Unsolicited Emails – Buzz OFF!
— Begin rant
I’ve just about had it with people who keep sending me unsolicited email through this blog. In the past two weeks I received about 6 proposals for free offers in return to place an anchored link (or three) somewhere on my blog.
Let me say this ONCE: I don’t give a rats bum about your offers and certainly won’t be striking any such deals. So don’t even waste your energy, time because you end up straight in my spam folder – that is a promise!
It seems to me people are trying my crazy stunts by the minute to get their coveted links and PR. Last time I checked honesty still works and working for your results does actually work too.
Just to repeat, I DON’T need hosting, reviews, freebies, and such to give you a link.
— end of rant
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
kazari | Feb 26, 2009 | Reply
Hi Monika,
Unsolicited emails like that are seriously annoying! Lots of food bloggers, particularly the high profile ones, get the same sort of thing. I really like the response at Becks & Posh:
http://becksposhnosh.blogspot.com/2007/01/about-becks-posh.html#about_4
She spells out on her about page, exactly what she thinks of link requests, reviews, product offers and the like. She said it really helps : )
Vered - MomGrind | Feb 26, 2009 | Reply
Amen.
If you need to promote your website or a product, it is so much more effective to establish a relationship with a blogger first. Cold-calling, or cold-emailing, rarely works.
Writer Dad | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
I get them every freaking day. Super duper annoying. I’m with you, like, squared with an exponent and such.
spleeness | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
This drives me crazy too. I actually *say* on my site in numerous places that I do not do link exchanges. But people still send in requests anyway. How irritating!
RT Cunningham | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
In that case, can I just trade you some beachfront property in the Philippines?
Davina | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
OMG, thank you for writing this Monika! Me too. I was dumb enough to email back a “no thanks” and I didn’t notice that they ended up in my email chat lineup. Late the other night I was in my email account and this person initiated a chat with me. I didn’t recall who they were and was puzzled. They reminded me and I repeated that I wasn’t interested… twice. The nerve! Needless to say I will not even bother to reply to these people now.
Monika | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
@ kazari: Hey, welcome and thanks for pointing me to Becks & Posh. I had to smile when I read their policy, really unique! Being an ex chef I probably go back for some more.
Monika | Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
@ Davina: You wouldn’t believe it, but I actually did the same initially being the nice person I am. But lately it has become a joke and I’m certainly not happy. It’s time they feel our wrath. hehehe…
Monika | Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
@ RT: Wow, where have you been hiding all this time? LOL, I guess you could say the same about me.
Now, onto that property trade… let me think….still thinking….hmmm…*she looks out the window and sees the beach in Queensland, Australia….OK, no sir….I kindly decline.
Monika | Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
@ spleeness: These people are just inconsiderate and total idiots to boost that’s what’s wrong with them. Anyway, I just saw you are sick, get better soon will you.
Monika | Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
@ WD: LMAO Sean. Maybe we should start bashing them. Right, I think the movie I’m watching is getting to me….
Monika | Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
@ Vered: I love that! Relationships. Marketing is all about relationships isn’t it?! It is the slower approach to selling but certainly the more effective in the long run I believe.
Cath Lawson | Mar 2, 2009 | Reply
I hear you Monika. I’m tired of getting these emails – links in return for shit that I don’t even want.
I’ve been ill for most of the year and I was at the point where I didn’t give a flying f… about my blog, or anything else. I know that sounds bad but life is like that sometimes. Anyway, John Hoff saved me from the evils of Bluehost but I forgot to set up my contact email on there.
So, one idiot who was plying their services left me an email because they couldn’t get through. They obviously realised I had not been writing, so they offered to provide me with the articles – in exchange for links.
These people are soooo stupid. Why would I write whatever the hell I want for almost two years, in exchange for their spammy articles, promoting their own crap.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. Sorry – but you hit a huge nerve.
Ricardo Bueno | Mar 5, 2009 | Reply
Hi Monika,
I got a great deal for you! I’ll like back to your site if you…. Ok, ok.. I’m just KIDDING! Seriously.
I get these emails a lot of times too. Mostly, they’re filtered to my spam folder which is great. What I’ve had happen lately is that people subscribe me (without permission) to their newsletters. They have no opt-in process which is really kind of annoying. Most I’ve opted out of, no problem. But there have been a few with no opt-out option and that’s bothersome.
Monika | Mar 6, 2009 | Reply
@ Cath: I totally understand you Cath. Venting occasionally is good so I didn’t mind at all.
I had a feeling you weren’t so well late last year and this is probably why my emails came back all the time. Are you better now? You seem to be back on the ball from what I see but let me know if I can help with anything.
Monika | Mar 6, 2009 | Reply
@ Ricardo Bueno: Funny you should say this (about unlawfully subscribing you to newsletters). I had the same feeling about some of my own subscriptions. I also know for a fact that many Internet marketers use cross subscription methods to share their mailing lists between friends. This clearly sucks and borders on illegal. But complaining aside, you are always welcome to link to me. Hehehehe….;)
J. Smith Adams | Mar 17, 2009 | Reply
Unsolicited emails are good and bad. The good: people are reading your blog. The bad: The wrong people are reading your blog. I’ve received several emails requesting the same thing. I prefer to concentrate on the “good.”
J. Smith Adams
http://freelancemoney.wordpress.com/
Monika | Mar 17, 2009 | Reply
@ J.Smith Adams: I hear you and I agree with your reader comment. Good to see you stopping by.