How to get people to read your emails?

[Gutwrench]

There‘s virtually no chance I’m reading an unsolicited email from an unknown source about COVID Tips, particularly with a pdf is attached. The attachment itself makes the chance of being immediately deleted at 99%.

If you want to get your version of information out to the public consider submitting it to newspapers and magazines for publication.

Alternatively, print the professionally appearing pdf with a hand written 3M stickie attached. Hand deliver or mail.

Your mailing literally (the true definition of literally intended) has 1-2 seconds tops to convince me you’re worth more of my time.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

There‘s virtually no chance I’m reading an unsolicited email from an unknown source about COVID Tips, particularly with a pdf is attached. The attachment itself makes the chance of being immediately deleted at 99%.

If you want to get your version of information out to the public consider submitting it to newspapers and magazines for publication.

Alternatively, print the professionally appearing pdf with a hand written 3M stickie attached. Hand deliver or mail.

Your mailing literally (the true definition of literally intended) has 1-2 seconds tops to convince me you’re worth more of my time.

I also did that, and hand delivered things to a few police departments. (Printed in color with my busines card attached.)
[automerge]1588684104[/automerge]

I recommend @Texas_Toast read the book Messengers: Who We Listened To, Who We Don't, and Why by Stephen Martin and Joseph Marks. It explains exactly why some people have not been listened to when they conveyed the message first, but works when certain people conveyed it, and the psychological trickeries involved. People are not rational creatures however much we strives towards it; we take behavioural shortcuts. Just because the facts are accurate and arguments sound does not mean people will listen to us.

Finally, a constructive comment!

I love reading, and will definitely check out this book when I have the time (and money).

 

[D.T.]

Finally, a constructive comment!

I love reading, and will definitely check out this book when I have the time (and money).

Well, I'd say even the comments that might have been construed as negative (mine included), also had some value, even if it's not what you wanted to hear.

OOC, when you say "business card", are you looking to leverage, whatever it is you're doing, into some kind of revenue stream?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Well, I'd say even the comments that might have been construed as negative (mine included), also had some value, even if it's not what you wanted to hear.

I can take tough feedback, but it was clear yesterday, that a couple of posters were turning things personal just to be trolls - that is the difference.

How about...

"Yeah, that's really frustrating how the world has changed."

"Sorry your good intentions weren't well received."

"Maybe try _____ for better results?"


Nah, people on the Internet LOVE to see others fail - it makes their own loathesome lives seem a little less painful.

(The reason I come to MacRumors is because *usually* I do NOT get those kinds of trolling responses, but then in a general forum it's not so surprising...)

OOC, when you say "business card", are you looking to leverage, whatever it is you're doing, into some kind of revenue stream?

Nope. Absolutely not.

I have been reporting on the corona virus - over the last 2 months - because there are some fascinating parallels between that and what I do for a living and my startup business.

And once my website is done, then I can post all of the video I have shot, plus the articles I have written - including the ones that major news outlets seem to have "lifted".

In the mean time, I thought it would be nice to share what I have with as many people as possible, because the public is not taking things seriously enough, and I don't want to see more people die.

(And I had hoped that a succinct 4-page color report, hand-delivered, with a professional looking business card would help to give me some credibility, but apparently not.)



Am I Dr. Fauci? No.

Do I have something valuable to add to the ongoing, and ever changing story? Yes.

Would it be so hard for some people in this thread to have just said, "Email has changed since the 1990s, and it isn't as effective in reaching out to people who don't know you." No.

Is it easier to turn things into slinging a bunch of playground insults? Sure.


There were a few good points in this thread - so thanks to those of you who chose to take the "high road".

Based on my own experience, I don't think my approach was bad, I just don't think people give a ****...

People who I *do* know seem about as uninterested as all of the people ignoring the thoughtful emails I have sent out, AND the handful of color reports I distributed to police departments - who are supposed to "serve the public" via my tax-paying dollars.

"You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink."

Oh well, nobody can accuse me of not trying to help save lives...

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

To be clear, are you saying that major news outlets are stealing from your reporting?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

To be clear, are you saying that major news outlets are stealing from your reporting?

I sent an article pitch to all the major U.S. news sources, along with the sourced report that I have been talking about in this thread, and I was totally blown off, yet curiously, two weeks later the substance of my article pitch (and the substative information from my report, plus my article title) was published in several major newspapers/websites.

Plagiarism? Borderline...

