Meet Your 7 Types of Email Subscribers
| by Paula Brett |
I’m sure you, like me, get a fair few emails plopping into your inbox on a daily basis from various marketers? Memberships, promotions etc.? Well, as my kids are on half-term, yet again, I managed to find a spare 10 minutes today to go through all my emails that I’ve filed away in a folder for `later on’.
It was only whilst I was going through the process of opening them all, that I realised I didn’t treat them all quite the same. Not all emails are equal, unfortunately!
Who they were from and how long I’d been on a list would determine how I read the email, or not, as the case may be. In fact, I can be quite schizophrenic when dealing with emails from lists I’m signed up to.
This lead me to thinking a little bit about how my subscribers read my emails..
I mean each one of my email subscribers will interpret my email message in their own way… what is important to me may not be important that day to one or more of my subscribers.
Of course, we all have bad days or often very limited time to spend opening and reading emails. When your email arrives at the same time your kids are having a meltdown and crying at the top of their lungs, your dog just threw up in the corner and your wife announces there’s no milk for breakfast, are YOU going to read emails from anyone besides your mother? Not likely…click and delete!
I’ve been quizzing a few of my internet marketing colleagues and combined with my own email reading habits, I’ve come up with a list of 7 types of email readers, which may give you some great ideas when emailing your own subscribers.
The Scanner – This person will actually open the email, and “read it,” if you call scanning from point to point or running their eyes quickly down your email, looking for something dramatic to stop their scanning eye, actual “reading.”
Bulleted main points, framed as insightful questions that grab their curiousity, might slow down the scanning some. This particular “reader” wants a general idea of your content and wants it quickly. When you are finished with your email, read your bulleted points to see if they tell the story of your message by themselves. If not, revise them so they do.
The Multi-Tasker – This reader will never focus on the one task right before them, like your email. Their Blackberry, or other mobile toy, is practically superglued to their hand and your email message will be sandwiched between several tasks that demand their attention all at the same time.
Curiosity is your main weapon here once again. Fiddle with your email’s subject line until it asks a riveting question. Don’t be afraid to be a little off-the-wall. You want to stop the multi-tasking and get your reader to put aside their grocery list and endless “To Do” reminders and focus and on your message. Not an easy task.
Once you get a subject line that makes the Multi-Tasker stop and think, “What?” and move on to your actual message, add bullets that maintain the curiousity you stimulated with your subject line.
If you run out of ideas, find another multi-tasker, like a two-year-old child, and ask simple questions about your subject to see which ones grab their attention. Use resources where you find them!
The Bookworm – This individual will read your message and take the time to consider what you have to say, even to the point of researching the validity of your key points. Do not fluff out your message with meaningless statements. Google is this reader’s best friend.
Adding a link or two at the bottom of your email leading to valid, additional source materials for your key points will be perceived as “added value” to this curious and insightful reader.
The Detective – This reader examines all aspects of your subject line, looking for clues that uncover the topic of your message and examines their opinion of you, the sender. If, after all that, they are interested in what they think you are going to say, they will open your email. If not…click and delete!
The way to grab The Detective’s attention is to create subject lines that inspire curiousity but do not give your entire message away before your email gets opened.
The Graphics Lover – HTML graphics and text that take advantage of the display qualities of this format will appeal to many audiences and readers used to reading sales pages with their flaming fonts, bright arrows and other attention-grabbing techniques.
Other readers, though, might not be thrilled to wade through all your “enhancements” to get to the message and will just click and delete before reading what you have to say. Some using mobile readers might not even get your email, if HTML scripts are blocked or are not a format their device will accept. Be careful of this technique.
The Examiner – This person will remind you of the tax man and their habit of saving anything that interests them for use against you later. The Examiner will not only save everything to their hard drive or in email folders so they can read it later, but they will also analyze every statement you make for blatant hype.
Do not deliver your message with the hype that reminds The Examiner of those frenetic used car salesmen that populate late-night TV, or the Internet Marketers that promise $10,000 incomes for 10 minutes work a week…click and delete!
