Are You Sick Of Newsletters?

25 replies
If you are, there could be several reasons...one of which you probably never
thought of.

1. The newsletter is nothing but one sales pitch after another.

2. The newsletter has content but the writing is so bad, you can't understand
what the person is saying, thus making it useless to you.

3. The content is well written, but it's so thin and basic that only somebody
who has just turned on their computer could get anything out of it.

But the one reason that most people don't realize is this one and I'll
explain why.

4. The newsletter is well written, has lots of great content, covers
a number of topics but...you're not getting anything out of it.

You're probably wondering why or even how that is.

The answer is simple.

You've outgrown it. You haven't really sat down and analyzed it, but
subconsciously, you realize that every issue goes over something that,
even though it's great stuff, after you're done reading it, you say to
yourself...

"I knew that...Good issue."

And you keep subscribing to the newsletter most likely because you're
waiting for that one spark that is going to give you something that
maybe you didn't know.

And it never seems to come.

You've simply reached the point where you are on the same level as this
person and they have nothing left to share that you're going to get
anything new out of.

The difficult decision is letting it go simply because you know it's well
written and you know it has great info, technically.

But it's not helping you and ultimately, reading it week after week or
however often it comes, is a waste of your time.

Unless of course you just like to read.

This is why I am now on only one list...because it's the only one where
the person writing actually shares things with me that I still learn from.

So if you're sick of newsletters, go through my little list above and see if
you can figure out why.

And if the reason is number 4, maybe it's time to cut the apron strings
and let it go.

Unless of course you just like to read.

** DISCLAIMER ** This is based on my own experience and observation
and not to be taken as fact. Use your own judgment for evaluating a
newsletter.
#newsletters #sick
  • Profile picture of the author MJ Sterling
    If I don't get anything of value after around 3 email blasts I unsubscribe.

    And I'm on some lists just to see how 'certain people' talk to their subscribers, how they pre-launch, stuff like that.
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    • Profile picture of the author innocent07
      Banned
      Newsletters which provide regular freebies (reports, audios etc) keep me enticed.

      Aslong as it isnt the same old rehashed garbage.
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    I'm on quite a lot of lists. I like to observe what's happening in my industry and I also like to keep an eye on the competition!


    Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author innocent07
      Banned
      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      I'm on quite a lot of lists. I like to observe what's happening in my industry and I also like to keep an eye on the competition!


      Andrew
      That is a good way to spy on your competition, and what they are offering
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  • Profile picture of the author Sue McDonald
    Yes I don't like newsletters either. You could just as easily get the same information just by doing a search. Sometimes the people who write them are just putting an article through an article spinner and kidding themselves they are giving you a unique product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Simons
    good to be on many lists so you get a feel for whats out there, whats new, and the types of copy which converts and which doesn't.
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  • Profile picture of the author Christian York
    Hi Steven,

    Good post.

    I used to be on a whole number of email lists but after deleting 98% of them I have found I am much more productive. Instead of wasting time reading something I already knew, I know prefer to go out and take action on the quality advice from 2-3 marketers.

    It works much better
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    • Profile picture of the author krcorser
      "If I don't get anything of value after around 3 email blasts I unsubscribe."

      I do the exact same thing. I've gotten a bunch of stuff from IM giveaways. Nine times out of ten, all of the emails from each contributor are trying to sell an affiliate product. There's little or no content. Three strikes, and they're out.

      "And I'm on some lists just to see how 'certain people' talk to their subscribers, how they pre-launch, stuff like that."

      I'm creating a swipe file of good emails by doing that very thing.
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      • Profile picture of the author YseUp
        I un-subscribe straight away, even from the big gurus.

        They ALL bore me to tears.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    I am your fan and after reading this post I feel like starting a Steven Wagenheim Fan Club

    Your thinking is amazing.