Can I prove it? Nope.


Would have been nice if any of those major publications had even just responded to my e-mail/article pitch/report and said, "Thanks for the idea and info."

But again, that would require too much effort...

 

[yaxomoxay]

"Yeah, that's really frustrating how the world has changed."
"Sorry your good intentions weren't well received."
"Maybe try _____ for better results?"

1) Some people don't find frustrating how the world has changed. Some will. Others will find portions of the changes frustrating.
2) No one ever even argued about your intentions. Still, this doesn't mean that they should be "well received" especially when the definition of "well received" is decided by you.
3) We did tell you what do to for better results. I told you on my very first reply that the best way is to open a blog and gain traction using social media (and hard work).

Nah, people on the Internet LOVE to see others fail - it makes their own loathesome lives seem a little less painful.

No, we want you to succeed, but if any suggestion or criticism is met with disgust or a complaint about society then your efforts do deserve to fail.

I have been reporting on the corona virus - over the last 2 months - because there are some fascinating parallels between that and what I do for a living and my startup business.
And once my website is done, then I can post all of the video I have shot, plus the articles I have written - including the ones that major news outlets seem to have "lifted".

And that's the good thing. Work on getting traction. As Gary Vee would say, "Content is king".

In the mean time, I thought it would be nice to share what I have with as many people as possible, because the public is not taking things seriously enough, and I don't want to see more people die.

1) Most of us, and most of the people in governments are taking things pretty seriously at the moment. In case you haven't noticed, the entire western hemisphere economy is at a still, unemployment is at a record high, we stopped all activities, we don't shake hands anymore and such.

2) It is nice that you share what you believe is worthy of being shared, but the moment you expect a response (positive or negative) to unsolicited content you're in the wrong.

(And I had hoped that a succinct 4-page color report, hand-delivered, with a professional looking business card would help to give me some credibility, but apparently not.)

Don't send me a 4 page report. I don't even want colors. Send me a 1 page max memo, with key bullet points. That's how government works and how it needs to work, especially the higher up you go. Then in mention the availability of the full report.

Do I have something valuable to add to the ongoing, and ever changing story? Yes.

And you're sharing it.

Would it be so hard for some people in this thread to have just said, "Email has changed since the 1990s, and it isn't as effective in reaching out to people who don't know you." No.

1) The fact that email has changed (questionable) is irrelevant. 1990 was 30 years ago.
2) we told you that it's not effective in reaching out people who don't know you

 

[adrianlondon]

Man, I can't even remember how many emails I haven't sent @yaxomoxay that he didn't even bother to read!

Good point. I'm going to not send some right now!

 

[Ambrosia7177]

3) We did tell you what do to for better results. I told you on my very first reply that the best way is to open a blog and gain traction using social media (and hard work).

And then each successive post from you went downhill. (No need to kick a man who is down...)

No, we want you to succeed, but if any suggestion or criticism is met with disgust or a complaint about society then your efforts do deserve to fail.

Oh, I see. "So if you agree with us that you are wrong, then everything is okay. But if you dare speak up about perceived injustices or disagree with us, then prepare for our wrath."

And that's the good thing. Work on getting traction. As Gary Vee would say, "Content is king".

I am doing the best I can.

It would be nice if I could press "Pause" on the world's crises until I had time to get my website and other things running, but unfortuantely that isn't an option.

So I am trying to be thoughtful and help save my country from the pandemic.

1) Most of us, and most of the people in governments are taking things pretty seriously at the moment. In case you haven't noticed, the entire western hemisphere economy is at a still, unemployment is at a record high, we stopped all activities, we don't shake hands anymore and such.

But I wouldn't be reporting if that were true.

I've got video and pictures of employees sneezing on raw meat in a grocery store and major box stores with employees and customers with no masks, and more employees sneezing on produce, and a boatload of things.

I also have yet to see a cop wearing PPE - which might explain why none of the police departments replied to my report?!

And I have been tracking things in a spreadsheet - from gov't/expert sources - and creates some graphs adn charts to make it easy for laypersons to grasp.

2) It is nice that you share what you believe is worthy of being shared, but the moment you expect a response (positive or negative) to unsolicited content you're in the wrong.

Apparently so.

Don't send me a 4 page report. I don't even want colors. Send me a 1 page max memo, with key bullet points. That's how government works and how it needs to work, especially the higher up you go. Then in mention the availability of the full report.