The Computer Chair Commando – This could be your perfect subscriber… the one you want to open your emails and read them. This reader will take the time to research your content or offer by following your links and analyzing the validity of your statements. If they agree with your premise or can find something useful or interesting in your product or service, they will respond to your call to action…which is clicking the “Buy Now” button.
If you can empathise with your subscribers and their email habits, you will be better able to create messages that appeal to their mind-set when they open their emails. If you’re not sure about the composition of your list, try asking them what they like or want in the email notices you send out. Use those answers to format your future email campaigns and watch your conversion rates increase.
What type of reader are you? Go on, I dare you to fess up!!
If you would like to be notified the next time I make a post, sign up for Email Alerts or subscribe to the RSS feed. Many thanks for reading
61 Responses to “Meet Your 7 Types of Email Subscribers”
By Kevin Riley
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Hi. My name’s Kevin Riley. I’m a Scanner/MultiTasker.
By Dan
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
My name’s Dan Thompson and I’m an alcho..no, a Scanner!
By Paula Brett
on May 28, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Thank you, Kevin. That must’ve taken a lot of courage to admit that in public
By Paula Brett
on May 28, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Is that you, Dan? Get back to that support desk, you scanner, you, and put down that whis… no comic!
By Pat Graham
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
My name is Pat Graham and I think I am little pieces of all those types, but mostly a scanner…hate to admit that to one my favorite newsletter publishers, but it is true.
I really do “Click & Delete” when I either get too many emails in a day or they are just full of hype I don’t want to read…got 5 from the same marketer in 4 hours yesterday
… nuked that guy forever.
BTW, Paula…I like your graphic touches a lot. They are not overpowering and break up the text enough to make reading your posts easy. Good job.
Pat
By Paula Brett
on May 28, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
I think that’s me, too, Pat. Like I said, I’m a bit multi-personalitied (is there such a word? Well, there is now!). Depends on what mood I’m in and who’s screaming in my ear,
By Pat Graham
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
“Like I said, I’m a bit multi-personalitied (is there such a word? Well, there is now!)”
Whew…ATTITUDE! Love it.
Pat
By Randy Smith
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Well
As I Scanned through the post,
I loved the graphics,
But I had to keep answering people on MSN,
However now that I have Examined the 7 types,
I feel that I’ve no time to be a Bookworm…
But A Commando sounds cool – where do I buy that title?
Maybe I’ll join Dan while he scans a couple of pints to discuss it….
Or I’ll get Kevin to send us a badge for free after all he has a ‘Mission Lab’ – and that sounds commando ish….
hehe
OH – OH – I think you missed one…
Confused…
Yep – that’s me…most of the time….
Just plain old Confused!
No Wait – frustrated — well sometimes….no I’ll settle on confused!
Randy
http://www.randolfsmith.com
By Peggy Baron
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Well, it depends on who’s emails I’m reading.
If it’s Paula’s or Randy’s, I’m a bookworm.
Otherwise, I’m mostly a scanner – but a very good scanner with bookworm elements.
Thanks,
Peggy
By Clive Praed
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
I’m a bit of a scanner and a LOT of a shopper.
The emails from people I know, I scan.
All others I scroll to the bottom and look for the price.
Over $27 = delete, no point in even scanning.
I also delete emails from everyone that are about audio, video or web 2.0.
Definitely emails that say somebody has made more than $1000 in a week are promptly deleted.
Makes the daily inflow far more manageable.
By Paula Brett
on May 28, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
I love that, Peggy – “a very good scanner with bookworm elements”
Clive, I’m honoured that you scanned my email!
I kind of agree with you about the earnings boastings – I sort of find people going on about how much money you’re making a bit distasteful
Thank you both so much for taking the time to comment
By Omar Martin
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Well, I’m a “prioritizer/deleter”.
Your email will certainly NOT be answerred in the order it was recieved but rather by how important you are to me. Not trying to be mean.. just being honest.:-)
I have about 6 email accounts.
