Gary's Blog

I have put up with this for far too long.  It is time to come out of the closet and to confess to all.

 

I am on more email lists than I care to mention and then there are the spam emails.  So I get a lot of mail everyday.  Why do I do this to myself?  A very good question and this is why.  First, ever so often I receive some good information and second, I like to study subject lines.

 

With my email service I direct incoming mail to two main places.  One is my inbox where approved senders are sent.  The other is my “junk” box.  As you can imagine, most go to my junk box.  However, I still do read many of those subject lines.

 

Now the thing that really annoys me and maybe this irks you as well.  The subject line gives me little or NO idea about what is contained within the email.  A lot of well known marketers use this tactic.  I guess they figure just because they are so famous and well-known that they can get away with this.  Well, it doesn’t work with me and I am assuming that you are smart enough to not be taken in by this nonsense as well.

 

The subject line is supposed to be informative enough to get you to open the email.  Some poor examples are:

·        120 Comments Already?   —  what kind of comments and on what???

·        Gary, don’t open after today (Sept. 26)  —  don’t worry, I won’t open it at all.

·        Frank Kern BUSTED!  —  Frank is a great marketer and I don’t care that he was busted.

·        What’s holding you back, Gary?  —  I am the only one that can hold me back

·        Gary spotted with Paris Hilton  — I don’t think she is that great so I would not be with her

·        Gary, it’s OVER Tomorrow at MIDNIGHT!  —  I’m glad for you

 

Yes, those aren’t the most annoying examples but that’s what I received recently.  Now for some better subject lines:

·        How To Make Money In 4 Minutes Or Less  —  boy I need to read that one

·        1,000 Wal-Mart Gift Certificate Survey!  —  I know enough to not open this one

·        15% Off Everything at Kohls.com, Two Days Only!  —  I know enough to not open this one

·        10 Exclusive Audio Products For You To Resell  —  I know enough to not open this one

·        Whiten your teeth 5 shades in only 1 hour!  —  I know enough to not open this one

·        *New 36 Hour Window*-To get LIFETIME Your Squeeze Page 3  —  I know enough to not open this one

·        Paul Kelly Hosts Leaders’ Call noon ET Sat 9-27  —  this one I opened because I am a distributor for that company

·        Hey Gary, be smart about your traffic exchange surfing  —  yes I need to get smarter about that

·        New Video: How To Sponsor 10-30 Reps/Mo  — Yes I want to learn how to sponsor even 5 reps a month and it’s a video (hint)

 

If you are going to spend the time to send an email, take some time to make your headline meaningful and informative as to what will be contained within the body of the email.

 

It’s all about communication and communicating in a truthful open manner.  Stating that “Gary was spotted with Paris Hilton” I san out and out lie and is only used to hopefully get my attention and get me to open the email.  That is the purpose of the subject line – to get you to open the email.  But don’t lie or give misleading information to do that.  You will loose credibility and respect and integrity.  I would rather people not open some of my emails because they can tell by the subject that it won’t interest them, than to have them not open any of my emails and send me to their junk folder.