As I go about my daily web surfing activities, searches and other “all things Internet”, I find myself coming across a large amount of offers to sign up for an email list, to participate in a survey or to join a rewards program.
I understand that companies utilize these types of relationship building tools to help harness and strengthen customer loyalty, but let’s be honest here…..at the core of it all they are trying to sell you something.
I often get frustrated when I am exposed to these types of media messages, especially on mobile platforms such as my iPhone when I’m ususally “on-the-go” or at work. It made me wonder how many of you actually participate or click on these links? I personally feel violated and that I am giving up important information about myself, in return for little from the company.
Ken Lawson's Emerging Media 
I find myself often signing up for email lists because of an offer or rewards, but then as soon as I start getting 2 or more emails from them a day I realize how bad of an idea it was. I’ve tried to avoid a lot of them lately or actually use an email that I never check just for the rewards.
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Hi Ken, I get frustrated with it too. I actually went thru at least a dozen emails today to unsubscribe from things I had gotten on email lists about. There has to be a better way than forcing your personal information about yourself out there.
The pop ups are annoying and more of a pull approach is better.
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Ken:
I’m with you on this. When I search for some content or if I’m trying to read about something, nothing gets in the way more than a pop-up with an impossibly small close button. I often quickly try to dismiss the prompt to sign up or leave feedback in order to get back to what I was doing on the site in the first place.
I too am selective with the information that I share when companies ask for multitudes of data in order to enroll in a program or receive information.
Do you think companies see a good return on these nosy forms or are they just standard practice in today’s online world?
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It’s all about how you play the game. Sometimes I get annoyed when I’ve already signed up, or am just reading an article (B2B companies love to gate their content). But if it’s a company where I’m researching a product, I usually sign up to receive the discount. I then filter the emails from that company into a Shopping folder so that I don’t get overwhelmed with the frequent emails. If I decide to buy, I visit the folder for the latest discount/offer and unsubscribe if I’m done shopping.
As a marketer who has worked for an e-commerce company in the past, I recognize how valuable email subscribers are. The email marketing program was our most profitable program, and phrasing wording in emails to emphasize the relationship is much more appealing than transactional wording.
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It’s a total turn OFF! Put a link at the top of the page, if I want to sign up to get your information regularly I will, otherwise don’t ask me. What infuriates me more is when I go to a site and it is totally greyed out until I make a decision whether to opt-in or opt-out of receiving their information. They should be grateful I have darkened their website door to begin with!
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I TOTALLY agree….any site that does unscrupulous opt-in tactics immediately loses my faith and trust in that site.
I firmly believe that this is an issue that will continue to help “weed out” the shady sites out there, and the public will ultimately demand better. I also wonder if the government will ever step in and set specific guidelines?????
Ken
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I doubt the government will step in and set guidelines on something that is more of an etiquette thing… (unless they are mining the data as well.)
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