My customers are most important and every email on that account gets “book wormed” immediately.
Then there’s my main personal account, if you have that address on your list, you are pretty important to me, this is where I get emails from Paula, Randy, Dan, Dave, John Thornhill and a few others. I quickly determine if it is a personal message from them, if so I open it immediately. (I can usually tell by the subject line) If it’s a bulk list mailer I save it for later but I will always open and read it entirely (within the hour)and also click to visit the blog to check out the comments like I did here.
Once thats all done, I start my daily deleting and unsubscribing process. This is where I scan through my bulk/spam folder and see what was accidentally filterred and what was unsolicitted spam.
Overall, I would say emails consume a good 1/2 hour to a full hour per day for me. Except when Randy emails me.. then it’s like a guaranteed 3 hours to get through the rambling!
Great Topic Paula!
Omar
By Tom Eleam
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
I am a Scanner
By William Potts
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
I would consider myself a Scanner, but I do have several marketers including yourself that always get my attention.
If I am short on time yours, John T’s, Dans, Lee’s and Randy’s will get saved to checkout as soon as I get the time, these always are the important ones I choose to read.
Regards,
William
By Albert Van Cutsem
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Hey Paula,
Great post!
After several years of subscribing to a bunch of newsletters, I receive tons of emails a day. So it is difficult to read them all. But for the authors I know I read them as a scanner. BTW, yours I read as all types!:-)
Regards,
Albert
By John Szram
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
In the past I would have described myself as a “serial subscriber.” I used to be signed up to a million lists and, of course, never had time to read half of them.
Today I’m on maybe 5 at most – the one’s that provide real value. Everyone else I tend to sign up to their RSS feed and catch up in Google Reader when I have a spare moment!
John Szram
http://www.johnszram.com
By Anne
on May 28, 2008 | | Reply
Interesting! How do you appeal to all those types?
In a hurry, I am a detective – I could just bin it if I don’t know the author. I save those from a select few, including Paula’s!
In more leisurely mode, I scan, and go into bookworm mode when I find something that leaps out at me.
Kind Regards,
Anne
By Paula Brett
on May 28, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Wow, this is turning out to be really interesting, thank you all so much for taking the time to comment.
@Randy: are you confused about the content of the emails, or just the technicality of opening them?
@Omar: Wow, you sound so dratted organised! And now you’ve made me feel guilty cos I know I have an email from you waiting for me to answer…
I have actually got a good excuse – been glued to the D9 Support Desk since John re-launched — Dan and I are now in sweat shop mode
@Tom: A man of few words, and I’m so pleased you took the time to comment, thank you.
@William: I’m flattered to be included amongst such an esteemed group of great IMers, I really do have a fantastic group of subscribers.
@Albert: Thanks for your kind words, flattery gets you everywhere
@John: Isn’t that Google Reader fantastic? I couldn’t live without mine now. For anyone who’s not using it yet, check out my post about it and how to set it up
Catch Up On All Your Favourite Blogs in One Place
@Anne: I actually have a bit of a Detective tendency, I must admit. I tend to see who they’re from and think, “oh no, I don’t want to read this”. Why I don’t just unsubscribe, I don’t know!
By Ted Newman
on May 29, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
Nice topic…It got me really thinking!
I guess we all revert to type at some stage in our lives so I guess I`ll go with the detective mostly (after 20+ years of my undetected crime!!!) with a little bit of each of the rest thrown in for good measure!
I see Randy`s trying to monopolize your blog sending all his subscribers to your page, I even went to visit him in person a couple of weeks ago to plead with him to cut down on his Ramblings!!!…Didn’t work-in box full each day, never mind we all have our cross to bear!
Still it’s nice to come here and visit…it’s a better class of writing
Cheers
Ted
By Dawn Kay
on May 29, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
Great post, you really got me thinking.
If its from somebody I know and admire I scan. If its from someone that just keeps bombarding me with emails with recommendations then I delete straight away.
