Yes, the "fear of being perceived as spam" is certainly something we all have. I really feel like stating what our company does would be like "Hey I'm company X trying to sell you Y you don't care about".
Well, if you don't tell us why you are emailing and what your company does, then the emails just come off as:
"Hey, I'm company X and I'm not going to say much other than we've updated stuff based on feedback other people provided but I'll include you in that group."
You then go on to say:
"Version X.beta{4.3} is ready for release and you want to thank me for my support."
Finally....
"Follow us on twitter where we won't post anything because we don't want to spam you their either."
Now, I vaguely remember signing up to get info on something a long time ago, and you might be those people, but I don't have a clue. And now you don't even have the courtesy to let me know who the hell you are? How we are related?
No, no, it's even worse than that.
You are a company that proposed an idea, and I asked to be informed when more information was available. You've already got me listening. I'm interested. I want to be told why I should give a damn about you. Instead, you have the nerve to tell me that my interest is not worthy of your time and effort to spend a few minutes trying to sell to me?
"Hey I'm company X trying to sell you Y you don't care about"
I already asked to be sold! I already showed I cared! If anything, you've taken my first bit of feedback and told me to fuck off. I'm not worthy. Why?
Because you are scared.
And it gets better. You aren't selling to me sends off warning lights. So, why should I rely or buy from a company that has proven they:
1. Don't want to sell their product.
2. Don't listen or trust my input.
3. Don't believe in what they are doing to try and sell their product.
4. Don't even want to tell people who are interested about how to get their product.
I want to support cool new ideas. I've got money. I'd rather see it go to a cool new startup then a frappe-latte-mocha-chocolatte-ino.
So stand up and be an adult. Be a leader. Say "Here is what we built, here is how it helps you, and this is where you can buy it," because if you don't do that, you are really saying "I don't care.
"I finally decided it was time to launch my own company, with Charles and Stan."
Unless you haven't announced it yet, why aren't you talking about it? Why aren't you sharing it? Is what you are doing worthless? Then it doesn't matter. But is it something worthwhile? Then share it!
Comments
Yes, the "fear of being perceived as spam" is certainly something we all have. I really feel like stating what our company does would be like "Hey I'm company X trying to sell you Y you don't care about".
Well, if you don't tell us why you are emailing and what your company does, then the emails just come off as:
"Hey, I'm company X and I'm not going to say much other than we've updated stuff based on feedback other people provided but I'll include you in that group."
You then go on to say:
"Version X.beta{4.3} is ready for release and you want to thank me for my support."
Finally....
"Follow us on twitter where we won't post anything because we don't want to spam you their either."
Now, I vaguely remember signing up to get info on something a long time ago, and you might be those people, but I don't have a clue. And now you don't even have the courtesy to let me know who the hell you are? How we are related?
No, no, it's even worse than that.
You are a company that proposed an idea, and I asked to be informed when more information was available. You've already got me listening. I'm interested. I want to be told why I should give a damn about you. Instead, you have the nerve to tell me that my interest is not worthy of your time and effort to spend a few minutes trying to sell to me?
"Hey I'm company X trying to sell you Y you don't care about"
I already asked to be sold! I already showed I cared! If anything, you've taken my first bit of feedback and told me to fuck off. I'm not worthy. Why?
Because you are scared.
And it gets better. You aren't selling to me sends off warning lights. So, why should I rely or buy from a company that has proven they:
1. Don't want to sell their product. 2. Don't listen or trust my input. 3. Don't believe in what they are doing to try and sell their product. 4. Don't even want to tell people who are interested about how to get their product.
I want to support cool new ideas. I've got money. I'd rather see it go to a cool new startup then a frappe-latte-mocha-chocolatte-ino.
So stand up and be an adult. Be a leader. Say "Here is what we built, here is how it helps you, and this is where you can buy it," because if you don't do that, you are really saying "I don't care.
---
Then I go to your profile here on HN.
http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=louischatriot
"I finally decided it was time to launch my own company, with Charles and Stan."
Unless you haven't announced it yet, why aren't you talking about it? Why aren't you sharing it? Is what you are doing worthless? Then it doesn't matter. But is it something worthwhile? Then share it!
Sell me! I asked for it!