I need a moment

[JBloggs]

Do you ever get to that point where you are completely overrun by spam. It is not just random spam, phone calls, emails, etc. But anyone you have every contacted or known or who knows you or knows or has met anyone you know, industry or not, sends you spam. Newsletters, invites, events, groups, and more. I realize everyone is trying to build a business, trying to keep a business afloat, trust me, I get that.
If I look at you does that give you my permission to continually hassle me 'til the day I die?
This is why I don't send out follow ups and various emails. I post stuff sure, if you want to see it then see it, if not don't. I think I am worn out today by all of this, it spins my wheels and takes time away from what I want to do - this is why I call it spam, I feel like I am only used.
Moment over...back to work.

 

[Arks]

I do send a followup e-mail, but the first line is, "I promise this is the last e-mail you're receive regarding your [date] visit!"

 

[undersea]

That is why industrial strength SPAM filters in email are crucial. I agree - it can be overwhelming.
Of course if using craigslist or some other things, anonymous email responses may require trawling through all the spam folder contents, because a lot tends to go in there...

 

[JBloggs]

That is why industrial strength SPAM filters in email are crucial. I agree - it can be overwhelming.
Of course if using craigslist or some other things, anonymous email responses may require trawling through all the spam folder contents, because a lot tends to go in there....

That is why industrial strength SPAM filters in email are crucial. I agree - it can be overwhelming.
Of course if using craigslist or some other things, anonymous email responses may require trawling through all the spam folder contents, because a lot tends to go in there...

These are from people who know people who know me, or me. Not reg random spam, that is why I said that. Example, everyone here who is in my state knows me and would send me invites to stuff, etc.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. But the more we want to market our place the more our names are out there, and it is this we deal with. Just gets tiring. I just wanted to complain, that's all. I am not even unsubscribing I am clicking block sender for spam filtering. Yes, I hear you, loud and clear.
I am my happy cheerful self again!

 

[gillumhouse]

Thank you, JB, for saying it for me. I spend the first 15 minutes each morning deleting at the server and then the rest of the day doing junk - block sender. The bad thing is that every FB post by friends generates an e-mail telling me they posted. and then every post to their post, etc. Sigh. Some I want, many I do not. Also back to normal -for me, @#$%^&y

 

[undersea]

That is why industrial strength SPAM filters in email are crucial. I agree - it can be overwhelming.
Of course if using craigslist or some other things, anonymous email responses may require trawling through all the spam folder contents, because a lot tends to go in there....

That is why industrial strength SPAM filters in email are crucial. I agree - it can be overwhelming.
Of course if using craigslist or some other things, anonymous email responses may require trawling through all the spam folder contents, because a lot tends to go in there...

These are from people who know people who know me, or me. Not reg random spam, that is why I said that. Example, everyone here who is in my state knows me and would send me invites to stuff, etc.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. But the more we want to market our place the more our names are out there, and it is this we deal with. Just gets tiring. I just wanted to complain, that's all. I am not even unsubscribing I am clicking block sender for spam filtering. Yes, I hear you, loud and clear.
I am my happy cheerful self again!

.

I also hear you.
I must get 200 emails a day; Yahoo spam folders catch about 170. The other 30, I don't even open unless the sender and subject interest me.
I just check the boxes of those and click the Delete button.
On the other hand, I don't need to go far to have an exciting life. I could live vicariously just on the contents of my SPAM folders. So many people want to give me money or great opportunities, Russian women falling at my feet, and a lot of other things I cannot mention in mixed company.

 

[JBloggs]

Thank you, JB, for saying it for me. I spend the first 15 minutes each morning deleting at the server and then the rest of the day doing junk - block sender. The bad thing is that every FB post by friends generates an e-mail telling me they posted. and then every post to their post, etc. Sigh. Some I want, many I do not. Also back to normal -for me, @#$%^&y.

