Once upon a time, my friend Jim Yaghi said in an off handed remark (buried in an email to his list) that FaceBook was “gay.”<\/p>\n
And, he got a bunch of whiney hate mail as a result.<\/p>\n
“What’s with the gay slur Jim!”<\/p>\n
Of course, he expected that.<\/p>\n
He knew there’d be readers on his list who wouldn’t grasp it was just slang (embedded in the media, the culture and even the dictionary)… and call it an attack or slur or whatever. (The typical PC line — let’s face it, if someone is so fragile<\/em> where a mere WORD offends them, especially when used in a different context than the one giving them heartburn, they shouldn’t even be in business to begin with).<\/p>\n Anyway, why bring this up?<\/p>\n Because Jim made lots of money from that email!<\/strong><\/p>\n I think he said $5k (or more).<\/p>\n Like it or lump it, controversy sells, babycakes.<\/p>\n That’s why my motto is if it ain’t controversial, why bother writing it?<\/p>\n You see this in the culture all the time.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n Take the book “50 Shades Of Gray”<\/p>\n People who have read it tell me it’s kind of a dorky, badly written book. But because it’s *controversial* it sells like hotcakes.<\/p>\n My point?<\/p>\n Don’t be scared of controversy, my timid little bunny rabbit.<\/p>\n Especially in your emails.<\/p>\n I’m not saying to make crappy products.<\/p>\n (And hope you FAIL if you do.)<\/p>\n But if you do it right, controversy can carry the sale for you all on it’s offensive little lonesome self.<\/p>\n Alright enough of this clacking.<\/p>\n Let’s get down to bid’niz.<\/p>\n The September “Email Players” issue goes to print in a week.<\/p>\n It’s a great starting issue for email newbies.<\/p>\n (And seasoned emailers.)<\/p>\n Plus, it’s kinda controversial, too.<\/p>\n Subscribe here:<\/p>\n