They are graphs - hardly Moby Dick?!

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Are you a medical professional, or a qualified journalist? What are the rules in your area for recording employees (presumably) without their consent?

 

[yaxomoxay]

Oh, I see. "So if you agree with us that you are wrong, then everything is okay. But if you dare speak up about perceived injustices or disagree with us, then prepare for our wrath."

You realize that you started a thread because you didn't receive the responses that you wanted and then complained on the thread about not receiving the responses that you wanted on the thread itself?

I am doing the best I can.

Good!

It would be nice if I could press "Pause" on the world's crises until I had time to get my website and other things running, but unfortuantely that isn't an option.
So I am trying to be thoughtful and help save my country from the pandemic.

I recommend getting off the pedestal. You sent the info, they received it. You can't control what they do with your info, but you control the next step you can take. So either take it or stop complaining about it.

I've got video and pictures of employees sneezing on raw meat in a grocery store and major box stores with employees and customers with no masks, and more employees sneezing on produce, and a boatload of things.

So? That's anedoctal evidence. Good things that you have videos. Put them on youtube, tag the company. Among 400M people you will find out a % that will behave like crap.

I also have yet to see a cop wearing PPE - which might explain why none of the police departments replied to my report?!

It's going to depend on the region, and type of call, and availability of the masks.

They are graphs - hardly Moby Dick?!

Graphs require interpretation, effort, and time in order to get to the bottom line.

I want a quick memo with bullet points:

The purpose of this memo [or document] is to [half a paragraph]. Data is sourced from the [name of your report] Report.

• There is a +428928% increased risk of contracting Covid-19 if a mask is not worn.
• Yellow masks are 10% more effective than Blue masks.
• Officers wearing left gloves only have 50% increased risks of contracting Covid-19.
• Writing on Macrumors increased chances of survival by 100% as compared to writing to SamsungRumors.

In Conclusion, the available data suggests that Macrumors is the best cure to Covid-19.

 

[||\||]

...

 

[AngerDanger]

You realize that you started a thread because you didn't receive the responses that you wanted and then complained on the thread about not receiving the responses that you wanted on the thread itself?

This. So much this.

 

[chengengaun]

Perhaps I can share my (somewhat similar) experience from a few years ago.

The incumbent administration in the country where I came from won an election which was widely perceived to be unfair and with many irregularities. It doesn’t help when the prime minister was mired in controversy of being a mastermind of the greatest heist in history. (You could have guessed which one by now.) Being young(er) and full of passion I started to collate electoral data and results (size of constituencies, winning parties etc.) and created a series of chart showing the extent of malapportionment and incumbent advantages, and posted to Facebook within 24 hours of the election.

My friends started to share the charts and it was eventually noticed by some political analysts and intellectuals. Some overseas researchers asked for the data sources; I shared my collated data with them in the public interest. I found that some of them had published working papers with the details but without citing me, preferring to attribute those to the original sources instead (which of course they were).

However, one of them (a public intellectual, activist and a friend) obtained my permission to use the chart for presentations, and eventually toured the country and incorporated the charts as part of his presentation. It was also presented to the Bar Council and attracted the attention of legal experts and opposition legislators that malapportionment was indeed a major issue. And so began a series of actions and campaigns which partly contributed to the first peaceful transfer of power in the country’s history.

I think one can draw some lessons from this:

1. It matters greatly who is delivering the message (the messenger). I have presented the facts but if I were to send it to the Bar Council (if I even know), it would probably have been ignored. However, the presentation by the intellectual did the trick because of his reputation (and his analysis on political institutions etc. which I was almost completely ignorant).
2. Luck plays a part. My analysis was noticed because of proximity to messengers who matter. If I have a different social circle, the results would have been very different.
3. Sometimes we think our insights are very impactful or important but it helps to keep things in perspective. My analysis was a mere cog in the larger picture, and it would be foolish to think that it changed the course of history, etc. However, it was a small contribution that hopefully helped achieve the desired effect.
4. One has to let things go. That no attribution violates the principle of full disclosure and intellectual honesty? Perhaps, but frankly I believe those researchers would have arrived at the same conclusion, maybe just taking a bit more effort. After all I made the analysis in the public interest and not for personal gains. If your heart is in the right place you will sleep well. And life is much more than just this episode.

To be frank there are many valid points made in this thread but perhaps not to your liking. It’s hard, but it helps to give yourself some space to reflect and learn.

