chefann
Gold Member
- 22,050
I've always been careful not to inundate my customers with too many emails each month. Generally, I send a big newsletter at the beginning of the month, and sometimes a shorter one mid-month if there's a recruiting promo, special sale, or I just need bookings. A couple of times, I've sent a third, but that third one usually has higher than normal rates of people marking it as Spam.
So I've realized that 1-2 newsletters per month is good for my customer base.
My cousin, who used to be a PC consultant, recently signed up with Avon. They have online ordering, and a system to send professional-looking emails with current promotions and sales. Cousin added her personal email address book to her Avon list, whether or not we expressed interest in it. How do I know? Because in the past 3 weeks to a month, I've received at least 18 emails from her, and possibly as high as 2 dozen. (Frankly, I've lost count.)
It's great to be kept in the loop, but after that many notes, I don't even care any more. I just delete them without looking at them when I see her name in the "From" column.
Why is this important? Because there's a fine line between staying in touch with your customers so that you're the first person they think of in connection with PC, and making them dread seeing your name. Some customers like weekly contact; others just want to see something once a month. When you add customers to an email list, let them know how often you'll be sending things. If possible, maintain 2 lists for different groups so that you can tell who wants more frequent contact.
One of the things that bothers me about the notes my cousin has been sending is that she assumed that family would want to receive them. Sure, let me know that you've started something new. And maybe mention it at family gatherings or every couple of months. But if I didn't respond with interest, don't think that it's because I need 400 more pages of information.
I also don't appreciate that I never know when these things come. When I sign up for mailing lists, I check how often they send stuff. Frequency doesn't bother me (I'm on 3 separate lists that actually send daily notes), but warn me ahead of time! I let my customers know that I send my newsletter monthly, at the beginning of the month, with occasional mid-month updates. Then they know to expect that email "visitor". Otherwise, the notes are like that annoying friend or relative who pops in without calling, and wonders why you're never glad to see them.
It's important to know your customers, so that you can serve them well. Ask what they want for email contact. And follow through.
This has been a public service announcement from your friendly ChefAnn.
So I've realized that 1-2 newsletters per month is good for my customer base.
My cousin, who used to be a PC consultant, recently signed up with Avon. They have online ordering, and a system to send professional-looking emails with current promotions and sales. Cousin added her personal email address book to her Avon list, whether or not we expressed interest in it. How do I know? Because in the past 3 weeks to a month, I've received at least 18 emails from her, and possibly as high as 2 dozen. (Frankly, I've lost count.)
It's great to be kept in the loop, but after that many notes, I don't even care any more. I just delete them without looking at them when I see her name in the "From" column.
Why is this important? Because there's a fine line between staying in touch with your customers so that you're the first person they think of in connection with PC, and making them dread seeing your name. Some customers like weekly contact; others just want to see something once a month. When you add customers to an email list, let them know how often you'll be sending things. If possible, maintain 2 lists for different groups so that you can tell who wants more frequent contact.
One of the things that bothers me about the notes my cousin has been sending is that she assumed that family would want to receive them. Sure, let me know that you've started something new. And maybe mention it at family gatherings or every couple of months. But if I didn't respond with interest, don't think that it's because I need 400 more pages of information.
I also don't appreciate that I never know when these things come. When I sign up for mailing lists, I check how often they send stuff. Frequency doesn't bother me (I'm on 3 separate lists that actually send daily notes), but warn me ahead of time! I let my customers know that I send my newsletter monthly, at the beginning of the month, with occasional mid-month updates. Then they know to expect that email "visitor". Otherwise, the notes are like that annoying friend or relative who pops in without calling, and wonders why you're never glad to see them.
It's important to know your customers, so that you can serve them well. Ask what they want for email contact. And follow through.
This has been a public service announcement from your friendly ChefAnn.
They have to keep you in the loop. But seriously, that is a bit much. I only send 1 or 2 newsletters a month- I dont want people to get annoyed and stop opening them.
