Spring cleaning your inbox?

Many of us have been busy spring cleaning gardens, closets and inboxes. Like me, you have probably dumped some newsletters you no longer have time for.

It makes me crazy when I have trouble finding the unsubscribe link. So here's mine again, just in case I'm not delivering what you need or you have decided to subscribe to my blog posts instead.

At her recent talk to the Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs, Constant Contact's Lisa Kember advised us on spring cleaning our email newsletter lists.  

My open rates are well above average, but I suspect some of you never take a peek. I could follow Lisa's advice to  produce lists of people who aren't reported as opens and delete them. But I might inadvertently get rid of some BlackBerry fans or Outlook readers who don't activate their images.

I don't often feature images that would entice you to click. But, to see if this adds any unexpected names to my open reports, this issue I'm replacing my standard headshot with a photo of me in the fascinator I created to watch the royal wedding. I fashioned it out of dollar store flowers, crepe paper and a disposable plate.

To control my tears over the avalanche of unsubscribes I may be triggering, today I will wear my fascinator and think about how Queen Elizabeth would tell me to keep a stiff upper lip.

Besides, you'll save me from having to clean up my lists. So thanks for helping.  

 
Avoid near-death reading experiences     

If you want to save yourself from death-by-reading all those emails and other writing from co-workers who drone on for eternity or sound like they're in grave discomfort, sign up a small work group for one of my new two-hour workshops: Write Tight or From Mouth to Mouse.

Or you can send them my ebook Write like you talk--only better. Subscribers and their friends pay only $10, 50% off, with the coupon code Sticky1.

If you're still in danger, those of you in the Greater Toronto Area should invite me to speak to their group and bring the snoozers along. Here are some comments from my recent sold-out talk to the International Association of Business Communicators. 

"Barb made it a fun, inspirational and interesting presentation."

"Barb is  fabulous as a presenter and her topic Write like you talk, only better is great for all communicators trying to reach their audience."

Why waste your time trudging through tedious missives when you could be cleaning out those gardens, closets or inboxes? Or better still, designing hats.