Not everybody plays by the same rulebook as you.

@ Ken – all good valid points there. I can’t really disagree with anything you wrote. It all boils down to reasonability. If people are reasonable then that’s OK. If they are UNreasonable then we can take steps to deflect or ignore them. Good comments Ken.

@ Neil – Hey. Good technique – kinda like giving them a trial run – LOL!

One thing you said amused me – Marlon Sanders. He’s the dude in the bright Hawaaian shirts, isn’t he? I distinctly remember him saying in a video “Twitter is the DUMBEST idea ever invented.” And he went on a huge rant about it. Come to think of it, I think I said something similar in a blog post – something about Twitter being a dopey idea. I wonder if Marlon Sanders has changed his mind… I did. LOL!

Thanks for you valuable input here guys!

Gary

PS: Sorry about the delay in responding fellas. This post got overtaken by something more urgent – the copyright theft post (ie the next one on my blog here.)

A technique I use to help me track TRENDS in the IM space is to scan the headlines of the handful of LISTS I am on to see what these major guys are pushing out to their list. For example, one guy I’ve been tracking for awhile is Marlon Sanders. He’s kinds like Alex Jeffrey, in that he’s been around he block, knows the ropes and does things right.

I track Belcher, Kern, Comm and 1/2 dozen others. Just reading their headlines gives me a little insight into what the Pros are doing.

I do the same thing with the RRS feeds from 1/2 dozen lively blogs. I can quickly scan the headlines and get a feel for current and emerging trends from these PR 5+ blogs. But you’re right Gary, there’s plenty of wolves out there eager to feed on the “fresh meat”. I’ve been eaten a few times myself

Neil

I know that when i opt-in that I am usually starting a snowball down a long slope to gain sped and get bigger and bigger. One trick I have used to control this is to create an email account which I use only when I opt-in for an offer. I go to this account when I am expecting a confirmation and then once a day I scan the list of senders opening only those whom I have come to respect and whose offers I am willing to view based upon having received helpful information from them in the past. I then blanket delete this account periodically with the majority of it’s contents being unrequested and therefore unopened. This has worked for me and takes only a few minutes to manage.

I am not offended by receiving all of the emails. I know how the system works and have the choice not to participate. In fact I feel the more offers I receive the more likely I will be to uncover something which might be helpful. My answer has been to develop a system that lets me manage the beast rather than to be at its mercy.

Concerning refund requests, i have made a few when i have felt that the product has not met my expectations. Since the product cannot be returned as in a traditional purchase, I feel that when one requests a refund that you have the obligation not to continue to use the product.

Nothing new or earth shattering here just my approach to the opt-in opt-out, refund request scene

Ken

Blimey you write good posts mate very intelligent stuff. You know I have got around 250 people in my list with 40 unsubscribed.

I am only learning and have not even sent many messages out, maybe about 10 in total since I started building my list.

But I have already had a couple of rude comments and I have apparantly sent out to many messages, and I only been offering free stuff.

I dont like rude people im not rude myself but I have to develop a thick skin for this business.

well speak soon M.O.M

Marcus