    Man I gotta sign up to your newsletter, where's the link
    Signature

    “The first draft of anything is shit.” ~Ernest Hemingway

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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
    Steve,

    If I wasn't on so many newsletters, then how on earth could I tell how good I am at writing emails? :-)
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  • There some newsletters, which always inform you with useful information and there are some which always try to sell stuff. Those are the ones I unsubscribe.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Just because somebody calls something a newsletter doesn't mean that it is.
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      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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      • Profile picture of the author innocent07
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

        Just because somebody calls something a newsletter doesn't mean that it is.

        True.

        It goes for everything, Just because somebody calls an award winning sales letter, doest mean it is one
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      • Profile picture of the author statquo2010
        Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

        Just because somebody calls something a newsletter doesn't mean that it is.
        Agreed, I'll also add that with us being marketers we are more familiar with what's going on and how the process works. If you look at a niche outside of Internet Marketing maybe the view changes a little.

        Eric
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  • Profile picture of the author eQuus
    newsletters thrive on critical and timely information. Without them, they're spam.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheKeys
    YES YES YES YES AND YES!!!!

    Only if its something i truly care about!
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  • Newsletter marketing can be very effective if you do it right. Most marketer try to sell you with ever news letter.

    What I do is provide value in every news letter. There are many news letters that I just provide value and do no sell anything. If you do this and when you have something to offer people will be waiting to buy your products.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Judging from many of the replies here, it seems a lot of people aren't differentiating between a marketing list and a true newsletter. There is a huge difference between a real content-based newsletter and just being "on a list." I publish a newsletter. It's even registered with the Library of Congress. Paul Myers publishes a mighty fine newsletter. Most marketers that I'm familiar with, however, just have mailing lists.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    I am not sure everybody was referring to real newsletters in this thread. It seems there is quite a confusion when people mention together being on a list of a marketer and being subscribed to a newsletter.

    If you cannot tell the difference between the two - you deserve to read crappy AR "sequences". And if you think those are 'newsletters'... then keep reading them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Judging from many of the replies here, it seems a lot of people aren't differentiating between a marketing list and a true newsletter.
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      I am not sure everybody was referring to real newsletters in this thread. It seems there is quite a confusion when people mention together being on a list of a marketer and being subscribed to a newsletter.

      If you cannot tell the difference between the two - you deserve to read crappy AR "sequences". And if you think those are 'newsletters'... then keep reading them.

      I think the basis of the alleged confusion in the replies can be found in the OP.
      Signature
      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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      • Profile picture of the author ristvin
        There are three newsletters that I look forward to:
        • Paul Myer's TalkBiz News
        • Martin Avis's Kickstart Newletter
        • Dr. Andy Williams' EZSEOnews
        Some of the rest can be okay at times but are basically just pitch-fests and come too often in that manner...

        I have learned so much from the above mentioned newsletters and when they have pitched products, I've listened as they have always used what they pitch and are honest and sincere in how they hook one in...
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        • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
          Originally Posted by ristvin View Post

          There are three newsletters that I look forward to:
          • Paul Myer's TalkBiz News
          • Martin Avis's Kickstart Newletter
          • Dr. Andy Williams' EZSEOnews
          Some of the rest can be okay at times but are basically just pitch-fests and come too often in that manner...

          I have learned so much from the above mentioned newsletters and when they have pitched products, I've listened as they have always used what they pitch and are honest and sincere in how they hook one in...
          The common trend in your top three...
          they have a name! "Talkbiz news' etc...

          Interesting find.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    I only subscribe to a handful of genuine newsletters. I am also on may dozen guru lists only because I want to keep up on how they "craft" their sales pitches. BTW I consider it morally objectionable to opt in to a list just to get a free download and then unsubscribe within 5 minutes.

    I just won't do that. I feel that no matter how much crap they throw my way I am obligated to open a handful of their emails in exchange for the gift they gave me.

    It isn't a big problem, but I get that all the time. I put together a great opt-in bonus, and I put time into it, and then a few jokers will opt in, download the bonus, and opt out within minutes. I consider that pretty shameless and selfish--but that's just me.

    I don't know, those jokers wouldn't ever buy from anyone anyway, so I guess I'm glad they self-purge themselves from my list. --Mike
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