I love networking, the real world in a physical form kind of networking. Some amazing connections, information and ideas have been the result of networking.
What bothers me about networking, though, is the “automatic add”. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does it aggravates me. Not because the act its’ self is so terrible but that simple etiquette could avoid my frustration completely.
The Automatic add is when you add me to your mailing list without asking my permission. I gave you my business card and you thought that meant I wanted on your mailing list, though you never asked me if I wanted to be there. The aggravation gets compounded when i keep seeing your emails in my inbox. Sometimes it’s once a month, some times more and each and every time it annoys me more. I doubt that it was your intention to annoy me, but you are. I know I can unsubscribe to your list, but that takes effort, effort that i don’t want to spend.
So how can you avoid annoying me and others like me who love to meet people but HATE being annoyed?
Ask permission.
Send me an email following up on something we talked about. Tell me what your email list is about, I’m a big boy, I can make up my own mind if I like what you have to offer. Even better, show me all the ways that I can interact with you, let me choose our connection on my terms. Maybe I like facebook more or twitter. If I decide not to interact with you, bummer, but at least you’re not annoying me.
Email marketing and social networks are a great way (maybe even an essential way) to build your business. There is one important thing to remember, though, its quality over quantity. The value is in people that are interested or attracted to your story, not in creating a massive list of people you get to annoy.
Before sending out your next email, take a look at Seth Godins Email Checklist, his list is a step by step process to avoid annoying people.
photo source: http://www.coolsville.com/
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