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"Thank you for subscribing" - SUBSCRIBING?!?! Who said I was SUBSCRIBING?!?!

by TimothyW
58 replies
I don't get it.
I see all these squeeze pages that exchange an email address for a free gift.
That part I get.

What I don't get is, these pages rarely say that, by giving their email address
they are agreeing to subscribe to my emailing list!

So they enter their email address to get the free gift, then are told "Thank you for subscribing!"

I wonder how many people say --- "SUBSCRIBING?!?! Who said I was SUBSCRIBING?!?!"

And they have a point -- who DID say they were subscribing?

Any thoughts?

-- TW
#subscribing #thank you for subscribing
  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    I prefer saying congratulations as apposed to thank you...

    Because they made an awesome decision to get on the list, regardless of what their incentive was

    But I've never put any emphasis on the 'subscribing' part about it
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    • Profile picture of the author popstocks
      Banned
      Originally Posted by jamescanz View Post

      I prefer saying congratulations as apposed to thank you...

      Because they made an awesome decision to get on the list, regardless of what their incentive was

      But I've never put any emphasis on the 'subscribing' part about it
      No offence but that is so cheesy. "congratulations What exactly have they won?

      But I guess you are selling to the biz opp. seekers? They seem to love that stuff.
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    • Profile picture of the author davidkings
      "Thank you for subscribing" - SUBSCRIBING?!?! Who said I was SUBSCRIBING?!?!
      Originally Posted by jamescanz View Post

      I prefer saying congratulations as apposed to thank you...
      Thank you for your co-operation in this procedure.

      Or would that scare them? lol
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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    Any thoughts?
    Chillax and hit 'unsubscribe'? Not hard to do.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      What else would these people think is happening when they type their email into that little box then??

      If not subscribing to something that goes to their email box...what else? lol

      Just give me your email so i can do nothing with it. Here's your free gift for zero in return :rolleyes:

      The email lists worth being on making it incredibly clear and easy to unsubscribe. Just saying
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      • Profile picture of the author Electrical
        Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

        What else would these people think is happening when they type their email into that little box then??

        If not subscribing to something that goes to their email box...what else? lol

        Just give me your email so i can do nothing with it. Here's your free gift for zero in return :rolleyes:

        The email lists worth being on making it incredibly clear and easy to unsubscribe. Just saying
        Many things require an email address but don't put you on a list, such as this forum.

        The person entering their email address may think it's just for verification, to make sure they only get one of the items offered, etc.

        I can remember entering my email address into hundreds of websites, over the years, yet never did I willingly sign up for a subscription list.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          What else would these people think is happening when they type their email into that little box then??
          A lot of people don't expect to be subscribed to a list unless there's explicit language telling them that's what they're doing. Before they enter their email address and click the button.

          Many marketers know that and take advantage of it. A lot of folks would be surprised at the verbal contortions and absurd lengths some will go to to avoid including any clear advance mention of it.

          As far as the "What do you expect when you give someone an email address?" argument, it's BS.

          People are so used to getting content without signing up for a list that it's silly to pretend they should know what's coming. We send and receive documents and pictures and whatnot as attachments to emails on a regular basis. It's how most people exchange data.

          Looked at from that perspective, the "We hate spam and will not abuse your email address" language you see on so many sites looks like an outright lie to the folks who end up getting multiple unannounced follow-up emails from you. And they are not wrong.


          Paul
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          • Profile picture of the author heavysm
            Ah, I have to take into consideration those who don't let the visitor know their email will be specifically used for follow ups.

            I have the disclaimer on my pages so I wrongly assumed it was common practice for other marketers to do the same.

            I seriously thought the OP was talking about something that was disclaimed clearly, sort of like getting mad at McDonalds that your coffee is hot to the touch and so they put the warning labels on the cups, but still getting mad and suing them for your burns.
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          • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            A lot of people don't expect to be subscribed to a list unless there's explicit language telling them that's what they're doing. Before they enter their email address and click the button.

            Many marketers know that and take advantage of it. A lot of folks would be surprised at the verbal contortions and absurd lengths some will go to to avoid including any clear advance mention of it.

            As far as the "What do you expect when you give someone an email address?" argument, it's BS.

            People are so used to getting content without signing up for a list that it's silly to pretend they should know what's coming. We send and receive documents and pictures and whatnot as attachments to emails on a regular basis. It's how most people exchange data.

            Looked at from that perspective, the "We hate spam and will not abuse your email address" language you see on so many sites looks like an outright lie to the folks who end up getting multiple unannounced follow-up emails from you. And they are not wrong.


