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Disgruntled Viewers/Leechers On Email List

by Shane Hale
19 replies
I get these from time to time. It amazes me how people will vent on your email list after subscribing to you for a freebie or content.

For me, I really like to have a reply email address that people can respond to and for me to communicate to people on my list.

I know some marketers out there use the [donotrespond@email.com] as a reply-to email address.

After reading "Crush It" by Gary Vaynerchuk, (Awesome Book BTW). It is important to me to really communicate with my list and keep it active.

One in awhile, a email will come through from an individual who will reply to the broadcast that I just sent out and state I am Spamming them and to quit! Then they will proceed to drop all kind of Fbombs of how sorry I am.


Yesterday, I looked at the unsubscribe date, because I wanted to look and see when they actually opted out of my list. The individual stated he has unsubscribed a long time ago. Which he did unsubscribed the date he replied to email that day. ( Yesterday.)

At that point, I cracked and proceeded to reply back with screen shot of his unsubscribe data and telling him he did not unsubscribe a long time ago that it was several hours ago.

I checked 2 other lists he was never on it with the email in question.

(I am not big into segmenting my list for IM niche.)

Maybe, it is just me getting burned out on people complaining and griping when opting into a list for a freebie and wanting to complain.

(I realize I can't make everyone happy.)

Providing quality content is what I try to strive for when operating my lists on different niches. Funny thing, I only get this on the internet marketing or make money niche lists.

But, we all know when you opt into a list eventually they will pitch you something. I don't really over pitch affiliates joint ventures or do many adswaps. As a matter of fact, I have been kind of slack about that.


Maybe that is my problem?


(Sorry to vent.) Just wanting to see how many marketers deal with this sort of thing and would like to hear some stories.


My questions:

  • How do you handle these types of complaints?
  • Does it ever just get to you?
  • What is the craziest email you have received?
  • Should I just keep providing more quality content?
  • Should I just have them reply to Dev null or that empty inbox in the sky?



Hope everyone has a great start of the week! Mine started well as you can see!

Shane Hale
#disgruntled #email #list #viewers or leechers
  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    I'll answer this bit...

    What is the craziest email you have received?
    The lady who demanded to be unsubscribed and informed me that I would be reported to Webmaster.

    It takes all sorts.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    You're gonna get the online equivalents of Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down. It's inevitable. At least the only "gun" they can use on you is their keyboard. You know you didn't do anything wrong. Chalk it up to a nutjob or just a regular Joe having a bad day. I wouldn't let the odd ranter change one iota of what you're doing.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    Maybe the person was having a bad day. I agree
    with you on having your email address out there and
    encouraging people to contact you.

    Sure, you'll get a few emails from idiots but all in all,
    the relationships you build with the people who do
    contact you might mean future sales or better yet,
    a mention on their sites.

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author leclaims
    Originally Posted by Shane Hale View Post

    • How do you handle these types of complaints?
    Apologize (or not), remove the email from every list you have (except your unsubscribed list), and then move on. Don't dwell on it, just go out and find 10 more customers to replace the 1 that you lost.

    These types of things are going to happen just because there are people out there who like to complain. You just have to take it with a grain of salt and tell yourself that you probably didn't want that customer anyway.

    If you have all of the right procedures in place with regard to opt ins and opt outs, then you're not doing anything wrong.
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    • Profile picture of the author genietoast
      I had two from the exact same country say similar things, "Quit marketing to me."

      Like you said, people should be aware by now what an opt-in form is designed to do.

      As frustrating as it can get, just politely say, "No problem. You're more than welcome to unsubscribe. Please see the link below".

      In a way it's a blessing in disguise. Look at it this way:

      You don't want that person on your list or anyone else like him. They're dead weight that you have to pay for in your autoresponder fee.

      The more those freeloaders want to leave, whoopee! Help them right out the door.

      So that the people who stay are your loyalest followers. Hence, your conversions rates would go up.
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      • Profile picture of the author Shane Hale
        Originally Posted by genietoast View Post

        I had two from the exact same country say similar things, "Quit marketing to me."

        Like you said, people should be aware by now what an opt-in form is designed to do.

        As frustrating as it can get, just politely say, "No problem. You're more than welcome to unsubscribe. Please see the link below".

        In a way it's a blessing in disguise. Look at it this way:

        You don't want that person on your list or anyone else like him. They're dead weight that you have to pay for in your autoresponder fee.

        The more those freeloaders want to leave, whoopee! Help them right out the door.

