Email Marketing and Auto-Responders: The Day I Got Dumped By An
Auto-Responder
I am really depressed today. An old e-newsletter flame that
dumped me many months ago sent me an email out of the blue. I
hadn't received any emails from this old flame in months. I did
not even think I was still on the list. Receiving that
e-newsletter conjured up feelings of betrayal and hurt that I
thought I had resolved after dozens of sessions with my
therapist. And to make matters worse, the email newsletter was
trying to get me to buy some product, from another company, that
my old flame was 'recommending.' My flame did not even have the
decency to send me an email newsletter about how things were
going in his neck of the woods. I still can't believe any of
this is happening.
My therapist says that journaling about my problems will bring
clarity and understanding. I hope she's right. I guess the best
place for me to start is to outline how this sordid affair ever
began in the first place. If I get emotional, please forgive me.
I really cared for my old flame and my heart is still a little
tender. I just don't understand how any of this happened. I
never signed up for the pain and tears my old flame left me
with. I never signed up for being dumped by an auto-responder
email newsletter. But let's go back eight months so I can tell
you how this auto-responder and I first met.
Back in May, a friend of mine told me about a great
self-development book she was reading. She couldn't stop talking
about it; every time I saw my friend she talked and talked about
the book. She kept on telling me I would really like it. After
days and days of hearing about the book I went online and bought
it. What do you know, my friend was right! I really liked the
book. Within the first few chapters I was putting the methods
into practice and seeing great results.
After reading about a quarter of the book I wanted to know more
about the author and his company so I followed the URL on the
back of the book to the author's website. There was a ton of
information about the book as well as highlights of courses and
seminars that were being offered at different locations around
the world. It seemed that the company was offering seminar
versions of what was covered in the book for those who either
had ADD or were short on time and where unable to read the
400-plus-page book. I didn't really pay much attention to all
the information about the courses and seminars since I already
had the book and didn't mind the lengthy read. I did notice an
e-newsletter signup box on the homepage, though. "Why not?" I
thought. Maybe I would find out more ways to apply the
principles in the book.
Soon I was receiving e-newsletters every Wednesday. I was right!
Each email newsletter outlined different methods from the book.
There were lots of real life application examples and
testimonials from people who had also applied the principles. Oh
sure, there were ads mentioning the courses and seminars, but I
didn't mind. Within a few weeks I was looking forward to getting
my weekly e-zine. It was official. This e-newsletter and I were
going steady.
A few weeks later, Wednesday came and I didn't get an email
newsletter from my flame. I was perplexed. Those weekly e-zines
were really helping me as I studied the book. I did not want to
miss any of the valuable information so I went back to the
website and signed up again. Just like when I signed up the
first time, the signup form asked me for my name. I was already
signed up under the name Joan and wanted to see if my original
signup was still out there. I knew the only way I could track my
signups was to choose another name. I picked an alternate name,
went ahead and signed up, and eagerly awaited the next
e-newsletter.
Soon I was back on track and receiving the weekly e-zine. I
could tell my second signup had worked because my alternate name
was being used. It was kind of funny and I wondered if anyone
ever looked at the names on that email newsletter list. I guess
I will never know, but at least it gave me a bit of a giggle
every time I open my weekly e-newsletters and read the opening
salutation of 'Dear Squidlips.'
A few weeks after my Squidlips signup, I started to get strange
feelings of d