            Paul

            My point(s) exactly.
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      • Profile picture of the author littledan
        Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

        What else would these people think is happening when they type their email into that little box then??

        If not subscribing to something that goes to their email box...what else? lol

        Just give me your email so i can do nothing with it. Here's your free gift for zero in return :rolleyes:

        The email lists worth being on making it incredibly clear and easy to unsubscribe. Just saying
        I know what you mean. Most people understand that if you are given a free sample in a supermarket, it is because they want you to buy. Same goes for getting a free week pass at the local gym for exchange for your contact details. However, when it comes to the online world everyone assumes everything must be free at all times and anyone wanting to make money is a crook. We must remember that the internet is still a very new phenomena and attitudes will adapt the more the technology becomes intertwined with our lives.
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      • Profile picture of the author Walter Cyclid
        Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

        What else would these people think is happening when they type their email into that little box then??

        If not subscribing to something that goes to their email box...what else? lol

        Just give me your email so i can do nothing with it. Here's your free gift for zero in return :rolleyes:

        The email lists worth being on making it incredibly clear and easy to unsubscribe. Just saying
        Well, I happen to agree with TimothyW on this one. The IM niche crowd is notorious for this. All the so called gurus and guru wannabe's like to deceive by omission.

        I hate the ones that don't tell you they will sell, give or trade your email address with other third parties, then that's exactly what they do when you opt-in. Then you get spam from a dozen other IMers trying to scam you as well.

        That's why I don't care what the free, affiliate link saturated, report or ebook is. If the squeeze page doesn't state that my privacy is protected and they won't give my email to anyone else, then I just don't opt in.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      Chillax and hit 'unsubscribe'? Not hard to do.
      Not talking about me. I'm talking about other people's opinion of the process.
      They give their email, then may be surprised that they have "subscribed."

      You know the process, I know the process, but I'm saying most squeeze pages do not inform the visitor that, by giving their email, they will be getting the free gift, *AND* they they are agreeing to *subscribe* to accepting being emailed (at will) by the marketer.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Tim, clarity is big, REALLY big, in the online world and you raise a good point. Be clear as to what happens after the sign up. I stress my money making tips and free weekly newsletter wind up on the other side of your sign up, to bring clarity and certainty into the equation.

    Good post!
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    You agreed to a free product in exchange for your email.
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    • Profile picture of the author sandys2100
      The problem is nothing is free. Even if they say FREE.....
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  • Profile picture of the author XponentSYS
    The fact they they're joining my list is clause 4.2 in my privacy policy, which can be had by clicking a small footer link.

    But seriously... it depends on the market but in THIS ONE it's ASSUMED that one would get on a list.

    My conf pages don't say ""Thanks for Subscribing" if the prospect opted in for a video because well..... that'd be stupid.

    Congruency is key...... we thank them for requesting whatever it is we offered.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim3
    ...and more to the point, who gave you (not you personally Tim W permission to swap my email address with all-and-sundry and fill my inbox up with garbage.
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  • Profile picture of the author JCorp
    If they're putting in their email address and it states that they are subscribing to a mailing list some where in the TOS on the squeeze page, then it's ethical in my opinion.

    But the day will come where it'll be a requirement for FULL upfront disclosure that people will actually be subscribing to a mailing list... we already see it being done when advertising with google... and it's not a problem at all. Our squeeze pages with Google are all upfront stating what exactly will/is happening when they input their email address.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      If they're putting in their email address and it states that they are subscribing to a mailing list some where in the TOS on the squeeze page, then it's ethical in my opinion.
      What you or I might think about the ethics (and we appear to disagree on that) is irrelevant. It boils down to automation and expectation.

      Automation: If an email source generates more than .x% of complaints, it will be blocked at many providers, without any human intervention, and with no concern for the "solicitedness" of the mail. Unceremoniously dumped into the spam folder or the bitbucket.

      Expectation: If people do not expect the mail, or the content doesn't meet the standards they believed it would, your numbers will probably exceed the threshold mentioned in the previous paragraph.

      And they won't read it or buy what you're offering, either.

      Simple as that. Screw with 'em and they'll make you pay.


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      • Profile picture of the author heavysm
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        What you or I might think about the ethics (and we appear to disagree on that) is irrelevant. It boils down to automation and expectation.

        Automation: If an email source generates more than .x% of complaints, it will be blocked at many providers, without any human intervention, and with no concern for the "solicitedness" of the mail. Unceremoniously dumped into the spam folder or the bitbucket.

