Too Much Email?

I received this email recently about...email. Eileen Sutton of E.F. Sutton Creative struggles with the overwhelm we all feel from time to time:

This feels like a minor concern but I often struggle with email frequency and expectations in my business. Today, for example, I sent out my newsletter and a client wrote back and thanked me for the information. I try to keep email traffic low, but I wondered if I should write back and say "you're welcome," or if one more email would be a bother. I don't know what folks are used to or expect. Is the silence weird if I let my client's email hang out there in cyberspace, and/or would he think it rude?  I did decide to write back a short note and also added another thought to my exchange with him. Maybe yr client community struggles similarly so I wanted to raise it.

My response:

I doubt your client would think it rude if you didn't write back. He probably wouldn't even notice because he's be on to the next thing before long. But I would definitely write back to say, "you're welcome" and more, if something else comes to mind. That's where the back and forth starts. And that's one objective of sending out a newsletter -- to get a dialog going.

Comments

[Nicole Bandes]

Ilise,

I think you hit the nail on the head.

Emailing just to say "Your Welcome" isn't worth either of your time. However, if you can use it as an opportunity to add and build the relationship, then you are one step closer to success.

I hate how the term relationship marketing has taken over database marketing because I feel it is something entirely different. Relationship marketing should include finding ways to connect and build relationships with your prospects and clients. And that's what taking the opportuniity to add to the converstation really is about.

Nicole,
Relationship Marketing Lens