I wish you well!

p/s: I should also add that there are many smart people around and they may have the same ideas. Using Gini coefficient to describe malapportionment may not be commonly done but it’s also not too much of a stretch. Sometimes in research people may appear to steal ideas, but they might have just arrived at the same conclusion using different routes.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Are you a medical professional, or a qualified journalist? What are the rules in your area for recording employees (presumably) without their consent?

I was acting as a journalist, and I have checked with a lawyer...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If your heart is in the right place you will sleep well. And life is much more than just this episode.

I don't sleep well, because nothing I have done has made any difference.

The world is not a better place because I tried.

All it appears - at this point - that I have done is piss away the last 6 weeks of my life and get frustrated.

Of course, when you are out of work, mostly stuck inside, and haven't been able to file for unemployment in over 2 months because the phones and website are down - just lost yet another application because their server puked - then you have lots of time to waste!!

And I have...

 

[chengengaun]

I am sorry to hear that - I am not privy to your circumstances but perhaps you can try contact your local library or civic associations - they are generally quite helpful and resourceful (disclosure: I work in a library).

 

[MacNut]

It sounds like you are trying to sell yourself through these emails. That is not the best way to get your name out there. You need to go through proper channels.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

It sounds like you are trying to sell yourself through these emails. That is not the best way to get your name out there. You need to go through proper channels.

I'm not selling anything.

As I said before, my email starts off, "As a public service, here is some information about COVID-19 to help your staff..."


** At any rate, I'm waving my white flag **

 

[MacNut]

I'm not selling anything.

As I said before, my email starts off, "As a public service, here is some information about COVID-19 to help your staff..."


** At any rate, I'm waving my white flag **

And then you mentioned giving out your business card.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

And then you mentioned giving out your business card.

I referred to my email.

The hard-copies I dropped off had a hand-written note paper-cliepd to the graphs and my card to identify myself.

Nowhere does sales come into this.

Either way, I suspect most people never even opened my email, and my hard-copies probbaly got filed in the trash.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Either way, I suspect most people never even opened my email, and my hard-copies probbaly got filed in the trash.

If you sent them to a government agency, they were read (or they will be read if not enough time has passed).
[automerge]1588705255[/automerge]

Of course, when you are out of work, mostly stuck inside, and haven't been able to file for unemployment in over 2 months because the phones and website are down - just lost yet another application because their server puked - then you have lots of time to waste!!

I thought you said you started a business.

because there are some fascinating parallels between that and what I do for a living and my startup business.

 

[dk001]

Thing is, right now people are being inundated with all kinds of stuff: email from their kids' school(s), email from work, email from friends and family, email from various official agencies, etc., etc......last thing they want or need is more email to deal with!

I will say my email crap high level alarm has been sounding routinely these days.
[automerge]1588706093[/automerge]
@Texas_Toast

I look at emails as a necessary evil.
Per Day: Work - 100 to 200 Consultancy account - 10-20 GMail Account used for online stuff - 50 to 100 Other GMail account for all else 20 to 50

If it isn't work or consult stuff it better have a hell of a subject line else it goes into the crap pile. The crap pile sometimes gets searched. It never gets gone through item by item.

I just flat out don't have time. Especially when you add in IM and video conferencing ...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If you sent them to a government agency, they were read (or they will be read if not enough time has passed).

Maybe, but at this point it's a moot point - I learned my lesson the hard way.

I thought you said you started a business.

I had a day job and lost it. And I am working on a startup business, which exists legally, but not so much from a functional standpoint (e.g. my website is not done yet). And I definitely have no income at this point.

If/when I get my website done, then *hopefully* some of the earlier advice about "letting people come to me" versus "intruding" on other people's time/space will apply. And then I will have a legitimate website and side things like a YouTube channel, podcasts, books - although unlikely on COVID-19 - and so on.

And then, slowly, I can work on building a following and gaining "credibility".

A large part of my frustration is that history is passing me by each day, and I am not yet ready to properly report on it, and more so, I have obviously failed to get my public-service message out.

(It kinda feels like the guy that ordered a top-of-the-line digital SLR, but it wasn't scheduled to arrive in NYC until Sept 12!)

Such is life...


P.S. I added that book to my B&N Wishlist.

 

[AngerDanger]

Now I just really want to read this PDF. I never though it'd g—WAIT, THIS WAS YOUR PLAN ALL ALONG!