Thank you, JB, for saying it for me. I spend the first 15 minutes each morning deleting at the server and then the rest of the day doing junk - block sender. The bad thing is that every FB post by friends generates an e-mail telling me they posted. and then every post to their post, etc. Sigh. Some I want, many I do not. Also back to normal -for me, @#$%^&y

you can change that in the fb settings. I don't get emails or alerts from any one or any of them. ever. Change that, be free young grasshopper...free!

 

[Morticia]

Thank you, JB, for saying it for me. I spend the first 15 minutes each morning deleting at the server and then the rest of the day doing junk - block sender. The bad thing is that every FB post by friends generates an e-mail telling me they posted. and then every post to their post, etc. Sigh. Some I want, many I do not. Also back to normal -for me, @#$%^&y.

Turn that off at the source. You don't need reminders from fb that someone replied.

 

[Morticia]

Yes, I hear you. I'm trying to winnow out my newsletter list. I'd like to only send it to the people who open it regularly. Not sure how to do that but I think I can download a list of who opens the email.
I rarely get tagged as spam but when I do it's from someone who hasn't bothered to remove themselves after 5 years of getting the newsletter. It's a button to click. Sure, it's faster to hit the spam button, but why wait until you're fed up? Not you. The person getting the newsletter.
I know I've removed us from tons of real mailing lists only to end up on them again.
Don't appreciate being added to a list just because I emailed to ask a question. Or because I bought some sheets or soap.
Lately it's been someone selling website building who used to run a directory. That peeved me because the email was full of dire consequences if I didn't pony up $5k for a mobile website. The email was addressed to me, had the correct inn info but was obviously a canned email because they said I didn't have a mobile capable website. "We've reviewed your site, blah blah blah..." When they hadn't done anything of the sort.
Kind of like the hang up phone calls. It's not the first one, it's the 20th one where you snap.

 

[Generic]

I recently counted how many spam messages I get daily... and I'm not talking about the other annoying email, I mean stuff that gets put into my spam box. I get about 6000 spam messages per month. And about the same amount in my personal email box.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others.

 

[JBloggs]

It continues on and lo and behold I actually got a REAL email from the place that already has been spamming me.
Too bad...When you pay for these services, when you don't double check these services, and when you automate stuff you can get into doo doo.
I was thinking "thank you? I already added you to my spam filter"
I created an email account called spam something something and give that out at stores etc. They never even slow down. Oh that's a cute email address. Yes, it is!

 

[Morticia]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others..

I'm torn on the follow up email. I like to thank the guests for staying and invite them to opt into our newsletter. There's not much other way to get them to sign up as my observation is once they stay they never go back to the website again except to look up the phone number.
And I hope the newsletter is well received. Guests do opt out and that's OK. They're overwhelmed, the info isn't engaging, they don't need it any longer, whatever. Opt out.
In that email I add a link for a review if it's something they generally do. I've tried adding a review link in the newsletter but I think that bombed. First time I got 10 clicks on the link and 3 new reviews showed up. Next time i got no clicks.
Sure, I'm thinking like everyone else, "but it's just a thank you, short email, simple request, important info, etc."
You get one confirmation, one 3 day reminder and one thank you. I think all of them are important because of past problems when those emails weren't received.
But everyone else thinks the same. Except stores. They think you should get 2-3 emails everyday.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others..

I'm torn on the follow up email. I like to thank the guests for staying and invite them to opt into our newsletter. There's not much other way to get them to sign up as my observation is once they stay they never go back to the website again except to look up the phone number.
And I hope the newsletter is well received. Guests do opt out and that's OK. They're overwhelmed, the info isn't engaging, they don't need it any longer, whatever. Opt out.
In that email I add a link for a review if it's something they generally do. I've tried adding a review link in the newsletter but I think that bombed. First time I got 10 clicks on the link and 3 new reviews showed up. Next time i got no clicks.
Sure, I'm thinking like everyone else, "but it's just a thank you, short email, simple request, important info, etc."
You get one confirmation, one 3 day reminder and one thank you. I think all of them are important because of past problems when those emails weren't received.
But everyone else thinks the same. Except stores. They think you should get 2-3 emails everyday.
.

