E-Invites Going to Junk Mail! -Eeeeeeeeeek!

[pregochef]

I'm so frustrated. I just found out that the show I'm doing tonight had a problem with the invitations through the site. Apparently a lot of servers are considering them "junk" or "bulk" mail. Half of my hostess's guests never received the invite!!!!!!!!!!

By the time we noticed, it was too last minute. This hostess has a reputation of having 15-30 guests at her shows. We currently have 5!!!!!!!!

Gee that stinks.

Sorry just needed to vent.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

THAT is my biggest frustration with the e-invitations.

I have even backed off from telling my hosts to use them - because what good is an invitation if only 1/3 - 1/2 of those invited actually receive it?:grumpy:

 

[pamperedharriet]

Sorry to hear that happened. That is another reason to have the host also make follow up calls/reminder calls like doctors offices do.

I for one always check my "junk" mail folder to see if something got put in that shouldn't have.

Maybe you ought to mention to your future hosts that they will be getting an e-vite and to watch their mail.

By the way, was it from e-vites or from your PWS that these were sent?

 

[wadesgirl]

I tell my hosts to send e-vites now and the postcards 2 weeks before the party as a reminder and then phone calls 2 days before the show. That way they are reaching people who don't check their email, emails that go to junk mail, husbands who hid the invitations, lost post cards etc. It just covers all the bases. I would never let a host only send e-vites.

 

[chefann]

When I have hosts who like to use them, I tell them to just add themself as a guest, and send that one invitation. Then forward it like a regular note from their email program. You lose the RSVP features, but it's more likely to get to everyone, and the link for shopping as part of the show will still work.

 

[chefjeanine]

Instead of having your Host go to your PWS to send invitations, send one to your host and ask them to forward it (cut and paste) to their friends. When I do this I type in "Friends & Family" in the spots for First Name and Last Name. So the forwarded invitation reads something like "Dear Friends & Family". . . . Most importantly, it shows the invitation as coming from the Host.

I think of the email invitations as an extra. I still want to send snail mail invites and make reminder calls. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say "I don't read my emails very often". Doesn't help get guests to my show. Like postcards, these invitations are less than reliable so that’s not adequate for my business.

 

[ginamkiely]

Instead of having your Host go to your PWS to send invitations, send one to your host and ask them to forward it (cut and paste) to their friends. When I do this I type in "Friends & Family" in the spots for First Name and Last Name. So the forwarded invitation reads something like "Dear Friends & Family". . . . Most importantly, it shows the invitation as coming from the Host.

I think of the email invitations as an extra. I still want to send snail mail invites and make reminder calls. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say "I don't remind my emails very often". Doesn't help get guests to my show. Like postcards, these invitations are less than reliable so that’s not adequate for my business.

Thanks for that tip, i'm going to try that next time!! My last catalog show she invited over 58 people and only 7 ordered or even got the e-vite, and it's so frustrating!! I started mailing invites for my hosts because of this, but i'll also tell them to fwd e-vites as well.

 

[kspry]

My show on Saturday is the first one where I've used the PWS evites.
Over half the people got them and viewed them, but very few have replied.

I like the idea of sending the one invite to the host, and asking the host to forward it.

Then add the rest of the guest list for the follow-up email?

 

[mistym]

I usually log in as the host and send. That way it is coming from an address that usually they have on their contacts list and not from me - someone who they never heard of.

I do this all the time and don't have any problems!

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