To all my awesome customers
I’ve sort of reached an interesting point in my business. The email game – I’ve tried to operate with integrity.
Not because I’m a saint, I’m not. But I believe that if I operate my business with integrity – treating others as I would like to be treated myself – it makes for a more profitable, longer-term business.
You know, once you get a few successful launches under your belt, and have a lot of subscribers, you get a lot of requests from other Warriors to promote their products.
It is a challenge – because if I don’t support them, they won’t support me on my next launch.
But I have to tell you – I say “no” a great deal. And one of the reasons is this:
625 Emails in my inbox!!!
One of my email accounts, – the paypal one from which I have mostly bought products, gets an insane amount of email. I cleared it out just a week or two ago it seems.
Yet I just looked at it – there are 625 emails in there promoting products.
That’s insane. I mean, 625 emails trying to sell me something. I need to get unsubscribing!
But here’s the paradox – a lot of the products they are promoting are downright awesome.
I mean the standard and low-cost of the things you can get on the Warrior forum and elsewhere is absolutely incredible.
For sure, there is some rubbish, but at the same time, you can get yourself from scratch to a pretty awesome IM business education and the tools for a few hundred bucks.
There’s no-where else in the world, and no other type of business, where this is possible!
For me, I owe my entire business to a) what I’ve learned and b) what I’ve sold on the Warrior Forum.
So I’m really left wondering…
…wondering how I can continue to operate with integrity, continue to recommend and explain to you the products I use and the the nes I know are amazing value and will help you…
… without filling your already overcrowded inboxes.
I don’t have a solution yet, but I will get back to you when I do!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below – what I can do for you, what you feel about emails from me or other marketers, or any requests you have.
All the very best,
John
28 Comments
Gary Bumpas
March 23, 2013This email is funny John – You know that affiliates and jv model marketers throw entirely too much stuff at their subscribers – you don’t like it yourself . . . but ” by-the-way I’ve got one more must have offer coming at ya.” AND – you and all the others with that model of doing business will continue promoting a never ending stream of more and more “must have,” “game changing,” “no brainer,” “you’ve never seen anything like this,” products.
Ah well – such is the hypocritical life of a salesman I suppose. – Gary
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Thank Gary! Yes I see the irony in my email. I guess that is the paradox I was referring to. There are some incredible products selling for peanuts and also some trash. So while I hate 625 emails in my inbox, I don’t mind one bit being told about something really good, and given an assessment of it form someone I trust.
By the way….. (just kidding) 🙂
Matthew Newnham
March 23, 2013Hi John,
Thanks for this. I value your integrity, and thanks for sharing. I really appreciate your discernment, and for you sharing the relatively few offers that will make a strategic, longer term difference for our businesses. The IM industry has a higher level of “try this, try that” bombardment than any other I can think of, so filtering from your experience is very much appreciated.
Best wishes from Scotland,
Matthew
Pasi
March 23, 2013Yep, I can easily drive about 500.000 “visitors” per month to my site (cost about $35), BUT does it convert/make sales? that is the question. I have tried about 50 different paid traffic sources and made few sales…only few ones. (PPC,PPV,PTC, display networks, buying blogads etc.)
Waiting for your next email 🙂
zahid
March 23, 2013Hi John
I now how you feel man.
I am getting so much sales hype spam..its clogging up my mail box.
I have just started to unsubscribe from lists that are not offering anything worthwhile…i.e content/advice/tips to help me and my business grow.
Lot of WSO’s getting optins on the pretence of product updates and some have not done updates for years but keep sending WSO offers..sometimes 3 times per day….its crazy.
I do not have time to read all this stuff…if I did I would not be running my business…The warrior forum itself is s great place and its a wonderful asset….but too much spam promotion is letting things down.
I am getting quick on the unscribes…or just keeping on lists that only send 1 email digest.
The more important thing for me these days is continued product support when needed and guidance on how to get best results using that product.
