The Curse of the Unsubscribe

Putting the newsletter together took time and effort. It was important to provide some new information and to encourage readers to visit the website to read old posts as well. I even had an editor take a look at the content just to be sure no errors got through.
The mail marked the largest number of readers to date. Hitting send shot a bit of nervous excitement through my whole body. I knew that this was going to be a home run.

Then it happened. Three people opened the newsletter and then immediately unsubscribed. It felt like they were telling me that all of my work and efforts were unimportant to them. They were announcing to me that my newsletter was just an annoyance.

My immediate panic was subdued by some fellow writers hanging out in the ChristianWriter.com chat room. They pointed out that there will always be people that unsubscribe for a wide range of reasons. I have to send my thanks out to them for talking me down off the ledge.
Seeing the unsubscribe notice has a way of cutting – particularly in the start of building an online presence. We all want to be liked. But you know that writing is like life and it is impossible to please everyone all the time.

Understanding the Unsubscribe

• Freebies may get people to sign up for the email list, but some will only sign up long enough to GET the freebies. As soon as the opportunity arrives they will unsubscribe.

• People have a limited amount of time and my newsletter may just be one of those items that have to be cut when it comes to making the most of that time. It is nothing personal.

• My writing will never be the answer to meet the needs of everyone I encounter. Sometimes people will find that what I have to offer is not what they want.

• I am still learning. The emails and newsletters I send out are a work in process. I am new to the process and I am trying to grow and change in a way that will help others and also help me.

An unsubscribe must NEVER be taken personally. It is like the rejections that I encounter on a regular basis as a freelance writer. It happens. What I do with that unsubscribe will mean the difference between my continued path to success and a halt to my progress. I choose to let the unsubscribe push me to do more and be better than ever before.