When I sign up to a newsletter I want information, guidance and quality recommendations but most of all I want to learn from them.
That’s why I like your newsletter Paula its full of information and advice, and if there is a recommendation in their I know its going to be a good product that your probably using yourself.
Regards
Dawn Kay
http://www.kays-ebooks.com
By Paula Brett
on May 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
He he Ted. Nooooooo, all my own subscribers! Randy just pops here to nick a few
Thank you for taking the time to visit and I’m glad you appreciate my, shall we say, “less rambling” approach
By Paula Brett
on May 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Dawn, how nice to hear from you. Thank you so much for your kind comments.
Yes, most definitely, I never recommend anything that I haven’t used myself or had a good old rummage around to see if it’s any good!
By Richard
on May 29, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
I suppose I’m a scanner. I read all the ‘viagra’ ones first and then foward them to Randy
I then forward all the ‘replica handbag’ ones to Dan (it’s an odd fetish but each to their own).
Don’t believe that Kevin Riley, he has his own personal mail slave
and he’s always creating new goodies so he doesn’t have time.
Great post by the way!
Richard
By Paula Brett
on May 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Richard, now you mention it I do remember spotting Dan with a rather nice Louis Vuitton Man Bag a while back — I had no idea it was a fake! Shocked!
I think I might actually be in love with Kevin’s Mail Slave – poor thing needs a bit of fresh air every now and again!
Thanks, Richard
By Paula Brett
on May 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
P.S. Richard, I’m not prepared to comment on the Randy and Viagra rumours!
By Al
on May 29, 2008 | | Reply
Great descriptions Paula!
I ‘fess up to being combo Bookworm Examiner. There are times when I get so backed up & busy that my “delete” key is in danger of wearing out. One list I’m on is notorious for sending 2-3 emails a day. Not quite an auto-delete reaction, but darn close.
Of course, the “unsubscribe” option gets used on occasion, but very judiciously!
Thanks for all your info & insights. BTW, in our house, it’s teenagers fighting, cats with hairballs, and a dog who wants to go out AFTER the fact!
Al
By Paula Brett
on May 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Wooo, our first Examiner, Al. Must bear that in mind next time I email you.
Sounds like your place is just as much of a mad-house as mine! Just off to the docs, now, cos I think my 5-year-old, Max, has got conjunctivitis – arrghhh! Still, look on the bright side, it might mean I can lock him in a darkened room for a couple of days
By Barry
on May 29, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
This is the 3rd and last time I’ve answered this. If this doesn’t ‘take’ this time you’ll never get this response. Sorry about that. If it doesn’t get through and you’re interested why not, you can email me for a complete answer.
I am a scanner, bookworm (only if it’s of immediate interest for me), general graphics unlover (although there are exceptions), examiner (I have a mega bytes of copy I think is good. I’ll get around to reading them sometime. It doesn’t matter whether the product is good or not here).
I am definitely not a multi tasker. I am male and hence can only do one thing at a time. The one thing gets done right though.
I refuse to admit being a computer chair commando on the grounds that you’ll tailor your emails for me if you knew that. The tailoring would be an increase in price. So I’m definitely not one of these.
You can also add a frustrateder, a ditherer and a pedanticist to the above list. By the way, the last line of your email
‘Go on, I dare you to fess up!!’
Should read
‘Go on, I dare you to ‘fess up!’
By Sue French
on May 30, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
I’ve tried to post a comment twice earlier, but it wouldn’t go. Had to get my computer guru friend to give me some advice. Hope it works this time, because i really want to let you know how much I appreciate your blog. You always have something of value to offer, and I really enjoy your writing style.
That said, i’m so pedantic, I must be a bookworm and an examiner! (What a cross to bear!)
Email takes up far too much of my time. i like the way Omar seems so organised. How did I get on so many lists?
I think it’s time I grabbed a glass of wine and did some (judicious) unsubscribing (again).
Keep up the good work, and thanks
Cheers
Sue French
By Paula Brett
on May 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Barry and Sue, thank you for persevering, I’m not sure why you had problems but I’m glad you managed to comment.
