I got an email the other day from someone I’ve met a few times while networking. He’s a financial planner and added me to his newsletter list. Fine, I’ll just scroll to the bottom and opt out because I have a financial planner, and let’s be honest, I’m not going to read this stuff. And then I scroll to the bottom and realize there’s NO OPT OUT OPTION!
Not only is this illegal but it’s rude! I come from a networking background where you don’t just add business cards to a newsletter because you met them briefly at a networking event. If I drop my card in your fish bowl at an event, sure I expect to get a couple emails (with an opt out option) but if I met you at an event, enjoyed your company and then start getting email from you with out an option to opt out, you quickly end up on my list. And as my husband can attest, it’s not a great list to be on.
So, how do you deal with emails where there’s no opt out option? Do you have a blanket response you send to folks? Do you send it to a junk folder? Do you send them a big ranting email? Or do you just delete it an make a mental note? Maybe I’m just too Pacific Northwest Passive Aggressive…