Those Annoying Spam Filters
Don’t spam filters drive you batty? I think I dislike spam filters more than I dislike spam—and that’s a lot. No, I’m not a spammer. The reason why I hate the filter programs is because they interfere with the transmission of legitimate email. Because you don’t want to bother with deleting unwanted email, I must take the time to jump through your hoops in order to communicate with you EVEN WHEN YOU INITIATED THE CONNECTION.
It happened again this morning, a customer placed an order for my ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit at Matilija Press (thank you very much). When I attempted to send the ebook, however, I immediately received a response stating that I had to click on a link, sign up and copy some silly letters and numbers before this person would agree to accept my email—which included the PDF file for the ebook that he ordered!!!
Folks, even when you expect a message, it sometimes comes from an email address that your system is not familiar with.
When I see an author or hopeful author use this sort of system, I cringe. Why? Because the chances are that they will miss some great opportunities. For example,
• Someone reads about your book and wants to review it.
• An events organizer wants to invite you to speak about your book.
• A bookseller wants to order books.
• A potential customer has a question.
• An editor or blogger wants to interview you.
How many of these people might decide not to click on that link and go through the extra trouble to reach you?
What’s the alternative? Allow spam to collect in your spam box and delete those that you can identify as spam.
When to and When Not to Delete
Some authors delete everything that lands in their spam box. This is not a good idea either. Sometimes I find a real gem among the stones of spam—a treasured new client, a friend or colleague I often communicate with via email (how they land in the spam box, I’ll never know), an author seeking information or a potential customer with a question.
Because of this, I look at the name and subject line of each of the 150 or 200 emails I receive in my spam box every day before deleting them. And every day, I find something of value there. This is where Angela Hoy’s Writer’s Weekly Newsletter lands, for some reason. This is where I’ve found some of my favorite clients. This is where I’ve discovered some marvelous opportunities related to my career.
So my message today is, if you want your book to be noticed or if you are trying to establish a business,
• Don’t chase away a percentage of your potential customers/clients through an unfriendly spam filter. Make it easy for these people to get to you.
• Don’t indiscriminately delete, delete, delete that spam.
The All Important Subject Line
And, while we’re on the subject, pay attention to the subject line. Keeping in mind that everyone receives a lot of spam every day, when you contact someone who doesn’t know you, make sure that your subject line message is crystal clear—or it just flat might be deleted.
Let’s say that you are emailing me for the first time (I don’t know who you are) with a question about getting your book reviewed. If you type the following in your subject line, it is likely that I will overlook it: “Question.†“Please Help me.†“Review?†or, heaven forbid, you leave the subject line blank.
On the other hand, if you type, “Question about getting my book reviewed,†“How can I get book reviews,†“Author with a question,†or “Book review question,†for example, I will open your email, and I’ll respond to your question.
I’d love to hear your opinion on email spam blockers. Do you use them? Why? Do you avoid the process of getting approved by someone else’s spam blocker? I’m taking a poll. Talk to me. PLFry620@yahoo.com. (No spam blocker here.)
And if you like this blog, you will definitely LOVE my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Order your copy now at http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html