        Expectation: If people do not expect the mail, or the content doesn't meet the standards they believed it would, your numbers will probably exceed the threshold mentioned in the previous paragraph.

        And they won't read it or buy what you're offering, either.

        Simple as that. Screw with 'em and they'll make you pay.


        Paul
        Just having gotten into the email marketing scene for the past half year or so I must agree about the importance of subscriber transparency and the expectation for future emails to be received.

        That complaint rate can be a killer if you don't play your cards right, so completely ensuring that the subscriber knows and expects emails from you in the future so as to prevent deliverability issues and/or total account shut down can be huge.

        One reason i see a lot of marketers using less text to get their point across (and therefore no disclaimer alerting the visitor of future emails to be received) is because it's a lot more effective at gathering more subscribers.

        Even something as small as not asking for their name and just gathering the email can be more effective for quantity of subscribers (notice I didn't say quality).

        But it's the give and take of the marketing method each of us should reflect over. Are the increased complaints worth the extra subscribers?

        For some it is due to the sheer number of subscribers they have on their lists, so their complaint ratio is low.

        So I suppose it depends on the expectation the marketer has for what shortcuts may be safely taken and pushing that boundary as far as possible.
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    • Profile picture of the author popstocks
      Banned
      Originally Posted by JCorp View Post

      If they're putting in their email address and it states that they are subscribing to a mailing list some where in the TOS on the squeeze page, then it's ethical in my opinion.

      But the day will come where it'll be a requirement for FULL upfront disclosure that people will actually be subscribing to a mailing list... we already see it being done when advertising with google... and it's not a problem at all. Our squeeze pages with Google are all upfront stating what exactly will/is happening when they input their email address.
      And you shouldn't state that to them? WHY ON EARTH NOT?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rappostion
    Because you are not stating it clearly. Maybe you should include on the page "by entering your email address, you are automatically subscribed to our mailing list".
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  • Profile picture of the author popstocks
    Banned
    make your forms longer, more of an effort. Then you know they really want your updates. The easier you make it the lower the quality generally.

    Best to put in some kind of "knuckle head" test on your form as well. Like "$2 + $3 = ?"
    Filter out the time wasters.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Actual FB post from a subscriber, who BTW opted in, "They say they won't share your info. but when you put your email in that little box, they share it!"

    The point being, even if you spell it out, some people just don't have a clue how it works.

    I had a guy email me multiple times telling me to take him off my list.

    Me - "Just click the unsubscribe link."

    Him - "No."

    It's a sketchy area, for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author Asim Nawaz
    One way or the other, actually you have agreed to subscribe to their list indirectly by accepting the free gift. Its a simple solution to unsubscribe after getting the free gift if you do not want to get into their list.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
      Originally Posted by Asim Nawaz View Post

      One way or the other, actually you have agreed to subscribe to their list indirectly by accepting the free gift. Its a simple solution to unsubscribe after getting the free gift if you do not want to get into their list.
      Conversely, this does not make sense (IMO).

      There's that old expression -- if you hear galloping hooves approaching, it makes much more sense to assume it's horses -- not zebras.

      If someone lands on your squeeze page, and you're offering a free download of [whatever], I think it's perfectly reasonable for the average person to assume you (only) need their email address JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND THE DOWNLOAD LINK -- so, unless you clearly tell them they're subscribing to your list and/or they are oddly thinking "zebras," then you are misleading them.

      -- TW
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      • Profile picture of the author popstocks
        Banned
        Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

        Conversely, this does not make sense (IMO).

        There's that old expression -- if you hear galloping hooves approaching, it makes much more sense to assume it's horses -- not zebras.

        If someone lands on your squeeze page, and you're offering a free download of [whatever], I think it's perfectly reasonable for the average person to assume you (only) need their email address JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND THE DOWNLOAD LINK -- so, unless you clearly tell them they're subscribing to your list and/or they are oddly thinking "zebras," then you are misleading them.

        -- TW

        Sadly I.m.'ng especially to consumers seems to be about how much you can trick them as to doing real business.

        Why not simply say "subscribe here for updates"?

        NO b*S*, no tricks, plain old truth. Shock horror.
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        • Profile picture of the author William Martin
          I for one am (with a few necessary exceptions) up-front about this and will say something like... "To receive [free gift] and also sign up for our newsletter to get regular, first-class, actionable information on [niche], just enter your email address in the box on the right and hit 'Sign Me Up'.

          My experience is that this does reduce conversion slightly but is more than made up for by a higher open rate for the first email and a lower opt-out rate overall.

          Generally, I find that being open (and, hence, refreshingly different) with people pays dividends over the long-haul.
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  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    It makes a big difference as to what audience you are aiming at.

    If you have an IM product, then 99% of people entering their email address realise that they are subscribing to a mailing list.
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    • Profile picture of the author ajbarnes777
      And this is one of the reasons I'm moving away from the "give away something for free to build a massive list" crowd. Now I'm focusing more on building a list of quality subscribers that are subscribing... because of the EMAILS they'll be getting. This will be in the form of a free email "bootcamp" course.

      To add more value, I'm giving away something for free that's not mentioned on the squeeze page. This could help root out freebie seekers and instead build a list of desperate people that want a solution for their problem no matter what.

      Speaking of a squeeze page, I'm also moving away from the traditional 30 second to read squeeze page, and I'm giving Declan O Flaherty's (he's here on the WF) method a go. With his method, you put more valuable content on the squeeze page... and then ask for the email.

      For this, I'm going with a fun quiz as the content... and then in order to get the results and the solution to their problem (the bootcamp), that's when I ask for the email.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paleochora
    And this is one of the reasons I'm moving away from the "give away something for free to build a massive list" crowd. Now I'm focusing more on building a list of quality subscribers that are subscribing... because of the EMAILS they'll be getting. This will be in the form of a free email "bootcamp" course.
    Agree. This is something I have been doing more of late, actually giving something away but, as an added bonus, the person gets a mini-tutorial course related to the niche in the AR sequence. This, of course, is designed not only to provide massive value but to establish myself as a niche authority and to introduce my products as well so I develop a buyers list in the process.

    Whether they buy or not, they will get outstanding value from the email content and I will give them free pdf reports along the way without another opt-in needed.

    Since moving more to this model, my open rates for broadcast mails after the AR sequence has ended have increased by over 60%. Click rates are much better and I see more sales.
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    • Profile picture of the author popstocks
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Paleochora View Post

      Agree. This is something I have been doing more of late, actually giving something away but, as an added bonus, the person gets a mini-tutorial course related to the niche in the AR sequence. This, of course, is designed not only to provide massive value but to establish myself as a niche authority and to introduce my products as well so I develop a buyers list in the process.

      Whether they buy or not, they will get outstanding value from the email content and I will give them free pdf reports along the way without another opt-in needed.

      Since moving more to this model, my open rates for broadcast mails after the AR sequence has ended have increased by over 60%. Click rates are much better and I see more sales.
      I WAS DOING THAT IN 2000.
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  • Profile picture of the author how to make money
    Well,

    For me as to be online that means I share what I have been entered or filled up
    that is lead to "sometimes" we could say that the internet is not always save !
    So the trust is matter of think a lot !

    secondly we can use the word "join" instead of another word

    For Your Success
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  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    I think there could be more important things to be working on and spending your time thinking about.

    Then it's your job to make sure you let your readers know before they sign up.

    For instance I always tell my "subscribers" to keep an eye open for future emails from me.
    Even on my "congradulations" page!

    Besides they are not just subscribers but people on your list. If you treat them like subscribers or machines then I think things could be tough,

    I guess what I am saying is your mindset. See I don't look it as just people but people that I want to share my services and knowledge with and actually help and there for it reflects in my writing and the way I communicant with my list. Its all about testing...
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    You can legally email people who have not even subscribed to any list so long as you adhere to the Can Spam Act.

    If you are using a well known autoresponder then your emails will be Can Spam compliant and part of that is an unsubscribe link at the bottom, so no issue at all. They don't like it, they unsubscribe.

    If people have requested information from you, nothing wrong with following up with them.
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  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    If I enter my email address on a website, even to get a free product, I always assume I'm subscribing to something. If I don't like the emails I get, I hit 'unsubscribe.'
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    • Profile picture of the author Electrical
      Originally Posted by BradVert2013 View Post

      If I enter my email address on a website, even to get a free product, I always assume I'm subscribing to something. If I don't like the emails I get, I hit 'unsubscribe.'
      THat's probably only because you are used to that type of thing.

      As I mentioned earlier, I have given my e-mail address to hundreds of websites over the years, but never signed up for a subscription mailing list.

      I gave my e-mail address when signing up for this free forum. No where did it say I was going to get subscribed to a mailing list so I wouldn't be happy to find out that it was done behind my back.

