Who do you think should do it?
Let me set the scene for you:
I manage several database lists for myself and for clients. And as those lists grow, the numbers are well into the tens of thousands. So, it’s only to be expected that you’ll get several requests for people to be removed off lists or for their details to be updated.
Today I received an email addressed to one of my clients advising that one of her readers may have received an email addressed to this address or that address and could I please update it to ….? I spent some time trying to find the various addresses she’d given without success. In the end I emailed her back advising that the very next email she receives from my client simply requires her to click on the Update link at the bottom so she can update her email address.
Now, I get a few requests like this and I’m beginning to wonder what is so hard about clicking on a link at the bottom of the email they’ve received that says ‘cancel’ or ‘update’ and for them to update or cancel accordingly. I use systems that allow for owners of email addresses to easily manage their subscriptions – it’s also designed to try and ease the load for us too.
I mean, I do that when I no longer want to be on a list or change an email and I don’t expect the owner of lists to maintain my addresses for me. So should I be expected to do the same?
And whilst I’m on the subject of maintaining my own email addresses on lists, I particularly dislike being made to login (therefore having to create a username and password) simply to get off someone’s list. Why should I have to register to unsubscribe? The reality is that often these people have just put me on their lists and if I click on an unsubscribe link find I have to prove I am the owner of that address and fill out information I don’t want to have to fill out. Or am I just being pedantic?
What are your thoughts about who should manage the ownership of subscriptions?
mailing lists, email subscriptions, managing lists, email addresses
I have been gone through a purge phase. When I find I am deleting more emails than reading them I start looking for unsubscribe links. I too get annoyed when you need to register to unsubscribe. Why? Also, make it simple don’t make me fill out a survey. I haven’t dissected my reasons for unsubscribing other than it is not fulfilling a need in my life right then.
Thanks so much for your input on this!
I think it should be up to the other people to update if they want to make sure things are accurately and thoroughly updated. As you mention…it’s extremely easy to just click a button to unsubscribe and actually takes them longer to email someone.
This is over my head, but wanted you to know I stopped by.
I’m with Pam on this one–but just dropping by to spread some Diva love!
I believe every person is responsible to update their email address.
I’m in total agreement with you, Kathie. People need to step up to the plate and be responsible for their own subscriptions and Email addresses.
Also, how irritating those sites are that require you to subscribe to unsubscribe, bit of an oxymoron don’t you think?
It is indeed very frustrating. I have wondered if people are worrying too much about clicking on links for fear of going through to a ‘bad’ site and having their machine infected. Clicking a link is easier than sending an email (oh, unless they make you register!) so that’s the only reason I could come up with as to why people wouldn’t do it!
You are not being pedantic – that sign up to get off a mailing list is just another way to get your e-mail so they can send you more junk!
I also dislike having to sign up or join a website just to make a comment! It drives me nuts and I just leave without commenting!
I also dislike having myspace blogs – I have to sign in just to read someone’s blog and to make a comment. Frankly, I don’t bother!
One of the concerns I have about clicking on the unsubscribe link in an email is integrity of that link. As I scan my Inbox I recognise some items that are no longer or maybe never were (!) of interest. By removing them I save those precious seconds which become welcome minutes.
Spammers and scammers hope that we will do something to acknowledge their existence – such as clicking on a link – if I cannot verify the source of the mail, or do not know it or have forgotten it as it is only an infrequent publication – I may well continue to delete rather than unsubscribe.
Otherwise, principle is monitor my own emails and manage them appropriately.
Martin
Thanks Martin, in this case I was very much speaking about lists we had knowingly self-subscribed to. I agree not to click on links from spammers or scammers – it just exacerbates the problem.