A couple of pedants, huh? Interesting! Save me a glass of wine, Sue!
By Omar Martin
on May 31, 2008 | | Reply
Paula,
I think Dan Thompson never checks his emails because he spends too much time dancing on his webcam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e99fijCIEM
LOL..
Omar
http://www.omar-martin.com
P.S. It came from him Paula not me!
By DesDrec
on May 31, 2008 | | Reply
Great post Paula.
I must admit to being a bit of a detective. Like so many others I’ve joined quite a few mailing lists (even though we constantly get told not to) and kind of take part in my own mini market research.
If the headline grabs me or the main message flows I like to take note of what works and what doesn’t.
I’m in the process of creating my first “proper” product (time is of the essence) and find that I scan more of my messages since you can waste a lot of time reading through reams of sales jargon and before you know it, you’ve wasted an hour.
I’m trying to force myself to read my emails 3 times a day (morning, noon and night) which is easier said than done when you run an ebay business with clients with lots of questions.
In 2008 I think we’ll see more of a push to rss feeds and scanning messages in our favourite rss readers.
DesDrec.
By Ron
on Jun 1, 2008 | | Reply
Paula,
Great post!!
After going back and rereading the descriptions, I have to say that I am somewhat a combination of all of them.
Being that I am still in the ‘learning’ stage of the IM biz, I tend to scan for content. If it piques my curiosity, I will read more thoroughly, and if after reading all of the email, if it holds my interest and is a product that I could get some help or education from, I click the link to find out more.
Although I am making a gallant attempt to get out of the buying mindset, I still have to do the research to see if the offer will do anything for me.
Of course, you, John T., Dan, Randy, etc., still hold my attention and I have gained much knowledge from your teachings to the point that I have just released my own info product. Hopefully I will be able to join you peeps and start providing quality content for my customers.
Thanks,
Ron
By Sally
on Jun 6, 2008 | | Reply
I thought, then I thought and then I thought again, and I don’t think I am any of the above!
If a subject line doesn’t grab me immediately
I just don’t open the email at all.
I use my lovely shift key to highlight them all
and do a bulk delete!
Sally
By Paula Brett
on Jun 7, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Sally. Could this perhaps make you a Dectective?
“This reader examines all aspects of your subject line”
By Sarah Lyle
on Jun 27, 2008 | | Reply
My name is Sarah and I am being slowly suffocated by email. I’m a scanner about once a month I scan through em.. But there are 2 or 3 or 4 I always read and yours is one of em Paula! Honest!
By Paula Brett
on Jun 27, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Wow, thank you for taking the time to comment, Sarah. I believe you, and I’m glad you enjoy them
By Stephen Spry
on Jul 25, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula
It seems that I am a detective, although I wouldn’t necessarily say I “examine” the subject line all that thoroughly!
It’s a pretty quick decision… If that subject line doesn’t do it for me… it’s GOOOONE!
Unless you are on my list of “must read” people… and then I’ll go into scanner and/or bookworm mode depending on how interesting it is.
Maybe a new category could be introduced for those of us who make quick decisions based on the subject line…. maybe “assassin” for kill it silently and quickly
Cheers
Stephen
By Paula Brett
on Jul 25, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
LOL! Stephen, I love it – “The Assassin” – I can just see Edward Fox getting rid of his emails a la Day of the Jackel
By Daniël de Mos
on Aug 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Paula,
I’m definitely a combination of the scanner, detective and examiner!
At first all the personal mails are selected and answered.
Like Stephen and most others I have a “must read” list. Mails from people on there (Randy, Dan, Carol, Robin, Peggy, John T, Mark McW and you) are always read, because I’m sure the content is of some value for me or at least interests me.
All the rest gets scanned, what’s left after the first deletion is being examined and investigated and the interesting mails that are left, I either take action on or are stored for later.
Yours,
Daniël
By Daniël de Mos
on Aug 29, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
P.S.