I think newsletter are a little different. I have no problem sending newsletters or receiving them from places I've stayed. But saying that, the newsletter has to have info on things to do in the area and cool stuff. Not just an ad to stay. I get your newsletter Mort and I like it.
I started out this year with a monthly newsletter. There's just not that much cool stuff going on around here to feed it to them every month. Starting this month I've changed to a 4 season newsletter. We'll see how that goes. Of course, that's just for us, everyone else's miles may vary!

 

[JBloggs]

Not those type of newsletters. I mean those that for some reason they are sent with one or two items and try to pretend to be newsletters nowadays...
If i subscribe then I subscribe. Not talking about those.

 

[Morticia]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others..

I'm torn on the follow up email. I like to thank the guests for staying and invite them to opt into our newsletter. There's not much other way to get them to sign up as my observation is once they stay they never go back to the website again except to look up the phone number.
And I hope the newsletter is well received. Guests do opt out and that's OK. They're overwhelmed, the info isn't engaging, they don't need it any longer, whatever. Opt out.
In that email I add a link for a review if it's something they generally do. I've tried adding a review link in the newsletter but I think that bombed. First time I got 10 clicks on the link and 3 new reviews showed up. Next time i got no clicks.
Sure, I'm thinking like everyone else, "but it's just a thank you, short email, simple request, important info, etc."
You get one confirmation, one 3 day reminder and one thank you. I think all of them are important because of past problems when those emails weren't received.
But everyone else thinks the same. Except stores. They think you should get 2-3 emails everyday.
.

I think newsletter are a little different. I have no problem sending newsletters or receiving them from places I've stayed. But saying that, the newsletter has to have info on things to do in the area and cool stuff. Not just an ad to stay. I get your newsletter Mort and I like it.
I started out this year with a monthly newsletter. There's just not that much cool stuff going on around here to feed it to them every month. Starting this month I've changed to a 4 season newsletter. We'll see how that goes. Of course, that's just for us, everyone else's miles may vary!
.

I've considered reducing the number of newsletters. Last year I skipped a lot of months because I was too stressed to be cheery. Oh the guilt!
This year I got a template so I don't have to start from scratch each month so it's easier.
Not easy to do a new recipe each month. And I'm recycling things to do because we didn't get out anywhere in the freezing cold this year.
But the reason I send the thank you email is for the newsletter sign up.
(Glad you like it!)

 

[EmptyNest]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others..

I'm torn on the follow up email. I like to thank the guests for staying and invite them to opt into our newsletter. There's not much other way to get them to sign up as my observation is once they stay they never go back to the website again except to look up the phone number.
And I hope the newsletter is well received. Guests do opt out and that's OK. They're overwhelmed, the info isn't engaging, they don't need it any longer, whatever. Opt out.
In that email I add a link for a review if it's something they generally do. I've tried adding a review link in the newsletter but I think that bombed. First time I got 10 clicks on the link and 3 new reviews showed up. Next time i got no clicks.
Sure, I'm thinking like everyone else, "but it's just a thank you, short email, simple request, important info, etc."
You get one confirmation, one 3 day reminder and one thank you. I think all of them are important because of past problems when those emails weren't received.
But everyone else thinks the same. Except stores. They think you should get 2-3 emails everyday.
.

I think newsletter are a little different. I have no problem sending newsletters or receiving them from places I've stayed. But saying that, the newsletter has to have info on things to do in the area and cool stuff. Not just an ad to stay. I get your newsletter Mort and I like it.
I started out this year with a monthly newsletter. There's just not that much cool stuff going on around here to feed it to them every month. Starting this month I've changed to a 4 season newsletter. We'll see how that goes. Of course, that's just for us, everyone else's miles may vary!
.