      Since I'm not into internet marketing like this, I would consider myself a normal internet user and I think my opinion is shared by most of your targets.
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      • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
        Originally Posted by Electrical View Post

        THat's probably only because you are used to that type of thing.

        As I mentioned earlier, I have given my e-mail address to hundreds of websites over the years, but never signed up for a subscription mailing list.

        I gave my e-mail address when signing up for this free forum. No where did it say I was going to get subscribed to a mailing list so I wouldn't be happy to find out that it was done behind my back.

        Since I'm not into internet marketing like this, I would consider myself a normal internet user and I think my opinion is shared by most of your targets.
        I do not actually do this. My email subscription form is double opt in and very obvious you're subscribing. I think adding someone to a list because they think they're just getting a free product is pretty slimy. If you look at my comment history, I very much advocate transparency.

        My original comment was simply stating my expectation when i give my email out for x reason. Nothing is truly free.
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  • Profile picture of the author sarah23
    You entered your email on website, what were you thinking why did you enter your email there?
    of course you subscribed.
    If this complain or topic would come out from egneral public; one would underestand that they don't know much of these tactics. But as a internet marketer you should know that giving out your email address to someone means you are subscribing to at least something.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Ken,
    I've always offered an incentive for subscribing to a newsletter. Works fine.
    That wasn't the objection. The objection was to offering something and then adding people to a list that wasn't mentioned.


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  • Profile picture of the author Max Anderson
    Well, it´s the good old issue between what is legal and what is moral...
    If it´s against your morals just tell them on your squeeze page that they are subscribing to a newsletter!
    But don´t expect your morals to be the ones of anybody else!

    My 2 cents...
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      But don´t expect your morals to be the ones of anybody else!
      Scroll back up and re-read message 16.

      What counts is the recipient's perspective. At least as long as you're not looking to play dodgeball with your web host(s).
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    This reminds me of the discussion a long time ago about using "RE:" in the subject line of emails the FIRST time they are sent (as a ploy to get those emails noticed more).

    I was amazed (then, too) at how many people fit into 2 categories -- those that were (apparently) completely BLIND to even the existence of ethical behavior. And those who DO know what ethical behavior is, but just chose to not conduct themselves inside those parameters!

    There were plenty of "Who cares?!?!" and, "What difference does it make?!?!" and, "It's FINE - no big deal!"

    IMO, ethics are what you use, even when no one is looking and/or when no one knows about or cares about the difference.

    It's like the story of the vaudeville comedian, and his mentor. The mentor tells the comedian just before he goes out on stage, "the cuff on your sleeve is dirty." The comedian says, "with the lights and everything, the audience is never gonna know!"

    Mentor replies, "that's true ---- but YOU know."

    -- TW
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    • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      This reminds me of the discussion a long time ago about using "RE:" in the subject line of emails the FIRST time they are sent (as a ploy to get those emails noticed more).

      I was amazed (then, too) at how many people fit into 2 categories -- those that were (apparently) completely BLIND to even the existence of ethical behavior. And those who DO know what ethical behavior is, but just chose to not conduct themselves inside those parameters!

      There were plenty of "Who cares?!?!" and, "What difference does it make?!?!" and, "It's FINE - no big deal!"

      IMO, ethics are what you use, even when no one is looking and/or when no one knows about or cares about the difference.

      It's like the story of the vaudeville comedian, and his mentor. The mentor tells the comedian just before he goes out on stage, "the cuff on your sleeve is dirty." The comedian says, "with the lights and everything, the audience is never gonna know!"

      Mentor replies, "that's true ---- but YOU know."

      -- TW
      Ugh! I hate it when people use things like "Re:" in the subject line or other little tricks to get me to open the email. I always unsubscribe from lists that do that.
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  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    Best to just be honest about it. If the only way get your free product is to subscribe to your list, then make it perfectly clear with something like, "Subscribe now to get your free gift!"
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnTheJock
      Originally Posted by BradVert2013 View Post

      Best to just be honest about it. If the only way get your free product is to subscribe to your list, then make it perfectly clear with something like, "Subscribe now to get your free gift!"
      Agree. It's best put over like that. Being open and honest is the only way to earn respect.
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  • Profile picture of the author efil4renots
    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    I don't get it.
    I see all these squeeze pages that exchange an email address for a free gift.
    That part I get.

    What I don't get is, these pages rarely say that, by giving their email address
    they are agreeing to subscribe to my emailing list!

    So they enter their email address to get the free gift, then are told "Thank you for subscribing!"

    I wonder how many people say --- "SUBSCRIBING?!?! Who said I was SUBSCRIBING?!?!"