Repeatedly sending me uninteresting “trash” mails always leads to unsubscribing from such a newsletter.
Daniël
By Trish
on Sep 12, 2008 | | Reply
Thanks for that post, Paula. I’ve been thinking about this a lot myself lately because the volume of incoming emails seems to be increasing exponentially, so it was good to hear you bring this up & very interesting reading other people’s comments.
I’m a bit of a mixture, like most people are and it depends not only on who has sent the email,how many arrives at once, what workload I have before me, but also how I feel at the time.
If I had to pick one category, then I’m mostly a scanner. I’ll always open & scan the content of any email from someone I ‘know’, like Omar, Albert, Barry etc have said they do, but if more than ten come in at once from names I don’t know, they may not get more than a preview. In these cases, the sender’s subject & first 5 or 6 lines is about the only chance they have to get their message opened & scanned.
Yes, I save most of them in separate folders so that puts me into the examiner category too, but I also read the ‘good’ ones thoroughly so I’m a bit of a bookworm & detective, too.
The one thing I’m not is a graphics lover. Not in emails. Slows the process down too much.
Thanks for the opportunity to share with everyone.
Trish
By Ken Trueman
on Oct 19, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
I’m new here but enjoyed the post a lot, particularly the way you broke up the post with graphics..a great idea.
I admit to being a scanner mostly but everything depends on who the e-mail is from.
I do save a lot of my opt in mails for ideas, is this normal procedure, I’m new at this ?
Ken
By Pippa
on Nov 2, 2008 | | Reply
Hi Paula
I think I am a detective who after finding an email to open becomes a mix of bookworm and examiner with a touch of commando but changing to scanner if message lacks interest.
This why I spend so much time not getting any real work done!
Pippa
By Paula Brett
on Nov 2, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Daniel, I know what you mean about the trash mail — sometimes I get stuff that I don’t even remember signing up for, then I spend time wondering if I did actually sign up, or whether it’s pure, unadulterated spam, lol.
Trish, thanks for your interesting comment. Graphics… hmmm. I have never actually sent an email with graphics but I spose you’re right and they would slow things down. I find that my ISP wont’ show the graphics anyway, unless I click a link to allow them.
Thanks, Ken, I’m glad that you found the post helpful…. and entertaining! Yes, actually, I do that too, save some particularly interesting and attention grabbing emails for inspiration and ideas.
Pippa, I know what you mean. I have had to learn to be hard now, though, and just scan and delete if it’s not of interest. It can get to the stage where you spend all your time reading emails cos you’re scared you’re going to miss something vitally important!
Thank you both for taking the time to post
By Ken Biddle
on Apr 30, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Paula
Loved the post. Makes you take a steep back and reflect. I think before I started Internet Marketing I was probably a cross between a Bookworm and a Detective. Now I get fooded with so many emails that I have been turned into a scanner. Except of course when it come to your emails – they are always a pleasure.
Take Care
Ken Biddle http://ken-biddle.com
Ken Biddle’s last blog post..Cheap books, dvd’s, and How to earn money with no effort
By Nick
on Apr 30, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
G’day every one! I would have to say I am a hybrid between the Exmaminer and Scanner. Thanks Paula, as always, your post is interesting, amuzing and bubbly! Cheers, Nick
http://www.discovering-the-law-of-attraction.com
Nick’s last blog post..Get your Travel Agent ID and Enjoy the Benefits! (included : my cool cockpit video)
By Paula Brett
on Apr 30, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Aw, thanks, Ken [blush]
By john kelly
on May 1, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
I’m a curmudgeon ninja scanner, looking for names I recognise and respect first, then subject line, and really enjoy deleting blocks of emails with various ninja fingerjabs, even though should bother unsubscribing.
