You don’t write, you don’t call…
I signed up to your mailing list weeks ago. Months even. And I haven’t had a single message from you. Not a thanks for coming to the gig, or a here’s what we’ve been up to — not even a come and buy our record.
I don’t give my email address out lightly. When I sign up to your list, it is in the full anticipation that you are going to communicate with me. I want you to do that. You are the band with the product I am enthusiastic about, and I am the willing consumer standing waiting here with my attention and pocketmoney just sitting idle.
I don’t want a daily running commentary of your life — but I do want you to check in from time to time. Tell me you’re well. Let me know what you’re up to. You might not think it’s anything important, but I like to be kept in the loop. It makes me think you care. It’s all very well you going off and hanging with your fancy music business friends, but just a quick note from time to time is only polite. Maybe send the odd photo or a Christmas card.
We only want what’s best for you, and we don’t want to get in the way or take up your time. We understand that you’re very busy these days and are doing some important things. But do stay in touch — because we care and we’re very proud of you and like to know what you’ve been doing.
And ring your Grandmother, too — okay?
“How often?”, that’s the hard question. Bi-weekly?
I’d say a good rule of thumb would be to make sure there’s at least a welcome aboard message within a week of signing up. Then, there should be messages at irregular intervals, as interesting or important things happen, no more than twice in a week, and no more than 6 weeks apart.
If you wanted to do regular emails then I would make a judgement call based on how much you’re likely to have to say at that frequency. You don’t want to send screeds of information — these things should be informal and chatty — but nor should they be like post-it notes on the fridge door.
If you can fill a few decent paragraphs of actual interesting stuff once every couple of weeks, then that seems appropriate.
I reckon a monthly mail out with the occassional extra posting, but not too much info which is something I am guilty of. In my experience people are on far more than just your one list and they don’t want 50 mailing list things every week. A post and invite before the tour, a post and review after the tour, a post when something is happenning and an invite to join in…….in my experience people don’t want an info mail that they just delete, they want something to stimulate them or give them something to chase after or respond to. After all they’re human and something to encourage them to interact is a good basis to work from. why am i giving advice? I know nothing on this subject actually.
Give me a break will you?
You say you came to the show, I didn’t see you there! Unless you were the old guy the paramedics were attending to.
I know my minder said “some old couple tried to get back-stage, and kept saying they were your parents but all the guys in the band have always said you didn’t know who your father was!! So I didn’t let em in.”
I suppose this is all leading up to asking me for all the money back, well come on.. do you want me to succeed or not? And NO I am NOT going to get a PROPER job!
PS. I thought Grandma was Brown Bread!