Seriously, Subscribe to my Mailing List

If you’re a fan of The Busy Woman on Facebook, you probably saw my post about purging thousands of emails. It has been about a year-and-a-half since I did an email purge. I guess I waited too long. It took me many hours of deleting, filing, and writing down lists I’m truly interested in.

After this serious email purge, I realized that I have to think twice about subscribing to email lists. I used to keep a completely clean and empty inbox, at my day job and home. My email folders and sub-folders weren’t cram-packed either. But then my life went into transition.

This new journey had me craving information. So whenever someone suggested great material or a website that could help me learn something that was on my list, I’d sign up! In hindsight, I should have done then, what I’m doing now — that is, keeping a list in Excel.

EMAIL Purge – Yes, Purge That Email!

Here is what’s included:

1. Site URL
2. Title
3. What part of business I need it for – social media, marketing, email list, website maintenance, etc.
4. Date I learned about the site (maybe from whom I learned about the site)
5. Costs
6. Training
7. Other information I find useful.

Yes YOU… Subscribe. About 12 emails a year.

This way I’m not subscribing to a million lists and having to filter tons of email or purge email later. This also takes away “shiny object syndrome.” If or when I need something, I can check the list and go to the website… AS NEEDED.

I had almost two years worth of subscriptions constantly sending me email. I was signing up for any and every, free training that might help me.

One list actually sent one email per day and most of it was solicitation. I unsubscribed. The reason I subscribe to lists is to get useful information. Then, if any of the list owners have a product to share, I am open to learning about it. The lists that continually market, market, market to me, lose me. I guess I’m just old school.

You should purge your email as often as needed. If you don’t do an email purge every one to two months, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Put it in your schedule if you need to, so you’ll remember to do it.

Think before you subscribe. Set up folders and folder rules so list emails go directly into those folders. Otherwise, you could miss an email that leads to a sale or hire for your services.

What are some ways you keep control of your email overload?

©2015 Susie Glennan
All Rights Reserved.