This is what I look like when you hit that spam button for emails you signed up to receive!

This is what I look like when you hit that spam button for emails you signed up to receive!

Okay, the gloves are coming off.

I’m going to hijack this Copy Tuesday with a rant.

And don’t worry. I’ll be back to my kinder, gentler self tomorrow (I actually have a really cool post planned on how to totally dominate Google AdWords — after a talk with my neighbor this weekend where he told me he’s telling his marketing hires to sign up for Breakthrough Marketing Secrets).

But today, my rant.

This kind of reminds me of something my dad told me about the time I was moving out on my own. About his parenting style.

He told me…

“I don’t cuss much, because when I do, I want it to mean something.”

Don’t worry. No string of expletives here.

But I’m pretty peeved. And I’m going to let it show.

(And if you’re a regular reader, you know this is relatively rare for me, unlike guys like Ben Settle who have a new rant about “haters” every week… Oh, hi Ben!)

Why am I so mad?

Because somebody keeps whining here…

You may have noticed, I’ve been making a few offers recently.

You know, in between the five-days-a-week-packed-with-incredible-content. Content I’m sometimes typing away for your sake long after every sane person in my house has headed to bed… Or furiously finishing moments before I hit send to make sure it shows up in your inbox on time.

And I’ve noticed something interesting.

I get NO complaints about my emails going out. Zero. Zilch. Nada. 0%.

I have a pretty rockin’ email reputation.

Low unsubscribes (except for the freebie seekers who bail out right at the start of their subscription).

High open rates, with a huge number of people opening as soon as it hits their inbox.

And a bunch of forwards, too.

And yet…

Every time I send a message that’s even a sniff promotional, including my recent FREE “Teleseminar Announcement,” I get ONE complaint.

What that means is there’s always ONE person who hits “spam” whenever I — gasp — try to sell something.

Now, before you object with, “But Roy, it’s just one person, why are you taking up my time with it?”, there IS a lesson here. So stick with me.

Here’s the thing.

This is an email about marketing. And business. And even though it’s primarily content, you should expect some marketing and business to occur.

If you can’t handle getting an email about marketing or business without complaining, you need to unsubscribe…

In fact, you need to get out of this business altogether.

Because if you have a problem with receiving marketing… Then you’re going to suck at doing it.

If you believe all email that makes an offer is spam, you don’t deserve to be in marketing.

You’re free to buy or not buy.

That’s up to you.

Actually, it’s not. If you’re going to complain about my marketing emails, I don’t even want you around. I want you to get off my list.

But you’re not going to be forced into buying.

You’re not even going to be forced into reading my email. If all you come for is content, so be it. Read the content. Delete the marketing messages. But don’t whine via the spam button.

Spam is defined as “irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients.” It’s also typically unsolicited.

You’re on this list because you signed up for marketing-related email. Therefore, I’d assume that what I’m sending you is relevant to your business. Even if it’s trying to sell you something, it’s relevant.

In fact, even if you’re not buying, you should be learning and not complaining…

I’m on dozens — if not hundreds — of email lists simply to get their marketing. It’s a real-world education in what others are doing to market.

Even if you’re not buying my products or services, you should be paying attention to how I market. Not just what I say about marketing and business. If you see me as enough of an authority on marketing to read my content, you should pay attention to the walk I walk in addition to the talk I talk.

Because there are lessons you can take and apply there, too.

So, are you with me or against me?

If you’re against me… If you don’t believe that I have any right to sell you anything… You should just hang up your “copywriter” or “marketer” hat and go find some other business to be in. And hit the “unsubscribe” link below along the way. You’re not a fit here. Either in my emails, or in the marketing business.

Marketing is selling.

Building a business requires selling.

Breakthrough Marketing Secrets is a business venture.

If you can’t handle that, you shouldn’t be here. And that’s okay. A big part of sales is DISQUALIFYING people who are not a fit.

If you’re with me though, I’m glad to have you.

Yours for bigger breakthroughs,

Roy Furr

Editor, Breakthrough Marketing Secrets