Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Jim, Texas on May 7, 2010:

"some good ideas about how to get True back to healthy status"?

Maybe, just maybe, it's time to switch to HTML email with pictures and bold or italic words when needed?

I know that back in 1997 you were proud of the tiny Kb size of your newsletter, and that was a good thing back then, but today's issue of True has the exact same look and feel of a 1997 issue of True - can you think of anything else on the internet that hasn't changed in 13 years?

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That is, in fact, in the works, Jim. I truly hate HTML e-mail, but people like it, so I'm bowing to it -- and AWeber makes it not only possible, but fairly easy. -rc

Posted by Jim, Texas on May 7, 2010:

Wow! What planet am I on? The great Randy switching to "real" email? I think I might just re-up on the Premium Edition.

COOL! And thanks, I look forward to the New True.

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Plain text is real e-mail! HTML is an add-on, and a non-standard one at that. Making it look right over a wide range of mail clients is a major challenge, which is why it'll take a bit. But yes, it was part of the plan in my switch to AWeber, and is coming. -rc

Posted by David, Canada on May 7, 2010:

I'm with you on the HTML email Randy (I still always send plain) because I was around in the "Dark Ages" as well (and I think I subscribed then, I for sure remember being on under the list's old name "This Just In"). Maybe we're all old fogies for thinking the 'net was much better back then. Or maybe I've just been yelling at too many kids to get off my lawn.

Anyways, any good ideas to get True to healthy status? I'm proud to say "not a one"! Why? Because True is the best newsletter out there because of the content. If people don't want to subscribe because of the content, that's their own damn fault. It shouldn't matter if you have a distribution of one or one billion, what should matter is that you consistently have a great product and you do, *that*'s what brings people in the door. (I know, it doesn't bring you money, but you didn't ask that. ;) )

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Thanks, David. To be "healthy", TRUE does need to bring enough income for me to do it. Circulation of 1 would be fine -- if that reader was willing to spend a lot on a subscription! Don't have anyone like that yet, though. So while I don't need a billion, a million sure would be nice! -rc

Posted by K., Michigan on May 7, 2010:

As a fellow hater of HTML e-mail, please tell me there will still be a plain text option for True!

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Yes, AWeber uses MIME encoding to have both in one message. -rc

Posted by Cory, Topeka, Kansas on May 8, 2010:

Congratulations on making the move happen. Hopefully your list will pay grow back like a bush that was trimmed way down to the ground: Bigger, better, and bushier!

Posted by Thomas, Birmingham on May 8, 2010:

I don't think the non-movers are necessarily not paying attention. There WILL BE a lot of people who've stopped reading but haven't bothered unsubscribing, there will be a lot of people who've had the mails going into the spam folder, there will be a lot of people who've stopped using the email account in question (and might be subscribed on another account which they do read), and unless you found a way to prevent there will be a lot of people on BOTH (and they really might be confused by the "goodbye" message).

But those aren't the only reasons to not have switched. For someone who has been getting the emails from Lyris week-in, week-out, with no trouble, why bother? With you having had the call for switching in every issue for months, and no ill-effects from not doing so until now, people have come to simply keep putting it off and putting it off. It's hassle without immediate benefit to them. I'm not sure when I switched, but it was months after you first starting asking for switches, simply because I was getting the emails from Lyris without any issues.

Finally, if you do go the HTML route, please keep it sensible. A bit of headings and formatting might be nice, but if I see a web bug in True I won't be impressed.

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A "web bug" (for those who don't know) is a one-pixel graphic that tracks whether the issue has been opened. It doesn't work terribly well. AWeber may use them -- I'm unsure -- to try to track delivery and open rates. I won't be adding them myself, though. -rc

Posted by Ross, Oklahoma on May 8, 2010:

Something to help your keep you fans is to stay out of politics and religion. Some comments you made have offended some people. I know they will never come back.

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I don't take sides on either topic -- partisan and prejudiced people get offended because they think I do. They're incorrect, so there's nothing for me to change on this end. -rc

Posted by Richard, Tucson on May 9, 2010:

It's been a long time since I read the original notice that the list would be switching. I don't recall the exact wording. But did you explicitly mention that you *would not* be importing your subscriber database into the new system?

A very large fraction of the web using population is lazy beyond the power of words to express and expect to have *everything* done for them. This can even reach the point that the philosophy is built into a system and a user who does something manually can interfere with it.

So I suspect that some subscribers may actually have been surprised on finding they needed to do something themselves but will come trickling back in the next couple of weeks.

And it wouldn't surprise me if there are a few who are outraged at being dropped from the list and demand to be unsubscribed immediately.

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Yes, I not only said that it was necessary to resubscribe (otherwise, why mention it?!), but also why, and made it excruciatingly clear they needed to take action to continue. While I agree that some people are dumb enough to demand to be unsubscribed once they've been dropped from the list, that hasn't happened. -rc

Posted by Cory, Topeka, Kansas on May 9, 2010:

Not offending people is impossible, no matter your tactic. Not offending Christian people is even more impossible.

Posted by Aaron in Portland on May 10, 2010:

No, no -- don't stay away from religion and politics, you'd be hobbling yourself, that's some of the funniest stuff!

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When I see dumb stuff that criminals do that's worthy of it, I'll report on it. And cops. And store owners. And garbage collectors. And drivers. YES, AND POLITICIANS! Yes, and ministers and such. I don't report "on politics" or "on religion", I report on people -- and the stupid or weird things they do. Simple as that. -rc