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I wonder how well this email sign up form converts

This email subscription form actually caught my attention. Normally I avoid email subscription forms like the plague (or perhaps in this instance like the coronavirus).

Takeaway point: everything only works for so long, be creative! And create your own style that your readers end up connecting with.

I've had it drummed into me that an email list is the most valuable thing a business can have. I'm not sure I entirely agree with that (it's all about context people!), but what I do believe in is that whatever you end up doing you need to add your own personality to it to make it stand out, feel genuine and of course convert.

Source: https://markmanson.net/coronavirus-risks-and-biases

on March 15, 2020
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    Here’s my take: I’ve read Mark’s book, and this style is very much a character he “plays” as the author. I’ve seen him deliver valuable ideas through this character. I read the book on recommendation of friends I trust.

    (Edit: I'm not alone - his book has been NYTimes #1 Bestseller and sold 2 million copies in the first year alone. So...keep that in mind when you're evaluating your emotional reaction to this strategy!)

    This opt in wouldn’t convert me either, but that’s just because the offer is vague not because of the style or tone.

    The thing about Generic email opt-ins like this is that they’re usually not going to convert on the first impression. But after someone has read one article and thought “hey that was good” then sees another article shared by a friend and thinks “hm, this person again!” and by the 3rd time the pattern is established...”this person’s stuff seems good, I wana see what else they’ve got.”

    Without that multi-prong exposure (which I bet Mark gets a fair bit of with a successful book in the wild), a focused and specific offer that is connected to a particular problem for a particular audience is almost always gonna convert better.

    So my takeaway here is: ship more LITTLE stuff (articles, comments, tweets, podcasts, screencasts, code snips, templates, etc) that you know people will find useful! Let every thing you create be one of the things that someone can find and say “hey, something else from this person.”

    Earn the email before you ask for it, just like you’ve gotta earn the sale before you ask for it. It’s all about establishing trust, which happens as a pattern rather than a single instance.

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      Yes, all valid points.

      I raise it here because it caught my attention, not many email forms have done that for me in a long while. I think people in general would benefit from trying to stand out in some way, thinking about who their audience is, rather than directly copying what everyone is doing because 'that' had high conversion rates for some random product.

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        100% agree - you’re in trouble if you’re paying more attention to what other people do than your own audience!

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    Would not work for me. As you say, "you need to add your own personality" and I know I don't like surrounding myself with people/personalities that call me fuck-face.

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      True that.

      FWIW, I didn't sign up. 21 pages for 3 ideas feels like a waste of my precious time to me. 🤣

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        Ah, true as well. Those must be pretty complex ideas if they require 7 pages each.

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      This comment was deleted 5 years ago

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    It could work. But I don't need another e-book out of many.

    Hence I will give a pass.

    Indeed, it's fun and eye-catchy. Conversion? Hard to tell.

  4. 1

    for some folks, this approach really works.

    it's not something i'd do, but, it doesn't matter — i'm glad that they are doing it and if its working, great.

    iterate, iterate, iterate. if one "style" of approach doesn't work... try another one!

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    This comment has been voted down. Click to show.

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      No need for that.

      The whole point of raising it was not to have a dig at the guy or website. I merely found it interesting as an approach and it caught my attention. Not much catches my attention.

      Your comment is worse than his words and not an approach we support at IH.

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        Well, I'm sorry you see it this way.

        I belong to an older generation where this kind of approach is not acceptable.
        Can you tell on what principles you select to post something?
        Did you even consider that this post would be offending to some?
        Nevertheless you are free to delete my account.

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      This dude's book was a NYT Times #1 best seller, sold 2 million copies in the first year alone.

      So, uh, maybe you're judging incorrectly?

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        And because he has sell 2 million copies somehow gives him the right to abuse his future customers

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    This comment was deleted 6 years ago