How Another Newsletter Owner Insulted Me

If you follow me, you know that I’m actively growing my email list.

Something I’ve put off for far too long.

And … I’ve been having a TON of fun doing it.

Connecting with other copywriters and list owners. Coming up with new ideas for emails and campaigns. It’s awesome.

But … there are downsides.

Like being rejected.

Or ignored.

Or straight-up insulted.

Now, one of the ways that I’m growing my list is with a website that connects list owners with each other for paid placements.

And many of the proposals I get are great. Personalized, kind, and chock-full of valuable info to help me determine if their newsletter is a good fit.

Other times, they’re totally blank proposals.

And every great once in a while … I get a proposal like the one I got today.

Things started off good. The proposal was long and detailed.

Custom intro.

Lots of info about their list and audience.

And an explanation of how we could work together.

Then things got weird. Really weird.

The list owner started talking about how they “love my tool” (uhhhh … what tool?) and that they think it’s really cool how my tool (again, no tool) “connects influencers with brands.”

For the record … I do NOT have a tool that connects influencers with brands.

Nor will I ever. Ever ever.

It quickly became very clear to me as I kept reading this proposal that this list owner had NOT done their homework on my business.

And yet even though they had clearly copy-and-pasted a cold email template that was a BIG miss …

They had the AUDACITY to try and pitch an ad placement in their newsletter that cost hundreds of dollars!

Tip: If you’re gonna cold pitch a product or service to another business owner, you should probably get that business owner’s information right in your proposal.

Otherwise the whole thing is just insulting.

The nerve of some people!

Lol. I sound like an angry grandpa. 👴🏻

And look, maybe this person just had a “technical” snafu. And I’m sure they’re super nice and could be great to work with.

But this whole thing just highlights how important it is to build real relationships with people as you grow your business.

In other words … play the long game.

That’s all I got for you today.

David Patrick