“I don’t want to overwhelm them.”

Ah, overwhelm. You harpy. You strumpet. You kraken.

If I had a nickel every time I heard a business owner say that they don’t want to overwhelm the nice people on their mailing list with lots of emails…

…I would play the nickel slots in Vegas until the end of days.

If you are worried about “sending too many emails” to your list, I want to know what’s in those emails.

Because email itself isn’t a demon.

It just depends on who’s behind the wheel.

So if you tell me that you worry about “sending too many emails,” that tells me that you are doubting your capacity to communicate something of value and usefulness.

And what’s THAT about?

Just because you are promoting a program doesn’t mean you can’t coach or teach ‘em something new in an email.

Just because you ask for money for your work doesn’t mean it’s any less holy than holding out a begging bowl.

So, I’d like to offer some ideas for making your emails valuable, and worth reading, so that you never need worry about “overwhelming them with too many emails” ever again:

1. Don’t send an email unless you have something to say. Sometimes, it can be lofty. Other times, it can be “hey – the price goes up in 48 hours.” Either one is fine, But don’t send an email without an intent. Just make that a rule.
2. Connect with the ONE person who needs hope that day. I like to imagine that one ideal client who really needs a divine intervention in that moment. What does SHE need to hear? And then I take it upon myself to pretend I am the messenger. And then I channel. You can do this, too. Your mode of connection? Email!
3. Write a FAQ email. One of my favorites for launches – what 3 questions are on the minds of your peeps? Or better, what objections? Answer ‘em.
4. Tell a story about one of your clients. We humans love stories. Especially true ones. Write about how you’ve helped a client turn his or her situation around—don’t forget to include their AHA moment and their results. The more specific, the better.

Email doesn’t have to be junk mail. It can be a love letter. It can be a manifesto. It can be a “you can do it” bugle call to mount the stallions and ride for the sunset. Don’t let your worries about bugging people stand in your way (hey, it’s understandable. Most humans don’t curate their own media channel. But when you think about it, isn’t that also kinda cool? It’s like we’re all Oprah now.)

Instead of focusing on how annoying people might find you, try imagining that you are a voice in the wilderness, with the courage to speak when others are silent.

Over time, you may find that the response (and the gratitude) surprise you.

Final thought: I want to take the idea that you have to do all this by yourself out of your head. And throw it in a garbage can.

If you need people in your life…

who hold you accountable for getting your writing projects done

and hold your butt to the fire to make it better than you can do on your own

who remind you that you’re not some slimy internet huckster – you are a living, breathing, loving human who’s done with being silent, dammit…

You might want to check out my next writing production lab – a small group – focused on getting your awesome free gift, newsletter articles, and an opt-in page (for your gift or teleseminar) done.

Mighty thanks to ragingwire flickr photostream for the slot machines.