Got an interesting (and timely) question today.
If you do any email marketing, you may find it helpful:
QUESTION: Do you ever get a lot of flack when you write controversial things on your blog and in your emails? I think it is great even when I disagree with you but I would be afraid of attracting the wrong kind of attention. However, in my niche I think it would do very well.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
BEN: Yes, I get “flack” — and often.
In fact, I’ve been hearing from all kinds of weirdos lately.
Take for example, last weekend.
Some dude took exception (and that’s putting it mildly) with one of my emails. Was REALLY angry about it. Kept sending me these inane, rambling emails and blog comments yammering on and on — never getting to the point, just accusing, finger-pointing and making all kinds of personal attacks.
(My blog’s spam filter even ate one of his comments. Which tells you something about what he might have been saying…)
Anyway, it was actually kinda amusing at first.
But it got old pretty quick, and I just started deleting his emails and blog thread comments on sight — not even bothering to read ’em.
And that’s what I recommend if that happens to you:
Simply delete, ignore, and remove their names from your list.
And just realize controversy is definitely a double-edged sword.
It WILL get you attention — which is good.
But some of that attention is going to be from people who mindlessly hate everything about you for no reason.
You can’t talk to people like that. And they never listen — so responding is a complete waste of time.
But you know what?
It’s GOOD when that happens.
For one thing, it means you’re probably doing something right.
And it also makes you appreciate the sane people even more 😉
Ben Settle
P.S. I’m releasing The Copywriting Grab Bag tomorrow.
If you are on the discount notification list, I’ll be sending you an email with a special coupon code good for 24 hours:
