E-Mail Cold-Calls

[Baer Charlton]

I thought at first about making this a poll, but then I thought it would be better as an open forum.

Spent an interesting day today with a few "different" conversations... The upshot in a nut shell was about the idea of making "Cold-Calls" via email.

I'm/we aren't sure how that would be accomplished (getting the email addresses), but the idea was to just email out inquiries much like post-card mailings but on a national level to framers.

I said that I would be willing to stand tall in the lightning storm and fly the kite on the Grumble.... graemlins/help.gif

So, "How would you feel about getting cold calls/e-post-cards from vendors in the PF industry?"

Don't be bashfull, I told them that I'd put in on the stoop and see if the cat ate it or the dog ****** on it. So let fly.

Let the Forum fly. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[B. Newman]

Just be very careful or you could be accused of "spamming." Unsolicited e-mails are generally frowned upon, plus there's all the "bounce backs" from spam filters that won't allow your message.

For more information on internet and e-mail marketing go to http://www.marketingsherpa.com/ and http://www.doctorebiz.com/

I get both of their newsletters and they are excellent.

Personally, I think "cold" e-mail marketing is a bad idea and a waste of time. I've got all kinds of papers on e-mail marketing on my other computer if you'd like me to send you some of them.

Betty

[Janet L]

As far as I'm concerned Baer, the dog ******on it. If I don't recognize the email address, it won't come through on my system as it immediately goes to the trash bin. It's just like receiving mail addressed to: Occupant (It may as well be addressed to Dumpster.

If a company wants to sell me something, they should do their homework. Find out who I am, my business address, and send me something in the US mail that I can hold in my hands and read. Oh, and please don't have a telemarketer call me.

Just my opinion. And you know what "they" say about opinions. ;)

[Gumbogirl]

Of course Mike will have something more knowledgeable about the computer security aspect of this, but...

I like sorting my email better than I do paper mail... delete, vs. fill a landfill kind of thing... just today, I did the Fletcher freebie postcard, then trashed it. Also printed out the N/B Artcare free sample offer to mail in. So, I respond to both? You are talking about pretty much what Decor does now, right?

Wouldn't you have to get through most mail program's junk/spam filters?

Stay tuned for some useable answers from others...

[gemsmom]

I delete e-mail advertisements and offers, unread, even from companies I regularly do business with. So, I imagine I would ignor e-mail cold calls as well.

[Baer Charlton]

Yes, yes, yes, we're listening.

Betty, thanks for the link.

All of this imput is EXACTLY what we are looking for. Thank you one and all so far.

Now for the rest of you.... pile on (as it were). :D

Yes GG, that's exactly what started the conversation... graemlins/shutup.gif

[pirate]

Spamming works, I know someone who does it on a regular basis to promote his business. He has increased sales the past year approximately 25% because of spamming, mass email marketing or whatever you want to call it.
I had rather receive an email than get a sales call or a fax with someone trying to sell something you don’t want. However I do enjoy hanging up on telemarketers, after 23 years in business it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I hang up in the middle of their pitch.

Advertising companies are opposed to spamming because they are not making money on it, no postage, no printing costs, no telemarketing costs etc…

If you choose to start spamming be prepared to receive some BAD replies. Some people really don’t like spam!

[Baer Charlton]

The idea, loosely wasn't "truly" random spam... I would 1) Be from a recognized REAL company and 2) be kind of like a post card:

"If you would be interested in recieving more info on the new ZebraBop Technical Moulding, click here.

If you wish to be removed from our mailing list click here.

If you wish to remain, but have no interest in Zebras but may want to hear about Elephants in the future, merely delete this email."

Or something to that effect.

As I said, the list would have to come from somewhere, and we don't at this time know of such a list. We're just looking down the long road... or something.

Oh, where is Carter when I need to pick on his brain....? :D

[Mick11]

Any unsolicited e-mail is spam, and with computer fraud at an all time high from email virus,are viewed with suspicion.
A one off mailing, with the option of OPTING IN for receiving say a monthly news letter is probably more acceptable.
OPTING OUT is also viewed with suspicion, as it shows a "live" email address and often results in even more spam from that company.

[Sister]

I am not opposed to the idea if the Sender name is easily recognizable as legit. I would suggest that the Subject be chosen carefully. As all new addresses run through Suspect Email on my computer, I would open "New Corner Samples" before I would "Have We Got a Deal for You".

[pirate]

Quote from Mick11 "Any unsolicited e-mail is spam"

So is it unsolicited e-mail when I go to a website and choose to e-mail that company or person?

Like framer@thegrumble.com.

At what point does it become unsolicited?

If you did not what to receive e-mailed you shouldn’t have your e-mail address listed on any website.

[HannaFate]

I have sent out a ton of this sort of e-mail to promote my online shop. I have had no complaints, and enough response to be worth the work.

The trick is to keep it short and simple. The e-mail is "straight", that is, the from and reply-to addresses are real, and professional. (that is, webmaster@unseengallery.com rather than squeakytoy@hotmail.com)

I google for sites, blogs, and homepages that seem to belong to people who would be interested in what I am selling.

I find the contact address, or if it is one of those mysterious sites, I send to "webmaster". The content of the e-mail runs something like this:

"I saw your site, and thought you might be interested in this little shop. (link to shop)"

No hot links, no html, no spamwords.

If the site seems like a busy one, I might add "Thank you for taking the time to have a look"

I send them one at a time.

[Jay H]

Bad Idea.

Pirate, email sent from somebody I have never done business with and does nothing but sale #### is spam.

When you sort your real mailbox, do you have hard time telling which is which?

If mailing were free, mail trucks would be the size of tractor-trailers and mailboxes would be the size of a trashcan. Your 3 pieces of "real" mail would be hidden under piles of junk. Cost of mailing prevents this.

Email is having just that problem. I have a yahoo account that currently gets a ratio of 2000:1 spam to real email (and that’s where my HH account is sent to).

I think email in the business world is going by the wayside because of the inability to sort good mail and bad mail, viruses, spoofing, and the like. Don't perpetuate this Baer. Decor sends about 400 emails a week to me. They are a reputable company and clearly identify themselves and their message before I open it. I have already done business with them and want that message. But I'm getting ready to block them too. They are abusing it.

Carry on!

[Mick11]

Originally posted by pirate:

So is it unsolicited e-mail when I go to a website and choose to e-mail that company or person?
Like framer@thegrumble.com
At what point does it become unsolicited?

>If it is an enquiry no. If you send them advertising they have not asked for then technically it is spam and unsolicited. they have the right to report you to your ISP and you could have your account terminated<

If you did not what to receive e-mailed you shouldn't have your e-mail address listed on any website. The fact that I have my email address on various websites does not entitle someone to bombard that address with advertising.

If you choose to email me with a specific question and I answer your enquiry that is fine. If I then bombard you with unsolicited advertising it is definitely spam, and I am sure you would get most p****d off.

I personally have no objection to someone e-mailing me with a one off, "are you interested" type enquiry, but many people see this as spam and will report it as such.

[Mick11]

Jay
I have the same problem with some companies, as you say they are abusing the fact that you have done business with them. I have no problem with say a monthly news letter from them.

[Baer Charlton]

Thanks Jay for that analogy, because that was another angle that was discussed.... it seems that you are not alone.

I think these people were thinking more along the lines of extablishing a "Select Mailing List" for their own use only, to only announce new things 2-4 times a year, and then maybe a opt in on a monthly <u>short</u> newsletter that may even just be a email reminder to Link to a hosted short E-zine.

But this is all great stuff gals and guys.

Hanna, interesting concept. I'd still like to know about those scrubs for the dentist. :eek: :D :

[Mick11]

Originally posted by Baer Charlton:
I think these people were thinking more along the lines of extablishing a "Select Mailing List" for their own use only, to only announce new things 2-4 times a year, and then maybe a opt in on a monthly <u>short</u> newsletter that may even just be a email reminder to Link to a hosted short E-zine. I can see no problem with this at all. They could also have a "subscribe to our news letter" link on their website to cater for browsers of the site.
Two of the major companies I deal with use this format,and I get an email once a month from both of them with a link to the websites.

[B. Newman]

Like most things, e-mail can be a most effective tool (both personally and business-wise) if used correctly and wisely. (I have some friends that think it is their duty to send me every "cute" thing they come across. I hit "delete" to these just like spam. Once in a while is ok, 8-10 at a time is not!)

Those 2 websites that I gave are top notch in teaching effective use of e-mail marketing.

We use e-mail quite often. I have an opt-in newsletter form on my website. Although it is primarily for retail customers, many framers (probably because I have talked about it often) have signed up as well just to see what I'm doing and how, which is fine.

I also have an e-mail list that I send to on a weekly basis. These names have started from people I knew, then has grown quite well. This one is not for sales purposes. It's sole (soul) purpose is directed to the individual. It has a note at the end so that anyone can stop getting it at any time.

Another thing (and this is a biggie) USE BLIND COPY E-MAIL. There is nothing I hate worse (well maybe the drug spam, but...) than getting an e-mail from a business and seeing all the 40 jillion other recipients of the message. It's simple and painless, so DO IT!

I'm also getting ready to start using a blog. I think it will be very effective for growing that [i]other e-mail list.

betty

[FramerRandy]

Spam is spam is spam.....I attempt to divert it in all of its forms. My current email provider does a pretty good job of giving me tools to block it.
I don't own a fax machine anymore because of uncontrolled garbage sent to it. I only fax out to known vendors/customers as a response to their request.
I hang up on telemarketers.
I dump unsolicited mail in the proper file.
graemlins/faintthud.gif graemlins/faintthud.gif graemlins/kaffeetrinker_2.gif

[Phoneguy]

I don't mind email if I know that I have opted in. ie click here to join our mailing list, select what information you would like. I am still young enough to not need cialis or viagra so those ads get trashed. Ads from a recognized sender are more likely to get a quick browse than an unknown sender. Better email than paper....But I don't like too much volume either.

James

[Dermot]

Baer

This is a news letter that came into me today from AddMe http://www.addme.com/issue355.htm

There is some good stuff at this site for what you are researching.

Rgs

Dermot

[RozR]

Quick reaction. Not interested.

Sick of email, telemarketers, junk mail... I am on major overload...

I appreciate businesses needing to find new markets for their service and products - as I have to do so as well... I still like the old-fashioned way - hard copy, US Mail. Something I can hold in my hand.

To have a website with all the manufacturers - like the magazines do "Request information" - now that I could get my arms around.

For what it is worth...

[Dave]

I like Roz's thought. If there was website a user could choose to go to and listed manufacturers with a short description of their product lines it would entice me. Manufacturers/distributors should be sorted alphabetically with the ability to resort by product lines, physical location, etc.

Someone could choose to sign up for e-mail, snail mail, or be directed to the company website. The mailer would have to identify how their mail would be seen in any directed piece such that we would know who was sending what.

A set of guidelines and code of ethics would have to be subscribed to to be listed on the site. E-mailing anyone not specifically requesting would be prohibited.

Dave Makielski

"You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails."

[JbNormandog]

Ditto Roz!!!

[B. Newman]

You mean like this?
http://www.pictureframingmagazine.com/buyersguide/detail.asp?acct=102

I'm sure Decor Sources is similar.

Betty

[Dermot]

Baer

This is another email hosting company which might be worth a look at http://www.sparklist.com/

Rgs

Dermot