Sticking with people that have supported their products and have a proven track record for quality and reliability, have a interest in seeing their customers grow and be more successful, then spend more money with them by upgrading to higher ticket items.
Nobody out there wants to be stuck on the WSO circle of HELL!!….just draining peoples cash and they are no further forward.
I have a challenge to throw out to all Marketers….if your product is SOOO HOT and GOOD take a nobody and show it in action going from ZERO to launch WITH A PROFIT & ALL THE COSTS….not your supporters/fans.
NOT all this blind sales copy crap and upsells/downsells rubbish !!! it just stinks
Yes….I know its marketing but do not do it on the back of hype…I WANT TO HELP YOU.. its lame.
I am cynical…do not know…or is it just buying too many half arsed WSO’s.
John you are one of the exceptions, I have a few of your products and all have been well supported.
Really excellent tools with a real world ongoing benefits and results.
Ok…I am off the soap box …lols 🙂
Cheers
Zahid
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Thanks Zahid – I appreciate that!
Barry
March 23, 2013Hi John,
Having purchased many products from different IM’s over the past few years my inbox has a torrent of emails on a daily basis. I let then continue because occasionally you can find a golden nugget of a product that is really useful. But my point is: there are certain people I enjoy getting emails from and you are amongst them. I have bought several of your products and products on your recommendation, and I do like the way you do business. You are in the ‘Green Zone’ John so keep up the good work, but you are right to be cautious, getting a customer is hard and keeping them is even harder.
All the best,
Barry
Veit
March 23, 2013John,
lol, only 625 – you’re obviously not buying enough WSOs!
Kidding aside, I’d like to disagree (in a friendly manner of course) with your assessment that there’s “some rubbish” – I’d say *most* of it is rubbish.
Not because of the content itself (which in the right hands may just be really, really useful), but because it’s (more often than not) based on just one (or even no) real-life case-study, meaning you have to do some heavy lifting to adapt to your own circumstances.
Nothing wrong with that in principle, but most people on the WF are newbies who are overwhelmed enough as it is, and in most cases the seller knows that the vast majority of buyers are not going to be using the product, simply because the actual implementation involves too many obstacles.
In other words: what’s being sold is not putting content in the right hands, but instead knowingly into the wrong hands. Which is rubbish business ethics in my books.
Cheers
Veit
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Thanks Veit. Interesting point – and a good one.
JohnB
March 23, 2013Here’s my Saturday A.M. rant….. Boy! I can relate to everything you just said. I’m at the same cross-roads re: who/when to delete from my daily “mail call.”
I guess, it will just take a lot of patience. What I have been doing is watching to see who continues to send me general affiliate offers hat are usually duplicates of other offers I receive. The mailers who send the most offers that are dupes, get X’d off my list. Likewise the ones who use cutsie Subject lines… gone. I just want a straight-forward hint of what the email subject matter is. Anyone who tries to suck me in with one of those “!00 sure-fire” headlines? Gone.
Ditto – webinar notices. I get about 6-7 “reminders” every day about webinars I don’t have the slightest interest in sitting through. I don’t know about anybody else, but my experience is that 99% of these “webinars” are a gross waste of time. If any of the presenters ever had to give the same material in a seminar in front of live BUSINESSmen/women, their audience would either be asleep or on their way out the door within 10 minutes!
Special Notice to all emailers — In the “From” box, do NOT use just your name (i.e. John Pearce) or some anonymous-sounding handle. Think about what we’re discussing here…. hundreds of emails per day — or per week — can anyone be expected to recognize your personal name or silly handle? Always use your company name …. or better still… the name of the product which the reader previously purchased from you (in order to have been placed on your address list in the first place).
The only reason that some mailers stay on my OK list is that they promised to send product updates or real NEWS about their product or service. I don’t have time for chit-chat or social media blabbering so, usually, any email that appears to be some kind of friendly gab fest just gets to ol’ DELETE.
