posted by ZaraK View Post

            "He also includes a small snippet of personal info like "We took the kids to the lake this weekend". That way his emails come across more personal. I have no stats to prove that's good or bad but it seems reasonable enough to test."

            Personally, I feel very strongly that you are not my friend. My friends go to my REAL email. You are somebody I am perhaps looking at doing a business deal with. I don't care if you took your kids to the lake this weekend or any other weekend, or if you had Boiled Chihuahua for dinner, or whatever else.

            I care that you are sending me useful, actionable information, or you will be summarily dismissed from my inbox.

            Agreed. For me, the relationship is established by a demonstration of respect for my time and by adding value always. Though it depends on the niche, too. I can think of some markets where a friendlier, folksier approach might be welcome and worth a test to be sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    You can erase their names and default your insert name field to
    something like "dude" or "dips^%t".

    Of course, you might piss some people off.
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  • Profile picture of the author JackTriggs
    Whilst I have entered a few fake names...I've just noticed..that for the free stuff that I perceive to be of great value (or from a marketer I trust) my real name I always give.
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