Guest Author - Kristin Peoples
When you get your first un-subscriber to your ezine or newsletter it will tug at your heart. When you are just beginning, this is strong possibility. You are just getting the swing of writing your newsletter so it takes a while to have your personality. Once that note comes through that someone wants to leave your list the questions start to come to mind. You want to immediately ask them why they left.
What's In It for Them?
Sometimes people subscribe for a free gift or report. Once they receive that, they leave or unsubscribe from your list. They may have a life change and be no longer interested in your information. Your reader may have gotten very busy and not able to read the information right now. Continue to stick to your plan and don’t delay one bit. Make sure that your ezine or newsletter goes out no matter what. When your subscriber leaves, it’s time to find out the reason why. Here are some ways to do so:
Request Feedback
Contact the ex-subscriber and ask them why they are leaving. You can request feedback simply by asking a few questions. Don’t give them a big list of questions and surveys because you probably won’t receive it back. After you have formed a few questions for them place another section on the form for “Other.” In this section, they can give you personal feedback that will really help you.
Once the subscriber clicks your link to unsubscribe, they are ready to go. Stay professional and offer a friendly good-bye. Make sure you tell them that you are sorry that they want to leave. Provide another link for the final un-subscription. They may have a change of heart.
Review Constructive Feedback
Once they are gone. Review the feedback that you receive. Delete all of the ones that do not give constructive feedback. When a form is anonymous, people can be hurtful. Review the reasons for leaving and re-examine your newsletter. Are any of their comments valid? Are portions of your newsletter or ezine not useful? Use the information from the old readers to help you put out the best newsletter or ezine you can create.
It is difficult to let your readers go. The truth is that once they are gone you probably won’t get them back. It’s more important to focus on getting new subscribers. Post subscriber feedback will help you make your newsletter or ezine better for your current subscriber base.