Oh! And by the way — your birthday, anniversary, child’s first potty training success is immaterial, irrelevant, and who gives a sh*#t anyway? BUSINESS, my friends. BUSINESS. You’ll do more of it if you sound businesslike!
JohnB
P.S. Here’s a B-I-G tip for 99% of IMers. Please … P-L-E-A-S-E learn the difference between the correct use of words like You, Your, & You’re. Likewise, the words: To, Two, & Too are frequently mis-used. When I get emails that ims-use or otherwise abuse the correct use of tke these…. I automatically conclude that the mailer is either some foreigner or some pimply-faced adolescent who skipped too many English classes.
GRrrrrr !
Jim
March 23, 2013I have solved that problem
I have unsubscribed from all
who only send sells emails
and keep those that give something of value
in addition to the item purchased
the one way street is closed
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Good idea Jim. And thank you for still reading mine!
Anne
March 23, 2013How about having a word with Barbara Ling? Every other day she promotes something which is worth buying and gives content in the same e-mail. Or, a weekly review maybe.
Will look, out for Precious traffic WSO on Monday.
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Thanks Anne. So you don’t find Barb’s daily emails overwhelming?
Herb
March 23, 2013The bright shiny objects that promise to make you thousands of dollars a month for $9 – $27 are what destroys many people trying to make a buck. Nothing that works will work for the hundreds of people still buying those kinds of products
John Pearce
March 23, 2013That’s an interesting point Herb. Focus is absolutely essential, you are right. However, things that work often will work for thousands for 2 reasons;
1. Only a small percentage of buyers pout something into action.
2. The internet is VAST!! There is so much room for literally thousands nd thousands of people to profit from the exact same strategies.
But focus – absolutely essential.
John
bob marconi
March 23, 2013I agree w/you about emails. I have the same problem with my paypal address.
I believe paypal should require a seller to get two email addresses from buyers! Our paypal address should actually, in fact, not be visible to anyone except paypal at the point of purchase.
Some sellers do give you the option of using a contact address but even then you get future emails from them at both addresses!
TheJedi’sGrandpa
Evangeline
March 23, 2013It’s refreshing to hear from someone who has the same overload problem with emails. I’ve done a lot of unsubscribing recently because if I dare leave the email box unopened for just a day I find it overwhelming, and I’m not in IM. Don’t know the answer so just press on deleting. Hope you will get some more helpful comments than mine. So far not been tempted to delete yours!
John Pearce
March 23, 2013Thanks Evangeline – for sure most of us face the same issues. And thanks for reading mine! I appreciate that!
Glen
March 23, 2013HI John,
I know how you feel…..
And while I don’t get 625 emails a day,, I’m still getting around the 300 mark
Being a marketer (and a software developer) I do like to see what going on out there in the market, and so I have tendency not to unsubscribe unless I’m really provoked.
My frustration comes with some marketers now, that have now started sending multiple product pitches per day.
Now that’s where it starts to get real annoying.
It’s not as though they’ ve gone to the trouble to at least send some helpful content in their emails, they’re usually just two paragraph product pitches
So what I do now is if I get more that one pitch a day from a ‘marketer’…bang..he’s unsubscribed.
I know I’ll have to get more ruthless in the future though.
–Glen
John Pearce
March 23, 2013I know what you mean about wanting to keep tabs on what is going on – trouble is there is balance. Yes, it’s good to keep tabs on what is going on, but not if surfing through all those emails stops you from doing anything productive. If you are getting 300 emails a day, that is crazy!
I’d defo recommend you reduce that way down!
I’d like to think around 5 or a max of 10 a day will be plenty for you to keep your finger on the pulse.
John
Alan Seletkovic
March 24, 2013Hi John,
You hit the nail on the head.
I’ve been going through my 200-300 emails a day and getting pissed off because it takes me so much time just to glance and open some of them.
When I buy a product from somebody, I expect to be informed about that product updates and anything else related to that (or those) products.
