The best marketing was never email. The best way was being so amazing (having such a valuable presence) that everyone has to coming back to you to look you up. But since nobody wants to do that, they do the next best thing which is much easier…and that is to spam the crap and bombard people constantly begging them for a sale.
Let me ask you this:
- Is the WarriorForum trying to collect your email? Did they beg you to come here? Did they send you constant emails telling you to “join now or forever lose a big discount on an amazing product/service?”
- Did Google beg you to use their search engine and email service?
- Did Facebook spam you or beg you to use their social media platform?
- Did Whole Foods waste their time trying to convince you they are the absolute best grocery store ever?
So sure…keep using the email list but keep your eye on the main prize…the MAIN task. Which is being so amazing that people beat a path to your door. I’m at a place where I don’t have to do any of it, and oh is it so much more fun. Instead of wasting time trying to constantly “market” myself, I’m having endless fun producing products and services. I’m dealing with customers and fans instead of potential buyers and strangers.
And what is the best marketing tool?
That really depends on your business and technical/marketing skills!
I seriously appreciate the intent here but this will do way more harm then good.
-> Warriorforum? What’s that again? The only forums that can counter FBgroups are sending emails. Not begging but showing you the latest engaging posts.
-> Google? No. But neither do I have billions of dollars. And they begged people to use their ad platform…by snail mail.
-> Facebook? Actually, yes. If you don’t turn off the emails, you’ll get many for every notification
-> Whole Foods? Not the same thing. You will be reminded it exists because of a PHYSICAL location
Like I said I appreciate the intent here, but arriving at the supreme position of having mental space is VERY costly and requires a lot of effort.
Out of all the examples you sent, you just showed people with a LOT of momentum. And the only way the little guy can really compete against platforms that want to keep such users to themselves is email.
Direct contact. If you want to take the chance that 99% of your users will never return, well, to each their own. If I don’t put “Email me when someone replies to my comment” do you REALLY think I will be back?
I agree mental positioning is the best. But realistically? Emails 😉
I meant exactly what I said. Being a product that compels people back to your site is a million times more “realistic” than begging via constantly declining email deliverability rates. 😉
But hey, as long as you’re making money and happy with your results…please continue however you wish. I’m only here to share what works best for me. (Making my product more memorable/essential rather than having to remind people.)