Mike Du-who?
In his critique of Bush and Kerry's email newsletters, Neilsen hits it right on the head in his section on "Attracting Inbox Attention." He says that both of the candidates' newsletters scored poorly in this area. He's is so right!
He criticized the Bush campaign of sending emails from too many names. I agree that this just confuses people and decreases usability. Sadly, his advice hasn't made it to the RNC. Every GOP TeamLeader newsletters comes from a different person. Here are the latest examples from my Inbox:
From: Mike DuHaime Subject: In Case You Missed It
From: Kevin McLaughlin Subject: BookCast with Michael Deaver
Now, from just reading that, can you tell the first email is from the RNC Political Director and it's an article about Howard Dean? And does anyone know who Kevin McLaughlin is and what Michael Deaver has written? NO!
If the RNC wants me to open their emails and forward them to friends like a good TeamLeader, they need to incorporate more uniformity into their newsletters. I like the idea of an institutional "from" line. If they insist on a million different people sending out the emails, at least make the subject lines a little more descriptive and captivating!
At this stage, I'd have to give the RNC an F in "Inbox Attention," and that just breaks my heart!
He criticized the Bush campaign of sending emails from too many names. I agree that this just confuses people and decreases usability. Sadly, his advice hasn't made it to the RNC. Every GOP TeamLeader newsletters comes from a different person. Here are the latest examples from my Inbox:
From: Mike DuHaime Subject: In Case You Missed It
From: Kevin McLaughlin Subject: BookCast with Michael Deaver
Now, from just reading that, can you tell the first email is from the RNC Political Director and it's an article about Howard Dean? And does anyone know who Kevin McLaughlin is and what Michael Deaver has written? NO!
If the RNC wants me to open their emails and forward them to friends like a good TeamLeader, they need to incorporate more uniformity into their newsletters. I like the idea of an institutional "from" line. If they insist on a million different people sending out the emails, at least make the subject lines a little more descriptive and captivating!
At this stage, I'd have to give the RNC an F in "Inbox Attention," and that just breaks my heart!
2 Comments:
The institutional "from" line is a great idea. Sometimes the person’s title works. I believe Ken Mehlman’s emails have RNC Chairman in the “from” line.
I can’t imagine that this problem is hard to fix from a technical perspective, but it’s probably an organizational fiasco that takes time to develop and is unfortunately low on the priority list. Have you responded to the letters with some kind "suggestions" to improve their F?
By SEPARight, at 12:49 AM
Trust me, the DNC is absolutely no better. They send emials from the chairman, political director, etc. It seems their lead has been followed by the DCCC and DSCC. I don't open any of their emials anymore . . .whether its from Nancy Pelosi or some pathetic staff minion trying to feel good about him/herself by having thier name on a mass email.
By Dimmy, at 2:46 PM
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