I just saw this funny cartoon…<\/p>\n
It showed a man in a grocery store checkout line looking clueless and asking the cashier, “How does this work? I’ve recently retired from Congress and I’m not quite sure how to pay for things with my own money.”<\/p>\n
HA!<\/p>\n
Ain’t that the troof.<\/p>\n
Hey, I mostly avoid politics in these emails.<\/p>\n
But we’re in an election year in the US.<\/p>\n
And so it’s unavoidable.<\/p>\n
Nah, I’m not gonna get partisan.<\/p>\n
Just the opposite.<\/p>\n
I want you to NOT vote at all!<\/p>\n
(Or, write in someone competent.)<\/p>\n
And don’t bother giving me that dorky banality:<\/p>\n
“If you don’t vote you have no right to complain!”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Makes no sense whatsoever.<\/p>\n
The ONLY people with no right to complain are those who voted for the winning candidate.<\/p>\n
Duh.<\/p>\n
So what’s this got to do with email?<\/p>\n
Lots!<\/p>\n
For one, the ability to think for yourself (and not fall for the, “this is the most importantest election EVER!” BS, especially since you don’t even have a real choice — except between which poison will kill you faster).<\/p>\n
Thinking is mandatory in emails.<\/p>\n
To think through your position.<\/p>\n
Think through your offer.<\/p>\n
And think through your words.<\/p>\n
Another thing:<\/p>\n
Pay attention to political emails.<\/p>\n
One thing these politicians DO do right is email. They don’t try to persuade everyone. They talk ONLY to their hardcore followers — that “white hot center” of the market.<\/p>\n
That’s exactly who to sell to.<\/p>\n
The PASSIONATE part of your market.<\/p>\n
Do it right and you’ll pull “independents” over the fence via your arguments and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
So 2 big email lessons.<\/p>\n
Who’d have thunk it?<\/p>\n
Learning something from politicians…<\/p>\n
For more advanced email training:<\/p>\n