Further to my previous issues this subject continues - part III.
This month I'll share on Topic Changes and Read Receipts. Both can give you some trouble if you're not careful.
Topic changes
This applies particularly to discussion groups, but could also take place in normal everyday exchange of emails between two or more people.
It is common that subject matter in emails change quickly - one person might send an email with one topic, another replies and it prompts them to add another topic in that reply and then others start replying to the changed topic - but forget to change the subject heading - which can be very confusing for those later joining in the discussion and difficult to relocate one of the originating messages if filed away electronically - with the unchanged subject heading. This applies to searching through archives online also.
When responding to an email take a moment to think about it - are you changing the topic, should the subject heading be changed and whether the replied message requires any trimming of the original message before hitting the 'send' key. This can be particularly important when responding to business leads or enquiries relating to your business. A general rule of thumb for email seems to be to keep the number of topics discussed to a minimum - and start new email messages for new topics.
Auto Responds and Read Receipts
A supplier, who gives me excellent computer support, had been receiving a lot of emails over the past few months and she struggled to keep up with them in her busy workload. So, she decided to set up an auto respond to emails saying she'll be in touch within 7 days. She also added 'read receipt' so she knew her message had been read.
Not long after I started getting a lot of emails from this supplier, all with the same message (autorespond). I'd sent her a few messages some days before about a computer problem a client was experiencing. After around 75 of these messages I rang and left a message on her pager. 150 more emails and I rang again. Her business partner rang and said he was heading back to their office to see what was happening. More emails.
My supplier rang the following morning sounding very sheepish. She hadn't thought about the consequences of an auto respond linked with a read receipt. In her defence, she'd been very tired and was working late. Every time my computer logged another of her responses it sent back a read receipt and her autoresponder sent another reply to my read receipt, autorespond, read receipt, autorespond, read receipt, autorespond.......... get the picture? I had some idea of what might be happening but could not stop the process. All I could do was block her email address at my end until she woke up to what was happening.
Just thought you might appreciate what can happen if read receipt, and auto respond are used together without thinking as to why you would do that. Of course, if you use them separately you are unlikely to run into this kind of trouble.Next month I'll touch on using the Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) field and the use of backgrounds for your emails.
For any assistance relating to the use of email please feel free to contact our team.
About The Author
Article reprinted by permission Kathie M. Thomas, Founder "A Clayton's Secretary". Kathie is a multiple award winner in her industry as a Secretary and Virtual Business Operator, and has 30 years' experience in the secretarial/ administrative field. www.asecretary.com.au
Sustainable email sending programs in an inherently hostile environment now... Read More
When I coach my clients on how to... Read More
Any business today, be it online or off needs a... Read More
Let's start at the beginning - why do you need... Read More
WHY BUILD YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS DATABASE? Gaining your customers' email... Read More
Just about every successful Internet Marketer will tell you that,... Read More
According to a study by the Winterberry Group, email marketing... Read More
1. USE POP-UPS Pop-ups are one of the most common... Read More
There are many avenues available for marketing online products. Radios,... Read More
Another powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More
Newsletter publishing has always made a lot of sense. It... Read More
"Repetition is the key to advertising (marketing)". Those words were... Read More
I am frequently asked how to create and send HTML... Read More
Setting up and using email autoresponders on your site is... Read More
Organisations such as the BPA have been providing auditing services... Read More
Do you read all your Ezines? Or do you file... Read More
Sometimes email messages can get quite long, especially when you... Read More
1) Website FocusMake sure your site is focused on a... Read More
Owning your own online business is a lot of work.... Read More
Suppose you have a website with 500 visitors a day,... Read More
Email marketing is undergoing rapid changes. Now, more than ever,... Read More
If Gutenberg were alive today he would be in publishing... Read More
Ever wondered what it would be like to have a... Read More
Ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to subscriber inboxes... Read More
Some time ago I was thinking about the best and... Read More
In this article I will give you several tips that... Read More
Are you publishing an ezine or offering an email course?... Read More
Most business people on the web subscribe to at least... Read More
Further to my previous issues this subject continues ? as... Read More
Perhaps the most important component in turning visitors to your... Read More
This is a little "beauty" of an idea if you... Read More
Hey, using eBooks, eReports and eCourses is a fantastic way... Read More
In an article based on research done by emaillabs, MarketingSherpa... Read More
"I want to sell my company's products on the Web,... Read More
A term that confuses just about everyone is "autoresponder". When... Read More
As an Online Home Based busy owner you will reach... Read More
A powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More
Forwarding of e-mails is one of the topics I get... Read More
Email is a vital part of doing business online, but... Read More
You've probably heard this educational philosophy:Tell me, and I'll forget.Show... Read More
Suppose you have a website with 500 visitors a day,... Read More
Ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to subscriber inboxes... Read More
The saying "Quality, not Quantity" is applicable even to the... Read More
Newsletter publishing has always made a lot of sense. It... Read More
The importance of building an opt-in list over spamming (a.k.a.,... Read More
No doubt email is still the best way to get... Read More
It's happening. Again.The Internet marketing 'game' is rapidly changing... again.Email... Read More
Writing ads for either your own products or affiliate products... Read More
It's been said before, but important to re-emphasize, e-mail is... Read More
A few months into the job and Sabrina's cold calling... Read More
If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t... Read More
If there's one thing I've learnt in over 3 years... Read More
Advantages of the free mailing listsThe free newsletters are a... Read More
An interested visitor who has been strolling through your site... Read More
Let me ask you a question, "What is the most... Read More
Email newsletters are an excellent means of promoting the products... Read More
I remember when I was first introduced to email. I... Read More
What if I told you that with each passing day,... Read More
Opt in email marketing is no different than normal direct... Read More
When using an email marketing tool such as Adestra's Message... Read More
Email is still the King in Internet marketing. Many people... Read More
White space in newsletters is like pausing in conversation. Take... Read More
If you are active on the web promoting your products,... Read More
I get e-mails all the time from people on my... Read More
I think first of all, everybody deserves to have a... Read More
I have always been an avid reader of Stephen King's... Read More
Email Marketing |