)
On a curmudgeonly note – good traction for an old post – will try it myself
Johny
john kelly’s last blog post..Anzacs – they shall not grow old
By Paula Brett
on May 1, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Nick, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment
John, a curmudgeonly Ninja is a frightening image – I hope I don’t fall foul to the fingerjabs any time soon, they sound lethal
By Mandy
on May 1, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Paula,
I’m defiantely a scanner – no time for anything else. The way the email is presented makes a BIG difference. I like yours as they are in larger text and longer lines. I hate the ones that are tiny writing and only about 6 words on each line. Really irritating. I also flick to the bottom of sales stuff to see the price first. I might put the price at the top of my product…
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Mandy’s last blog post..Blogging for fun or blogging for fortune?
By Paula Brett
on May 1, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Mandy
I hear what you’re saying, however, you won’t be selling to you and sometimes it’s not about what you like but what converts and what sells. I suspect that if you put your price at the top of the page instead of at the bottom you will convert less. Although many people HATE long sales pages, statistics show that they convert better, particularly for higher ticket items
By Mary Jane Lang
on May 19, 2009 | | Reply
Dear Paula,
I am a scanner and delete more and more e-mail from people I do not know or know I cannot use the content. In other words when I focus on what I need to do then any e-mail that does not address what I am interested in usually gets deleted. Most strange e-mails get deleted. I hope I’m saying this right.
However, I am a positive person and like to trust what a person is saying is real and true, so examining, well, no time and that is boring to me.
Your points are very interesting and if I followed all your directions on pleasing each type I don’t think anyone would receive e-mails from me.
No e-mails, no problems! lol
Thanks for your e-mails, Paula. They always have a message and are enlightening. I don’t scan yours; I just plain read them. Any category for a straight reader?
Lately, seriously, I am deleting more and more e-mails. I wonder if this is a mega-trend? I suspect it is. In general, as communications get easier and easier to send, walls go up and sometimes it’s a tug of war to get anything important read before the deleting starts.
With best regards, Mary Jane Lang
By Paula Brett
on May 19, 2009 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Mary Jane, thanks for taking the time to pop over and leave a comment – especially as you have so much email deleting to do
By Dorothy
on Jul 10, 2009 | | Reply
I am a scanner.
By Howard Piesik
on Feb 27, 2010 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi, Paula
Howard Piesik love your post.I’m a scanner and book worm.I have read “all” your e-mails since meeting you. the ones I read,(most) Jim Cockrum, John Thornhill, Dan Thompson, Mike Filsaime, Joel Comm,and of course Charlie Page
You are a truly, a good writer and captivate your audience, and with as many e-mails that are out there you can defiantly be proud of yourself.
Omar martin, You really need to make a video, how to organize your e-mail. At present I have 12,055 in box, and 10,224 un-read e-mails.
That should give you an idea of what I scan, and don’t scan.
Please keep up the good work Paula…..
Howard Piesik
By Paula Brett
on Mar 3, 2010 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Aw, thanks, Howard, that’s kind of you, I’m glad you’re finding the articles (and my emails) interesting
By Stuart
on Apr 18, 2010 | | Reply
Hello Paula,
I must admit that I was a bit thrown when I decided to leave you a message to your email of today (18 April 2010) to find a trail of answers to the same question going back to 2008. Having bought from you several times and experienced your fast, no bullshit replies to my questions I always read your emails. I don’t know if I fall into one of the 7 categories but I must admit I am a bit frustrated at trying to start an online business. Any of your readers are welcome to look at my latest attempt – my blog which I have created as part of John Thornhill’s Masterclass, started a few weeks ago and which I know you are involved in Paula. Actually you are a star in my eyes and I don’t know how you manage to do all you do having your young family, D9 etc. I will always read your emails!
Many thanks,
Stuart
By Joelle Rene Hughes
on May 15, 2010 | | Reply
Hi Paula,
Definitely Commando – I’ve got a computer full of eBooks to prove it. I’m always looking for information to help me accomplish the tasks at hand and open to possibilities I haven’t even considered. I love to learn and expand my horizons.
I have a folder in my inbox just for your emails. Thanks for making them excellent, informative and fun.
And thanks again for all your support group help and for d9 Solutions – my hosting service of choice.
Joelle