Instead, in 90%+ cases I am forced to give them a permission to email me, BEFORE I can actually download a product I paid for! That’s a shameful practice!
Okay, you can say I can unsubscribe, but that implies that i won’t be informed about updates.
What is lacking is integrity of marketers, because they should have 2 lists:
List 1. People who bought the product and email them only things pertinent to that/those products and for a marketer’s OWN products.
List 2: People who approved getting other offers. This list should be built after a bought product was downloaded and its purpose made clear.
Best regards
AlanSele
~ Thunder From Down Under ~
Chuck
March 24, 2013Hey John,
I am getting frankly tired of “educational webinars” that are either affiliate pitchfests or product launch series.
I hear you say to stay focused all the time, but you can’t resist throwing in this next must-have tool that is oh…so cheap. Well, it adds up quickly, not counting the duplication of tools that do the same thing. Also, it makes it very difficult, if not impossible to focus. In the end, I will be forced to unsubscribe from most lists (including the ones from marketers I like), just because they seem incapable of resisting the “urge” to promote, promote, and promote to death.
Why can’t some of those marketers even limit their offerings to their strict areas of endeavor? I guess the URGE is too strong.
John Pearce
March 24, 2013Hey Chuck I have to partially agree, partially disagree.
Some webinars are rubbish. Just one long sales pitch.
Others however are amazingly high quality free training.
Boy, I tell you, I have learned SOOO MUCH from webinars. Occasionally I’ve bought the product, usually not. But either way I have learned masses.
DO not underestimate the power of these to educate yourself. Many webinar presenters give away huge amounts of key information, because the more they give away, the more they sell at the end, interestingly.
So I thoroughly recommend them, in general. Just log off when the pitch comes! But don’t miss the free training!
I’ve got a life-changing one this Wednesday with Greg Morrison and Mike Long. Email to come (at the risk of filling your inboxes!)
John
Lee
June 27, 2013John, you must pre-sort your emails in the most efficient way for you
As a start, create a different general email ONLY for paying customers that have purchased from you
and ask to keep this private. (Buyers List)
Or, depending how many different products you sell, create a unique email for each product’s customers
You could use one basic trunk with coded suffixes for each product, whatever works
The PayPal email you use can be placed in a proxy account or password protected,
ask PayPal security or security firms like Symantec Norton, MacAfee etc
There are software systems that do that too, sorry have no link
http://www.anchorfree.com/about.php with HotSpotShield is are experts with proxy protection
of websites, ask about emails
Best of luck
Lee
PS — I will email about your products and recommendations (juts got InstaMamber0
Jimmy
February 25, 2014Hi John,
Curiosity brought me to check out what you are up to at present, I like what I see, and will keep an eye on you, to see how I can progress. Looking forward to the webinar today, I have to say, this is the fourth webinar I have signed up for today, and yours is overlapping as it happens, talk about info overload, and that is just webinars going crazy! Then there is your fav, the email attack, then all the
other stuff, it is driving me crazy, and some dicipline is required to be very selective, any way you are busy, i’ll get out of here and be back soon to read your articles, which look interesting.
God Bless, and Thanks for your unselfish manner.
Jimmy
John Munns
April 18, 2015I am giving you my primary e-mail for two reasons. We are brothers..of a different mother. Kidding. Really Brothers in Christ. Actually there is a third reason I am already subscribed to your list with this e-mail. I need to do some major cleaning of my e-mail client as well. I do notice lately that I must have got on a list for my main domain name which is johnmunns.com and I am getting bombarded with everything and I mean everything. Now I have a problem. I can’t unsubscribe to the thousands of e-mails I get. It seems as if when I do unsubscribe I seem to get even more hits. And I can’t abandon “my name” domain. Any suggestions?
I agree with AlanSele
~ Thunder From Down Under ~
John Pearce
June 17, 2015John I have the same problem on one of my emails. I don’t have a solution sadly, it was easier for me jsut to close the email.
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