Emails – Why Do You Hit Delete?

We all do it.

We open an email, start reading a few words and then think, “I don’t have time for this.”  We hit the delete button and go on our merry way.  Sometimes we don’t even open up the email before we get trigger happy with that delete button.

The next time you stretch your right pinky finger (or pointer finger for the hunt and peck types) over to the delete button, stop and ask yourself why.  Why are you deleting?  If you can see the “whys”, then you can turn it around to see what not to do when you send out emails to your own list.

What time of the day is it?

You might think this is a silly question at first blush, but it is important.   Do you find yourself consistently deleting emails between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm?  If you do, maybe it’s because this is the time when you need to accomplish something, whether it’s at a real JOB or with your internet business.  I think you might find that most people read their emails and are more likely to buy first thing in the morning, or in the evening after dinner time.

Too many promotions and no real content from this person?

There are times when you look at the sender’s name and groan… not another promotion.  Since it’s easier to resist their pitch if you don’t open their email, you hit the delete as fast as you can.  Don’t be that guy.  Send some useful info just for the heck of it, without strings attached.

Too many emails from this sender.

Some people just won’t leave you alone!   Even emails that aren’t trying to sell us something become intrusive when they come way too often.  It’s like your mother calling you twice a day.  You like her, but not that much.   Decide what is right for your list and your niche; even once a week may be too often, and twice a day definitely is!

This sender has lost your trust.

Maybe it’s all the hype words in their email – “killer!”, “this will make you an overnight gazillionaire!”, “he’s the real deal!”, etc.   Perhaps you bought into the hype and bought the product only to be disappointed big time.  Now you have a hard time believing anything they say.  Make sure you’re not one of these types by really reading through and perhaps testing out a product you want to promote.  Sure it takes a little time, but your credibility has a price tag and you can’t be bought, right?

Who the heck is this person?

Sometime we get emails and don’t recognize the signature line at all.  ”Do I know him?”, “Did I opt-in for something that I don’t remember?”,  ”Is this a virus?”  We’ve all gotten plenty of unsolicited email and it’s maddening to spend precious time on these.  The point I’m trying to make here is that you have to send emails to your lists regularly so they remember who you are.   You can’t send out a couple emails right after they sign up and then not send anything for 2 months.  As unflattering as it sounds, people won’t remember you.

These are only a few reasons why you might delete an email.  Only you know for sure.  The next time you hit delete, take a moment to think about why.  When you have reasons for the “whys”, you can take a good hard look at the emails you send.  That way you can do your best not to have your emails be a delete statistic.

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