        So that the people who stay are your loyalest followers. Hence, your conversions rates would go up.
        True I hate the dead weight. I found out I get a ton from adswaps awhile back and stopped doing them. I even sent out a broadcast with a huge unsubscribe button reminding people how they can leave my list. lol
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    • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
      Put them onto a blacklist file.

      Whiners, moaners, complainers, troublemakers, trolls, serial refunders etc - put them all onto a blacklist.

      Then delete them from all your lists, refuse to ever sell them anything and ignore them.
      Signature
      'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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      • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
        Shane, I fully agree with leaving your email address, it's a great way to interact and it shows honesty on your part. It also proves you're passionate about the niche because you take the time to reply and look at feedback.

        Sadly however some people just don't want or like your stuff. It's a fact of life. Oneplusone is spot on, delete them yourself, move on. You just can't make everyone happy all the time.

        I saw this quote yesterday and quoted it in an earlier post.

        "What other people think of you is none of your business"
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        Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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  • Profile picture of the author pavionjsl
    CODB - Cost Of Doing Business. Its part of it, why vent?
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  • Profile picture of the author Caleb Spilchen
    You should read this post I made:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ail-i-got.html

    That was the craziest I got

    Caleb
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    Canadian Expat Living in Medellin, Colombia

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  • Profile picture of the author RustyF
    I don't quite understand. Reply to list? I wouldn't use a list that had that as part of the list. I did years ago among very tight groups not mass mailing.

    Why are you not using aWeber? People can reply to me but not to everyone in my list. No way do I want people doing that. That really hacks people off.

    If someone gives me their email address I wouldn't think of emailing them without giving them an email address to reply to. If they send me an email, I answer it.

    There are some folks out there right now talking about Relationship ROI but when I email them I never hear back from them. So they just had their first 1 million dollar day so they should either stop preaching it or start responding or hire someone to do it! Their credibility has taken a major hit with me over this kind of thing.

    Answer the dang email, even it is to say no or i'm sorry I don't know. Just say something.
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    Tantalizing Internet Marketing Tips
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    • Profile picture of the author Shane Hale
      Originally Posted by RustyF View Post

      I don't quite understand. Reply to list? I wouldn't use a list that had that as part of the list. I did years ago among very tight groups not mass mailing.

      Why are you not using aWeber? People can reply to me but not to everyone in my list. No way do I want people doing that. That really hacks people off.

      If someone gives me their email address I wouldn't think of emailing them without giving them an email address to reply to. If they send me an email, I answer it.

      There are some folks out there right now talking about Relationship ROI but when I email them I never hear back from them. So they just had their first 1 million dollar day so they should either stop preaching it or start responding or hire someone to do it! Their credibility has taken a major hit with me over this kind of thing.

      Answer the dang email, even it is to say no or i'm sorry I don't know. Just say something.
      I do use Aweber, it is the "from email address" you put for your list that you create. I respond to anyone who replies to my list broadcasts or series. That is an option in Aweber.
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  • Profile picture of the author ruch1v
    On a list I started building last week, I've had 7 unsubscribes so far, and all 7 did so right after grabbing the freebie.

    Bloody brilliant
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    • Profile picture of the author RustyF
      Originally Posted by ruch1v View Post

      On a list I started building last week, I've had 7 unsubscribes so far, and all 7 did so right after grabbing the freebie.

      Bloody brilliant
      That's just going to happen. Sometimes that's bots looking to spam you.

      I see it a lot. Don't even worry about it. That's the nature of the net.

      Foolish in my case because on day two, I give away the really good stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    Caleb's reply reminded me of person who took time to email me to let me know that the correct spelling of licence is license.

    I didn't have the heart to point out it's our language and everyone else is wrong

    Cheers,

    Neil
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    Easy email marketing automation without moving your lists.

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  • Profile picture of the author Trent Brownrigg
    I usually just unsubscribe them (if they haven't already) and move on. No point in wasting your time replying back to them when they are dropping Fbombs at you because anything you say won't matter anyway.
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    You can find internet marketing strategies, SEO consulting, and tons of business advice at BAM!

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  • Profile picture of the author Shannon Herod
    Normally I just delete those type of comments because they are more often than not from individuals who wallow in their own self-pity and will never make anything of themselves.

    So, it is not worth my time to reply to stupidity.

    But, sometimes I will get an e-mail that really ruffles my feathers... so, I will simply reply to the e-mail and then hit delete. I never send the e-mail but it feels good to unleash on the person privately :-)

    Talk soon,

    Shannon Herod
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