    And they have a point -- who DID say they were subscribing?

    Any thoughts?

    -- TW
    I have thought this quite few times myself from both the buyer and the sellers point of view (obviously these are free products but you know what I mean!)
    it seems a little unfair, the people who are giving away the products should at least mention it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Khalil Bashir
    If I put my name in someones opt-in box I automatically assume that I will be receiving future communications. Every autoresponder that I have ever heard of will automatically place you on that persons email list, so to me it's an automatic assumption that I have voluntarily "Subscribed". I don't see anything wrong with someone using that language.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dani78
      Yeah, instead of subscribing say: your gift was sent to your email.

      No need to say subscribe anyway, it doesn't even
      sound nice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    This is exactly why squeeze pages and freebies are so ineffective.

    People stick their email (often fake / secondary email) in to get the free bribe not to receive follow up emails hence why the low open and click rates, the high unsubscribe rate, the spam complaints and lack of action / sales from the subscribers.

    Get people onto your list who WANT and EXPECT and LOOK FORWARD to your emails and you don't have to worry about this nonsense.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stephen and Jennifer
    The reason they are giving away something in exchange for someone's name and email details (Thereby Subscribing) is because they are building a business and Building A List. They are not a charity nor are those who get a freebie?:rolleyes:

    It is only a matter of unsubscribing if you only get buy, buy emails after that as too many do. Far better to provide more value and create a relationship first and only then recommend the occasional related product in between more free quality content if you want that list to open and read your follow up emails? If you don't believe you are being helped or getting value and they are only after your money, unsubscribe! So What's the problem?:rolleyes:

    Stephen & Jennifer.
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    • Profile picture of the author Walter Cyclid
      Originally Posted by Stephen and Jennifer View Post

      The reason they are giving away something in exchange for someone's name and email details (Thereby Subscribing) is because they are building a business and Building A List. They are not a charity nor are those who get a freebie?:rolleyes:

      It is only a matter of unsubscribing if you only get buy, buy emails after that as too many do. Far better to provide more value and create a relationship first and only then recommend the occasional related product in between more free quality content if you want that list to open and read your follow up emails? If you don't believe you are being helped or getting value and they are only after your money, unsubscribe! So What's the problem?:rolleyes:

      Stephen & Jennifer.
      That's not the point. Just like people don't like unannounced spam in their email, people in the bible belt wouldn't like it if you said 'give me your name and address and we will send you a free king james bible', then you start sending them a Hustler magazine every month. Then saying 'oh well, if you don't like it just unsubscribe', doesn't cut it. The porno mags shouldn't have been sent to them in the first place since they weren't told that was what was coming their way if they took the bible. Im pretty sure that's what TimothyW is saying. He can correct me if I'm wrong.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
      Originally Posted by Stephen and Jennifer View Post

      The reason they are giving away something in exchange for someone's name and email details (Thereby Subscribing) is because they are building a business and Building A List. They are not a charity nor are those who get a freebie?:rolleyes:

      It is only a matter of unsubscribing if you only get buy, buy emails after that as too many do. Far better to provide more value and create a relationship first and only then recommend the occasional related product in between more free quality content if you want that list to open and read your follow up emails? If you don't believe you are being helped or getting value and they are only after your money, unsubscribe! So What's the problem?:rolleyes:

      Stephen & Jennifer.
      This totally misses the point. If you ask for someone's email address in exchange for a free gift -- and you don't mention anything about (ALSO) subscribing them to your list -- then you are violating the 'pact' you told them they are making (the pact they agreed to)... you are making that AGREED-TO "pact"/LURE something more than what you said/PROMISED it would be.

      Makes no difference what "assumptions" you think are "reasonable." Makes no difference if the follow up info is something YOU think they would want to know about any way. If you're not making it clear that they are ALSO *subscribing* to you follow up emails, then you are deceiving them by OMISSION.

      You are putting them in a "boat" you told them nothing about in advance -- makes no difference how easy it is for them to get out of the boat. (unsubscribe)

      It's as simple as that.
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  • Profile picture of the author actionplanbiz
    I always put, "sign up and recieve free spams"
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  • Profile picture of the author bwh1
    How's about a short 1 minute video with your face on it telling them that they can

    A - simply get the gift and unsubscribe or

    B - stay with you for a while and get more awesomeness in their inbox.

    Make that a funny to assist piece so people will actually understand it.

    You also will build more trust, opposed to a simple "thank you" page.

    1 minute and you will improve your stick rate for sure.

    G.
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