General When is it appropriate to send a mass email to your members?

[Bryn]

Sending a mass email to members is a good way to bring them back to your forum, but only under certain circumstances. One thing where it can be done is letting them all know that a forum has reopened (like I did last month), and of course if you're running a contest, where I know that can really reel them back in.

But what about other factors like, to announce a new skin or general major updates to the forum? I know that sending an email just to bring them back isn't ideal and isn't professional either.

Discuss...

 

[ken_gitahi]

I will go a different route and discuss not what to use such mass emails for. I don't think there is any value in letting members know about new skins or minor updates. While these improve the forum and even provide a better experience for when they visit next, they may not justify a mass email.

The second is regular reminders to visit. Yes, you can target people who have not visited a for a while to let them know what is going on with and on the platform so they can return. However, doing it too regularly can be seen as spam and may irritate members.

Lastly, I don't see value in sending a mass email for general announcements. It is much better to share these on the forum itself unless they are truly impactful and significant. That said, there might be value in adding them to a monthly newsletter or something like that.

 

[Al]

I know a lot of people swear by email marketing but I hate getting emails from sites like forums. It's like, if I wanted to visit I would, and you forcing content down my throat isn't really something I enjoy. Those emails are auto-deleted without me reading them. I know I can go and change my settings to that they aren't sent.... but, CBA.

One thing to note: If you are going to do this, be professional about it! This kind of header on a see what you have missed email is disconcerting and makes your efforts entirely pointless:

View attachment 142

 

[Cedric]

Xenforo has activity reminders built in:
View attachment 148

Is it helpful? Yes. Can it be annoying? Also yes.

As for manually emailing members. I make sure there's something valuable in the email. I don't mind a monthly newsletter when there's some stuff to talk about. But spend some time into crafting a quality email.

And yes, email marketing may be annoying, but they work.

 

[Cory]

Apparently never because I had someone threaten to call the cops on me once when I sent out a bulk email regarding board updates even though I included the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. He could have opted out of receiving emails from the site when he registered too.

 

[Bryn]

Apparently never because I had someone threaten to call the cops on me once when I sent out a bulk email regarding board updates even though I included the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. He could have opted out of receiving emails from the site when he registered too.

You've got to be kidding me, right?

 

[Cedric]

Apparently never because I had someone threaten to call the cops on me once when I sent out a bulk email regarding board updates even though I included the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. He could have opted out of receiving emails from the site when he registered too.

Cory, bulk emails are perfectly legal. If they'd call the cops, the cops would have a laugh. No one can harm you for sending out an email. I reckon that guy was just mentally unstable or something, it makes no sense what he said.

You're missing out a lot of potential returns if you never email your members. Keep them informed.

 

[ken_gitahi]

Apparently never because I had someone threaten to call the cops on me once when I sent out a bulk email regarding board updates even though I included the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. He could have opted out of receiving emails from the site when he registered too.

I know businesses and individuals can be penalized under the CAN-SPAM act in the United States, and that such laws may exist in other countries. So, unless you are spamming people or sending them emails without their consent, you have nothing to worry about.

Also, you have a strong case to make if it came to anything because you provided the unsubscribe link.

 

[Cory]

You've got to be kidding me, right?

He seemed pretty serious.

Cory, bulk emails are perfectly legal. If they'd call the cops, the cops would have a laugh. No one can harm you for sending out an email. I reckon that guy was just mentally unstable or something, it makes no sense what he said.

You're missing out a lot of potential returns if you never email your members. Keep them informed.

I still send bulk emails when I have important information for my community. For the user in question who threatened to call the cops on me, I changed his email to a fake one.

I know businesses and individuals can be penalized under the CAN-SPAM act in the United States, and that such laws may exist in other countries. So, unless you are spamming people or sending them emails without their consent, you have nothing to worry about.

Also, you have a strong case to make if it came to anything because you provided the unsubscribe link.

I'm pretty much following the law if that be the case because they give consent when they register and I send nothing more than major updates related to my board.

 

[Bryn]

He seemed pretty serious.

Och away... besides, he doesn't know where you live and that...

If I had somebody say the same kind of crap to me, I'll just laugh it off.