What's the Best Way to Reduce Those Pesky E-mails?

Help, Take Me Off Your List. ... E-mail drives us all a little crazy.  So I've decided to launch a new public service.  When you have a problem getting off a real estate e-mail list, let me know and I'll make a public announcement.  Hopefully, somebody will listen. ... So let me start with the most annoying e-mail that I receive weekly, the Fin-Fax newsletter from George Smith Partners, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA.  It's a nicely formatted HTML newsletter with good information -- if I were a customer or a potential customer.  But, hey, I'm not exactly in the real estate business.  My license expired four years ago.  And I don't own any commercial property.  So I would prefer not to receive it, thank you very much. 

How do I get off the list?  The first problem is that there is no link or e-mail address to unsubscribe.  This is a big no-no.  Second, I sent e-mail (twice) to David Pascale, who frequently writes an "Interest Rate Update" column in the newsletter, requesting that my name be deleted.  Maybe he tried to get my name off the list; maybe his computer blew up; maybe it takes a month to process my request.  But I never heard back.  Third, I called (April 26) the general number at the bottom of the newsletter 310-557-8336, and a very pleasant receptionist said that she would take my name off the list.  All to no avail.  So if any Dispatch subscriber has a friend at George Smith Partners, please forward my request.   I appreciate it!

Now for a great example of newsletter that does it right.  Check out NAI Harvey Lindsay's E-Letter.  NAI Harvey Lindsay, which is based in Norfok, VA, provides commercial real estate services in Southern Virginia.  You can sign up for their helpful newsletter right on the home page.  And at the bottom of each e-mail newsletter, there are clear instructions on how to unsubscribe.  Very nice.  That's how permission marketing should be done. 

--Peter Pike / ppike@pikenet.com