Avoid Overwhelm – Unsubscribe!

My business is in marketing, keeping abreast of what’s hot and what’s not. I receive a mountain of email everyday which needs to be scanned and assimilated or discarded so I can remain informed!

Well, it all sounds good in theory!

The reality is that I have recently found myself walking in treacle when navigating my way through my working day. Working hours have grown longer as I struggle to manage the beast I have created.

Taking time for thought and reflection has brought me to a place where I have found myself unsubscribing from all but the most valuable lists.

Now, for some I confess that I have substituted an RSS feed into Bloglines, which can then be read at a time to suit me without gumming up my inbox, but my unsubscribing has also had a ruthless side to it!

I simply no longer have time to listen to the blandishments and offers.

It has been like trying to operate in a Moroccan market with traders constantly calling out offers, trying to outdo each other in the race for my attention – well for my credit card actually. What none of them seem to realise is that I don’t want to live in a bazaar. I want peace to allow me to get on with my business.

Now, this of course sets up a dichotomy. Is this a case of pot calling kettle black? Am I not condemning my peer group?

Well, I think not, but you of course are entitled to your views.

Yes, I have email lists and yes I communicate with them but my messages offer free information interspersed with the occasional link to a product I can personally recommend. Not all of these products pay a commission to me, some do and I have no hesitation in accepting those funds, but if the product sucked, I would not be promoting it – fee or no fee.

Where is this fine line we marketers walk that allows us to run an authentic business without spamming and royally pissing people off? How do we offset our need to earn a living from our desire not to alienate subscribers?

The mastermind group to which I belong has a new mantra – real people, real products, real money – and I think this is the key.

Our aim is to provide a real offering to those real people out there who have a real interest in our subject matter and in return we can charge real money. There will be no smoke and mirrors; no hype, no empty promises, no misleading statements, no bullshit.

Will we become instant millionaires?…I think not.

Will we build a sustainable business with a strong reputation to which people return time and time again?….I think we have a good chance.

So, what is that I am trying to say in hundreds of words that could possibly have been said in less?

1. Be clear about your intentions, your plan, your priorities and unsubscribe from all lists that cannot contribute in a positive way to those.

2. Be authentic and real in your business. The joy of working for yourself is that you say ‘who’, ‘when’ and ‘how much’. By flogging second or third rate affiliate products all you do is damage your own good name. Frankly, you may as well have a job.

3. Have the courage to be who you are and not who you think the market expects you to be. Follow your passion and your interests and put the fun back into your working life.

It may just be possible for you to emulate the success claimed by some of the gurus by operating in a different manner (although some of the claimed successes are surely questionable) but it is far more likely that you will continually crash and burn, becoming increasingly demoralised at your lack of success.

Base your business on real people, real products and real money and I believe your long term future is assured.