Email unsubscriptions...I'm cool with em!
Pay attention to who unsubscribes from your list and why. One of the many advantages of using a system like Aweber is that it gives people an option to comment on why they’re unsubscribing. This is valuable feedback, but unsubscriptions should not be viewed as a loss.
In fact, they are good for business in every way. Here’s why:
- They’re clearly not someone who wants to be on your list, so why should you want them anyway?
- Your list shouldn’t be padded with people who aren’t into what you’re doing anyway. Whoever said you need a big list in order for it to be valuable? It’s not true. You don’t need a big list. You need a quality list. Big numbers can be nice. But only if the quality is there.
- If the unsubscriber offers feedback, you can use that to improve your business. It’s a win for you either way when someone unsubscribes.
It’s important not to look at losing people as a negative thing. Did you really think 100% of the people would stick around forever? Besides, a lot of the comments you’ll likely get will be like the one I just received. It must have been in response to a sales message I sent out. It went something like this:
“I’m only interested in bloggers who appreciate me for just being a subscriber.”
Ok, then. Clearly the fact that I share new content 2-3 times a week on this site for free isn’t enough. You know, there will always be people who complain no matter what you do. Put up an ad, they will complain. Change your design, they will complain. Do something (god forbid!) to monetize what you’re doing in any way, they will complain.
I remember when Darren Rowse changed the design on Twitip he got a load of comments saying they would unsubscribe because they didn’t like the background he’d selected for his new layout. I laughed out loud when I read those comments. To me it was proof that there is no limit to what some people will choose to complain about. To internalize this is madness. You have to learn all you can from every interaction and realize this stuff is just part of doing business! Make up your mind now that it won’t affect you negatively in the least. It WILL happen. And it’s good for business when it does.
Christian –
Great article. While it is always hard to lose a subscriber, member, etc., you’re exactly right — you don’t want someone if they don’t want to be a part of what you’re offering. Additionally, garnering feedback from unhappy members can only help you to retain future ones.
Well said!
Agreed. Yes, I can’t say it’s always easy, especially when someone is just plain rude! But it’s gonna happen. That’s why me make all these millions, right?
Great article bud! I especially liked that last bit about how people complain about everything under the sun. Funny because it’s true. There’s so many different opinions out there. Some people think blogs should not be monetized. Others think you’re wasting time unless you have profits coming in from your blog. Some people are nit picky about things that don’t matter, other’s are too loyal.
I think if we listened to everyone who told us how to blog we would have never started in the first place.
If you’re trying to attract the type of people who’d nit pick about a background or a design, than it’s up to you to please them. (not meaning you specifically:) ) Personally those type of people are welcome to un-subscribe.
Blogging is a confusing game sometimes, you just gotta follow your intuition when caught between opinion(basically that’s what they are)
I cannot offer you a formula for success, but I can offer you a formula for failure…try to please everybody. Who said that? I love your point about how if you listened to everyone you’d never start in the first place. I couldn’t agree more. Always good to hear from you Clinton!
Once again I agree with you, Christian!
Those that unsubscribe weren’t supposed to be there anyway, so relax people and let your subscribers run away. Build a list that cares and rocks and are willing to kill people for you (almost…)
Great way of putting it Henri, retail stores don’t get pissed when people leave. They say “thanks for stopping by! come again soon”. We should do the same: )
Soo very true, Christian! Thoughtfully composed as usual, my friend!
Haha! You like that thoughtfully composed line? that’s me trying to be witty
This is great to read as I would have taken it personally.
Thanks Lucy. I appreciate you stopping by. It’s very understandable to take it personally, but it’s important to realize you don’t need em. We can’t make everyone happy