I subscribe to quite a few different email lists. I receive newsletters, links to ezine sites, special sales bulletins, articles on self improvement, and even regular updates on the progress of my favorite science fiction pictures. I’m a big fan of information, and thanks to electronic mail, I can receive loads of it on a daily basis.
It’s great to open my inbox and find an insightful article that helps me put a current dilemma into balanced perspective. It’s also pretty nice to find that software I’ve had my eye on being sold at half price to members of the company’s mailing list. A well managed mailing list is a valuable service that I’m happy to take advantage of.
On the other hand, I’m less than thrilled when I find a message about viagra from someone who told me their newsletter was going to include some great business tips. I’m also not entirely pleased to receive daily updates on the latest pre-launch hogwash from that guy who offered me the email marketing course. And why, someone tell me, do so many people insist on sending me the same articles by Corey Rudl or Yanik Silver? A poorly managed mailing list is...