I think a four season newsletter is a good compromise. Just enough to give them info and maybe make them want to make plans for that season with you. I can't think of any innkeeper newsletter I would want to get monthly. There just wouldn't be enough to interest me I don't think.

 

[Morticia]

I hear ya JB! Everyone wants something from us. It could be good info or bad info, but it's the fact that the info darts are flying at us 24/7.
I don't send out follow-up e-mails for the same reason you stated. We had guests last week who were just gushing about how they loved everything about their stay. Really, over the top and it was sincere. I used my regular line "well, if you ever do online reviews, think about us". They said they weren't review people, but they would do one for us. A few days after they left I sent them a follow-up e-mail with a link which I never do, but we really need some fresh reviews. There's been no review and now I feel like maybe I stepped over the line with them. If they don't do a review will they be too embarassed to make a reservation with us again? Did I make them feel like they just got that information dart thrown at them? Who knows, but I just don't have it in me to bombard others..

I'm torn on the follow up email. I like to thank the guests for staying and invite them to opt into our newsletter. There's not much other way to get them to sign up as my observation is once they stay they never go back to the website again except to look up the phone number.
And I hope the newsletter is well received. Guests do opt out and that's OK. They're overwhelmed, the info isn't engaging, they don't need it any longer, whatever. Opt out.
In that email I add a link for a review if it's something they generally do. I've tried adding a review link in the newsletter but I think that bombed. First time I got 10 clicks on the link and 3 new reviews showed up. Next time i got no clicks.
Sure, I'm thinking like everyone else, "but it's just a thank you, short email, simple request, important info, etc."
You get one confirmation, one 3 day reminder and one thank you. I think all of them are important because of past problems when those emails weren't received.
But everyone else thinks the same. Except stores. They think you should get 2-3 emails everyday.
.

I think newsletter are a little different. I have no problem sending newsletters or receiving them from places I've stayed. But saying that, the newsletter has to have info on things to do in the area and cool stuff. Not just an ad to stay. I get your newsletter Mort and I like it.
I started out this year with a monthly newsletter. There's just not that much cool stuff going on around here to feed it to them every month. Starting this month I've changed to a 4 season newsletter. We'll see how that goes. Of course, that's just for us, everyone else's miles may vary!
.

I think a four season newsletter is a good compromise. Just enough to give them info and maybe make them want to make plans for that season with you. I can't think of any innkeeper newsletter I would want to get monthly. There just wouldn't be enough to interest me I don't think.
.

Yeah, but. You never go back to the same place twice. I'm writing for the people who wish they lived here and miss being here.

 

[Iris]

Do you ever get to that point where you are completely overrun by spam. It is not just random spam, phone calls, emails, etc. But anyone you have every contacted or known or who knows you or knows or has met anyone you know, industry or not, sends you spam. Newsletters, invites, events, groups, and more. I realize everyone is trying to build a business, trying to keep a business afloat, trust me, I get that.
If I look at you does that give you my permission to continually hassle me 'til the day I die?
This is why I don't send out follow-ups and various emails. I post stuff sure, if you want to see it then see it, if not don't. I think I am worn out today by all of this, it spins my wheels and takes time away from what I want to do - this is why I call it spam, I feel like I am only used.
Moment over...back to work.

I completely agree with you. I also do not send out "thank you" notes after the guests leave. They send me Thank Yous. I, myself, would feel very awkward sending out notes and questionnaires. Enough already, I don't want to annoy them, I want them to come back.
I have changed one of my email addresses to receive spam only, finally.

 

[Skamokawa]

I recently counted how many spam messages I get daily... and I'm not talking about the other annoying email, I mean stuff that gets put into my spam box. I get about 6000 spam messages per month. And about the same amount in my personal email box..

Oh yes, I hear that pain. Yahoo mail filters very well. At work, more and more overwhelmed. I finally figured out how to configure Thunderbird to filter most of it. Live and learn, and learn, and learn......