To Email, Or Not To Email....

11 replies
When approaching small businesses, how do you feel about emailing them via the address on their website? Do you think this would be taken as spam, or is this generally seen as acceptable?
#email
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    If it's a one-time, specific email written just for them, then it should be fine.

    If you plunk their address into the bcc field and send a generic message, then they'll likely see it as spam.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Miller
      I've gotten emails that I consider spam because it's clear all they've done is changed the name in the salutation. The mistake I see many people make in the emails I receive (why I consider them spam) is because they ramble on about their services. I don't care about you, like any other prospect, I care about me. So if you don't want me to look at your email as spam, you'll need to talk about why you are writing ME, and what you want to do for ME, and why it would be of benefit to ME.

      I'm in a unique position because I'm on both sides of the sales fence many times, but that doesn't mean that I don't make the same mistakes as the people that try to sell me. When I see an email that I consider spammy, it reminds me of what I shouldn't do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nail Yener
    Everybody has a different definition for spam but contacting them using their public email address is absolutely not spam. Regardless of the content of your email, it could be considered as spam but it doesn't make it spam.

    If you are sending a general contact email that's all fine. If you are sending email about your services then you should follow the CAN-SPAM Act rules.

    Some time ago, I used emails for closing deals and I talked about it in detail on this thread:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...d-calling.html

    I hope that helps.

    Nail
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  • Profile picture of the author Darion
    I often run into this problem myself, but I figure it never hurts to try. It really depends on the content of your mail, as long as it doesn't sound too spammy.

    Also think of it from the company's perspective. Most of them wouldn't want to alienate any potential client or business partner by ignoring your mail either, especially if it is a well-written one. They will usually reply back, even if their responses might not be as timely as you might have hoped.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Kim
    Different people have different definitions for spam but i think if the mail have public email address it does not get remark as spam.
    The matter in email should be to the point ,interesting and full of knowledge about the content you are talking .
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  • Profile picture of the author geotargeted
    Thanks for the clarification on this issue. I have been thinking about it as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Rivers
    Hey Long Beach Nathan,

    I've had success using two different types of email campaigns.

    Here's one of them...

    I first start out with a interesting hook for a subject line like this:

    "Are you still accepting clients/patients/customers?" or...
    "Do you have a opening for a client/patient/customer?"

    The body of the email just says something simple like..."Hi, my name is Chris and I just wanted to know if you have openings/time/space/room available for another client/patient/customer etc. Let me know, Chris"

    Make it as easy-going and laid back as possible. Use your first name and keep it simple.

    This usually always gets a response and gets me out of the junk mail inbox. It also makes the business owner want to hear back from me because they assume I'm a lead.

    The response that I send to them is my pitch email with what benefits they get from working with me. However, in my response email I start with something like, "Good, I'm glad you have space for a few more customers/clients/patients etc., because some (insert their niche here) don't have time to work with some of the customers I send them."

    Then I go into my offer that I want to show them.

    That usually prevents them from feeling like I tricked them into thinking I was a hot lead.

    Try this the next time you want to do a email campaign. It helped me when I first started emailing because I didn't feel like I was being a jerk by sending out a html email with a hard hitting sales pitch to people who weren't interested.

    In my mind, if they had openings for more clients or customers, then they were in the market to actually receive the clients and customers I could generate for them.

    Hope this helps,

    Chris
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    • Profile picture of the author him77
      Originally Posted by Chris Rivers View Post

      Hey Long Beach Nathan,

      I've had success using two different types of email campaigns.

      Here's one of them...

      I first start out with a interesting hook for a subject line like this:

      "Are you still accepting clients/patients/customers?" or...
      "Do you have a opening for a client/patient/customer?"

      The body of the email just says something simple like..."Hi, my name is Chris and I just wanted to know if you have openings/time/space/room available for another client/patient/customer etc. Let me know, Chris"

      Make it as easy-going and laid back as possible. Use your first name and keep it simple.

      This usually always gets a response and gets me out of the junk mail inbox. It also makes the business owner want to hear back from me because they assume I'm a lead.

      The response that I send to them is my pitch email with what benefits they get from working with me. However, in my response email I start with something like, "Good, I'm glad you have space for a few more customers/clients/patients etc., because some (insert their niche here) don't have time to work with some of the customers I send them."

      Then I go into my offer that I want to show them.

      That usually prevents them from feeling like I tricked them into thinking I was a hot lead.

      Try this the next time you want to do a email campaign. It helped me when I first started emailing because I didn't feel like I was being a jerk by sending out a html email with a hard hitting sales pitch to people who weren't interested.

      In my mind, if they had openings for more clients or customers, then they were in the market to actually receive the clients and customers I could generate for them.

      Hope this helps,

      Chris
      Chris,

      How would you spin this for someone trying to pitch web design work to a new client or lead. I'm interested to see how you would structure it.
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  • Profile picture of the author JerrickYeoh
    It depend which department you send. For example you send unrelated product promo email to the business, they probably take as spam.
    Beside that even you send to the wrong market which you send a product promo email to sales department or customer service department. It also a spam because it not their business and they likely will take as spam rather than transfer to their marketing department.
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  • Profile picture of the author terip
    Depends on how your e-mail would look like. If it's just text stating about your offered products and services then I would not consider reading it. It's better to personalize your e-mail to your targeted markets to make them feel that the said e-mail is indeed intended for them.
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  • Profile picture of the author ilovemedia
    Make the email personal. You can copy and paste your basic script, but add details that show you've read the site and are familiar with the company. Put one or two of those details at the beginning and then have a paragraph in the middle that says something like: "My product would be perfect for your business because . . ." and then say a specific reason why they should go with you based on their business.
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